Rockies (Canada)

...on our way to the ROCKIES couldn't believe we were there. First thing was a stop at the local supermarket, to stock up on all our food, then off we went.
The first thing I remember were the roads were so big and wide mind everything is big out there,
So we headed out on the Trans-Canada Highway to Banff, which was going to be our first stop.
The mountains were tiny when we started off, but just got bigger and bigger, it was ...
...our camp site which was on Tunnel Mountain, which cost us around $22 per night which is nothing really. The only thing I found with the RV if you wanted to go any where you had to take this whacking great big thing into town, if I went again I would have a 4x4 and a trailer at least you can unhitch and leave the trailer at the camp site, but anyway off into town we went.
I was in my eliment, the only way I can describe it, is it is exactly ... more

~Week 1~

I went to Canada in 1999 (was it really that long ago) I can still remember it like it was yesterday.

We flew in to Calgary after getting a fairly cheap flight of the T.V, and then had a bus take us to Best Western Port O'Call Hotel, which was absolutely beautiful. We had a quick wonder round Calgary itself but as we arrived quite late in the day it was just a quick wonder them headed back to the hotel for something to eat and bed. The hotel was very pleasant, the rooms had everything you wanted. Very clean and very well layed out.

In the morning we had a taxi take us to a company called ALLDRIVE CANADA which hires out RVs and caravans, we opted for a big RV, which cost us $855 a week but because we had gone out of season they upgraded us to a bigger one for nothing which was a real bonus, they were all self contained didn't need anything, they where lovely people to deal with, we had a representative in England that sorted everything out for us, he very helpful.

So we were on our way to the ROCKIES couldn't believe we were there. First thing was a stop at the local supermarket, to stock up on all our food, then off we went.
The first thing I remember were the roads were so big and wide mind everything is big out there,
So we headed out on the Trans-Canada Highway to Banff, which was going to be our first stop.
The mountains were tiny when we started off, but just got bigger and bigger, it was unbelievable.

Once arriving in Banff we found our camp site which was on Tunnel Mountain, which cost us around $22 per night which is nothing really. The only thing I found with the RV if you wanted to go any where you had to take this whacking great big thing into town, if I went again I would have a 4x4 and a trailer at least you can unhitch and leave the trailer at the camp site, but anyway off into town we went.
I was in my eliment, the only way I can describe it, is it is exactly like the town out of Dante's PEAK with the mountain at the top of the town, beautiful.
There was just so much to see and do, didn't know where to start.
So we went to Banff Cave and basin which is a natural spa and oh my gosh did it smell of rotten eggs good job it was for and it was for viewing only and not swimming. They had great shopping malls there and we found one small shop that took pictures of you in black and white and you could dress up in olden times clothes, i was dressed as a casino girl, I have added the picture at the bottom, it was a real hoot.
Next we went to LAKE MINNEWANKA yes I had a laugh to at the name, it was huge lake where you could do alsorts of water sports but we just decided to have a look round..
We went for a walk down to the river in Banff which had stunning views, and I couldn't understand why everyone we passed had bells jingling,
later we found out it was to scare the bears away, cause the time of year we went which was in September the bears come down from the mountains in search of food. SCARY

This is a definate must, you have to try out BANFF Hot Springs it was like being in heaven, so warm and relaxing i didn't want to get out.

So after a few days of staying in Banff we decided to head up to Jasper and the scenery was out of this world, breath taking, the amount of waterfalls we passed well I lost count.
We stopped of at LAKE LOUISE on the way up and that was just stunning, it really did look like the adverts you see the water was so blue and clear, seeing really is believing trust me.
We carried on up through the ICEFIELDS PARKWAY stunning again we didn't stop because we really didn't have time but you could see these huge vehicles with treads on like tanks going up on the ice awesome.
We then carried on for a bit and stopped at ATHABASCA FALLS truly amazing the shear power of the water that had carved its path through the rocks it was unreal.
By the end of the day we had reached Jasper yes we did all that in one day, so much to see so little time.
So camped at Whistlers Campsite and on arrival we were told DO Not leave any food out because they had had a few bears on the camp site, (how excited was I, I was like a young child at Christmas).
We hooked up and had ourselves a barbecue ( lovely) joined up with our neighbours for a drink, which was really funny because they were French and didn't speak a word of English but hey it was funny. The people out there are so nice and friendly.

Next day we went up WHISTLERS MOUNTAIN you can either walk up 7km which takes 3-5hours so we passed on that and cheated we took the tramway a lot more relaxing, the mountain is a staggering 2,466m high and the views well stunning unlike any I have ever seen. We had a nice drink up there at the upper terminal where they also do food as well,
then after coming back down we went for a walk around jasper itself which is not a very big town but very nice though, then back for another barbecue at night with some different neighbours this time they were from Texas great fun.

After a good night sleep we then headed up to PYRAMID LAKE where we spent the day canoeing and you needed it the lake was huge and scary because I don't like deep water but it was a lot of fun, there was like little sandy beaches dotted all the way around, so my ex husband decided to get out at one beach and found the biggest bear foot print in the sand, massive hence I never got out my canoe, got your adrenalin pumping I can tell you.

Oh by the way the weather was absolutely beautiful shorts and t-shirts every day.

~Week 2~

Ok so we then headed back down towards Banff we did a big circle by this time after having a week of pure sunshine it started to snow and snow and snow it was a real blizzard and to be honest we just wanted to reach our destination at YOHO NATIONIAL PARK and stayed at the KICKING HORSE & MONRCH camp grounds which cost us $17 per night and it was excellent all the shops you needed.
The following day we decided to go pony trekking up into the mountains what a laugh, so any way we went up into the mountains on horse back, I loved it what an experience I kept looking out for bears but the guide reassured us that the horses would let us know if there was a bear about before we ever saw it, I was terrified ( I thought great my horse will do a runner) but anyway it was fine no bears but what a fantastic day, the country side out there is second to none.

So we are now in BRITISH COLUMBIA and headed to GOLDEN and had a typical meal in a diner got to be done but wasn't that impressed with the place nothing really there, so we carried on down to RADIUM where we stayed at the RED STEAK camp ground (great names aren't they). and again had to try out radium hot springs these where even better and it was snowing while we where in them it is such I nice feeling having snow flakes fall on you while you are in the hot springs.

Heading back through KOOTENEY NATIONAL PARK I saw them, BEARS I mean mum with 3 cubs what an amazing site they where just by the road eating berries I stood there for ages watching them, how nice it was to see them in there own environment I will never forget it.

So anyway I am coming to the end we headed back to Banff for the last couple of days of our life changing holiday to Tunnel Mountain where we started in pure sunshine to end in a winter wonderland and it was just like Christmas. To wake up on the last day to find the campsite full of elk and even a cougar roaming through it, I couldn't of asked for a better holiday, there is so much to see and do 2 weeks really isn't long enough, the food is so cheap the people are so friendly, once you get there they fill you in on most things you need to know, but a self drive holiday is the best way to see Canada.

I have loved going down memory lane with you and if you go and have half the fun I had you will LOVE it.
If there is anything else that you want to know please don't hesitate to contact me

Thank you very much for reading 

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