Cut! And thats a wrap!

The dream has become a reality and it has been a wonderful 4 weeks away, catching up with old friends and making new ones and visiting places that were only thoughts in my mind till now.People have asked what were my favorite places and experiences, how can one truly do justice to all the sights, sounds, smells and tastes experienced.The highlights have certainly been:

• the Orca's.
• the Rockies.
• the hotspring adventure (awesome idea Jim).
• meeting Tara and Almira's crazy friends. :-)
• Catching up with Leong, Yulia and family.

If you feel like being bored, you can check out some of the pics that I took on the way.
Pete

Vancouver BC (Canada)

Orca Camp

Seattle WA (USA)

Harrison Lake Camp Out

Canadian Rockies

The Chief

Whistler

Go Canucks

San Francisco

It is finally time.

After 4 glorious weeks away it's finally time to head home. Today's my last day here in San Francisco, I'll probably just wander about today maybe just find a nice Cafe and absorb city life. Then it's off to the airport @ 19:30.

After spying a bar yesterday afternoon, I decided to check it out that evening, when I did rock up I found them in the middle of pub trivia, finding a spot at the bar I got chatting to a couple next to me, also on holidays (from Texas). It was a good evening, 
and plenty of amber fluid drunk to help send me into a peaceful sleep.

Pete

I lost my heart in San Francisco

Greetings from San Francisco CA. I lobbed in last night at the Green Tortoise Hostel (beside Chinatown), i now remember why I earn enough to stay in a proper hotel, but there wasn't any room available for the 3 nights. It's functional and they do provide a breakfast and free Internet access. But the facilities are pretty basic.. well i guess it's a hostel. :-)  I guess that just leaves me more money to spend on other stuff. Did I also mention i was also within throwing distance from a number of adult entertainment establishments, handy. haha.

Tried the local chinese eatery just up the street for a late meal, not too bad, functional and efficient.

I'm here for the next 2 days so I'm not to pressured to try and see everything, I'll probably just wander about and see what i come across. The Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz are probably the only things that I really want to see, everything else is up for grabs. I might just find a nice spot, grab coffee and watch the world go by.

Happy Trails.

P

Randon pic posts

3 Weeks down

Well my road trip has come to an end, it's been fantastic!

 

The Canadian Rockies have been awesome, Banff, Jasper and Yoho National Parks are fantastic, but the trip back to Vancouver has also been just as enjoyable, the country side has been remarkable. The best find on the way back was Nelson BC. A really laid back town, certainly a "Byron Bay/Nimbin" feel to it.

 

But there has been no rest back in Vancouver, I headed off for a trail walk with the girls, to the "Chief" (more details to come), it was a pretty steady climb up, the calves got a real workout. That went for about 4 hours and then after a quick bit we headed up to Whistler, the mecca for skiers in the winter and downhillers in the summer. I would have loved to gotten on a bike and had a go coming down the slopes.

 

Out tonight for a drink or three.

 

P

The Canadian Rockies to East it's time to head to Vancouver

My road trip is nearly over, I've found a bed for myself in "Grand Forks", BC tonight. The national parks have been a real trip! Everywhere you look it's a kodak moment, what can I say. I even managed a couple of quick trail walks, just a couple of hours each, you can certainly see how people can spend a lifetime here.

 

Of course there will be pics to come. :-)

 

Till then, happy trails.

 

P

Coffee, Jet Planes and Software

From the home of Starbucks, Boeing and the Mecca of geeks, Microsoft, Seattle was a pretty cool place to visit. I was able to hangout with a friend of mine and his family. I was able to visit the Boeing factory, do a bit of trail walking and check out the "EMP" Experience Music Project and Pike St market.

While the bus trip down to Seattle from Vancouver was great, the return journey was a nightmare, delays and a blown front tire was way too much.

Tomorrow, we're heading out to the wilds to camp and checkout some natural hot springs, after an discussion that usually happens over a couple of drinks. Then it's off to Calgary for my Rockies experience.

P

Seattle WA (USA)

Camping and Hot Springs

Like all great camping trips, it was decided to go camping (the next day) after a couple of drinks at about midnight.

Part of the deal was to also check out some natural hot springs that the guys had visited a couple of years previously. So at midday the following day we headed down to Harisson lake. It was a beautiful spot, perfect weather. Then after a quick dinner we head off at abotu 8PM to the springs somewhere in the mountains. Well the fact that the others hadn't been there for a couple of years was going to play a factor in the trip. What should have taken us 45mins or so, to get to ended up taking 2hrs. But it was certainly worth it. The springs had been setup by some locals and it was great. We finally dragged ourselves away and made it home by 2-3am. A great time was had by all. Sorry international rules apply here, so that's all your getting. :-)

Chillin' and other stuff in Van (BC)

It was a pretty chilled yesterday, It was a slow start after checking out the oceanside night markets in Richmond, and mix between  an asian Paddy's Market and Beijing's food market. We headed off to Commercial Drive for brunch and a bit of people watching, and then off to  Granville Island a sort of farmers market/artist/harbourside hangout. Tara too me for a walk along the beach front to the beginning of "Kits" a well to do suburb, originally populated by the the hippy folk and now taken over by the well to do.. that like to think their hippies...;-)

 

Checked out a couple of bars, but being a long weekend this weekend it was a bit quiet in town, looks like everyone was heading out to somewhere else.

 

 

Back from Johnston Strait (BC)

Well it's been a week already and I've already put a few km's under my belt so far. My Canadian buddies Almira and Tara have been fantastic and I don't think I could have had better hosts. Vancouver certainly has a charm about it, especially for those who have visions of being and getting outdoors. Not too many couch potatoes here. Super impressed by the fact that so many people are riding.

Tara had been great enough to organise sometime up at her parents weekender on Bowen Island, with a group for their friends. Genuinely a great group of people. The Bowen Island festival was also being held the same weekend we were there and we checked out the festivities. The girls were kind enough to sign the guys in the group for the best legs competition, sadly (or was that thankfully) I was knocked out in the first round, but Andy had the tide of expectation thrust upon him by making it to the second and final round. A great laugh.

A quick trip back on Sunday to Vancouver saw me head out to "Campbell River" on Vancouver Island. It was form here I joined the Coastal Spirit Tour and headed up to Robson Reserve Marine Reserve in Johnston Strait. Unfortunately the weather wasn't great for kayaking with some 25knot winds and plenty of chop so it was limited, but the Orca sight's were still fantastic from the beach side camp. I'm looking forward to loading up some pics when i get the opportunity. Awesome. As with group tours, it can be a luck dip as to the others on the tour, but, I'm happy to report the group was great and had a good laugh in all the conditions we experienced there.

Well I'm back in Vancouver for the weekend and heading off to Seattle Monday.

Catch you all later.

P