Return to Vancouver May 8 & 9

may 9th 12.30 pm.

Vancouver is an hour away. 5 hours late but we are almost there.

We have descended from Jasper through the mountain ranges and massive canyons along the mighty Fraser River away from the magnificent and awesome Rocky Mountains.

The advantage of being 5 hours late has been travelling in the daylight through the canyons west of Kamloops. Normally we would have missed this. It has meant seeing again what we saw on the way up to the Rockies. This time we were on a different track and could see things from a different perspective.

During our trip back we had dinner with Darlene and David from Saskatoon. A mother and son travelling to Vancouver for family celebrations. As we descended from the Rockies we talked about Canada and Australia, our similarities and differences and for a short time enjoyed our geographic togetherness.

The Rocky Mountain experience was an awesome, amazing, jaw dropping experience. Tired old words that struggle to describe the grandeur we have witnessed.

At Jasper Park Lodge we lived in a National Park and walked by the lake daily and gazed up to the mountains. On top of Whistlers Mountain is a little hut to where the Tramcar flies. http://www.jaspertramway.com/ You can a virtual tour at the website! The tramway was always visible sometime during the day, but not all the time as clouds passed by, the weather changed and on the last morning it snowed! The snow was great for two West Australian tourists but not for Lodge management wanting to open the golf course for summer.

The other wonderful experience at the lodge was swimming. A warm pool in front of the lodge provided a poolside seat to the mountains. An almost surreal experience!

We walked to breakfast through the snow on our last morning in Jasper (Thursday 8th). Throughout our stay we had had breakfast in our rooms with provisions purchased in town. On the last morning we celebrated a magnificent week in Jasper by dining in the Meadows room with Amy.

I have thought about my time in the Highlands of Scotland throughout my stay. The Scots we met quite rightly pointed out the Highlands were smaller. However, they both have place in my mind as places of awesome beauty that provide pleasure while intimidating at the same time. The message is something like play with us well and with care and you will be ok. Take risks at your peril.

And so it is farewell to the Rocky Mountains, farewell to my beautiful daughter for a few weeks and forward to Vancouver and Alaska and Victoria on Vancouver Island.

8.30 pm We have been in Vancouver for 7 hours and have 270 degree views from our hotel window of Vancouver. It is absolutely magnificent. We ate well at the Old Spaghetti House after hearing the Gastown clock strike 5 pm. http://www.gastown.org/ However, we are back in the city away from the rural Jasper and it feels so different.

Tomorrow a new adventure. Our cruise north. Tonight we have just witnessed a ship leaving the harbour destined for adventure. Tomorrow it is our turn.