Almost Home

Hi Everybody

Posting this blog ( again without photos) from LAX.

Just waiting to board our QANTAS A380 for our 14 hour flight home.

The trip on the Californian Zephyr was great with spectacular views over the Sierras and the Rockies. The train was more modern than Aussie trains - all double decker carriages including sleeping and dining cars - but the sleeper June & I had was sooo tiny and did not have private facilities - we had to walk down the corridor for showers and toilets. Dining cars, service and food quality not as good as Indian Pacific etc. But it was still a great trip.

Had a couple of days in Denver - nice town. June & I walked all over depite the 90 degree heat.
The B& B we stayed at was good. Ten minute walk to centre of city. A restored and heritage protected house overlooking a park. We met some very nice people there. We found Americans to be very welcoming and friendly - particularly when they discover we are Aussies. They all want to come here.

Well the trips almost over. Thanks for those who followed my very inadequate blog but I will catch up and show you some really fantastic shots. We have a couple of wildlife shots people believe we could easily sell to a nature magazine. I really wish I could have posted them.

Talk soon in person.

Brian & June

Enjoyed meeting and staying with Rotary Friends.

Hi All

Sorry its been a while to this blog but have been very busy traveling, surviving Las Vegas and being hosted by Rotary Friends and acquaintances. The President of the Rotary Club of Las Vegas west took us under his wing, took us to a meeting in a very fancy country club and then looked after us for the rest of the day. We saw a very different side of Las Vegas - away from the glitz and glamour and we met real people who were very hospitable and kind to us.

We did survive Vegas - lots of fun with some gambling ( less than $100 behind ) but free drinks - June has acquired a taste for strawberry daquiries. Saw two great shows Jersey Boys and Cirque de Soliel - Love.

Managed to get safely out of Vegas with the family assets in tact and arrived in Sacramento -aka River City ( 76 trombones fame). Have been staying with Mairy and Robert Guthleben who have been excellent hosts - has a big night at Poor Reds where the locals welcomed us as Australians and we all sang along to Men at Works "A Land Down Under" When Americans discover we are Australian they become quite excited and are so friendly. Has a dinner party with Mairy's Neighbours - talk soon got onto USA politics and it was great - they were both conservatives and we all got stuck into Robert - who is a lefty after all.

Been touring Sacramento including their weekend street theatre and cowboy festivities. I was picked out by the 'Dr" who put his special elixer on my head to cure baldness - pity I can't upload the photo.

Leave for Denver tomorrow and then we jump on a plane and start our long journey home. Pray that we have a safe journey.

Cheers.

Viva Las Vegas part 2

This is an amazing town.

The built environment has to be seen to be believed. The hotels and casinos are so extravagant and themed its hard to describe. One hotel/casino is modelled on New York complete with the famous landmarks of the Empire State Building plus others as well as the Brooklyn Bridge. Its called New York New York. It has an extreme roller coaster on the roof.

One other is the Paris which has half scale Eiffle Tower, Arc de Triumph. Le Louve etc.

We had lunch and a Gondola experience at the Venetian which is very ornate with both indoor and outdoor canals all with Gondolas.

Tonight we are going to see Jersy Boys at the Pallazio - again very very modern and ornate. We will be eating there as well - got a good deal for dinner because we are seeing the show.

Have not had a great deal of success with the gambling. We tend to have some short sessions in Casinos we visit or walk through. So far I am down $51 and Mum is down $12. The family assets are still safe.

We had dinner last night in the Golden Nugget in the older section of Vegas. Coronas were two dollars if not playing but free if you are playing. I took great advantage of this feature at dinner as well as playing some machines. My luck at roulette has been appaling.

Being hosted by the Rotary Club of West Las Vegas tomorrow - all day. Should be good to get the local perspective. Wednesday we do our two day trip to the Grand Canyon. I'm still trying to convince June to do the helicopter experience. At this stage I'n not confident.

Till next time

Viva Las Vegas

Arrived safely in Las Vegas. How do you like the view from our 17th Floor living room - right over the strip.

Haven't done a lot just yet. We have been enjoying our luxurious unit.

Going to lunch at the Venetian today with a Gondola ride thrown in. I'll try to get some pictures posted.

Very hot here. Evey day over 100degrees. But inside is great. Haven't had a go at the tables yet but met a lady in the lift who said she was going home broke.

Last day at sea 5/8/10(Thursday)

Hi everyone,

Sorry for the lack of blog & photos.

It is very frustrating & expensive with unreliable computers & satellite & no usb ports available.

Since the rafting day we have travelled further south in Alaska by train, coach & cruise boat & we have seen some magnificent sights & animals.

Photos to follow asap.

We have been very close to the Hubbard Glacier if you google you will see what we saw - amazing - huge over 300 feet high, 76 miles long & 2.6 miles wide. We have seen a number of glaciers but nothing like the Hubbard.

Did an ATV trip over an island in Icy Straits, dAd hit every pot hole he could find (only joking - there was nothing but pot holes - it was a track with water crossings- fun)

Went whale watching & saw many. Dolpins, seals, eagles & orcas - beautiful. At one time a whale swam beside the ship.

Prev week a cruise ship killed a whale that was doing the same thing.

Arrive in Vegas tomorrow night - hoping for better computer connections there. Will try & get photos in after that.

The happy travellers are well but missing our family & friends.

Thanks to those who have replied to our blog to date.

Cheers

Lunch on the River

The rafting Company packed us a great picnic lunch to have on the River.

It was quite special to be in the wilderness with no outside noise and enjoying raw nature. It was great after lunch to float down the river back to Talkeetna.

The start of the rafting adventure

We were let off the train in the middle of nowhere and had to carry the equipment to the river.

Trying more photos

It will only let me upload one image. Thats $USD40 worth of gold.

I am now giving up.

Arrived safely in Denali Park on 21st July

Hi everybody

Everything is going ok - arrived in Alaska ok after quite a wait and delay at Seattle Airport.

Had a very busy day in Fairbanks yesterday with a River Cruise on a steern wheller paddle boat in the morning and a gold mining experience in the afternoon and a visit to Santa 's House in North Pole Alaska where Mum kissed Santa

Mum & Dad managed to pan $US40.00 worth of gold which Mum had made into a necklace.

Today we boarded the train variously called the Denali Star or the McKinley Explorer depending upon which carriage you were in. We were in the big fully domed carriage and we had a spectacular journey into the Alaskan Wildderness to finally arrive here in the Denali National Park. A slight concern - our luggage has yet to arrive but we are patiently waiting.

I've tried to upload some snaps, but jusst like other times I am being frustrated by different computers and problems. This will only let me upload one photo despite Mum & me trying for one hour to get other pictures uploaded.

I'll try with a new post.

Cheers

Jasper to Banff on Ice Parkway

Hello everyone

Had a fantastic 2 days in Banff with a great road trip from Jasper down the Ice Parkway. Saw some awesome scenery with huge mountains, crystal clear lakes & some wildlife.

The three sisters are very tame in comparison.

Today we were shown around Banff & surrounding areas by Shane (Don's nephew) who has worked here for 2 years.

The above pictures are in order:

A snap of Don with the Glacier Explorer that takes you onto the glacier

Pictures show us at Banff Gondola on Sulphur Mountain with Caroline who we have been blessed with spending a couple of days with.

Don & Brian on the Columbia Icefield .

The travellers at Lake Louise

Us at the Maligne Canyon just outside Jasper.

Some snaps from the Rocky Mountain Wed 14th July

We had a great day seeing the sights around Jasper today. First day with the Hire Car. Very nervous driving on the wrong side of the road. Going straight is ok but turning left and right is a challenge. June and Don have screamed a couple of times but Del is very supportive.



I'll post some snaps of today later. Only got 4 min left today.

Greetings from Jasper. We had a great trip on the Rocky Mountaineer. Fantastic scenery most of the way. We saw bears, deers & elk. Glacier lakes awsome. Now I know where the words of How Great Thou Art came from

Woke up this morning to mountain tops covered in snow/ice half hidden by clouds but so spectacular.

We are off to the Jasper Tramway into the mountains & will visit some lakes today too.

Missing our family & loved ones already. Sorry you can't be here to share this experience with us.

Just some random snaps here. The BC Ferry to Vancouver Island is not at all like Sydney Ferries. Very big and takes cars, trucks and buses and thousands of people - but still smaller than the Ferries that cross the English Channel & the Irish Sea.

The Buchart gardens on Vancouver Island aree spectacular and June & I couldn't resist the ride on the Carousel.

Whistler was fantastic - very large version of Threadbo but with much much bigger mountains and Village - very vibrant. The Peak to Peak Gondola ride was so very special.

Till next time.

We have arrived and have started out adventure

Hello everybody.

Sorry it has taken so long to get to a computer that works and I am familiar with the software, and update the blog.

We arrived tired after the long flight. See our A380 on the runway at LAX waiting to return to OZ. June is relaxing in the Boardroom of Alaskan Airways ( same as Qantas Club), I am enjoying their free food and alcohol while June has a snooze. Made the transfer ok, Fairmont Vancouver is a luxurious hotel and we have been on the big green bus, toured Vancouver Island ( & the city of Victoria), travelled on the BC Ferries and now on the Whistler Mountaineer. Been to Whistler and now in Quesnal. Its Monday evening and moving on tomorrow to Jasper. Leaving at 6.30 AM.

See some snaps below. Thinking of you & lots of love

Ready for liftoff

Well, its been a long time in the research and planning. There have been many meetings and now we are ready. The 9th July is less that two days away. When we see pictures of Qantas planes and especially the A380 it just increases our excitement.

The next entry will be from Canada - but unable to be more specific at this stage.

We return home on 23rd August - just in time for Spring

Preparing for the Holiday in USA & Canada

Brian & June leave for a six plus weeks holiday in USA & Canada. We leave on 9th July and fly to Vancouver. We are travelling with good friends Don & Del Matheson with whom we have shared great holidays before.

June ,Brian, Del & Don on The Great Ocean Rd Victoria with what remains of the Twelve Apostles.

We have had our meetings, completed our planning and made our lists and most importantly have paid for everything excepts for some side trips. We are ready to go. We hope you can follow our holiday using this Blog.