DAY 30 - LAYOVER IN KAMLOOPS, B.C.

Well this was our last full day together.  The 4 couples have had so much fun, seen so much, driven around 3000 miles...and now it's hard to believe it's all coming to an end.   

This morning Sue showed us a few of her favorite shops in Kamloops and the guys played their final round of golf.   Tonight we went out for dinner to the Keg and below is a final photo of us all together celebrating a great and successful trip.  What a wonderful time we've had.....can't wait til next time!

DAY 29 - LAKE LOUISE TO KAMLOOPS, B.C.

Left beautiful Lake Louise at 8:00 a.m. this morning....first stop was at the Kickinghorse Pass.  Again incredible scenery.   Had lunch at Revelstoke then headed for Kamloops.  All of the pictures today are enroute...and I hope one day to return to this part of the world as it's so fantastic.

 Tonight we plan on getting together for coffee and a game...this fun is fast coming to an end!!

DAY 28 - LAYOVER AT LAKE LOUISE

The 4 guys golfed this morning at Canmore and so all the girls got to sleep in and relax.  There are always chores to do around the Rig and I was able to vacuum and generally clean up because there's only one more stop and we are heading home to Vancouver.  This afternoon the 8 of us drove up to Lake Louise and did just over a 3 mile hike up a mountain looking down at the Lake.   At the top there was another Lake (Mirror Lake) and then if we had hiked another 25 minutes we would have got to the Teahouse for 'high' tea.  However the hike was already over an hour and so we decided to stop at the Lake.  It was a great hike....certainly not a 'leisurely' stroll!!!  The pictures again tell the story!   

A GROUP PHOTO AT LAKE LOUISE!   

JUST COULDN'T RESIST TAKING ANOTHER PHOTO!

WE WERE STARTING TO HIKE UP THE MOUNTAIN.

MIRROR LAKE.

WE ARRIVE AT MIRROR LAKE!

A WONDERFUL SHOT!!

DIDN'T KNOW WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE!!

DAY 27 - LAYOVER AT LAKE LOUISE

Today we drove to Banff...the guys went golfing at Banff Springs Golf Course and us 4 girls decided we'd go with them and look around Banff while they were golfing.  This was quite a special course for the guys so they were really looking forward to it.   On the way to the Course we saw the beautiful falls and then after taking photos of the 4 guys ready to tee off....we drove back into town.   Very picturesque...it seemed like no matter which way you looked there was beautiful scenery.  We found a 'David's Tea' shop....so that was interesting...but our main  focus was to find a restaurant where the guys could watch the Lions play football tonight!   Well...we found one...virtually a private TV...the guys were very happy!   Great evening of fun together!

VISITOR OFFERS TO TAKE CANDID PHOTO AT THE FALLS

READY TO GOLF AT BANFF SPRINGS GOLF COURSE.

BANFF SPRINGS GOLF COURSE

WHILE THE GUYS GOLFED.....WE HIKED!!!

  

DAY 26 - CRANBROOK B.C. TO LAKE LOUISE, ALBERTA

Excited to leave Cranbrook this morning and travel through the Rockies.  This is always a journey I have wanted to do ever since arriving in Canada and so was ready with my camera to capture it's beauty.   The road was easy and relaxing....we stopped for breakfast and lunch....Ted got his tire fixed and then we arrived at Lake Louise around 3 p.m. We are staying at a Government Park - quite nice - but have to conserve water here as there is no water hook-up.   We are parked next to Don - no cablevision - however we have electricity and after all we are supposed to be camping!! (smile!)  The scenery today was unbelievable and then tonight we visited Lake Louise.  What a breath-taking place that is!   We were there many years ago with Mary & Mike in the winter and did some ice-skating on the lake...and it was gorgeous then... however today the lake was perfectly still and turquoise with the gorgeous Rockies and the Glacier surrounding it.   Here are some pictures....and in my opinion this has to be some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.  (Perhaps even beats Mount Maunganui!!)

A LITTLE TIGHT HERE FOR OUR RIGS I THOUGHT!!

THE DRIVE WAS BEAUTIFUL.

TAKEN AT LAKE LOUISE

MORE OF LAKE LOUISE.

BREATHTAKING!!

DAY 25 - LAYOVER IN CRANBROOK, B.C.

Not too much to report about today....we had such an awesome day yesterday we were all happy just to relax and do such mundane things as 'laundry'!!  The guys did golf this morning and then in the afternoon did a few chores around the Rigs.  There always seem to be small repairs which take their time.  For the girls...the laundry room wasn't very big so when 3 of us decided to do laundry altogether it took a while!  In the middle of doing it...we had a short thunderstorm....however it cleared up enough for Bob to barbeque and then in the evening we just relaxed.  Heading out tomorrow to Lake Louise.

DAY 24 - LAYOVER IN CRANBROOK, B.C.

Whew!   Where do I start!!   Today was full of memories for the 4 guys and the first time us girls had seen the location of where they had enjoyed hunting for so many years.   We left at 9 oclock and after stopping at one of their old favorite places for coffee we made our way up the very rough and winding road.   Obviously they were very familiar with the road so that made it less nerve-racking for me!   I have always wanted a closer view of the 'Rockies' and I certainly got that today!   The scenery was 'out of this world' and all I could keep thinking was 'no wonder they loved it up here'....so restful....so quiet....and SO beautiful.   The pictures will now tell the story!

LITTLE MAX GOT TO COME TOO!   AFTER ALL HE IS FEELING MUCH BETTER!

FOUR PRETTY EXCITED GUYS!

SUE AT MOOSE LAKE.

ONCE AGAIN TED SUCCEEDED WITH HIS 'SELF-TIMING' PHOTO!

WHITE SWAN LAKE.

TED RELIVES A VERY IMPORTANT SPOT!!

"I WILL LIFT UP MINE EYES UNTO THE HILLS....FROM WHENCE COMETH MY HELP"

THE EXACT SPOT WHERE ONE OF THE TENTS USED TO BE.

THE GUYS WERE FULL OF STORIES....AND WE LOVED HEARING THEM ALL.

BOB RECALLS BRINGING HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW MIKE FROM NEW ZEALAND HERE AND HOW MUCH HE ENJOYED IT.
SUCH A SPECIAL TIME.

THE GUYS VIEW WHERE THEY USED TO HUNT.

FOUND A PERFECT PLACE FOR LUNCH!

THE TWO BROTHERS REMEMBER HOW IT USED TO BE BEFORE THE FIRES.

VIEW OF HOW THE FIRES DESTROYED THE BEAUTIFUL TREES.

WE HAD TO SEE WHERE THE HOT POOLS THEY USED TO VISIT.