Granville Island

Had a day out visiting Granville Island which is a combination of working industrial, food markets and craft stores. It is really a peninsular and bus or boat reach it.

These ferries are the same bathtub style used in Victoria Harbour on Vancouver Island.

It has been interesting to get a better understanding of the meaning of the animal motifs used by native artists.

Vancouver

Back in big city Vancouver for the final leg of our journey, to Alaska by cruise boat and on to Denali National Park. Internet will be sporadic so the Alaskan discoveries may be a few weeks in catching up.

Water views, just, from our hotel room on the 26th floor.

Preparing for some early morning printing before the office workers flood the streets of downtown.

 

Hope

Hope is known for the wood sculptures made by chainsaw, that dot the main streets. An old town with an interesting mining, railway, timber history we stopped briefly.

 

Okanagan Valley

Wine country- even pleasant on a wet day when there is a wine tasting involved. This door handle is from Mission Hill estate, however we loved the Quail's Gate winery.

Enjoyed getting to know Joanne Fisette and see her wonderful quilts!
 

Driving conditions

Our driving conditions have not always been ideal, especially over the high altitude passes, with rain or heavy cloud cover. Once we were completely surrounded by cloud, an eerie  feeling of disconnection from the world outside the car bubble!

However we have survived and have experienced the force, beauty and power of nature.

And we have seen a lot of trees!

 

Quilts

Two identical quilts, made by me in 1997. One lives in Canada with Elaine, the other in Brisbane with me.

Elaine has made many beautiful appliqued and stitched quilts since and is also very accomplished at embroidery.

Tree hugging

Our friends Elaine and Paul in Cranbrook suggested we hug a few trees while in Canada! Out on a walk with them we began hugging the Ponderosa Pine and discovered the scent of vanilla coming from the trunk.

Paul knew all about it! I do like trees and leaves so not so strange for me!

 

Yellow

Sunny, yellow Dandelions are everywhere.

Icy

Bow Lake had icy sheets floating on the top. These large, long crystals were interesting.

And some new Taipei Taiwanese friends who enjoyed seeing the rubbing process.

Peyto Lake

Snowy at the top as we walked to Peyto Lake.

And we were so surprised by the amazing blue colour!

A surprise shape at one end of the lake!
 

Elk

A young male elk, I think. Can you see the velvety antlers?

This lamp base is also made in different materials and a popular item for sale in the tourist shops. 

Extreme rubbing

It was cool with a cold wind blowing across the lake and my fingers felt frozen. Could this be extreme rubbing?

It was also damp but not wet which allowed me to get the motifs I wanted. No bears to worry about on this tiny island in Pyramid Lake.

Makes life much easier with an able assistant!

 

Up close

Up close with a moose, a bear and a mountain goat.

 

Athabasca Glacier

A constant stream of gigantic tyred vehicles carries visitors to the Athabasca Glacier.

On a sunny day the snow is blinding. Sunny but still cold.

The ice melt water.

 

Our accommodation

Can you see our accommodation at Lake Louise?

No, not this place, but behind it- Deer Lodge.

Our room was closet sized but this historic lodge had a great lounge area with fireplace, the usual suspects on the walls and a good dinner menu.

Bison burger, bacon, pickle with a fresh salad.