What a long day yesterday. A whole 24 hours of travelling including a stopover of over 5 hours in Toronto Airport. All the worry of filling in the paperwork for covid entering Canada and no-one seemed bothered.

Up early today to pick up the car for our long drive to Revelstoke. Got a nice SUV with in built Sat Nav after I said I was worrying about navigating to Hope. Thank goodness.

Shame the weather wasn’t too good, heavy showers and low cloud but at least we weren’t hiking just travelling. Lovely breakfast in Hope. We’ve eaten there before. A really local diner with very friendly staff.

Arrived in Revelstoke about 5.30. Staying in a motel which looks very modern from the outside but could do with a lot of refurbishment inside. Popped over the road for dinner and had possibly the best pasta I’ve ever tasted. Paul felt the same. Only disappointment so far is that we haven’t found any Shock Top. Fun trying different beers though.

Finally the time has come to say goodbye to Canada. Very sad but it will definitely be good to see everyone and Jasper.

We left the flat at around 8.30am and it was much cooler. First was a taxi ride to the airport – scary so kept my eyes closed much of the time. We then had an internal flight to Toronto. Seats had hardly any leg room and there was no food service. Only a four hour flight thank goodness. We then had a wait before our second flight and managed to fit in a lovely meal at an Irish pub in the airport and the best thing was that they sold Shocktop – result! Then back on another plane for the remainder of the journey to the UK. Much more room thank goodness.

The next part of day involved a taxi from Gatwick to Laura’s – again scary! Lovely to spend a couple of hours with her before loading up the car and driving the final section of the journey.

Lovely to finally arrive home after 40 hours spent travelling. Apart from the fact that a lot of the plants in the back garden had died and the Virgin satellite box had gone rogue in the middle of June so didn’t record lots of stuff and Paul then spent an hour on the phone to Virgin trying to fix it all’s well. Jasper is definitely glad to be home and won’t leave Paul alone.

Shattered!

Back to the Stampede. Still hot but at least we were in the grandstand and so in the shade. Chuck wagons first and really fun – needless to sayI didn’t manage to back any of the winners! Then it was Indian relay racing – boy can they ride!

The finale was the Grandstand Show. It was a variety show but more enjoyable than I expected. Certainly lots of variety – from Andy Kim (Rock me gently) to Eddie the Eagle Edwards! All finished off with spectacular fireworks – very, very loud!Kids chuck wagon racingGuess who?An illusionist

Up and out for breakfast. On the way so a demonstration of square dancing – and they wanted people to join them. Well, you couldn’t stop Paul obviously. (See pics below). He needed breakfast after that! Then off to the square where we were lucky enough to see the local First Nation dancers again. Brilliant. Now back to the flat to do as much packing as possible before we go out for lunch/dinner and then the evening show at the Stampede.Paul showing them how it’s done!His daughter was finding it all too much.

Had a lovely meal at Caesar’s last night. Very old fashioned and correct.

Out for breakfast this morning. Service was pretty awful but we eventually got the toast we ordered! Then off to the Stampede. The flat is only four blocks away so is very handy. Lovely weather just like the last time we came. Packed as always. The afternoon events included the bareback bronco, girl’s barrel races, saddled bronco, bareback bull bronco and one where little kids in teams of three are supposed to grab a pony and one of them gets on – hilarious!

Even more pushing and shoving involved in leaving the grounds – think I’m too old for this! Dinner resembled breakfast in that the service was dreadful and people kept complaining that they were missing parts of their meals. Maybe we’ll have better luck tomorrow.Vodka martinis at Caesar’sCalgary Tower near our apartmentNot sure how this hare got onto the groundsNative dancersy

Left Revelstoke in rain which continued on and off till we got to Lake Louise. The clouds were very low and incredibly atmospheric. Lots of roadworks again – can’t work out if they are trying to four-lane the whole of the Trans Canada Highway or just some of it. Saw a train going through the Spiral Tunnels – it’s incredible as you can see the one train in three different places as it spirals down through the mountain.

Stopped at Lake Louise Village and couldn’t believe the number of people – we have never seen the area so busy – obviously it fills up during the school holidays. The Lake Louise car parks were full and people were having to park at the overflow car parks and be bussed in. Then we went passed Johnston Canyon and people were parking at least a mile away and walking to it – and that’s before they hike the canyon! Glad we manage to visit these places before they are too busy.

Arrived at the airport and dropped off the car. As usual there were problems – this time they said we hadn’t prepaid. You can imagine Paul’s mood! Anyway we are now in the latest apartment which is bang in the middle of Calgary, very close to the Stampede ground. Booked to eat at Caesar’s which we ate at last time we were here and really enjoyed. Bon apetit!You can just see the three parts of the train coming out of and going into the Spiral Tunnels.

Not much to report today. We left Vancouver really early and so missed most of the traffic. We drove along over the Coquihalla pass for the first time. It was lovely to be surrounded by mountains again. Arrived in Revelstoke by 2.30pm – the motel is an old one but they are obviously spending money trying to update it and the situation is perfect. We’re both really tired after the last few days – think all this exercise is finally beginning to catch up with us!View of Mount Baker from the highway – incredible how close we are to USA

Glorious weather for a bike ride. Coffee at Blenz and then off to Spokes to pick up some bikes. Did the same as last time and cycled round Stanley Park and then the inner harbour – 3 hours. Paul fell off once and the pedals on my bike managed to wallop my right shinbone a couple of times so I now have a lovely lump there to set off all the mosquito bites and the lump on my left foot where the camera landed on it!

After all that cycling we needed refreshment so went back to the Tap and a Barrel where we sat outside and had a beer and salad – aren’t we healthy! After a wander around Gastown we made our weary way home via Canada Place again in case the otters were about – they weren’t but we did watch a crow trying to eat a starfish. He was unsuccessful and left it but no-one else seemed to want him either.Love these statuesAre we on the Mississippi?Steam clock, GastownHe has a go but ends up leaving it.

Lovely sunny day for a boat trip but very, very sad to leave Vancouver Island and already looking forward to visiting again in two years. Really smooth trip and arrived in our new flat about 2pm.

After unpacking walked along the marina to Canada Place where we had lunch in the Tap and Barrel. Paul was looking forward to having the peanut butter and bacon jam burger with chipotle mayo. Luckily for him it was still on the menu but unfortunately for me the mac cheese wasn’t. Never mind – it meant I had the same as Paul and really enjoyed it. They also had a wheat beer which was very like shocktop – a real bonus.

On the way back to the flat managed to see four otters swimming in the harbour and spent ages watching a gull trying to swallow a starfish. Looked like the starfish had been dead a while as it was very stiff and so the gull was having great difficulty. He kept picking it up, turning it around, trying to get it in his mouth and then softening it with his saliva. Thought he’d managed it once but out it came again. Eventually he made it and he even picked up all the crumbs he’d dropped! His throat was quite fat for a while!

View from the bedroom window through the buildingsRoof gardenReminded me of the Flicker babies – wondered if a huge dog would appear to feed themBeautiful heronWondered if we should buy this boat – only one and a quarter million.Beautiful View while we were drinkingCormorantsOne of the two cruise ships just leavingOtters – there were fourGull v starfishGull’s almost made itNo – out it comes againGoingGoingGoneStill having trouble getting it downGoneAnd off he goes