Canada 2004

Life in a cottage, on and island, in a lake, in the sunshine. Well kinda in the sunshine.

Mike described it as the "Real Ontario Experience" and if this is it, I'm def coming back.

We left Toronto in the early after noon and made our way to Mikes family cottage in the Lower Buckhorn Lake. Stopping in the guys home town of Peterborough for groceries, the sun beamed down on us as we passed through alot of familiar town names...

Tyrone, Enniskillen, Monaghan, Antrim. I got a hint that there may be a little bit of irish influence in the area..

When I say the cottage was on an island, i mean that we actually had to load up a boat to get out to it. It was a beautiful secluded place with is own jetty and small island attached (Called Micheals Island cos he was the first to set foot on it, but we'll come back to that earlier)

Already on the island were a lot of Mie and Kristis friends. We also got to see Kristis 2 sisters again, Shauna and Jen, whom we had met on their visit to Belfast.

After a short storm and a rained on BBQ, we all sat in the gazebo and settled for a night of social activity (including Jen choking on a tortila)

Patrick + Claire

Trees

Lakes

Trees

Then we stopped..

The track, the single track that runs the trains, was broken, the train was delayed by 2 hours.

We eventually arrived in Toronto at 10pm. Meaning that I was unable to get to the Liverpool v Porto game in the Skydome, but was subject to the torture of seeing them all leave the stadium as we arrived (1-0 to Porto anyway).

We were met at the station by Kristi, Mike and Kim, my three friends from my trip round eastern europe. We would be staying with Mike and Kristi for a few days.

They took us to the Peel Pub in downtown Toronto for a few drinks, and after 32hours on a train... they were needed.

In the bar ther Mike Tyson fight was plastered across the walls. And the cheers from the Canadian crowd when the american was KO'd was deafening.

We were taken back to the Lornes brand new abode in Markam. A beautiful house in which we all climbed in to the hot tub in the yard to relax before hittin the sack.

Patrick + Claire

We'd said our goodbyes to Kelly and Adam the previous night. When we awoke they were long gone. So we arose, showered and packed up to head off to the train station.

Kellys mum and dad were very kind to us, infact everyone did so much for us we are both so grateful to them. Mr Hill came and picked us up from the house to take us to the train station.

We met up with Angelo again who had been spending time with his friens in the city and we all boarded for the 30 hr train journey to Toronto.

And how was that...???

Lakes

Trees

Lakes

Trees

Lakes

Trees

Remote Town

Trees

Trees

Lakes

Granny on Quad Bike

Trees....

Patrick + Claire

Claire was the first to conquer the knee boarding on the lake this morning. I finally got into it after quite a few failled attempts. But we both had great fun, and a few bruises to show for it.

Kelly and Adam brought us back to Winnipeg where I once again got to meet her mum and dad. But time was limited. We were guests at a dinner in a places called Hu's On 1st, an asian restaurant that was part of their baseball stadium. In fact you could see right out on to the field. Hre claire and I got to meet the members of Adam and Kellys family. Including Kellys brother chris, adams mum, brother cory and corys girlfriend.

We both had a great night and following a great meal, Kelly, Adam, Cory, Claire and I hit a few bars in the town, culminating in Claire and I performing a couple of tunes at a Karoke Night.

Patrick + Claire

We were met upon arrival in Winnipeg by Kelly a friend who used to live in Belfast. She was accompanied by boyfriend Adam and the brought us for food at a place called Earls.

The plan was to head straight out of Winnipeg and up to Adams cabin by Lac Du Bonnet. So I drove us up. That was fun.. I hadn't concentrated so much on driving since i passed my test. But we arrived safely and were straight in to our swimmin gear and on to the boat for a spot of messin about on the lake. Claire and I tried our hand at Knee boarding, with varied success and we tried to head up a stream with a strong current to see a waterfall.. with no success.

The night was spent in the garden after dinner, playing a game called beanbags, invented by the Kowalchuck family. A bonfire was lit and we headed in the dead of night, in the boat to a nearby beach for a spot of midnight swimming.

It was a great and really relaxing day, just what we needed.

Patrick + Claire

The main attraction of Edmonton it seems is the mall. The West Edmonton Mall is one of the largest in the world. With a waterpark, pirate ship, theme park, international sized ice rink and hundreds upon hundreds of shops, it reall is sonething that takes a day to see.

Unfortunatly we didnt have a day and so we spent what time we did that day in the mall. having breakfast there and the walkin in and out of shops. Alberta has the lowest tax of all the states in Canada. So Claire and I took advantage of this with a few purchaces.

We then headed back to grab our bags and head to the train station for the shortest of our trips. The train to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

A long long lie in meant that we were about 2 hours late for meeting Angelo. We hoped to get food in a place called Uncle Alberts, it sounded great in the lonely planet... but it didnt exist anymore, so it was back to O'Byrnes and what was on the breakfast menu??

Soda Bread!!

It turned out to be a wheaten Soda, but nice none the less. It was the waitress who suggested we head out to the Klondike Days festival near the Oilers stadium. A festival comemerating the Klondike Gold Rush, So in the blistering heat we made our way out there by metro.

$8 to get in, we walked around for ages. There was a casino, a theme park a huge beer tent. We both took part in a number of things, including a pugle fight like in gladiators and a VR game that was alot of fun.

Beer was needed so a cool down in the tent where a band was playing 80's hits. It was so hot and humid. Claire enjoied a wee while in the petting zoo before we had to head back. A few pics by the Wayne Gretzky statue and we hopped back on the metro back to the hostel.

After a quick visit to the web cafe, it started to belt down with rain as angelo and I had to walk back to the hostel. He hated it. I loved it.

The three of us headed to a mexican place for quite a large meal. (tho the bill came to only $70) and retired for a few drinks in a bar up the road called the Elephant and Castle. Where the barman allowed Angelo and I to play NHL2004 on his PS2.

Patrick + Claire

A long long long long uneventful train journey to Edmonton, some nice scenery, a few games of battleships and a quick stop in Jasper for pizza and beer.

We finaly arrived in Edmonton... 5 hours late at 2230.

We waited on a taxi to the hostel, gettin eaten by mosquitos. A shuttle bus arrived and took 10 of us to the HI Edmonton, a former convant that feels just as such.

A shower and we headed to O'Bynres for a few beers... then hit the sack.. wrecked..

Patrick + Claire

The most boring day of the trip yet.

Up, packed and breakfast back in Doolins bar with the remainder of the gang. We'd have to catch our train to Edmonton that evening.

So after a hearty breakfast, Claire, Angelo and myself hit the town for a bit of shoppin. Claire got a watch and I needed a new pair of sandles. The oakley sandles which I'd had for 4 years and been with me through thick and thin, just had to go, they were stinkin...

We got wind the the Molson IndyCar racing was on down at GM Place, so after a few comedy hockey shots in a locla sports store with Angelo...



claire and I went down so see what we could. We ended up standing on a bin lookin over a fence, but the sound of the cars and the speeds they took the corner at were amazing, claire got some great pics and i got a bit of a vid. Time was limited however and we had to split.

We got back to the hostel to say goodbye to Mary Dan and Debs (by the way a wee hello to Dan and Deb's Mum who reads the site and asked for a wee mention, hope your enjoying it :)) Then Angelo Claire and I made our way through the heat to catch the train to edmonton.

The trains are very nice and well air conditioned. Theres very little i can say about our journey that night, we basically had dinner then hit the sack, hoping to arrive in Edmonton at 1730 the next evening (a 24hr journey).

Patrick + Claire

Devin dropped us off early for the bus (after playing us the "Toast Song" :)) and we hooked up again with Dan and Debs for the last trip into Vancouver.

First stop was Kettle Valley Railway tunnels, all well and good but a sideshow compared to what was the big activity of the day..

Claire and Dan at the tunnels.

Now Claire is afriad of heights, I never really considered myself to be that frightened... but this was an exception.

Today Claire and I would throw ourselves out of a plane at 8500 feet in a skydive. On the way there the nerves were all too apparent on my face, yet claire was more calm and fired up for the feat.

We arrived and i was petrified, a short saftey briefing, fitted out with our jumpsuit and harnesses, we met with the instructor with which we would tandem jump and then suddenly we were in the plane....

What do you mean it doesnt matter if its ripped??
A slightly nervous smile??
Fear... Pure Fear!!!

It all seemed so quick... we accended to 8500 and like that i was being fixed to the instructor, the door was open and i was stepping out. A few seconds with one foot out of the plane on the step then...

Freefall...

An amazing feeling once we'd stopped spinning and i put my arms out i felf amazing... We seemed to only fall for about 30 seconds and the the parachute opened and everything went very quiet as we floated down to the ground. Amazing views, i got to take a video with my camera which was in my jump suit. Claire got to take some amazing pics.

Claires view of me


One of the most thrilling experiences ever. We got our certificates and for the next few hours we were buzzing.

Back in Vancouver we checked into the Samesun hostel and met up with Mary, Angelo and the Japanese girls for a quiet night of a dinner and a few drinks in Doolins bar before we hit the sack. The day had been a bit of a drain.

Patrick + Claire

A bit of an early hungover wake from Lori and Mary as Claire and I went down to wish the bus goodbye. We were stayin an extra day in Kelowna to see Claires frind Eimear and her boyfriend Devin.

A sad morning cos it would be the last time we'd see Lori and Darren, so we'd both like to take this oppertunity to thank them for everything, they were great fun. And we hope you two keep in touch.

Claire and I hit the sack again for a few more zzz's and woke about 10ish to meet Eimear. We all had a lovely breakfast at Greatful Fed cafe before being picked up by Devin and brought to his lovely apartment in Kelowna. The four of us settled in to eachothers company before Devin had to rush back to work.

The two girls and I headed into town to get Claire a pair of sunglasses and have a pint or two in the sun. We stopped at Kelly O'Briens Irish Bar for a cold one and it wouldnt be our last visit before we left.

Eimear and Devin were kind enough not only to put us up for the night, but to allow us to wash our clothes.. something that was badly needed. So as this was being done we continued to consume a few beverages (Devin introduced me to Granville Island Honey Beer.. MMMM) before Claire and I were treated to a lovely meal at The Pier Bar and Restaurant

The girls enjoy the wine
Eimear and Devin get stuck into thier mountain of seafood.

The night continued with a trip back to Kelly O'Briens and their "Paddy-O's" roof top bar, where we had a mega session and I ended up proving my nationality to a barmaid by producing my passport... less said the better i think... :)

So surprise surprise, we all went out and got very very drunk in Revelstoke. We went to a local bar, the original 12 members of the tour and had a few pitchers of beer. The night ended with Dan phoning his recruitment agency in Bristol lookin for a job....

An early hungover morning to make our way to Kelowna. An hour and a McDonalds breakfast later and we stopped in a Go-Karting place for a bit of craic. I personally hate to admit it... but Claire kicked ass. Even if she was a bit of a dirty driver... forcing me off the road and wreckin my car.... ;)



We stopped at a flea market, the plan was that we buy the tackiest piece of clothing for someone, drawn out of a hat, to wear that night, it couldn't cost anymore than $2. I bought a pair of kids flippers, claire a hidious white handbag, dan got an oranfe backpack, mary a pair of orange headphones, lori a snorkel and mask, darren got a bag shapped like a fish.... but we got screwed... the rules were changed and we had to wear our own purchases...
Dan, Darren + Hellen model thier $2 purchases...
Claire models EVERYONES $2 purchases...

We arrived at the samesun hostel at 3 and were out straight away, up to Summerhill vinyard for a tour of the factory to see how they make their sparkling wine... but to be honest it was a bit boring, we were all tired and needed a shower so we didnt really wanna be there.

Claire and Mary surrounded by just enough wine for the evening...

It was a hectic day all round, as soon as we got back we were out again, in our swimming gear to head out on a house boat in Kelowna for a big party. The craic was great, the drink was flowing, the lake was great for a swim, the sun was beaming and it was just what we all needed, wspecially bombing off the top of the boat.


Top Bombing!!

We were well boozed up when it came to getting ready for that night out, we all donned our tacky gear and first of all headed to the Cats Meow, a bar by the hostel, it wasnt the best for the beer, so we gathered together and headed to a bar three streets over called Doc Willobies, it was our last night out as a group so many many many pictures were taken and people got very very drunk. It was a great night which ended with us stumbling into the hostel very late.

The Gang dressed to impress..
Those flippers just about fit.

No drinking last night and yet we managed to sleep in (almost!) I woke to the sound of the engine of the bus starting! We got up, packed (well I did - Paddy was good and packed last night) and out to the bus. We had a full bus today so there wasn't as much craic as there had been and it wasn't as comfy.
 
Anyway we got on our way first stop breakfast then on to Takakkaw Falls - the 2nd biggest waterfalls in canada, 254m high! Takakkaw is a native word that means "it is wonderful" and they were.
Takakkaw Falls
 
We did a lot of driving otday cause we had to cover quite a distance so we didn't have that much time at each stop - enough for more photos of course!!
 
Next stop was at Emerald Lake - another glacier lake this time slightly more green than the others (hence the name!) It was a nice lake but kinda underwhelming compared to the other lakes we've seen.
 
Emerald Lake
We drove through a part of the Selkirk Mountains called Rogers Pass, it absolutely pelted it down and we couldn't see much of the scenery. We passed through several avalanche tunnels that are there for the winter months to protect the cars and roads as there can be up to 60 avalanches there a day!! Thankfully there's no snow left now so we didn't have to worry.
 
We arrived in Revelstoke and booked into another excellent hostel with the basement just for our group. Sitting here now looking out the window at the mountains around us, in 26oC but with a lovely breeze the window!
 
Well thats about all that happened today - going to go and get ready for another night of boozing - we had our day off yesterday ;)!!
 
Claire + Patrick
 
PS. The pics have been updated.. Patricks linked a few pics below to the relevant entries... enjoy. We did!
  
 

No time for breakfast as we all slept in for the bus to the rafting. Mary was still a little drunk from the night before having stayed out a bit later than the rest of us. So she started to sober up as we made the 1hr 30min trip to the Kicking Horse River for one of the activities Claire and I had really been looking forward to.
 
For $115 each (about 46 pounds) we were given a steak bbq lunch, 2 and a half hours of white water rafting plus transport, equipment, guiding and a snack for the way home.
 
So we wolfed down our steaks (some to rid themselves of hangovers) and had our safety briefing. We were fitted out with our equipment and checked before making our way in the brilliant sunshine to the rafts.
 
I know a lot of you are gonna be sick of our stories, but this probably more than most.
 
Rafting though canyons in the Rockie Mountains, though Class 2,3 and 4 rapids, on a river made up of water that less than a day previous was ice in a glacier. are ya sickened yet?
 
I wouldnt admit it, but i was a little nervous about the whole thing, and i think Claire was too, but in the end it was the greatest fun i've ever had. Fear, adreniline and hypothermic water all rolled into one.
 
Our guide and instructor was Steve, he was good craic and knew exactly how to entertain the tourists, was very knowlegable with the rock formations we passed in the canyons and made us all feel at ease in the more frightening waters (and I'm sure Claire would mention that she and all the girls were drooling over him... couldnt see it myself...).
 
One of the first things he got us to do was to get each of us to jump in the river... just for rescue practise incase we fell out... it was bloody cold.. but strangely made us feel alot more comfortable in our wetsuits and lifejackets. None of intended going in again.
 
The first hour was spent going through drills, techniques and calls from the guide, so we knew how to deal with a situation such as a 5 metre high wave hitting us from the side. I thought this was an exageration.... i was wrong.
 
 
A few of the class 1 and 2 rapids gave us an initial shock... we aint seen nothing.. we hit the class 3 and 4 with avengance, some waves crashing into Dan and I at the front of the raft forcing us right into the boat off our sitting positions and nearly dragging us in. It was amazing.
 
Hitting huge waves nose first, forcing the raft to fly through the air and crash into another wave. The rapids were quite scary but really gave us a kick when we got through them. Everytime i looked round at claire she had a big smile on her face.
 
Toward the end we hit a rapid called the Bridge Wave, and Steve asked if anyone would like to swim through it, i thought he was joking, he wasn't. There were laughs and "No ways" shouted. But Dan and I said yes and jumped out of the boat into the river to drift through this rapid feet first. And what a rush! I went flying through them at great speed (or so it felt to me), swalowing half the river on my way. got through it, turned and swam back to the raft. It gave us both such a buzz, i had a grin on my face for hours.
 
It all seemed to end too quick, but was an amazing experience. Both Claire and I were so glad we did it and it was worth every penny
 
We got back to the hostel in Banff and after cleaning ourselves up, Claire, Mary, Dan, Debs and I went for food in the local Irish bar before hitting a shop or two. We hadn't actually bought anything of note yet in our trip so a visit to Roots Athletic clothes shop led to us both getting something for our journey.
 
Its back to the hostel now though to back our bags and get an early night, cos after today we're both wrecked!!
 
On to Revelstoke tomorrow. But Banff has been great.
 
Patrick + Claire
 
PS. The photos (however none of the rafting cos you werent allowed to bring cameras) have been passed on to our very kind host (thanks marty) and hopefully will be updated v soon. Theres over 100 of them, and as soon as they are, i'll link a number of them to the relevent blog entries.

We had a very very early start this morning as we loaded the bus and headed off in the direction of Banff. On the cards was a trip through the "Ice Parkway", a connection parkway betwwen Banff and Jasper National parks.
 
First stop was Tangle Falls, another spectacular waterfall created by the moving glacier. Then it was on the the glacier itself. The Columbia Icefiels are an incredible sight to behold, Ice as far as the eye can see, solid and immense! It also gave us time to try and increase our score in our new game....  Everyone at Tangle Falls

With so many tourists we attempted to see how many pictures we could lurk in the background of, you had to look and smile in the camera. Dan was the overwhelming victor with a total of 21 pictures, all of which hilarious to see done.
 
We hit the lakes, Moraine, Louise and the most spectacular, Peyto. I'll leave the pictures to speak for me on these, it was a beautiful day, with incredible tealy-blue water in each lake, ice cold glacier water and incredible mountain views. Peyto Lake especially was beautiful, we got some great pics and video footage.
Peyto Lake
Moraine Lake
Claire lookin good at Lake Louise
 
To the great relief of the travelling group, and my own disappointment, my video camera then died and needs a head cleaning, so thats that out of action until i get to back to vancouver. On the otherhand, I've made nearly an hours worth of footage in a week... so that should work out to 6 hours by the time i get home.... and who exactly will want to watch that??? hmmm i may lay off on the auld camcorder for a bit. 
 
So we visited the lakes, with a bit of Creedence Clearwater Revival as our soundtrack. and made our way on into Banff. A very nice town, but seems to be very tourist orientated. All the shop styles are the same alpine typ front, just like in Whistler. It does have a fabulous looking hotel though, that looks like the hotel from The Shining.
 
The group booked into the SameSun Hostel and we each had a badly needed shower... considering the last hostel didnt have running water.... before a keg party ensued, with guess what... a barbeque! I know you are all shocked at that because we've barely toughed a drop since the trip has begun and BBQ's have been scarce... well if the weather is good, the weather is good.
Keg Par-tay!!!
 
The keg, however, ran dry very quickly. So the group of 12 hit the town for a few more in a wee english theme bar. These British and Irish bars seem to be all the rage over here. personally i cant see the attraction, but as most of the other bars are pretty crap, they'll have to do at the best of a bad bunch.
 

 
It was an early night for us, as tomorrow is a big big day.... White Water Rafting
 
Patrick + Claire

Finally we got to sleep in. Truth be told nobody wanted to leave the cabin, it was so luxurious and relaxing, but we had to continue, but after a morning of chilling out, our new bus arrived and we left at about 2pm bound for the heart of the Rockies and the short bus trip to Jasper.
 
We crossed the stateline in to Alberta and by doing so changed timezones. But first we stopped at Mt Robson, highest peak in the rockies, and Mt Terry Fox, dedicated and named after a man who had his leg amputated due to cancer, and took it upon himself to run across the country to raise money for cancer research. He didn't make it, unfortunatly he died before making it to the pacific, but he became a national hero.
Mt Terry Fox
Claire at Mt Robson, highest peak in the Rockies.
 
Jasper National Park, combined with Banff National Park, is about the size of Ireland and it was here we got our first glimpses of moose and a Bear, (i got good vid of the bear). More stunning scenery and Athabasca Falls. I could try to describe how breathtaking it is here, but i would fail miserably.
Claire enjoying the scenery.
The scenery
Athabasca Fals
Claire and the girls pose at the falls
Claire proves she has a good eye for photography at the falls
 
We had pizza in Jasper and made our way to the Hostel, which had no running water, was in the middle of the forest and was very very very basic... but that made it all the more fun. The group sat around talking (and drinking... surprise surprise) for ages before we all hit the sack.
 
Patrick + Claire 

An 8.30am departure from the old courthouse hostel meant that we were on our way to Valemount. A long journey made quite unbearable by the choice of music in the bus.... Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Enya, Dixie Chicks... it was sickening, but in the end worth it...
Claire enjoying Shania Twain
 
The Twin Peaks hostel was stunning, stuck in the expansive valley between the Caraboo and Rockie mountains. It was a luxury cabin with free web acess, widescreen tv and incredible facilities. We gathered together and a number of us headed off horseback trail along the western slope of the Rockies.
Claire catches a gopher on camera during a rest stop.
 
Claire got a horse called "The Brat" and I got "Cisco" two lovely and docile horses, and we were led up throught the forests up the mountain. The views were amazing (this is a recurring theme, the stunning views... so forgive me if i keep repeating myself). The trail leader was a very eccentric Cowboy called Tony but he led us to a view across the valley to the Caraboos. Where we watched a thunder storm build over 20-30mins and slowly head toward us before giving us a quick shower. The sun came out again and we headed back to the cabin.
Claire and "The Brat"
Patrick and "Cisco"
On the trail
 
A BBQ was once again headed up by Angelo, we all enjoied our food and got steadily drunk, playing Taboo and enjoying the craic. I, however, put on some chicken to cook for the next days lunch, then forgot about it. As smoke bellowed from thew pot i went running and gave eveyone a good laugh. :) It was the fact that as soon as i had put the chicken on... Dan hadnded me a beer... and that was that.
 
Anyway, it was a late night that ended with us all on the balcony in pitch black darkness staring at the stars above the trees and watching a distant thunderstorm flash over the mountain.
Claire and Darren play Taboo
 
Patrick + Claire

Well this will be another short blog. only got 17mins 50 seconds on a timed connection, so to here goes,

So after our lazy day we had our meal and a dip in the lake, we enjoyed the hot tub before hitting Moe Joes again for a few final drinks in Whistler.
Takin it easy by the lake

It was line dancing night and am i sorry i didn't bring the camera, because like a shot, cowboy hat on head, Claire climbed over the bar practically to ask one of the barmaids/dancers to teach her a few steps.

Before she knew it she was on the stage giving it loads to what the Rev Ian Paisley calls "The Devils Music". I had a quiet night cos i was a bit wwrecked from all the lying about, but had a few games of pool before the long walk back to the hostel (Claire stole.. erm.. borrowed the cowboy hat the bar gave her... )

We were off this morning at 8.30 for a long day of driving to Kamloops. But the day flew by, how could it not, you think you cant see anything more spectacular than some of the waterfalls wittnessed earlier in the trip, but this journey took the biscuit.

The contrast between mountain ranges, lakes, forests, glacier valleys, actual glaciers and desert farmland was incredible.

Just when you thought youd seen the best sight, another mountain range appeared.

We stopped at Narin Falls and Duffey Lake for a few pics, which we'll stick up soon. Narin falls was a very violent spraying falls that was so loud we had to shout to be heard. Duffey lake, in sharp contrast, was a quiet glacial lake with logs spanning it to walk across. We took some awesome photos.
Narin Falls
The Gang at Duffey lake
Claire and I at Duffey lake
You'd think she was drinking last night......

Its a hot humid day so a few stops were taken for water and ice cream and we finally arrived in Kamloops at about 6.  A quick shower and we were off rock climbing in the local climbing gym. something i never thought would interest me but we both really enjoied it. esecially when they created this huge indoor swing. great fun.



Claire Swinging
 
The night concluded with a night in the local pub, Cactus Jacks, a country and western theme bar. was great fun, with a mechanical bull and loads of beer. The four Japanese girls really came out of their shells and we had a great night chattin and dancin.

Patrick + Claire