Today was an all-day ferry trip from Port Hardy (on Vancouver Island) to Prince Rupert on the northwest corner of the Canadian mainland.
The ferry left the dock at 7:30 am, and arrived at the dock in Prince Rupert at 10:30 pm.
Along the way we saw a few eagles, a bear along the coast, plenty of islands covered with fir trees, and maybe two whales off in the distance.
It also rained on and off.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
Saturday, June 12, 2010
06/10/2010 - Thursday
We awoke in Victoria today.
NATO was holding a training exercise around here. we walked back downtown to see if we could spot any of the ships. Our Aircraft carrier Ronald Regan was in the area, but we could not see any of the ships.
We had a leisurely drive up to Port Hardy, a distance of around 320 miles.
Along the way we stopped at the town of Chemainus, the City of Murals. There are over 40 murals painted on many of the small buildings.
We had to change hotel rooms as the room we were assigned had no working heater.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
NATO was holding a training exercise around here. we walked back downtown to see if we could spot any of the ships. Our Aircraft carrier Ronald Regan was in the area, but we could not see any of the ships.
We had a leisurely drive up to Port Hardy, a distance of around 320 miles.
Along the way we stopped at the town of Chemainus, the City of Murals. There are over 40 murals painted on many of the small buildings.
We had to change hotel rooms as the room we were assigned had no working heater.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
06/09/2010 - Wednesday
Today is the start of our second week. One week down and seven to go.
This morning we left Vancouver by ferry out of Horseshoe Bay on the mainland and docked 1 hour and 40 minutes later in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. From the hotel to the dock there was a light rain. When we reached the dock the rain stopped.
Out vehicle was first on and first off.
After driving off the ferry we drove south to Victoria. Because of a schedule change I initiated we ran a little late. Then we must have entered something wrong into the Tom-Tom and ended up near the hotel instead of Butchart Gardens. So we just went right to the hotel and checked in. Perhaps tomorrow we will stop at the Gardens before we head to Port Hardy.
After checking in at the hotel we walked down to the port area of Victoria. We had on-and-off light rain during our walked. We just tried to walk under awnings.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
This morning we left Vancouver by ferry out of Horseshoe Bay on the mainland and docked 1 hour and 40 minutes later in Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. From the hotel to the dock there was a light rain. When we reached the dock the rain stopped.
Out vehicle was first on and first off.
After driving off the ferry we drove south to Victoria. Because of a schedule change I initiated we ran a little late. Then we must have entered something wrong into the Tom-Tom and ended up near the hotel instead of Butchart Gardens. So we just went right to the hotel and checked in. Perhaps tomorrow we will stop at the Gardens before we head to Port Hardy.
After checking in at the hotel we walked down to the port area of Victoria. We had on-and-off light rain during our walked. We just tried to walk under awnings.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
06/08/2010 - Tuesday
Today was a tourist-type of day in Vancouver.
This morning I went to the Capilano Suspension Bridge (about 240 feet above a small river). the bridge did sway a fair amount, side to side and a little up and down. After crossing the bridge, the other side of the facility had 'tree walkways' - boardwalks in the tree tops.
While I was at the bridge, Judy, Frank & Karen (per Judy - "The 3 Chickens") went to the Space Centre.
In the afternoon we all took the city bus to Stanley Park. Here we walked along the sea wall at the first bay, for about 1 mile or so. We then went to the 'totem pole' display.
Supper was at "The Old Spaghetti Company" in the Gastown district.
Now we need to get ready for our first of several ferry rides. This one is over to Vancouver Island and the city of Victoria.
I forgot to mention in yesterday's post. We have been without a car since we got to the hotel yesterday. The hotel does not have parking at the hotel. They take the car to a secure parking structure about a block away, and of course charge us for it. It has worked out - we either walk to where we want to go (usually only a few blocks) or we take the city buses.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
This morning I went to the Capilano Suspension Bridge (about 240 feet above a small river). the bridge did sway a fair amount, side to side and a little up and down. After crossing the bridge, the other side of the facility had 'tree walkways' - boardwalks in the tree tops.
While I was at the bridge, Judy, Frank & Karen (per Judy - "The 3 Chickens") went to the Space Centre.
In the afternoon we all took the city bus to Stanley Park. Here we walked along the sea wall at the first bay, for about 1 mile or so. We then went to the 'totem pole' display.
Supper was at "The Old Spaghetti Company" in the Gastown district.
Now we need to get ready for our first of several ferry rides. This one is over to Vancouver Island and the city of Victoria.
I forgot to mention in yesterday's post. We have been without a car since we got to the hotel yesterday. The hotel does not have parking at the hotel. They take the car to a secure parking structure about a block away, and of course charge us for it. It has worked out - we either walk to where we want to go (usually only a few blocks) or we take the city buses.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
Monday, June 7, 2010
06/07/2010 - Monday
Today was slightly busy.
We started out a little later than usual, around 8:00 a.m. We traveled to Vancouver, arriving about 9:45. After checking in (one room was not yet ready) we worked on figuring what to do with the extra time we had - I had not planned on arriving so early.
We walked to the Gastown section. Here we watched a steam clock ring in 11:00 a.m. We then walked up the hill to a section named Chinatown.
Then, back to the 'Waterfront' area. We walked over to the Olympic torch / cauldron. It is being worked on to be reused on July 01 this year, Canada's Independence Day.
From here we took a city bus over to an area named Granville Island - an 'artist' and craft type community. The bus ride was somewhat adventurous in that we had to figure out how to purchase the bus tickets with US currency - you cannot. For the ride over we used a credit card. For the ride back I went into a Starbucks Coffee shop and exchanged US currency for Canadian coin - the bus would not accept paper money. We had lunch at 'Bridges Bistro' on Granville Island - it was on the waterfront. However, we ate our lunch inside because of the wind.
That is about it for today.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
We started out a little later than usual, around 8:00 a.m. We traveled to Vancouver, arriving about 9:45. After checking in (one room was not yet ready) we worked on figuring what to do with the extra time we had - I had not planned on arriving so early.
We walked to the Gastown section. Here we watched a steam clock ring in 11:00 a.m. We then walked up the hill to a section named Chinatown.
Then, back to the 'Waterfront' area. We walked over to the Olympic torch / cauldron. It is being worked on to be reused on July 01 this year, Canada's Independence Day.
From here we took a city bus over to an area named Granville Island - an 'artist' and craft type community. The bus ride was somewhat adventurous in that we had to figure out how to purchase the bus tickets with US currency - you cannot. For the ride over we used a credit card. For the ride back I went into a Starbucks Coffee shop and exchanged US currency for Canadian coin - the bus would not accept paper money. We had lunch at 'Bridges Bistro' on Granville Island - it was on the waterfront. However, we ate our lunch inside because of the wind.
That is about it for today.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
Sunday, June 6, 2010
06/06/2010 - Sunday
Today was another somewhat long travel day.
We started out in Missoula, MT, which is on the western side of the state. The temperature was 46.
Heading west we had to go up and over the mountains. The road was curvy, and we did see some mountain peaks with snow.
Later we stopped at the Grand Coulee Dam / Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake. The shortly after we stopped at the Chief Joseph Dam. This dam is the second largest produce of hydro-electric power.
Next we drove up and over the Cascades mountains, driving through the Northern Cascades National Park. Near the top of Washington Pass (elevation 5477') we drove past snow drifts about 10' in height, based upon cars parked next to the drifts.
We had light rain most of the day.
We stopped for the night in Burlington, WA, which is between Seattle and Vancouver, covering around 500 miles today.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
We started out in Missoula, MT, which is on the western side of the state. The temperature was 46.
Heading west we had to go up and over the mountains. The road was curvy, and we did see some mountain peaks with snow.
Later we stopped at the Grand Coulee Dam / Franklin D. Roosevelt Lake. The shortly after we stopped at the Chief Joseph Dam. This dam is the second largest produce of hydro-electric power.
Next we drove up and over the Cascades mountains, driving through the Northern Cascades National Park. Near the top of Washington Pass (elevation 5477') we drove past snow drifts about 10' in height, based upon cars parked next to the drifts.
We had light rain most of the day.
We stopped for the night in Burlington, WA, which is between Seattle and Vancouver, covering around 500 miles today.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
Saturday, June 5, 2010
06/05/2010 - Saturday
Today was another day of mainly road travel. We went west from Belle Fourche, SD, across the northeast corner of Wyoming, and then across most of Montana. Today's travels were 12 hours long and slightly over 600 miles.
We stopped at the Little Bighorn Battlefield Memorial, near the town of Crow Agency, a little southeast of Billings.
We continued west and stopped at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch at Deer Lodge. This was at one time the largest working range in the US.
Our last stop was in Missoula where we are staying for the night.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
We stopped at the Little Bighorn Battlefield Memorial, near the town of Crow Agency, a little southeast of Billings.
We continued west and stopped at the Grant-Kohrs Ranch at Deer Lodge. This was at one time the largest working range in the US.
Our last stop was in Missoula where we are staying for the night.
Signed:
The Wayward Travelers
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)