Reflections!

The most outstanding aspect of my travels remains as of other times, the quality of the light in the Northern Hemisphere.

It’s not just the long twilight, but even when the sun is really bright, it does not have the harsh glare of the Australian sun.

Because I was away during what was supposed to be the northern summer (this was actually only apparent in a few places!!!) & was indeed in Greenland for the longest day, it was really wonderful for me not to have to wear two pairs of dark glasses a good deal of the time.

Naturally, people constantly ask me what was the highlight, but to be honest, HOW could I possibly pick just one?!!

I loved the Hebrides, the Faroes even more so (which is why I wanted a Faroese word to name my new guide-dog), fantastic scenery in Greenland & Iceland, & of course the Canadian Rockies!

How could the Alaskan wildlife experiences have been bettered?!

Truly, the whole trip was awesome in the real and true sense of the word.

AND, to complete this, how can I not re-post my favourite photo???????

The Saga has ended!

Yes folks, I am back home safe & relatively sound!

Did not enjoy the flight back from Vancouver through to Sydney, but am enjoying my very own bed!

Thanks for reading & journeying with me for the past three months.

Rounding-off

Just in case U, dear reader (as they say!), are unaware of the fact, I will be back in Canberra on Monday afternoon EST.

Am @ present sitting in Vancouver airport prior to the flight to Sydney, blessing the fact that I had the foresight to book on the earlier shuttle bus from Whistler as there is a huge world firework competition on tonight in Vancouver, & the later bus would probably have not been easily able to get through!

Rather enjoyed the bus trip down to YVR, as the driver & I struck up conversation & he even slowed down so that I could hopefully get a better photograph of 1 particular bit in which I was really interested!!!

But the sun, reflections on bus window, darn telegraph poles etc.etc. conspired against me!

For my final touristy thing, I finally made it to the fantastic Aborigional Cultural Centre before leaving Whistler & so glad I did.

Was able to get a personal tour with Josh, & to play his drum that he had made!

He also gave me a whirlwind tour of their Nature Trail, & he was able to give me personal stories of friends & family use of the medicinal plants etc., & the sort of canoe he uses etc. etc. A very pleasant & interesting young man. He was also interested in the small things I could tell him re Australia Aborigional culture.

OK folks, keep my plane in the air for me (& all others flying tonight), & will hopefully TALK with you very soon!

PS Sorry can't be bothered to put up that replacement text, for the one Blogger swallowed!!

Last full day of the saga!

During a delicious breakfast (Sue does all her own baking & bread making) had almost the last delightful "wildlife" experience of the trip, when a humming bird came to the feeder on the balcony! But despite rushing for my camera, the light was all wrong, so U will have to make do with a street banner!!

And then, whilst waiting for a bus downtown (had had to return something & was way away from the intended starting point for my hike), I heard what sounded like a very strange bird call, but it turned out to be a seemingly very distressed baby squirrel - poor wee mite was rushing up & down the tree.

Of course I could do nothing for it, so got on the bus.

Initially I wondered about my choice of trail when I saw this

just kidding, Lost Lake is very popular spot, with a looped biking/walking track right around it.

Found the Nature Trail after yet another 'warning' sign:

but my photography was pretty woeful!

 

altho', I quite like this:

& I definitely like this:

on the whole, they are pretty ordinary!

Oh dear, this time tomorrow I'll be on the plane back to Oz *sigh* but at least I'll get to see U all again. How odd it will seem!

Thursday August 4th

No problem getting to the Rocky Mountaineer pick-up point by 6.30, & it didn’t really matter that my window seat was on the wrong side as I spent most of the journey to Whistler in the observation car! I was sitting next to a Japanese lady who obviously wanted to try out her English - she was in Canada for 3 DAYS only!! Imagine that????!!!! That's crazier than 3 months!!!!!

It certainly is a great train trip - especially the Cheakamus Canyon

but I'm afraid my photos don't do it justice! You'll have to google it! However, it doesn't stop me trying......!!

A very pleasant, quiet B&B for my last couple of nights in Canada.

Altho' it's a pretty trail to get down into Whistler Village,

I found the Village itself very tiring & somewhat confusing as it feels like it's almost circular & it all looks blurrily alike to me! And there are an awful lot of tourists!!!!

 

I had not intended going up in the gondola until tomorrow, but whilst in the tourist centre I heard some Kenyan tourists being told that it was a good time to go up as it would be closing soon, so went myself on the spur of the moment.

Had a gondola all to myself, so it's a good thing I had got over my fear whilst doing the Banff & Jasper ones with Jane!

 (Just managed to "loose" a whole lot more text & photos!)

Decided to brave the Peak to Peak










When I got to Blackcomb I found to my horror that the memory card on my camera was full  & - as I hadn't intended to do this trip - I wasn't carrying my usual spares! However, managed to catch the 'shop' b4 they closed & they had just started stocking cards! Whew! I wouldn't have to fork out to do it all again!!



I didn't stay up there very long as I simply wasn't dressedfor the snow, it was silly to have gone up in a thin shirt etc. just wasn't thinking clearly!

On the way back down, I also had a gondola to myself, which became pretty scary when it stopped & was left dangling!!! But, to state the b......... obvious, I survived!!

Even at this time of the day, there were still little, as well as big, kids mountain biking on these, what seemed to me, to be incredibly dangerous tracks!





After the descent - again alone! - I wearily found a coffee shop as I didn't want a big meal - & took the last photo of the day over a very good decaf Americano! Just imagine having this view on a daily basis as you sip your latte!!!

Wednesday August 3rd

Managed to walk to Departure Bay to get the ferry to the mainland, but had some very nasty moments as neither the ATM nor the ticket machine would “recognize” my VISA card! Luckily found $20 tucked away.

Successfully got a really packed express bus downtown but a bit of a hike as the driver took me a bit further on than necessary! Luckily the meeting point for someone from the Rocky Mountaineer to pick me up is close by the YWCA where I'm staying.

Eventually found a bank, & had the best wrap ever for tea - and it had really healthy ingredients as well - several stars to Vancouver for that one!!

Tuesday August 2nd

Got to very elegant B&B in Port Hardy soon after midnight! Luckily was able to share a cab from the ferry. Hardly felt like I’d been there as was away by 8.40am. Managed to overpay, pity as I could have done with the extra cash, but it was good!

The bus trip down was uneventful, & it rained during the scenic part, but very bright & hot when we got in to Nanaimo - late.

Was met by cousin, Deirdre,

& firstly took bags to motel then went to her simply gorgeous house in bush, overlooking Nanoose Bay.

Deer grazing in the ‘garden‘ & drinking from the waterfall outside the kitchen window!! Just beautiful, & a lovely family.



This doe does not have extra legs, but a very small fawn which to me looks so much like a joey!

This young buck blended in so well he was difficult for me to photograph, but it was lovely watching them

Dick, having retired from designing museums all over the world, has returned to being an artist - beautiful drawings & bowls

It was a lovely evening for me, especially so close to the end of my saga! Much thanks D & D!!

Monday August 1st

Decided to spoil myself so shouted me a cabin for the the BC Ferry journey from Prince Rupert to Port Hardy thought it a worthwhile extravagance since I’ve been pretty frugal & am tired.

I have just lost all the rest of this post, so have decided I am so far behind I will try to remember what I put here & add photos to this & later posts if I can @ Vancouver Airport!!!

Of course, I didn't manage to do this, so am now adding to this post a great deal later!

So glad that I did get the cabin, as my seat that I had reserved & paid extra for was next to an incredibly obese man who spilled over in to mine & was quite unpleasant when I asked him to move his things so that I could sit down (to be honest I think he could not reach the floor to put them there). After a couple of tries, I just gave up & let him have the extra seat!

Sunday July 31

Dramatic sunrise - as seen from my cabin for once!

Had a couple of hours in Ketchikan

was a bit embarrased when I asked if the (oldest) Church was likely to be open, & got the reply "well since it's Sunday I guess it will be!!!" I had lost track of the days!!!!

During the taxi ride met a couple of Kiwis (sisters) who were really nice, similar interests going to similar places etc. so spent quite a bit of time talking during the course of the voyage south.

Prince Rupert is very spread out & quite steep - didn’t do much - Sunday evening nothing open of course, & couldn’t find the Cathedral!

  a view from the hostel












 a view from the hostel

                                                               














Must get to bed as have to leave here @ 5am when the taxi is due to get me to the BC Ferry & it’s already 11.50pm!!!! (& ditto as I post this except that I have to walk!! as I go to my last Canadian train journey up to Whistler.)