Cleveland Dam

Not too much to report today, as the rain fell quite steadily, but we did take advantage of one break in the rain to visit the Cleveland Dam on the Capilano River. Grouse Mountain was fogged out, the Capilano Suspension Bridges were rained out, but the Cleveland Dam was free!!

Stanley Park, Granville Island

On Sunday morning we strolled through Vancouver's Stanley Park

Then we Met Cousin Barb for lunch at a Thai resturant with her son Matthew and friend Bob.

We wound up the day with a visit to the Granville Island market, picked up some smoked salmon and other goodies, and back to Peter's for beer, wine and snacks.

Vancouver and Seattle

Friday morning and we hit the first, and so far only dirty weather. More mountains, and then quite a downhill ride towards the town of Hope, which saw the snowy -3 weather turn to rainy +12 in a matter of 20 minutes. The trees had leaves, and we even saw grass almost ready to cut for silage.

We arrived at Vancouver Airport in time to pick Peter up, and then made our way to his place. A short trip down the street took us to where Nick was just about through cutting up a dead animal, and then we all went for a few beer at the Railway Club. We wandered around for a bit, then had an enjoyable supper at the Three Lions Cafe.

Saturday morning and we headed south to Seattle, and with Peter to guide us and photograph us, we toured the Pike Place Market, a few wineries, and ended back in Vancouver for a nice supper at Kelseys.

British Columbia

Yesterday morning found us in The Banff Gondola, heading to the top of Sulfer Mountain, 7496 ft. above  sea level. The view was awesome, and the trip up and down was fun too.

A few miles past Lake Louise took us into British Columbia, then another spectacular drive through the Rockies. And another time change, to Pacific Time.

 

We stopped in Vernon last night, at the head of the Oakanagan Valley, and as in Pincher Creek, I think we had the motel to ourselves. We at least had the pool and hot tub to ourselves.

Today we drove along Lake Oakanagan, stopped at a winery, and then drove over some more mountains to Merritt, where we again had the pool to ourselves.

I even climbed on an exercise bike for a matter of seconds!

On to Banff

A trip to Edmonton wouldn't be right without checking out the West Edmonton Mall. And the rumours were true, it is big. Apart from all the shops and stores, the attractions were awesome too. Sure beats the balls our kids got play in at McAllister Place.

Then west for a spectacular drive through both Jaspar and Banff National Parks and the Columbia Ice Field Parkway.

We even saw a herd of elk, and this little one walked over to see us.

Sarah worried about all the avalanche warning signs.

I just enjoyed being off the 4 lane highways for a bit.

Edmonton via Drumheller

We are now in Edmonton, after driving through Calgary, a side trip in to Drumheller, and a quick look around Innisfall. Drumheller was spectacular, and has to be seen, because I couldn't capture in pictures how you could be driving along through expansive fields, and then plunge into the canyon.

We ran upthe road a bit to check out the hoodoos.

And then back to get a pic of the big dinosaur for Stacy (she likes big things).

On the drive up to Edmonton I took a picture of one of the many huge grain terminals we have seen. Everything is bigger out here...the fields, the tractors, and the farms.

Pincher Creek, Alberta

Why should you relax on a vacation, when you can go... Another time change yesterday, when we crossed into Alberta, so now we are 3 hours behind. So we were up early again this morning, with our genealogist hats on. It took us longer to find the cemetary, than it did to find the gravestones of my Great Granddad, Henry E. Hyde; Great Grandmom Emily; and Great Step Grandmom Jean. They are pictured with the Rocky Mountains in the background.

After a drive down Hyde St., we headed off towards Fort MacLeod.

Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump was really interesting and enjoyable. I remember learning in school about how the natives tricked whole herds of buffalos into stampeding over the cliffs, which I imagine was a whole bunch easier than killing them other ways before they had guns. I am not sure PETA would agree with their methods.

Then back past Pincher Creek towards the Rockies. A short drive through the town of Cowley, looking for the Hyde house, but that was unsuccessful. We checked out Frank Slide, which I didn't remember, but was the worst rockslide in Canadian history, back in '03..1903 that is. The whole moutain side (Turtle Mountain) fell down on the mining village, but it turned out the mine was the place to be, as the miners all survived. We also stopped in at the Leitch Collieries, but that wasn't too exciting.

And seeing as we were right there, we scooted through the Crows Nest Pass to British Columbia, and got a picture of that sign.

Back to Pincher Creek again, but there was still time left in the day,so we drove south, to the Waterton National Park. Lovely drive, lovely vistas, and we got to see some buffalo that weren't going to have to jump off a cliff.