At the time I am writing this entry here in Edmonton, I have only seen the mountains in Canmore up close. The major parks of Jasper and banff are ahead of us. Even so, they are an incredible sight, ever changing as the sun casts shadows or the weather descends upon them at alarming speed. In blue skies the jagged peaks are intimidating but in dark shadow they become malevolent, looming over the small town below in threatening poses. Strangely, instead of...

I have met the real locals. On our day in Calgary we decided to walk to the Greyhound Station to purchase tickets for the overnight bus to Vancouver on 3 September (the day we are due to return the car to Calgary). We walked down the pedestrianized Stephen Avenue Walk and continued west on 8th Avenue at the end. We passed banks, Oil Company offices and several University of Alberta administrative buildings. The scenery became seedier and the number of liqu...

Getting into Canada was interesting. I don't know about anyone else but no matter that I have nothing to worry about I always have a moment when passing through foreign customs and immigration when I think that a hand will tap me on the shoulder and two burly men will take me to a side room to ask questions intimately. Canadian immigration was just ahead on the 11th August and I suddenly realised that I had not thought through my arrivals outfit. I had jus...