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Ennerdale Horseshoe here we come
Dan and I are off on another great adventure today. This time it is the Ennerdale Horseshoe.
Originaly we were just going up Pillar as the last of the best Wainwrights. But no, we have to go the whole hog and do the the Horseshoe.
Was planning to carry a tent and cooking stuff with us but at 25 miles and 8,000 feet I have decided we are best moving a little lighter on our feet. Tentative plan is to head back to the car as it goes dark. We can then decide whether we camp or head back home.
To add to the fun, I went out for meal last night and emptied the contents of my stomach down the loo. I am drinking for fun this morning, trying to replace the fluids.
Knowing Dan and I, we will be back before lunch having decided to do something completely different. Cannot remember the last time we kept to a plan!
Canada - Calgary - Day 1
We are back. What a fantastic non-stop holiday.
Spending time with friends and relatives in a beautiful country is highly recommended.
A quick overview:
Saturday 9th August
Not officialy the holiday but being away from work counts for me. Shopping and Trees hair in Chester. Big flight day tomorrow.
Sunday 10th August
Up at 5.30am to drop the car at Dan's and get a lift to the airport. View from the plane is fantastic. Mountains, Iceburgs, Glaciers and snow plains. Flew over Iceland, Greenland, Hudson Bay and Alaska. Diet down the drain immediately. Watch back 7 hours. The new down view camera on the plane affords fantastic views as you fly along.
3.15 local time and Barb and Ray have picked us up. They are so welcoming. First time I have met ray and he is so friendly. Trees cried for the first of many times. Decided a Jeep was the hire car. Great choice. Loved the size. comfort and it is automatic. Getting used to driving on the right.
Bunk down in the cellar. It is home from home. Love it.
Off to a Rodeo. Yeeee Haaa. Local event with few tourists. Lots of Cowboys and Cowgirls. $35 Dollar Cowboy hats are mandatory. Lots of Broncos, Bulls and Steers.
Met Tony and Vicky. What a great family. Think we will adopt them.
Canada - Calgary - Monday 11th August
Barb took us out for the day. Birdwatching and the Heritage Park.
Saw a number of birds not seen before and Vicky joined us later in the day.
1st visit to Tim Horton's. My addiction has started for the 2 weeks. French Vanilla Coffee and assorted donuts.
Chilling in the graden watching a Blue Jay taking peanuts.
Finished the day odd with a steak at a Ranch Restaurant followed by a drive to see Calgary from local vantage points.
I love this life.
Canada - Banff - Tuesday 12th August
Another go, go, go day.
Woke at 5am so did some reading.
Traditonal Pancakes and Maple Syrup breakfast at Phils with Barb.
Trees and I drove over to Banff for the day. Called in at a small village before parking just outside Banff. It was manic. Crtainly grown since I was there last.
Parked over the river then walked back across in to town. Bought pressies, did some shopping and had a coffee at Evelyns.
Drove to the Upper Hot Springs. Different, if not a little crowded and basicaly an outdoor pool a little hotter than average. 39 degress centigrade.
Walked over to the Gondola to take a trip up Sulphur Mountain. Trees was very brave on the 8 minute ride up. I quitely had a break down but kept it to myself. Saw a raptor on the ride up and an osprey on the drive over. Also a deer in the car park.
Had a quick snack and a drink at the mountain top restaurant to get rid of the travel sickness feeling. Pinch me, I am writing my journal sat on a mountain top looking out over the some of the most beautiful views in the world.
Walked along the mountain boardwalks taking in the scenery and wild life. Squirrel, mountain goat and local birds.
Called in Banff again on the way home to check out potential hotels and eat more coffee and buns. Drove the few ours back to Barbs in Calgary.
Can life be any better?
Canada - travelling to Lake Louise and Kamloops - Wed 13th August
Time is moving so slowly. Thank goodness. getting so much out of each day. Barb, Ray, Vicky and Tony have been so kind to us. They are lovely.
A day of travel. Tony (Barb Son) is off to the wedding then on to college in Victoria. Vicky and Barb are off to the wedding with Tony. Vicky is brides maid. Ray is riding his bike over to the wedding then riding on with Barb up the West Coast.
Trees had a few drinks with Barb last night but is up and at em this morning. Not seeing much of the Olympics but that is OK.
Drove to Johnsons Valley down the back road. Great views. Decided not to go trekking as Trees is a little pooped today. Drove on to Lake Louise. Very beautiful if not full of tourists and little over developed for me.
Decided to head on to Kamloops and book in a Travellodge. Loads of Wildlife on the way. Osprey galore, even nesting at the side of the road. Trees spotted a Golden eagle.
Long 5 hour drive to Kamloops but I am glad it is out of the way. Travelled along a major lake. Stunning.
Kamloops is a little quiet. Found a nice restaurant but little else. How do people party here?
Canada - Kamloops to Chilliwack - Thursday 14th August
Arrived in Chilliwack one day early.
Decided there was not enough in Kamloops to keep us there. Managed a long walk along the river before we left. Spotted an Osprey going about it's business on the river. We travel 100s of miles in the UK to see these birds.
Drove down the back roads to start with. A burnt dry region. 33 degrees Centigrade. Trees slept whilst I took in the landscape. Lots of Osprey. Even saw to feldglings in the nest.
Trees started to go car crazy so we headed down the Toll road. Dramataic new road that cuts through the mountains. A major piece of engineering. Scary ascents and descents with some major drops over the side.
Stopped off for a Tim Horton in Golden. Great name and great place. We just liked it for some reason. 2 hours later we were entering Chilliwack for the first time.
Decided to head straight to Traceys even though we were a day early. Spotted a Bald Eagle just as we arrived. Chilliwack was the first town we had seen in Canada that felt like it had been finished.
Great to see everyone. Barb and Tracey were on the balcony taking in some light refereshment as we arrived. Ray had arrived having slept at the side of the road was was getting some kip.
Strange how we are all getting so old. I have always seen the Canadian family as young and energetic. At 46 I am now joining the oldies squad.
Uncle Ken and Auntie Beryl have lifted Tracey's house and built below it. Not sure why they did not build above but there you go. Another engineeering achievement.
Booked in at the Royal Hotel. A heritage hotel. Unchnaged this decade. Old to you and me. Decided to give Grant another night before we descended on them.
We all went to Brazzini for a meal. Met Grant for the first time. Padded over to Traceys afterwards for a few drinks and a natter.
Fantastic to see everyone. More family arrive later in the week.
Canada - Chilliwack - Friday 15th August
Hearty breakfast in the hotel with Ray. Looking better for his sleep.
Walked around the town centre with Trees and on up to Traceys. Called in for a Tim Horton on the way.
Walked back to the car and picked Barb up before heading off to the shopping mall. An emergency nail fix was required for Trees.
Trees and I headed off the Cultus Lake for a light swim and a sunbathe. Very relaxing. Asked to leave a bar cause we were semi-naked. Tut tut.
Back to Traceys to meet Lynn, Martin, Auntie Joan, Pam and Andy. Some had flown in that day, others had been to Veronon for a few days after seeing Terry and Elaine.
Trees and I checked in with Grant and met Cousin Carmi for the first time. Also met Oscar and Alex the Billet Swedish Hockey stars. Oh, and Max the growling dog.
What a house. Grand to say the least. Got some great ideas for our place.
Went to the wedding pre day meal at James mum appartment. Very stylish. A painter with great flair.
Grant and Carmi then took us for a drive around the area. I could sell my house and by a mansion. Just a question of how I then live.
Back to the house to chill and talk to Lucy, their yellow budgie.