We had arranged our first viewing of Fred in the outskirts of Victoria so we headed straight there from Nanaimo. In a freak of nature we arrived there early (!!!!!) so we drove up Bear Mountain Parkway to see beautiful views and nature etc – we were wrong. We saw Read more…
We drove through heavy rain and arrived at Nanaimo on the East coast. We tried to locate a bike rental shop and ended up in Pacific Rim Bicycles. Unfortunately they don’t rent bikes but the guy there gave Pete an old set of forks from his recycle pile (for free) Read more…
We set off from Cumberland in rain and drove through patches of sunshine and intermittent really heavy rain. The road was in bad condition and felt like a rollercoaster in places. No wonder they are spending $38 million to improve part of it! We drove to Ucluelet and while Pete Read more…
On our way to Campbell River it started to rain and just got heavier and heavier. We got a short break in the weather as we arrived in Campbell River so cycled the coastal path to see the chainsaw carvings. There was some impressive entrants into this year’s competition. Back Read more…
It felt strange for me to be back in Port Hardy three years after we set off from there for the kayak expedition. The town seemed even more run down and quiet but we had been recommended a great salmon wholesalers, Hardy Bouys. Thanks Deb and Ron! We took a Read more…
For the 6th September we had booked a ferry for the route called The Inside Passage, from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy at the Northern Eastern tip of Vancouver Island. It was the most expensive thing we’d done all trip and was going to take 16 hours so fingers were Read more…
A short driving day of only 109km and we reached Boya Lake. Thanks to Jeff and also Kathy and Phil that recommended this place. One Canadian even asked us “How did you guys hear about this place?”. The lake was turquoise blue and during a little mountain bike explore and Read more…
We left Duhu Lake and its gorgeous reflection to drive 454km to Muncho Lake. Every side track here seems to have an oil or gas facility or a compressor. We have passed several work towns made entirely from portacabins and containers. Some of them seem to be on their way Read more…
On the way to Prince George we stopped a couple of times to check out waterfalls where it is possible to see the salmon run but we must be a little too early yet. We saw no salmon and no bears. We arrived in Prince George and we’re surprised how Read more…
Way back in Jackson Hole we met a couple and their two young girls who said that if we went to Jasper area we should do the walk to Berg Lake which would be more than a day hike except that they let you cycle the first part of it. Read more…
As we headed north out of Lake Louise we had to stop at Herbert Lake again – this time there was a lovely reflection. We only had 233km to go to Jasper, so no rush. Next we stopped at Bow Lake for views of Crowfoot Glacier behind it. Then onto Read more…
We decided that rather than the required 5am dash for a chance to park at the Lake Louise car park we would cycle up the 4kms at our leisure. We cycled the Tramline trail which was lovely and peaceful and until we reached the crowds at the lakeside. We headed Read more…
We drove the 1A, towards Banff, passing the huge and impressive Castle Mountain. Then we walked up the Johnstone Canyon to the waterfalls. I think alot of people had similar thoughts on how to spend a grey and potentially wet day. The falls were lovely and the turquoise water in Read more…
We started the day by walking the Brook Loop trail. We admired the engineering for the train track completion in the early 1900s, when they made figure 8 loops for the trains to gradually ascend and descend making the gradient no more than the required 2.2%. The engineers were very Read more…
Pete celebrated his birthday morning with an early start from Sun Peaks and then cyling around Kamloops while the garage fitted a new transmission sump and selector shaft seal. Thankfully this was being done under warranty, agreed by the garage in Jackson Hole who’d done the original job. Pete was Read more…
So what is Sun Peaks like in the summer? Pretty cool actually. Much busier than Big White, which we took a short detour to see on the way. There are people golfing, biking, hiking, or going to the lakes to kayak or SUPing everywhere. There is a tarmac go-kart track Read more…
At some point in the night, our little riverside paradise at Jolly Creek, became shared by a couple of blokes sleeping on a picnic table in a swag. I’m not sure if that classes as “being bear aware” or not.We descended down into the valley of Osoyoos and geez it Read more…
Following a lazy morning in Nakusp we watched a kids’ swimming lesson in the lake and then headed to Nelson. We visited a beautiful, flower-filled Gyro park overlooking the town and lake and where a kid’s outdoor swimming pool operating by donation only. How brilliant! Then we took ourselves on Read more…
The first place in Alberta that we went to after Waterton Lakes National Park was called Cardston. We needed some groceries and beer was on the shopping list. We found none in the supermarket but we thought, perhaps it is like BC with seperate liquor stores. So we asked and Read more…
Before we left the USA we decided to pop our Wal-Mart cherry, finally try a five layered dip and treat Fred to four new tyres (cheaper than in Canada) . The overnight stay in Wal-Mart wasn’t looking too wise (near a busy, noisy road and a very unfriendly neighbour with Read more…
With only 8 days left on our US visa we got Fred back, complete with new gear box. We set off straight to Yellowstone knowing it would be busy with Independence Day only two days away. At West Thumb Mud Pots the parking was chocca but we eventually got a Read more…
To get to Jackson we crossed the Teton Pass which is probably the steepest pass we have been over in Fred yet.His new brakes worked well which was a relief as you wouldn’t want to have to use the braking run off lanes which look scary as! We spent a Read more…
We ummd and ahhd whether to go all the way East across to Yellowstone National Park. It was going to be 670 miles from Hood River but we decided that we may never be that “close” again so what the hell. We decided to cross on smaller roads to see Read more…
A trip down the Historic Colombia River Highway was filled with sightseeing stops but also lots of other tourists. Wow, we think the school vacations have begun and it was suddenly busy everywhere. First stop was at the Portland Women’s Forum Overlook to see back to Portland and up the Read more…
We spent two mind blowing days exploring the John Day area with its painted hills and fossil beds. The river is called John Day River but it turns out that John Day never even came to this precise area. He was an early hunter who in 1811 was robbed near Read more…