Calgary Airport 1st august.
We have just dropped the rental car and are waiting our flight to Toronto. The drive from Vancouver was great. It took a long time to leave the city, seemed to head south almost to the US border. Then north to Kamloops. Very hot there , enjoyed a swim and in the cool of the morning we had a lovely walk along the river, before we drove to Golden. Their was a huge bush fire somewhere, so everything was hazy. Stopped several times along the way to walk and take in the local scene. We followed the railway,most of the way, huge freight trains, one we counted had 130 wagons,and they told us that was a short one!! Beautiful rivers and lakes and of course the native spruce etc. As we were driving out of the forest, a huge black bear, jumped over the barriers and into the bush on the other side of the road.
Golden was on the edge of the Banff Nattional park, so we headed to lake Louise the next am. Beautiful spot with the glacier at the head of the lake. A magnificent hotel there , built by the Canadian Pacific Railway. Hundreds of tourists and us!! They charge $16. to walk in the park, We walked up to Lake Agnes, about 400 kms up ,a well worn track, even saw a couple walking up with 4 little dogs, one in a mountain buggy!! We went onto Banff, for lunch, again 1000s of tourists, very pretty, found the golf course for a sit in the shade,got talking to young guy whose job was to hurry the players on, and he was from CHCH.!!
Drove down to Calgary, and found the Fergussons OK. Phew !!what a huge city. They gave us a wonderful welcome, and Kims sister and family came to see us, that evening, so lovely as we had heard so much about them. They were driving to Vancouver the next morning. We did it in 3 days, they in 12 hrs!!( Kim lived in our flat with us for over a year, she was my OT work mate,)
It was very special to be with Eleanor and Alan, they spent all day showing up the city, full of green parks and wonderful cycling trails,sorry not to be staying longer.
Off to Toronto next, a 4hr flight, and 2 hr time change. Judy and Paul there to meet us. Phew another huge city, very hazy,. We headed straight to Port Elgin, 3hrs I think, with a stop at Tim Hortons drive through for coffee, then dinner on the way.
They live on the shore of Lake Huron, full of summer visitors, the beaches full of sun bathers and swimming, its hard to believe that it is a lake,it looks like an ocean, islands, boats etc.
Judy and pauls home is beautiful, wish you could see it, they have a wonderful flair with art and interior decorating. Paul is a retired police inspector, and has built several spec homes since he retired. Judy was a school teacher.
They had a welcome party for the kiwis, with 30 of their friends and family ,the night after we arrived. Oh it was wonderful, canadian flags, balloons, napkins etc Out on the deck!!, phew it was hot. Even had a white and red cake, with a photo of the 4 of us at Parker St on the top.!!
Now we are at their holiday home at Tobermory ,1 ½ hr drive away, all flat land , with native pines and farm land.
This is a beautiful spot too.A tiny bit like the bachs at Lake Rotoiti, hid amongst the trees. We are right on the lake, 20 mins walk into the town, where a ferry like the interislander leaves with cars and people to the other side of the lake
It has been a busy sad time , Pauls Mum died the day before we arrived and funeral is on Friday. She was nearly 92 and lived the last few years in port Elgin. They visited every day they were home, so will be a big gap in their lives.
