++ CANADIAN ADVENTURE ++

This is the 10 January 2003 edition of this page

                     Chapter SEVEN

		RETURN TO THE COAST 
                      

10 August 1995

I was IN for breakfast (Mushrooms and a 3-egg ommellette) this morning at 7.30, followed by my packing ready for moving. I bought a very LARGE photo of a GIANT SNOWMOBILE (a bus-version of BIGFOOT!) on the ATHABASCA Glacier. I was dubious about its 'travelling properties' - but I needn't have worried, as it still adorns my lounge wall at home to this day! An after- breakfast walk this morning saw me taking outdoor photos of my chalet here.

Our coach was loaded for the departure, westwards, for Mt ROBSON, the highest mountain in the Rockies! Fortunately, there were NO clouds and I didn't go in for refreshments but concentrated on sightseeing in the wonderful COUNTRY. There were fabulous sights of the MOUNTAIN from the VISITOR CENTRE building and Car Park. Group photos were taken, in quick succession, with each traveller's camera - by Robyn & Carmen. Carmen used my camera, and she was so much quicker than Robyn - that she covered the vast majority at a tremendous rate. She could adapt to the variations in individual equipments much easier.





At the Visitor Centre, we got brochures about the 'local' "Lac La Hache COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL" and also about BUTCHART GARDENS in Victoria. Then onwards towards the coast, having put my watch BACK one hour, I continued chatting with Vicky Miskelly with whom I shared a seat. We 'circulate seats' with this operator - (Vicky and I do this as a 'couple') - and we progress to our next 'stop' at the SALMON SPAWNING river, - to watch and take photos. We also made an UNPLANNED stop when our driver (Robyn) notice a BLACK BEAR in the roadside grass - this provided a wonderful photo-opportunity for us all!

Furthermore, we had an unexpected STOP with single-line traffic and ROADWORKS and this delayed us even more. We progressed with delayed ETAs for our next stop (dinner) and chat at DUTCH LAKE (where the 'special' pies, like the fruit pies, were also fruit and NOT MEAT!!) So I chose their equivalent of a Chelsea Bun and a coffee.

On an outside table, I chatted with two 'older' American ladies travelling together - plus our driver, Robyn. After two photos there (see above), we boarded the coach and ROBYN sped us off to KAMLOOPS whilst we watched a 'bear movie' on the coach's Video/TV system. Carmen, the courier, introduced various other time-occupying distractions, including a 'Moose Drawing Game'!

At a SAFEWAY shop (yet another!!) we stopped and shopped a little, before descending the hill to our hotel. First, I was given an ex-smoker's room - then, on complaining, a room where the window didn't open and the air-conditionning wasn't working!! They sent a guy round to this room and he 'fixed' both - and then I was clear to unpack, eat, toilet and make notes. Some others, not including Vicky, are already in the outside pool!

Then I tried to find the 'breakfast room' (it was part of a dining room with no published menu) and a 'snack room' (No Breakfasts!) - and I abandonned my planned walk because of the rain. A TV channel was selected and it showed a documentary of UK origin (disgruntled employees of London's ZOO - concerning the cutting-out of many items by their management!)

Because of all these hassles, BED came reasonably easy!

11th August 1995 (Friday)



With 'one week to go' the Rockies are over!!! But I still have Canada's West Coast to go! I took photos in both

directions from the DOME MOTOR HOTEL in KAMLOOPS where I've stayed overnight. I arrived last night - and I leave this morning at 8.30am. My luggage is being packed into the coach right now!

Robyn, our driver, actually works for another Company which has contracts with COSMOS and others. This 7-gear coach (with HORIZON and COSMOS stickers) is shown here.

Departure from the hotel (a poor one!) was well-awaited and a rest-stop in the Wanachkee Mountains was had before we changed mountain-ranges.

Then we proceeded to motor to a town called HOPE - where we went into a DELI to buy beef rolls to eat in the Park. Then we looked at a guy's carvings around town - neatly executed by a chain-saw!!

We were getting closer to VANCOUVER.

Now continue in NEXT chapter!
Let's return to Canadian index for reorientation.

Return to Roy's home page for full list of books and other writings either finished or under preparation.

EMail to: Roy's Location.

roy@olympus.u-net.com