Vancouver with Donna The following morning we repeated our tour of south Vancouver taking in Kitzlano, Lacarno, Spanish Bank and Jerrico Beaches. So much better in daylight. We also swung past the University before heading back through town and northwards towards Cypress mountain for views over town. On the way we stopped for lunch at Salmon House on the Hill. The speciality of the house was salmon so we had all three species of Pacific salmon cooked on an Asp...

Saturday Night Fever Donna, Susan's cousin, was going to join us for the rest of our stay and we had used up all of the coffee that Linda had left in the apartment. I ventured out into the monsoon that had swept in from the Pacific fully kitted out in all my waterproof gear to find a Starbucks and replace our stock of coffee. I was soaked to the skin in seconds the rain just bounces off the pavement, up your trouser legs and into your jacket through the seams,...

The Queen of Vancouver Driving in Canada had been fairly straightforward - good roads, reasonably well signposted, fairly considerate driving and conservative speed limits. It was only on the last stage into Vancouver that we began to feel a little anxious about the traffic. With an hour still to run the traffic density increased until we were only 30 yards between vehicles but still doing 100km/hr. Changing lanes became a bit tricky and we weren't sure when o...

Wells Gray Provincial Park We had booked a log cabin deep in the park for two nights so that we could spend a day exploring the natural wonders of the area. We stopped off at a supermarket at the entrance to the park and stocked up with enormous Alberta steaks, chicken and a selection of veggies, nice wine and a bear bell. Our cabin was 25 Km deep into the woods and was one of a huddle of three owned by Frank. It was very pretty, warm and cosy and really well e...

Jasper Jasper is smaller than Banff but has a similar feel. There is the railway bringing in Rockie Mountaineers, tourists outnumber locals by about 6 to 1 and it is surrounded by stunning scenery. This was our first hotel since Calgary and, for me at least, the first night wasn't a happy experience. Our room was immediately above the entrance to the bar where the smokers emerged to chew the fat and smoke their fags. The bar was open until 2am and drinkers loi...