On the bottom Left the oldest Trading Post in British Columbia
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Day 5 Tuesday 28th April 2009 Still on board the "Canadian
Day 5. Tuesday 28th April 2009 still on board the “Canadian”
We awoke at 5:50am just before sunrise. The landscape was brown/grey rolling countryside with small hills rising to about 3metres. It was cattle grazing land with no cattle in sight. The grass had not yet started to grow. Small patches of snow still lay on the ground. Altitude was 550meters. At 6:10am we stopped at a small village to pickup two passengers. There is a salt mine 1127 meters underground. The landscape became flatter wheat country. The stubble from last season’s crop was everywhere. There were no signs of the coming seasons tilling and planting. I guess the soil temperature is not yet warm enough. At 8:45 were arrived at Saskatoon and once again I was to find a wireless network at the station. The time is 10:15am Mountain Time and we have just stopped at a small town named Watrous; altitude 505 metres. Watrous is noted for its mineral hot springs; the accumulated salt in adjacent Little Manitou Lake gives the water greater buoyancy than the Dead Sea. At a nearby petrol station petrol was 91.9cpl. At 11:15am we had climbed back up to 800 meters; the sky darkened and snow started to fall again. It was quite nice actually as it made the dry brown countryside look quite pretty especially on some small fir trees. When we stopped at Melville for ten minutes to pick up some passengers; the bravest of our party alighted to experience the climate and take photos. The temperature was freezing; after a couple of quick photos I rushed back on to the warm train and sat down for lunch. Shortly after, the announcement was made to advance our timepieces by one hour from Mountain Time to Central Time. The time now is 3:50pm; we have been travelling from day break (and possibly sooner) until now travelling through the same dry brown grass and wheat stubble, except where the snow prettied it up. The scene is gradually changing; we are now seeing cattle; no more snow. I have just seen a cultivated field with fresh green grass. Every now and then we see some buildings with a big man made mountain of a white substance nearby; a crewman said it was discarded salt extracted from potash being mined in the area. I am whiling away the time by keeping up to date with this diary and writing letters while Fay is g. We have arrived at Winnipeg about 7:30pm one hour early. We do not depart until 10:30pm. This is a main refuelling, provisioning station and crew change station. We are over half way to Toronto. We have travelled 2523km from Vancouver in 46 hours. We have another 1943km to go.
We awoke at 5:50am just before sunrise. The landscape was brown/grey rolling countryside with small hills rising to about 3metres. It was cattle grazing land with no cattle in sight. The grass had not yet started to grow. Small patches of snow still lay on the ground. Altitude was 550meters. At 6:10am we stopped at a small village to pickup two passengers. There is a salt mine 1127 meters underground. The landscape became flatter wheat country. The stubble from last season’s crop was everywhere. There were no signs of the coming seasons tilling and planting. I guess the soil temperature is not yet warm enough. At 8:45 were arrived at Saskatoon and once again I was to find a wireless network at the station. The time is 10:15am Mountain Time and we have just stopped at a small town named Watrous; altitude 505 metres. Watrous is noted for its mineral hot springs; the accumulated salt in adjacent Little Manitou Lake gives the water greater buoyancy than the Dead Sea. At a nearby petrol station petrol was 91.9cpl. At 11:15am we had climbed back up to 800 meters; the sky darkened and snow started to fall again. It was quite nice actually as it made the dry brown countryside look quite pretty especially on some small fir trees. When we stopped at Melville for ten minutes to pick up some passengers; the bravest of our party alighted to experience the climate and take photos. The temperature was freezing; after a couple of quick photos I rushed back on to the warm train and sat down for lunch. Shortly after, the announcement was made to advance our timepieces by one hour from Mountain Time to Central Time. The time now is 3:50pm; we have been travelling from day break (and possibly sooner) until now travelling through the same dry brown grass and wheat stubble, except where the snow prettied it up. The scene is gradually changing; we are now seeing cattle; no more snow. I have just seen a cultivated field with fresh green grass. Every now and then we see some buildings with a big man made mountain of a white substance nearby; a crewman said it was discarded salt extracted from potash being mined in the area. I am whiling away the time by keeping up to date with this diary and writing letters while Fay is g. We have arrived at Winnipeg about 7:30pm one hour early. We do not depart until 10:30pm. This is a main refuelling, provisioning station and crew change station. We are over half way to Toronto. We have travelled 2523km from Vancouver in 46 hours. We have another 1943km to go.
Day 4 Monday 27th April Posted at Saskatoon
Day 4. Monday April 27 On board the “Canadian”
After a reasonable night’s sleep I awoke just before 6am to find we were travelling alongside the Fraser River; soon after we stopped at Kamloops North at 6am, on schedule having made up time after the late start. It was a rather dull greyish looking town. At the railway station “The Rocky mountaineer” was parked up. We were about 350m above sea level. The grass is just starting to green up after the winter. Pastures are being irrigated. At ten am we are still following the Fraser? River and I am up to the present time with my blog. First time ever! About two hours later we begin to see the Rocky Mountains. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, the mountains are capped with white snow and the forests are green; it is a beautiful day! We stopped for a brief time at Blue River where there is a trading Post Store reputed to be the oldest in British Columbia. Blue River is where people come to go heli-fishing in the backblocks. We are encountering a lot of heavy rail freight traffic which is making the train late. Because of this our stopover in Jasper was shortened. I would have liked to have spent more time there. My watch recorded Jasper’s altitude at just over 1100 metres. I did get time at the rail station to check out wireless internet; I was able to post yesterday’s events. We reboarded at 5pm and sat down to our evening meal shortly after leaving. During the main course the train slowed and our attendant pointed out an Elk with several large swans standing in a shallow lake; shortly after fresh snow started to fall; I have only seen snow fall about 40years ago around Te Anau. The meals on “The Canadian” are first class; I certainly have to be strong willed tomorrow. I am having trouble positioning the pictures within the text, so I will post them together in a separate post.
I am sitting on the platform at Saskatoon in the freezing cold fine day postin this post at 9am
After a reasonable night’s sleep I awoke just before 6am to find we were travelling alongside the Fraser River; soon after we stopped at Kamloops North at 6am, on schedule having made up time after the late start. It was a rather dull greyish looking town. At the railway station “The Rocky mountaineer” was parked up. We were about 350m above sea level. The grass is just starting to green up after the winter. Pastures are being irrigated. At ten am we are still following the Fraser? River and I am up to the present time with my blog. First time ever! About two hours later we begin to see the Rocky Mountains. The sun is shining, the sky is blue, the mountains are capped with white snow and the forests are green; it is a beautiful day! We stopped for a brief time at Blue River where there is a trading Post Store reputed to be the oldest in British Columbia. Blue River is where people come to go heli-fishing in the backblocks. We are encountering a lot of heavy rail freight traffic which is making the train late. Because of this our stopover in Jasper was shortened. I would have liked to have spent more time there. My watch recorded Jasper’s altitude at just over 1100 metres. I did get time at the rail station to check out wireless internet; I was able to post yesterday’s events. We reboarded at 5pm and sat down to our evening meal shortly after leaving. During the main course the train slowed and our attendant pointed out an Elk with several large swans standing in a shallow lake; shortly after fresh snow started to fall; I have only seen snow fall about 40years ago around Te Anau. The meals on “The Canadian” are first class; I certainly have to be strong willed tomorrow. I am having trouble positioning the pictures within the text, so I will post them together in a separate post.
I am sitting on the platform at Saskatoon in the freezing cold fine day postin this post at 9am
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Vancouver on Sunday 26th April 2009
Vancouver, Sunday 26th April 2009.
Today everyone can do “their own thing”. I persuaded Fay to accompany me to the top of Grouse Mountain which offers many activities as well as a view of Vancouver. We set off just after 10am to walk two or three blocks to the Seabus which would take us across the harbour to Lonsdale where we catch a bus to the foot of the mountain where we transfer to a gondola to reach the top. After walking a couple of blocks , in order to confirm we were on the right track I asked a young fellow where the seabus terminal was; he did not know and knocked on the door of a trolley bus stopped for a red light to ask the driver. The driver opened the door and provided the answer even though the green traffic light was on go. They were both very obliging Canadians! At the seabus terminal another young Canadian was very happy to explain the ticket machine and ticketing system to us. The seabus is wide and squat. The rows of seats each have about 30. It has six doors spaced down each side. When the boat docks six gangplanks lower automatically and six doors open on one side and the passengers all walk off. The boat empties very quickly before those six doors close and the six doors on the other side open to allow the waiting passengers to enter. It is a very efficient system. After getting off the boat we quickly walked to bay eight to catch the bus to the Gondola. The bus was crowded with skiers and tourists. We found that there was a large queue of people waiting to get on the gondola and after making enquiries we were told it would take up to two hours to reach the top of Grouse Mountain. I was disappointed; Fay was happy, so we bussed back to the seabus terminal, lunched at McDonalds and explored the local markets. They were interesting. At a chocolate stall I watched sweets being made while fay took time to sample and buy chocolate before travelling back to our hotel to wait for the shuttle to take us to the VIA Rail Terminal where after a lot of waiting around partaking of free biscuits, coffee and tea we boarded the train bound for Toronto at 9pm; half an hour late.
PS We have stopped atJasper and I have found an internet wireless connection
Today everyone can do “their own thing”. I persuaded Fay to accompany me to the top of Grouse Mountain which offers many activities as well as a view of Vancouver. We set off just after 10am to walk two or three blocks to the Seabus which would take us across the harbour to Lonsdale where we catch a bus to the foot of the mountain where we transfer to a gondola to reach the top. After walking a couple of blocks , in order to confirm we were on the right track I asked a young fellow where the seabus terminal was; he did not know and knocked on the door of a trolley bus stopped for a red light to ask the driver. The driver opened the door and provided the answer even though the green traffic light was on go. They were both very obliging Canadians! At the seabus terminal another young Canadian was very happy to explain the ticket machine and ticketing system to us. The seabus is wide and squat. The rows of seats each have about 30. It has six doors spaced down each side. When the boat docks six gangplanks lower automatically and six doors open on one side and the passengers all walk off. The boat empties very quickly before those six doors close and the six doors on the other side open to allow the waiting passengers to enter. It is a very efficient system. After getting off the boat we quickly walked to bay eight to catch the bus to the Gondola. The bus was crowded with skiers and tourists. We found that there was a large queue of people waiting to get on the gondola and after making enquiries we were told it would take up to two hours to reach the top of Grouse Mountain. I was disappointed; Fay was happy, so we bussed back to the seabus terminal, lunched at McDonalds and explored the local markets. They were interesting. At a chocolate stall I watched sweets being made while fay took time to sample and buy chocolate before travelling back to our hotel to wait for the shuttle to take us to the VIA Rail Terminal where after a lot of waiting around partaking of free biscuits, coffee and tea we boarded the train bound for Toronto at 9pm; half an hour late.
PS We have stopped atJasper and I have found an internet wireless connection
Vancouver 25th April 2009
Street in Vancouver
Building at Whistler
Greetins at The Vancouver Airport
A street in Vancouver
If you cannot ski or snowboard this is the way to go 
John Guiding us into the big red Gondolla
on top of the World
Building at Whistler
Greetins at The Vancouver Airport
A street in Vancouver
Vancouver on the Friday 24th April 2009.
At 8:43pm on the 24th we left the runway a little late on board NZ84 and touched down on the runway 12hours and twenty minutes later. The flight was a little “bumpy” for the first third of the flight and smooth thereafter. Vancouver from the aircraft looked grey and dullish; only three or four red roofs; the rest we different shades of grey. I gained a different impression as we travelled into the Holiday Inn in downtown Vancouver. There were plenty of spring flowers in bloom, lots of pink cherry blossoms and plenty of colours all around. We arrived at the hotel around 4:30pm, a little tired, after only about 5and a half hours sleep on the plane. The Air New Zealand food was excellent! After a short walk and an early tea we bedded at 8pm, tired but happy.
At 8:43pm on the 24th we left the runway a little late on board NZ84 and touched down on the runway 12hours and twenty minutes later. The flight was a little “bumpy” for the first third of the flight and smooth thereafter. Vancouver from the aircraft looked grey and dullish; only three or four red roofs; the rest we different shades of grey. I gained a different impression as we travelled into the Holiday Inn in downtown Vancouver. There were plenty of spring flowers in bloom, lots of pink cherry blossoms and plenty of colours all around. We arrived at the hotel around 4:30pm, a little tired, after only about 5and a half hours sleep on the plane. The Air New Zealand food was excellent! After a short walk and an early tea we bedded at 8pm, tired but happy.
Vancouver, Saturday 25th April 2009.
After 9 hours restorative sleep and an early breakfast we boarded our charted coach and left on time at 8:55am bound for whistler a ski resort about 110km to the north east. We drove through tall buildings some well glazed before driving through a pretty Canadian pine forest before travelling over the large green Lions Gate Harbour Bridge to North Vancouver, past horse shoe bay and along the edge of Howe Sound. Along the way we stopped to view a large waterfall before passing through an outdoor pursuits town of Squamish. The scenery includes the Howe Sound on our left with high rocky cliffs on our right hand after the houses ceased with snow-capped mountains in the background. We arrived at whistler at 11:30am; where the mountains closed in and surround the ski resort. The next Olympic Winter sports will be held there in February 2010. There were tourists like ourselves mingling with the crowds skiers young and old, eating and drinking in and outside the liquor shops, all enjoying themselves. John went to seek information on a gondola experience for us. Very soon we were climbing on the first gondola about 12 at a time. When we reached the top we walked through snow to an even bigger gondola station which held about twenty skiers and tourists. It was bright red. It took us across a very deep snow and tree clad valley to another mountain top. The scenery was breathtaking. At the end of the second gondola ride there was a big restaurant full of people eating and drinking some of the wide variety of refreshments on offer. I made my way to the viewing platform which overlooked the ski slopes with skiers skiing all the way down to Whistler which looked so tiny 1170 meters below. We arrived back to our hotel around 5pm. The heavy traffic in Vancouver slowed our progress. After a short rest up we went for a short walk before dining in the Irish pub next door to our hotel. Fay had real Irish stew followed by bread pudding with a sweet bourbon sauce. Yummy! I had good old English bangers and mash with broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and caramelised onions. Good night.
After 9 hours restorative sleep and an early breakfast we boarded our charted coach and left on time at 8:55am bound for whistler a ski resort about 110km to the north east. We drove through tall buildings some well glazed before driving through a pretty Canadian pine forest before travelling over the large green Lions Gate Harbour Bridge to North Vancouver, past horse shoe bay and along the edge of Howe Sound. Along the way we stopped to view a large waterfall before passing through an outdoor pursuits town of Squamish. The scenery includes the Howe Sound on our left with high rocky cliffs on our right hand after the houses ceased with snow-capped mountains in the background. We arrived at whistler at 11:30am; where the mountains closed in and surround the ski resort. The next Olympic Winter sports will be held there in February 2010. There were tourists like ourselves mingling with the crowds skiers young and old, eating and drinking in and outside the liquor shops, all enjoying themselves. John went to seek information on a gondola experience for us. Very soon we were climbing on the first gondola about 12 at a time. When we reached the top we walked through snow to an even bigger gondola station which held about twenty skiers and tourists. It was bright red. It took us across a very deep snow and tree clad valley to another mountain top. The scenery was breathtaking. At the end of the second gondola ride there was a big restaurant full of people eating and drinking some of the wide variety of refreshments on offer. I made my way to the viewing platform which overlooked the ski slopes with skiers skiing all the way down to Whistler which looked so tiny 1170 meters below. We arrived back to our hotel around 5pm. The heavy traffic in Vancouver slowed our progress. After a short rest up we went for a short walk before dining in the Irish pub next door to our hotel. Fay had real Irish stew followed by bread pudding with a sweet bourbon sauce. Yummy! I had good old English bangers and mash with broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and caramelised onions. Good night.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
ITINERARY
Maurice and Fay are off to Canada. We are on tour with the Railway Enthusiasts Society North American Rail Tour led by John Chamberlin.
Day 1. Friday 24th April
We depart with Air New Zealand at 8:15pm bound for Vancouver arriving at 2:15pm on the same day having travelled 6 hours back in time.
We stay at the Days Inn Hotel Downtown, 921 West Pinder St., Vancouver, BC.
Ph.(604)681 4335
Day 2. Saturday April 25th
We travel by coach to Whistler.
http://au.britishcolumbia.travel/en-CA/PlacestoVisit/Whistler.htm?gclid=CO_PvIO285kCFQwxawodQx2NPw
Day 3. Sunday April 26th
We are touring the sights of Vancouver before boarding the "Canadian" at the VIA Rail Pacific Central Station,which will transport us to Toronto.
http://www.viarail.ca/trains/en_trai_toja.html
Day 4. Monday April 27th
Enjoying the Canadian country side from the comfort of our scenic carriage in between visits to the dining car to partake of the sumptuous Canadian cuisine.
Day 5 Tuesday April 28th.
On Board the Canadian.
Day 6 April 29th.
On Board the Canadian.
Day 7 April 30th.
We are scheduled to arrive at Toronto, Ontario at 9:30am
We stay at Strathcona Hotel, 60 York St., Ph (416) 363 3321
Day 8 Friday 1st May.
We spend all day visiting Niagara Falls and environs.Day 9 Saturday May 2nd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae1RqLvO4a8
Day 9 Saturday 2nd May.
Today at 11:30am we catch the train to Montreal and stay at Hotel Du Nouveau Forum, 1320 St. Antoine West, Montreal Quebec H3C IC2. Ph (514) 989 0300
Day 10 Sunday May 3rd.
Sightseeing in Montreal.
Day 11 Monday May 4th.
This day we take a full day return trip to Quebec City.
Day 12 Tuesday May 5th.
We catch the 7am train for New York arriving at 8:35pm.
We stay at the New York Pennsylvania Hotel, 401 7th Avenue, New York NY 10001. Ph. (22) 502 8124.
Day 13 Wednesday May 6th.
Sightseeing in and around New York. In the evening we attend a Broadway Show: Mamma Mia.
Day 14 Thursday May 7th.
Today at 7am we travel by train to Lancaster Pennsylvania and then by road coach we tour several Amish villages. We arrive back at the hotel at 8:10pm .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish_Paradise
http://images.google.co.nz/images?sourceid=navclient&hl=en-GB&rlz=1T4SNYN_en-GBNZ271&q=amish+people&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=BXjnSf_uCZOwtAPqpZzzAQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title
Day 15 Friday May 8th.
It is our last day in North America! Around midday we make our way to the Cunard Wharf and board the Queen Mary 2 where we will spend six nights ‘living it up!’ onboard before arriving at Southampton on the morning of Thursday May 14th.
http://www.cruiseline.co.uk/cunard-cruises/p-id/cruise-ships/queen-mary-2/q2-queen-mary-and-queen-elizabeth-suites/
From Southampton we travel to London to commence our England and Ireland Rail Tour where our travels can be followed on http://englandandirelandrailtour2009.blogspot.com/
Day 1. Friday 24th April
We depart with Air New Zealand at 8:15pm bound for Vancouver arriving at 2:15pm on the same day having travelled 6 hours back in time.
We stay at the Days Inn Hotel Downtown, 921 West Pinder St., Vancouver, BC.
Ph.(604)681 4335
Day 2. Saturday April 25th
We travel by coach to Whistler.
http://au.britishcolumbia.travel/en-CA/PlacestoVisit/Whistler.htm?gclid=CO_PvIO285kCFQwxawodQx2NPw
Day 3. Sunday April 26th
We are touring the sights of Vancouver before boarding the "Canadian" at the VIA Rail Pacific Central Station,which will transport us to Toronto.
http://www.viarail.ca/trains/en_trai_toja.html
Day 4. Monday April 27th
Enjoying the Canadian country side from the comfort of our scenic carriage in between visits to the dining car to partake of the sumptuous Canadian cuisine.
Day 5 Tuesday April 28th.
On Board the Canadian.
Day 6 April 29th.
On Board the Canadian.
Day 7 April 30th.
We are scheduled to arrive at Toronto, Ontario at 9:30am
We stay at Strathcona Hotel, 60 York St., Ph (416) 363 3321
Day 8 Friday 1st May.
We spend all day visiting Niagara Falls and environs.Day 9 Saturday May 2nd.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae1RqLvO4a8
Day 9 Saturday 2nd May.
Today at 11:30am we catch the train to Montreal and stay at Hotel Du Nouveau Forum, 1320 St. Antoine West, Montreal Quebec H3C IC2. Ph (514) 989 0300
Day 10 Sunday May 3rd.
Sightseeing in Montreal.
Day 11 Monday May 4th.
This day we take a full day return trip to Quebec City.
Day 12 Tuesday May 5th.
We catch the 7am train for New York arriving at 8:35pm.
We stay at the New York Pennsylvania Hotel, 401 7th Avenue, New York NY 10001. Ph. (22) 502 8124.
Day 13 Wednesday May 6th.
Sightseeing in and around New York. In the evening we attend a Broadway Show: Mamma Mia.
Day 14 Thursday May 7th.
Today at 7am we travel by train to Lancaster Pennsylvania and then by road coach we tour several Amish villages. We arrive back at the hotel at 8:10pm .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amish_Paradise
http://images.google.co.nz/images?sourceid=navclient&hl=en-GB&rlz=1T4SNYN_en-GBNZ271&q=amish+people&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=BXjnSf_uCZOwtAPqpZzzAQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=4&ct=title
Day 15 Friday May 8th.
It is our last day in North America! Around midday we make our way to the Cunard Wharf and board the Queen Mary 2 where we will spend six nights ‘living it up!’ onboard before arriving at Southampton on the morning of Thursday May 14th.
http://www.cruiseline.co.uk/cunard-cruises/p-id/cruise-ships/queen-mary-2/q2-queen-mary-and-queen-elizabeth-suites/
From Southampton we travel to London to commence our England and Ireland Rail Tour where our travels can be followed on http://englandandirelandrailtour2009.blogspot.com/
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