Day 7 - Paraiso RV Park - Vernon

Today we woke up at Canyon Hot Springs RV park. It was very misty, but beautiful. We went for a bit of a walk around the park. It was quite soggy. They had a hot spring pool but we wanted to get going (well Gra did!). We got on the road to Revelstoke. Revelstoke was no great find although it was nice. We went to the Library there and did some internet research on our journey to San Francisco. All a bit disappointing, but we have to get over it and enjoy!

Parked at Revelstoke Library where we did our internet work

After we left Revelstoke we stopped at 'Gap 3 Ghost Town' a tiny group of up-market looking shops. We had lunch in the RV just past there by a beautiful lake with an amazing 'Hotel' on it.

The amazing Hotel at 'Gap 3 Ghost Town'

Once we were on the road again, we came across 'Crazy Creek' a suspension bridge over a small waterfall, owned and developed by a Christian couple. It was like a breath of fresh air with all the scriptures around the place and lovely people.

How gorgeous is this...both the scripture and the waterfall

Cute little squirrel

No - he's not real!


We move on and travelled through Sicamous, then Salmon Arm, then Enderby, Armstrong, Spallumcheen and Vernon - this was where we decided to stop. We chose an RV Park a way out of town and although it has a real Mexican feel about it and is quite new - it has beautiful views and wild deer walking through it - so we were both happy! Went for a stroll, had dinner then off to bed!


The two above are some of the sights in the actual RV Park

Taken on our walk around the RV Park

So was this, much to Gra's delight!

And still more gorgeous views - this is looking down some of the layers of the RV Park

This is taken just outside our Motorhome

And THIS was the view from where we ate in our Motorhome...taken in the evening

Day 6 - Canyon Hot Springs RV Park

This morning we woke to clouds and rain in Banff....and this is how close our 'neighbors' were - not a very 'personal' RV park.

We decided to get on the road early and head to Canmore. We had a drive around Canmore - it's quite an eclectic mix of old and commission style 'transportables' and very upmarket homes. Some on the high side of the hill overlooking the mountains and the other down closer to the industrial area. We did some shopping and walked around a bit - quite a big shopping area.

We then headed back to Banff where we walked around for a couple of hours and bought our first lunch - a shared one because it was SO big. We had the photo's put to CD here too. We did a bit of shopping- in the rain - and then headed off to Golden/Revelstoke. It's SO wet! I drove all day today. We didn't stop much because of the weather. I drove through 'Rogers Pass' which was an amazing area - all the mountainside has been blasted away to make way for roads and now they're widening the roads. It was quite difficult driving at times because of the huge trucks. We went through a few 'black' tunnels too - there was absolutely NO lighting and it was - in one instance - very long. We stopped at 'Spiral Railway Pass' - a spot where, because of the steep grade, the trains are forced to zig zag up the hill. A train was passing through so it was quite spectacular.

We also went through a place called 'Field' where Gra got to see wild Elk - so I had to do a 'U' turn (no small feat in a big Motor home!) so he could have a better look AND get some photo's of course.

We then just drove on and made it to Canyon Hot Springs RV Park (about 35km out of Revelstoke) about 7.15pm. Having driven all day and through some very taxing circumstances, I was exhausted!



below is the Honeymoon chalet at Canyon Hot Springs RV Park...isn't it cute?

Day 5 - National Park RV Park - Jasper, Alberta

Well it was a 7.30 wake up today - with lots of trees out our windows....and lots of squirrels climbing them and running around....and the sound of the bull moose. We went for a lovely 1/2 hour walk....that was all because all of a sudden I had really bad blisters...go figure! We've really hoped (?) that we would get to see a bear....so far no luck, but we came across this at the National Park!



We had a late lunch at a really beautiful spot - it was just a 'viewpoint' off the side of the road beside a river that had a backdrop of snow dusted mountains. We've seen quite a change in the scenery today. The rivers are no longer so dusty-emerald and many of the river beds are barren.

We've seen long-horned sheep and a Coyote or something similar. We had to wait for the long horned sheep to pass at one stage and they were in no hurry at all.



We also stopped at Athabasca Falls. The were once a glacier and they were spectacular.





The temperature is really dropping and we are seeing far more snow. Not as many birch trees now although there are plenty of Aspen.

And the 'Iceland Parkway' is an amazing, amazing road...we love it....


We arrived in Banff. Not a lot of difference in the scenery. We took the 'back road' which was more scenic - we hoped to see some wild life, but nothing really.

We decided to find some accommodation before we checked out Banff and ended up at "Tunnel Mountain RV Park". We'll check out Banff after a good night's sleep. Our experience at Lake Louise was a bit disappointing. We can see how beautiful it could be, but the wind was so strong the water was a mix of azure blue in the centre and brown around the edges because of the wind. We moved on to Lake Moraine, which was still cold and windy, but to us it was much more beautiful than Lake Louise.



On the way to Lake Moraine we had a tree fall down - towards us - and gave me such a fright. Thank God we weren't a couple of seconds earlier!

Day 4 - Irvins RV Park, Valemount, Canada BC

This morning we woke to lots of clouds - we couldn't see the tops of the mountains at all. We had a very cold night - kept the heater on all night. We actually sat up and watched 'Paradise Road' last night on our portable DVD player!
After breakfast we packed up and then headed to reception and used their internet to email home. Gra had a decent chat to the wife of the RV's husband and wife team. The cost of the huge rigs that have 'pull outs' that we've seen are about $120K (+ a car at about $60K) - Wow! no wonder they look impressive.
We left Valemount and headed to Jasper. Some really beautiful scenery along the way again. The beauty of the fir trees and the yellowing of the birch trees against the backdrop of the snowy mountains is breathtaking. We arrived at Jasper - what a gorgeous place. A quaint but big town. We wandered around after making lunch and then found out we needed to get to the National Park RV ground or we could miss out! Went straight there and booked in. What an amazing park. Trees everywhere and all us RVers dotted amongst them.
When we returned after getting some supplies there were about 5-6 female deer and then we saw what Gra had been pining for....a heavily racked Elk! WE had seen a few deer on the side of the road as we entered Alberta, but nothing like this. We could have touched him except it's mating season and they tend to charge! No thanks.
We settled ourselves in and then went for a walk. The Elk was coming our way and I was a bit nervous - however no fear with my hunter husband in tow!. We were able to just observe hem as he settled into his resting place - he was very vocal. Oh! and we saw LOTS of squirrels too.


On the road between Mt Robson and Jasper


You gotta laugh! - Jasper


One of the 'quaint' shops at Jasper


Deer at the entry to the National Park in Jasper


Gra thought he was in heaven - this was something he REALLY wanted to see


and our walk produced even more sights to make my man happy!


The squirrels are SO cute!


Home for this night.....

Day 3 - Hitch n Rail Family RV Park Lake Heffey

We both were awake for about an hour at 1am - other than that we slept well and woke at 7am to a beautiful view from the window above our bed. We decided to head out on a walk around the park and surrounding area.

How beautiful it is here. The Hitch 'n Rail is at Heffey Lake, about 50km north of Kamloops. People are so friendly, no matter what the reason. We had a youngish guy stop us while we were walking to see if we knew where someplace was - I had to say sorry, but that I was from Australia and he laughed and thanked us heaps anyway.

Heffey Lake is a really 'quaint' place - lots of lovely weekenders right on the lake. I could stay a few days easily.

We travelled on until arrived at our place for the night - Valemount. The scenery today has been much the same all day. Not bad at all, but not as spectacular as what we've seen. I drove almost all day. Weather was brilliant until we got to the last leg of the journey, then it really turned. We made it to Mt. Robson and hoped to stay there only to find the closest RV Park was back at Valemount. We stayed at Mt. Robson for a while (the largest mountain in BC). Rang Go-West and found we could keep the RV another 2 days - YAY! We called Mum and Dad from there and had a lovely chat. Couldn't believe it was from the other side of the world. Had a VERY sweet hot drink and bought gifts for Bec, Lizzie and Renee and a T-shirt for Gra, then back on the road again to Valemount. Got there, booked in, did a load of washing (!) then dinner. We're staying at Irvin's Park and Campground - a bit barren but still surrounded by snow capped mountains.













These two photo's are taken at the 'Hitch and Rail' RV Park at Lake Heffey. The first one is the view when we woke in the morning and looked out the widow over the bed. It had been dark when we arrived so we had no idea what God had in store for us the next morning - I felt like I woke in Heaven!










These are two more in the same location.










Then this one was on the road between Lake Heffey and Valemount - we stopped to have lunch....what a view to eat by!










Me enjoying the experience of driving on the other side of the road











Mt. Robson - the highest peak in BC










Irvins RV Park at Valemount










Mt. Robson