BC and Beyond

After 3-days train travel it has been really nice to camp at Kitty & Jeff's in Kamloops for a few days. A welcome chance to catch up on old times, new lives and washing! We did a day-trip to Sun Peaks Ski Resort. A very different place to Tod Mountain ski field where Linda skied in 1975.

A breather in Kamloops also gave us a chance to catch up on some upsetting news from home. While at Winnipeg railway station we discovered that Napier had been subjected to a storm that was described as worse than Cyclone Bola in 1988. What a surprise to see Linda's family home on the front page of the newspaper. The front lawn and garden of Lyal's house in Napier now lies on the road 30 metres below. Thank goodness no one was hurt. Thank you to everyone who has sent messages of support.

Next stop, Kelowna and another of Linda's Rotary Exchange families, the Bruces. Unfortunately we were too late to visit with Phyllis but felt privileged to attend her funeral and be part of the celebration of her long and very full life. Charles, Leslee and Colin were very generous with their time despite the timing.

Then it was time to tame the mighty GMC “Yukon XL” - our rental truck. Not exactly our preferred choice of vehicle for negotiating Vancouver streets but it was half the price of a car. Made it safely to Heidi's in “Van City” and had a great catch-up yarn with her.

And here we are at LAX waiting for our flight to Auckland. It has been a busy 3 weeks with an ever changing line up of exciting places and special people. We have loved every minute but we are ready to go home.

Across Canada by Train

Our train journey started in Toronto. Before we left we had time to go up the CN Tower but cloudy weather restricted the view. It was still pretty spectacular though, especially the glass floor.

The train journey west was about 3800km to our hop off point in Kamloops. The first part was all snow laden conifers and birch trees. Then the terrain slowly flattened out and we were into the prairies – think grain silos, red barns and massive flat fields.
The four hour stopover on day two in Winnipeg was desperately needed. We got off and just walked for 3 hours around the river front and city. Back on the train we were treated to a concert by a musician who was doing the trip both ways courtesy of the train company.

It is our last day now and the landscape has changed again. Snow and frozen lakes are back as we climb slowly towards Jasper and the Rocky Mountains. The expected skirmishes over seats in the observation car never eventuated and we got to see all of the mountains that weren't shrouded in cloud. We also spotted mountain sheep, elk, and bears.

It has been a very different travel experience for us. It has taken three days and three nights to travel two thirds of the way across Canada. You really appreciate the size of the country when you travel by land. The Via Rail experience has been very comfortable, with delicious meals and soft wide beds. It just takes a while to get used to the constant movement of the train. We are both looking forward to a big long walk tomorrow and catching up with friends in Kamloops.

Goodbye NYC

Our time in the Big Apple has gone so quickly. On our last day we walked the Brooklyn bridge and then went uptown to the Guggenheim Art Gallery to see “The Great Upheaval: Modern Art from the Guggenheim Collection, 1910–1918. Beautiful spiral building.

That night we went to a Yankees / White Sox game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Andy scored us some $5 tickets but we had a very good view from the bleechers. Watched the game while doing the Homer Simpson thing – beer, pretsels, hot dogs and soggy nachos.

We had a bit of a stressful trip out to the airport as the trains weren't running and when we finally found a cab that would take us for a reasonable price the driver announced that he had never been there. He got out his GPS and drove all the way with the GPS waving around in one hand and the other hand steering. It was a great relief to get there on time and in one piece.

Sad to leave Andy & Sarah but they have a new adventure to look forward to driving up to Canada and back. Our flight to Toronto awaits us.

I Love New York

There was much excitement arriving in New York knowing we were meeting up with Andy and Sarah. Andy was at Newark Airport when we arrived and surprised us by creeping up behind us at baggage claim. It was so good to see him after 10 months. Sarah arrived soon after and we headed out to celebrate our first night together.
Three nights and two days later and I feel as though we are just getting to know our way around. We have walked miles of the easily navigable grid of Manhatten Island until our feet were on fire, we have ridden the open top double decker buses and gaped skywards at the ever changing skyline, we have crossed the Hudson River on the Staten Island ferry just so we could turn around and come back again, and we have survived the white knuckle experience of the yellow cabs. And each time we tick another “must see” off our list another one takes it's place. So much to see and do... we will have to come back.

The photos below are a small selection of the many we have taken. Around every corner, another landmark.

Busman's Holiday Roadie back to Vegas

Heading back to Vegas it's a different perspective on the landscape going in the reverse direction. Probably the last time we will see the Grand Canyon.

How could Paul cross the Hoover Dam without a stop to check out the generators? A very impressive piece of engineering. About twice the capacity of Manapouri and a huge concrete dam jammed in a narrow rock gorge. It was tourist central and pretty hot (about 30) but well worth it.

Back in Vegas at the Tropicana again, we just had time for one more trip up and down the Strip. Paul vaguely remembered canals and gondolas from his last trip here in 1990 so we set off in search of the Venetian casino. Inside the casino on the second floor we found the Grand Canal complete with godolas and “outdoor” piazzas. Only in Vegas!
The alarm went off at 4:45am in order to get the red-eye to Newark to meet up with Andy and Sarah. Handed back the Chevvy Impala rental and noted 1600km of road tavel. Made it to the gate just as the plane was boarding. NYC here we come.

The Grand Canyon

Words are not enough.
There have been many many great quotes pertaining to the wonder that is the Grand Canyon but I still think they fall short. The more we looked the more it gave and the Park Board have done a great job of maximising access for visitors without destroying its beauty.
We chose to do one of the less popular hiking trails down into the Canyon. We descended 600m in an hour and a half and did the return journey to the top in two and half hours. At just about every corner on the steep switch-back trail there was yet another incredible view quite different from the last one.
In the afternoon we drove along the South Rim to look at various view points along the way, then back to our motel to wash all the red dust out of our clothes - got to look presentable on "the Strip" tomorrow night. We go back via the Hoover Dam -" Yah!" says Paul, "a dam and a power house."

Notes from the Road

Today was the big roadie from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon Village. About 500km with some very different and yet strangely familiar terrain. Down to two lanes each way now but still a lot of traffic for a desert!


We broke the journey at Kingman, AZ. Desperate for a coffee we stumbled upon the Roadrunner Cafe and were treated to the real deal. "Biscuits", bottomless cwaffees and genuine midwest hospitality. What a refreshing find and all on Route 66 to boot!

Arriving mid-afternoon we did a quick Canyon sampler before sundown and started planning our hiking trip for tomorrow. Can't wait but now it is time for bed.

The city that never sleeps

Vegas at night is an assault on the senses. Everything about it is over the top. I have selected two images and a movie to give you a poor idea of what we experienced on our first night on "the Strip".
The fountains play to a large crowd every 15 minutes.

Top Gear in Death Valley

Paul earned his stripes today driving on the Interstate 15 through Death Valley. Top outside temperature 32 degrees C, average speed 115 km/hr. Four lanes, sweeping corners, enormous trucks and thankfully light traffic going in our direction. Highest elevation going over the Sierra Nevadas 1300m, lowest elevation -75m (that's below sea level). We played eye spy for a while to break the monotony but there is NOTHING out there. Thank goodness for Classic Vinyl on the radio.

In the middle of nowhere an oasis loomed up in front of us. A cluster of at least 50 outlet stores with all the big name brands. Judging by the accomodation available, a popular shopping destination. Have a look at Barstow CA on the map.

So we are safely installed in our hotel in Vegas and are about to venture out onto "the Strip".

California dreaming

An upgrade to premium economy on the new Boeing 777-300 made for a very comfortable flight to LAX. Then three hours on the 12 lane freeway delivered us to Escondido a bit the worse for wear.

Ray and Claire and their beautiful pooch Kira have been the perfect hosts. We have had the personalised two day" sights and shopping tour" of San Diego/Escondido with Paul's highlight being a visit to Fry's, a vast electronics store with truckloads of great bargains and nifty gadgets. The perfect weather made for a very pleasant morning at the beach community of Coronado and a walk through the historic Hotel del Coronado.

Tomorrow we pick up our rental car and hit the freeway to Vegas, hopefully on the right side of the road (NOT the left).

The Journey

Our route is designed to tick off some "must see" places and people, NOT for efficiency. Our first stop is Los Angeles. A short trip south will see us visiting an old friend and university flatmate in Escondido. Then we brave the highways of California and drive to the geological splendour of the Grand Canyon and the bright lights of Las Vegas. From there we fly to New York for a whirlwind five days with Andy and Sarah. Then its a quick trip to Toronto and a half day to look at the main sights before we get on the train and watch the world go by for three days as we head west towards Kamloops, BC (by the red route). We have four days to catch up with old school friends and rotary exchange families then head to Vancouver for one last night before flying home.

The suitcase is on the floor

Five weeks to go and I'm throwing things at the suitcase already. The airfares, rental cars and trains are all booked, we have lined up an eclectic mix of accommodation and while we are away we are ticking off some North American icons.
Blast off Friday 15th April.