Saturday 16th June, 2018

Early Morning farewell to the Quaaout Lodge & Spa at Talking Rock Golf Resort
We’re climbing ever higher today – driving up into the Rocky Mountains proper.
We hadn’t been on the road long before we spied an Osprey on the nest. You’ve got to admire the confidence of a bird who places itself in such an exposed position, albeit that it is high up.
We followed the shoreline of Little Shuswap Lake along Trans-Canadian Highway 1 until we reached Craigellachie, a tiny stop which is famous as being the place where the last spike was driven in for the Canadian Pacific Railway which joined the east and west of the country, taming the isolation and playing a role in why parts of what are now Canada did not amalgamate with the States instead.
I want to say the below photo, which depicts driving in the last spike, is remarkable because it doesn’t have any women it. Sadly, though, that was just a sign of the times in November 7, 1885. What is remarkable is that the Chinese workers were cleared from view. According to one official source, referring to the British Columbia section, “by the end of 1882, of the 9,000 railway workers, 6,500 were Chinese Canadians”.
Back on the bus, we headed into Revelstoke National Park, taking time out to stretch our legs on the Giant Cedars Boardwalk, a kilometre saunter (except for steep steps) through old growth forest. As you see from the photo gallery, it is not only those trees which are still standing which caught my eye.
After Revelstoke, Highway 1 continues to climb into the Rockies, and soon reaches Rogers Pass (elevation 4,534 feet/1382 m) at the summit in Glacier National Park.
It must have been a challenge to discover the pass and then build a railway through it but by 1884 the Canadian Pacific Railway was on the job. Apparently the vehicle road wasn’t constructed until the early 60s. We drove under five long tunnels, built to protect travellers from avalanches. In winter this area has huge snowfall and evidence of avalanches is often visible by the track of fir trees missing on the mountainsides.
We lingered for a time at the Rogers Pass Discovery Centre.

Canons are fired into the mountains to reduce the risk of unplanned avalanches @ Rogers Pass Discovery Centre

This is one time I had to admit Bill was better off wearing the trousers. These ones came up to my armpits @ Rogers Pass Discovery Centre
The highway winds around through mountains and reaches the township of Golden, which is near six national parks (Banff, Glacier, Jasper, Kootenay, Mount Revelstoke and Yoho); three mountain ranges (Canadian Rockies, Selkirk and Purcell); and two rivers (The Columbia and Kicking Horse).
Golden is a pretty town of around 4,000 which must really come to life in winter when people flock to the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. We had time for lunch outdoors beside the aqua-coloured river, a stroll down the main street, and an exploration across the timber covered bridge for pedestrian traffic. And a quick snap of a wall mural on the way back to the coach.
Fortified, it was time to move into the Yoho National Park, and this is what we found:

A photography team risking life and limb for the perfect shot at Kicking Horse River Valley

I wonder if this one will suffice? Glad to see the bride showed some commonsense when selecting the footwear

Not really a place to lose one’s footing
Bill took a fabulous video which demonstrates the noise and power but unfortunately it will consume heaps of space to upload it.However, I found this one on you-tube which is almost as good 🙂 if you care to click on the link
You can walk around this area admiring the rock formations from different angles and watching how the water flow constantly sculpts the landscape. The area is called the “natural bridge”. This photo below gives you some idea of how the water is channelled to descend into a canyon where it joins a river.
After a good time at this amazing spot we headed to bed . . . no! We are in the land of the long days. Our destination for the night, the Emerald Lake Lodge, was only about fifteen minutes further on, and we arrived in plenty of time to settle in and have a good look around before dinner.
For the last several days I’ve been walking around humming, “hello mother, hello father, here we are at, Camp Grenada” – when you take a look at our surroundings I hope you will feel the same outdoorsy inspiration . . . (without the part about getting stung by poison ivy and the head coach not wanting any sissy’s).
Nice blog 💖
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Thank you!
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The bride and groom must be strong swimmers!
Great photos. thanks for sharing.
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Too enamoured to see danger ahead 🙂
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So beautiful I hardly know what to say. I love the pristine look and feel of much of Canada. Can’t wait to see and hear more about this trip, including that photo of you in the trousers….
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It was a glorious trip and it is a challenge to select photographs. I’m also a bit sad that I have to sacrifice quality to reduce their file size. The full size versions as simply stunning!
I must remember to include the trousers in the next post.
I haven’t been blogging as I have been beavering away on my manuscript. It’s printing now, as I type. Another read through, a few corrections here and there, and it might be ready to send to my agent. Phew!
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Congratulations on getting it ready for your agent!
I look forward to hearing more about it. And seeing more of your trip photos. 😎
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Thanks, Herminia! It’s exciting to see our granddaughters becoming young adults.
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Hi Elouise, I think you meant that comment to go on your most recent post xxx Gwen
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I didn’t even know I could do that! Thanks Gwen.
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Nor did I. A WordPress quirk? I bet neither of us could replicate it if we tried 😀
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You hit that nail on the head! 👏
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That scenery is glorious, it must be absolutely unforgettable once seen, it’s hard to imagine the grandeur of those mountains and rivers that they are lucky enough to have on the North American continent.
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It was a simply stunning holiday. I did say in a comment to PaolSoren that I came to the conclusion that Canadians are a selfish mob because they have SO MUCH WATER. LOL. All the locals we met were really, really nice people.
I’m hoping to get back to blogging “soon”. I’ve just finished the second draft of my current manuscript. Got some editing work to do on it before I send it to my agent, but while it’s being assessed I’ll have some free time.
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What a great holiday, you’re really exploring to the full, just magnificent.
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It was a great holiday, made easy too when someone else does the driving and arrangements.
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My goodness was that actually a real bride and groom in those pics or was that a reckless photoshoot for a bridal mag or similar. I think it is very disheartening either way as it simply furthers this contemporary vogue for ‘event’ living. Call me very, very old fashioned, but there was a time when simply getting a bit dressed up and pledging your vows in front of family and friends followed by a party made for a thoughtful yet celebratory, special occasion.
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They were definitely the “real deal”, In fact, I’d forgotten that when we got to Emerald Lake Lodge there was a section not available to us as there was a wedding reception taking place. I suspect it was the same couple.
I echo your sentiments.
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Too much for this old bloke. What did I love most. Well the scenery is magnificent obviously but if I had to pick one – the timber covered bridge.
PS. Marriage is a big enough risk without starting off on the edge of calamity.
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Maybe they think that’s as dangerous as a it gets 🙂
The timber bridge was a wonderful surprise. Not the first thing one thinks of when planning a holiday to Canada. Very shades of the “Bridges of Madison County”.
And you could probably do the level of tour we took. One woman was (temporarily) using a walking stick and she kept up. It certainly wasn’t an adventurist exercise. And you can doze off on the bus in between stops if you need to. There was no night-time partying our group! (sniff). It would have been nice to have outdoor activities on the long evenings.
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Maybe a game of cards and a chat over an open fire.
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I would have relished that!
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Oh, Canada! You are very beautiful.
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and the best posts are yet to come 🙂
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I am still amazed at how much you saw and did Gwen! And thanks to you I now have that song in my head!!
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It was amazing how all the words came flooding back. The father of a school friend was an Al Sherman fan. Have you ever heard “you’re getting to be a rabbit with me” ?
Maybe that will get rid of Camp Granada J
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I still laugh when I hear this song!!
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I know – hilarious, right? Of course, as a young person, the little reference to a Playboy bunnie went right over my head.
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Such a fine post and pictures.
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Thanks Don. We had such a wonderful time. Much more to come.
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Despite the great trip and terrific job with the pictures, I still would have loved to see you wearing those ‘trousers’ up to your armpits!!
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Well, shucks, maybe then I’ll include it in the next post.
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Terrific!!
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Your usual superb tour. Good bridal shot
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