Rocky Mountains tour day 1

Our first day took us from Vancouver to Revelstoke. We stopped at Hope for coffee. The town is famous for its chainsaw carvings.

me at a rest stop with our coach in the background. There were 44 of us, plus tour guide Ryan.

We took lots of photos from the bus - snowy mountains, forests and rivers.

We had a wine tasting at Grizzli Vineyard

...before stopping at Lake Kelowna (Grizzly bear in the native tongue).

It was very hot, 34 degrees! We had a picnic lunch and gelato.

There were forest fires in parts of the Rockies, making some parts hazy and giving us a red sunset.

Last stop of the day - the place where the last spike was hammered in as the two ends of the Canadian Pacific Railroad met up.

 

Grouse Mountain

Today we took a tour to Grouse Mountain. First stop was Capilano Suspension Bridge. Before going across the bridge we did a cliff walk...

... then went over the bridge.

We thought we should sample the local delicacies...

...pretty good with maple syrup. 😀

Next - the skywalk...

Then we took the Skyride (cable car) up Grouse Mountain and had lunch with a view of the mountains and the city below.

A chair lift took us to the very top...

...unfortunately the tour bus drove away just as we got off the  skyride! Luckily we got a free shuttle back to town. :-)

 

A nautical day

We got a day pass on the False Creek ferries and enjoyed a harbour cruise to Kitsilano beach.

Great views of the city.

 We hopped off at the Maritime Museum wharf, home to some picturesque wooden boats... 

Then we went into the museum...

...where we learned about the St Roch and its voyages through the North West Passage. We had a tour aboard... 

this is the galley...

... a view looking down onto the deck.

This crow was getting shelfish from the piles.

An almost camouflaged heron.

I think I've seen my first moose!

We found this quaint cafe - had to shoo away one of those crows trying to eat our muffin!

Called in at a few stops on the way back, including Granville Island.

 

Hop on hop off bus around the water

We bought tickets for the hop on hop off bus today - great scenery in the city and this is Coal Harbour near Stanley Park.

there were gardens within the park, walkways...

...and this coastal path around the edge.

Close to the city but away from it all (with Canada geese).

Some of the totem poles

Sculpture along the waterside.

Then on the bus again to Granville Island which is full of little stores and markets.

The only whale we've seen so far.

Lunch spot.

A quiet corner of the island then back on the bus and back to the hotel.