Day 11 Sun Peaks to Whistler

Early onto the bus this morning for the long haul to Whistler: many more mountains, streams and trees later we arrived at Hat Creek Ranch, which in 1861 was an important stopping off point for would-be gold miners heading north to Bakersville where allegedly you could stuff your pockets with gold nuggets just lying on the ground. Maybe it worked for the first few...

 

The lady on the left showed us the original hotel where men could sleep on a dirt floor for $1 per night: women and children had a separate room and weren’t allowed in the bar. Somehow sisters Shirley and Rose and I separated from the main group and were happily watching a lovely lady combing and spinning wool while everyone else was running around looking for us. 

We weren’t lost - we knew where we were:

 

Roast beef lunch here was terrific, sustained us through the long drive to Whistler to the best hotel yet - Nita Lake Lodge with a fabulous lakeview room and enormous bathroom.

Day 10 Jasper to Sun Peaks

Majestic Mount Robson with a wildflower meadow at its feet and everyone busily photographing the flowers. We saw lupins, Alberta Rose, Indian Paintbrush, clover, yarrow, daisies and more that couldn’t be found on David’s field guide.

At Blue River Lodge we were fascinated by the hummingbirds feeding under the eaves

  

near where we boarded boats for another water adventure. This time the boat did not break down and we were privileged to see a rare sight - a bear swimming. We silently watched her ploughing steadily through the water while we clicked our phones and cameras madly. My photos were terrible and I deleted the lot.

Day 9 Maligne Lake, Jasper

Wildlife spotted today: 2 elk behind our cabin this morning and a bald eagle in a nest at Medicine Lake.The flower is Indian Paintbrush, which flowers from the top down: when last buds open low on the stem it is Fall.

Medicine Lake through the bus window

  Next stop was Maligne Lake, another totally gorgeous body of water surrounded by magnificent mountains. They just keep getting better and so do the gift shops.

We embarked on a 2 hour boat cruise here: I say embarked because 20 minutes into the cruise an engine failed. Poor Captain Laura! She had to turn around and limp back to dock on the one remaining engine and Jacquey got a total refund! What cruise we had was lovely and we got to go shopping in Jasper instead. 

Day 8 Icefields Parkway, Athabasca Glacier to Jasper

 

Wildlife spotted: Canada geese & goslings, sundry ravens, elk, osprey and nest and a black bear. Great excitement. Several waterfalls AND a white water rafting experience. What a fabulous two hour trip down the fast-flowing Athabascar River. (One of our members remarked we looked like condoms in life vests in our yellow ponchos...) David and I prudently left our iPhones on the bus so no photos - but Jacquey organised a group photo to be taken at the final bridge.

Front right is Glenys, who looks remarkably like David’s sister Jacqui and even talks like her. David and I are in the back half behind guide Scott - where we didn’t get wet.

Day 8 Icefields Parkway, Banff to Athabasca Glacier

 

There’s another Blue Lake! This is Peyto Lake, first stop on today’s busy schedule. It’s such an intense blue Kodak had to send someone out to check the colour was correct. And that’s an alpine ranunculus growing near there.

Onwards to join the thousands of people at Athabasca Glacier, doing the glacier walk. You’re driven in a bus to the foot of the glacier and transferred to an enormous 6-wheel drive all-terrain vehicle with a female driver who calmly navigated the horrendous 18% slope down to the glacier. She is a Canadian married to one of the many Australians working here.

It was fantastic and terrifying. All these people penguin-walking on a sloshy glacier surface and not a scrap of OHS&W to be seen. Even a rope to hold onto would have been nice. It was a relief to get back to our tractor, named Wolf, and be driven back to the relative safety of the restaurant and gift shop where the same thousands of people milled around buying expensive food and STUFF. Moose-patterned pyjamas for Alison?

Day 7 Lake Louise

The pinnacle of beautiful lakes.

And the jewel in its crown is the beautiful Chateau Lake Louise, another Fairmont property.

We had lunch here, afternoon tea with all the trimmings including the best cup of tea all trip. I might have had 6 cups, admittedly small cups.

 

The view of Lake Louise through the dining room window and Nola photographing the magnificent tea stand shared by six of us. After that came dessert!

Day 7 Heading to Lake Louise

 

Johnston Canyon: pleasant half an hour walk alongside a roaring torrent with wild strawberries along the way. Wildlife spotted: mule deer and red squirrels.

Moraine Lake - more wonderful lakes and mountains. Tourists everywhere and roadworks making life complicated. Our guide says there are only two seasons in Canada - winter and construction. I am very glad we have Joe doing a great job of driving and parking the coach, then turning up when we are ready fir him.