July 25 & 26: Our first days in Squamish & Vancouver

We left Whistler on July 25 and headed to Dryden Creek RV Resort outside of Squamish. Squamish is surrounded on three sides by forest and towering peaks. The fourth side is Howe Sound. It is 40 miles from Vancouver.

We arrived at the RV park at noon but couldn’t check in till 3:00, so we went into Squamish for lunch. We ate at Pepe & Gringo’s--I kid you not. All Mexican décor--talavera sinks in restrooms, talavera geckos on the walls, etc. Food was excellent but not what you would expect. I had beef tacos, which were really fajitas with slices of sirloin. Forrest had a taco salad, which was really a fancy salad with a strange-tasting dressing in a tortilla bowl. Later after we checked in, we went back to town to do our laundry, which was managed by a Chinese family. After a couple of hours we were tired and ready to go back to camp, but the tee shirts still weren’t dry. Forrest suggested we just hang them up in the trailer. My big mouth was open and ready to say: “I don’t want the trailer to look like a Chinese laundry.” I can’t believe I caught myself before I became a raving bigot.



Picture 1: Vancover & Whistler are hosting 2010 Olympics. #2 View from Sea-to-Sky Hiway that connects Whistler to Vancover. #3 At Pepe & Gringo's #4 Street corner in Squamish. Ladies, you just wouldn't believe the gorgeous flowers and gardens in BC.

When we got back to camp, Forrest got out of the car and then told me to hurry and get in trailer because there was a bear. I froze and locked myself in the car and slumped down in the seat. I suddenly remembered that bears can get into cars (i.e. Yosemite). Forrest stood on the steps and gave me that “you are an idiot” look! He came back to the car and led me to trailer. Other campers chased the bear up the mountain.

The next day we went to Vancouver and fell in love with the city! In fact, we’re going to move to Vancouver if we can convince Mom to move. Just kidding!

Our first day in Vancouver--July 26

The pictures below are taken from and in Stanley Park, a huge, lovely park. Park also has access to at least four beaches.

At the Bridges restaurant on Granville Island. Views of marina from restaurant. My handsome date!



Today, the 27th, Forrest is fly fishing the Squamish River, and I am obviously working on the blog. As soon as I finish, I am going outside, stretch out in my lounge chair, and read a mystery novel.
How come the Vancouver board gets an entire building???

From Salmon Arm to Hefley Lake to Whistler

Hi Everybody,
We have been without internet for awhile so I’ve got some catching up to do. We left Banff and stayed at Salmon Arm, BC, a town about the size of Carlsbad. I think I told you about the Shuswap Lake. Although we were surrounded by this huge lake, smaller lakes, and rivers, the fishing was lousy for Forrest. He caught some perch and small bass, which is disgraceful for a trout fly fisherman! That region is very hot--95 degrees and 80% H! We roasted the first couple of days and then we were rained on for about 7 days in a row. Forrest had more fun than I in SA--he played golf and fished. As my Poppy used to say “I was all stove up” with arthritis; however, I caught up on some reading, which is a treat since I've had my eye surgery.

(Fountain in Salmon Arm--like "Bob's Bidet" in the Pecos River. Second picture is the Salmon Arm of Shuswap Lake. Pictures from internet.)

(Golf course Forrest played. Turtle crossing is for an endangered species in the Salmon Arm area.) Golf is huge in BC--courses are everywhere. Even farmers have turned some of their farmland into Mom & Pop courses. Whistler has 3 golf courses--one designed by Arnold Palmer, one by Robert Trent Jones, and one by Jack Nicklaus.

We left Salmon Arm and headed to Hefley Lake (gradually making our way to Vancouver Island).
We adored the owner of the Hitch ‘n’ Rail Resort on Hefley Lake. He was from Scotland and kept us thoroughly entertained. We would love to go back some day. And still it rained. This is where Forrest caught his 20” prize trout!

Thorough bred ranch near Hefley Lake. ("Hey! Let's hit the road!" Chewey is anxious to leave.)

A family camped at Hefley Lake warned us not to take the road from Cache Creek to Lillooet because parts were washed out but recommended we go down to Lytton and up to Lillooet and then on to Whistler. Omigosh, the road was a nightmare--a narrow road along deep canyons, steep hills (14% grade), and all kinds of scary warnings, such as avalanche area and falling rocks. At one point we felt like either our Expedition would die and we might, too! Forrest wanted to turn back and go down to Vancouver and then up to Whistler but that meant going over Fraser Canyon!

Arrrrrrrrrrrgh!!!!!

We went over Fraser Canyon on our way to Alaska in 2000, and I said I would never, ever go on that road again. We finally decided to keep going because going back would be just as bad. Thank goodness, the going got easier, and we made it to Whistler with our lives and our car. And still the rain fell! However, we still enjoyed ourselves by sightseeing and wandering Whistler Village. (Pictures from the Whistler area.)

Who is that at Brandywine Falls? Snoop Doggy Dog? A homeless woman? What was I thinking when I got dressed?

I tried to capture the moss "carpets" on the forrest floor. Colors are faded, but trust me, it is beautiful. From Whistler to Vancouver, the forrest is a rain forrest.

Those who have camped with Forrest should get a kick out of this picture of him pouring torch oil on fire. He has nearly burned down more than one campsite in our years together starting fires. (-:

I attended the July 24th board meeting via phone from Whistler BC. Notice I am looking at the laptop. Our board books we get before each meeting are now being downloaded on the internet. I spent much of the day reading the info in the "book" and then was able to follow the agenda during the meeting. The picture also gives you a look at our campsite and area around.

July 11--Lake Louise gondola ride and more grizzlies

The last day at LL we took the gondola ride and what a magnificent view it gave us. We could see many of the mountains and glaciers. We also saw a mother grizzly with her cub.

These pictures above are two views of Lake Louise.

Once again Forrest set up the tripod and took about 6 pictures of us and I AM not kidding. Half the time, as we are grinning stupidly at the camera, someone would walk between us and camera.

Wondering what I am saying to Forrest--"This is the last picture or I am throwing the damn tripod down the mountain!"

We then drove into Banff Town because I couldn’t leave without seeing Banff Hot Springs Hotel. I didn’t take any pictures because my camera couldn’t capture the building in its entirety. However, I have downloaded a picture from internet. The hotel has a fascinating history and really is the reason for the park. Of course, I know this because I am a big nerd who watches PBS, Discover and History channels. The other pics are of the Bow River and Bow Falls, which are behind the hotel.

We are now camped outside of Salmon Arm, BC. Today we are going to a much smaller lake than Shuswap and canoe (is that a verb, too, and fish). By the way, Shuswap’s shoreline is 500 miles (I think I sent an email saying it was 250 miles) .

July 9--Crowfoot Glacier, Lake Louise and Moraine Lake

We headed back to the Icefields Parkway to see some lakes and the Crowfoot Glacier. The glacier at one time had 3 claws, with the third claw pointing toward Bow Lake. It has now receded.

Yes, we and a mass of others went to Lake Louise. Although we were surrounded by so many people, the crowds didn’t diminish the beauty of the lake. Of course, the hamlet of Lake Louise is built around the lake and the famous Swiss chalet. It was clear that Fairmont hotel chain has remodeled the old chalet, but I did try to get some pictures of original structure. The peak that is the back drop for Lake Louise is Mt. Victoria and the Victoria Glacier. Victoria was the queen and Louise was her daughter. Those clever Brit names for mountains. One peak was called Mt. Howard Something. Oh well.

We left Lake Louise for a trip up the mountain to Moraine Lake, which of the two lakes is my favorite. It is isolated and there were fewer people. Like Lake Louise, it is surrounded by towering, craggy mountain peaks covered with glaciers. You’ll just have to take my work for it--the lakes are a deep turquoise blue.

We decided we would like to return one night and have dinner at the Moraine Lake restaurant until we saw the menu! The entrees started at $30, so we decided we would rather ride the tram to the top of one of the mountains. Prices are very high here. Forrest says, “They sure are proud of their ice” every single time he pays $3.00 for a small bag, and then he just carries on for several minutes. Interestingly enough, he doesn’t complain about the price of a six pack of beer!

We finally saw wildlife on our return trip along the Bow Valley Parkway & a ground squirrel at Lake Louise (you gotta take your wildlife where find them, especially if you are desperate!) Have you noticed spotting wildlife is a pretty bid deal with us?

bull elk, big horn sheep (ewes & lamb), and Chip or maybe Dale--not sure.

July 8--Goodbye Jasper, Hello Banff

We packed up and headed to Banff National Park on the connecting highway, the Icefields Parkway. This highway is called “the most beautiful highway in the world.” That’s certainly true for me. The parkway is a passage between tall, craggy mountains covered with glaciers. We’ve seen glaciers in Alaska & Glacier National Park, but the ice fields along this parkway were beyond anything we had ever seen. The largest of the ice fields, the Columbia Icefield, is the largest ice field south of the Arctic Circle.
It was very cold the day we moved from one park to another and the sky was gloomy so, as usual, my poor little camera just couldn’t do justice to the views. We only took the one picture of a glacier because neither one of us has a camera that can adequately capture large vistas. The falls are called Tangle Falls. I found a picture of them on Google Images and was so excited to see the real thing. I even posed in front of them--did you know that if you elongate a picture, you look skinny????
Since we had spent most of the day driving and stopping at observation points, we decided to drive into Banff Town. (We are camped outside of Lake Louise.) We took the Bow Valley Parkway and saw the grizzly bear. Yes, that is the grizzly bear’s rear end. You know, it looked a lot closer than the picture. Other than goats and bears, the wildlife is sparse although every park brochure claims an abundance of wildlife. Can’t prove that by us so far. We thought Jasper Park was beautiful, but Banff surpasses Jasper. We felt claustrophobic in Banff Town--so many people crowded on sidewalks and in small stores. I’m glad we decided to stay in campground close to Lake Louise, which is much smaller and more relaxed.

July 7--Mt. Cavell & Angel Glacier

The highlight of our trip to Jasper had to be the trip to Mt. Edith Cavell and Angel Glacier. As an aside, the Canadians have strange names for some of their mountains, such as Mt. Edith Cavell. Edith was a WWII nurse and not even Canadian. The trip to the glacier and mountain was on a narrow road with switchbacks--that trip was thrilling, especially my screamed instructions to Forrest, like “Keep your eyes on the road!” & “You’re too close to cliff!” & “If you go over the cliff, you'll be dead before we hit the bottom."

Yes, we are still together and having fun!

Yes, I know I downloaded same pic 2x. Don't know how to delete. Angel Glacier is the ice in shape of spread angel wings. The gravel area with small trees is where the Cavell Glacier once stretched. As glaciers recede, they leave gravel and rocks and even boulders. However, new vegetations grows in once icy land. I apologize to those of you who know this. The pond beneath Cavell Glacier is filled with small icebergs that have fallen off of the glacier.

July 5--Patricia & Pyramid Lakes

Patricia Lake, which I am sure is named after my beautiful granddaughter, is several shades of blues and greens.
However, we launched the canoe on Pyramid Lake, which is guarded by Pyramid Mountain, a very unusual rust-colored peak. As you can see, the lake has a beach! Imagine a beach on an alpine lake--that blew me away. Lots of folks were swimming although I thought the water was freezing. Chewey went for her first canoe ride and actually did very well. She sat in the bow of the canoe with me. Forrest and I tried fishing, but the rods really bugged Chewey, so Forrest dropped us off at the beach and took off on his own. In true Forrest fashion he drifted far away from the beach and couldn’t get the canoe turned around in the breeze. Finally, he was marooned on an island in the lake, and two ladies from England brought him back to me. (-: Then we drove over by the island on the opposite side of lake and reclaimed the canoe.

Beach on Pyramid Lake and Pyramid Mountain

July 6--Sunwapta Falls & Goats in Jasper Natl Park

The highlight of this day’s sightseeing were Sunwapta Falls and a baby mountain goat and her mother at “Goat Lick,” a natural salt lick that attracts mountain goats. It was difficult to get a good picture because the goats blended into the salt lick. When we left Jasper National Park, we saw dozens of goats at the salt lick surrounded by dozens of tourists with cameras clicking. Again, my little camera just doesn’t capture the grandeur and beauty of so many sights, including Sunwapta Falls.

Even in the middle of a great trip and beautiful surroundings, some labor is required. The laundry & I wait for Forrest to pick us up.

Happy Fourth of July

You will notice some mistakes I made. Just scroll down to the body.

Happy Fourth of July!

Canadians are very friendly folks, and many have wished us a happy holiday. Sunday was Canada Day, obviously an important holiday here. I swear every citizen of Alberta was on the highways in their rv’s. Of course, we know nothing about their holiday. Oh woe! What ugly Americans we are.
There is nothing better than bacon and eggs on a crisp, cool morning in the mountains. As you can see, we have our flag flying.

Today we have lots of sightseeing and picnicking planned.
Views of the different lakes, canyons, and craggy mountains in Jasper Natl Park. The lakes are even deeper colors of blue, turquoise, and green than our cameras can capture

The pictures of Athabasca Falls do not do it justice. It is a powerful swirling turbo. Neither one of us could capture the colors in the water, which look faded out, but believe me, the falls were more than just white. If you’ll look carefully at the wall of rocks and lichen with the falls at the bottom, you will see potholes in the walls. Those were carved out as the falls dug out this pit.

The one huge disappointment was the grizzly who got away. Forrest and I have seen our share of grizzlies at Yellowstone and Alaska, but this one was grizzly giganticus. It crossed the road just in front of us, and I got so excited (heart racing, sweating, the whole bit), I kept fumbling my camera. By the time I got it out, the bear had slipped into the woods. I don’t know how something so huge can disappear so quickly although the forests here are so much thicker than in NM. Yes, I know this sounds like one of Forrest’s fish stories, but it is true. Seeing that grizzly was thrilling. So I did the next best thing--I took pic of its food!

We found the perfect lake for canoeing and our destination today July 5 is Lake Patricia (I’m pretty sure it was named after my granddaughter). It has small secluded sandy beaches with fire pits and picnic tables and FISH!!!! I was just struck by an alpine lake with beaches. But first I will stop at the internet café and see if I can download my posts.

On the road again . . . .(you may need to scroll down)

June 30-July3
We left Bozeman Saturday June 30 after meeting Mike for lunch. The day before Forrest, Mike, and friend Rhonda spent the day on the Beaverhead fishing from Mike’s drift boat

The drive to the Canadian border was beautiful with the might Missouri following the interstate. We crossed the Missouri headwaters where the Jefferson and meet the Missouri.
At Craig, MT, a small fishing stop with more bars and bait shops per capita than ABE’S, was worth a stop and walkabout. The pictures are of the Missouri at a fishing access point. We could look down from the bridge and watch dozens of large browns swimming. At least no one was around when Forrest drooled over the bridge.

Have you ever thought you heard banjo strings playing the theme to “Deliverance” when you entered a small, isolated rural town. You can see from this picture of the local bar why we did.
That night June 30, we spent the night close to the Canadian border in a RV park scraped out of a farmer’s land. The next morning we crossed into Canada without a hassle but not without intrigue. Two Middle Eastern-looking young men were in a car in front of us. The driver got out, opened the trunk, and took out a license plate, which he switched with the one already on the car. 007 took this picture from our car, and then James Bond Wellman reported the incident to the border patrol. The officer told us that the men said they put on dealer plates, but that the border patrol was keeping a close eye on them. I was so proud of my hero that my heart swelled.

We drove into Calgary in time to unpack and go to bed. The next morning we were at WalMart! This picture is for my mother and sister, who mistakenly think we live at Wally World. We learned two things at Wal-Mart: American Wal-Mart cards do not work in Canada, and the bank will put a hold on your bank card if you suddenly appear in Alberta Canada. What a nightmare! I thought we would end up on the midnight stocking team before we could get out of there. The rolling hills of Alberta are a beautiful contrast covered deep green grass or alfalfa and the bright, almost day-glow yellow fields of canola. I wish I had a picture, but when you are riding with Richard Petty, you don’t stop for pictures unless he has to make a pit stop. . . . This is a picture of a Canadian rest stop, which I thought makes an interesting contrast to some of NM’s pit stops, say like Lalo’s or Allsup’s in Vaughn!

On July 2, we had big plans for Edmonton, including visiting the world’s largest mall, but we used the time to rest and reorganize the trailer. We are ready for Jasper and Banff National Parks. We will stay in the parks for about a week and a half, maybe longer. We’ll leave for Jasper Natl Park as soon as my hero gets up.
I’ve had the worst luck with internet here--either rv parks didn’t have wifi or did but it wasn’t working. I’m hoping to go to the internet café in Jasper Town either this evening or in the morning. That explains why you haven’t heard from me.
As you can see, we made it to Jasper Natl Park!!!!!