Icefields Parkway

The road from Banff to Jasper is one of the greatest drives I have ever done. Witnessing the shear cliffs and mountains covered in glaciers and trees make the 3 hour drive seem like 30 minutes. A huge number of wildlife can be seen simply on the side of the road including Elk, Deer and Mountain Goats. Along the way, definite stops are the Athabasca falls, Bow Glacier and Lake Louise. Without doubt the highlight for me was the Columbia Glacier, a huge glacier that looks like it’s falling “avalanche style” down the huge mountains. You can take these gigantic trucks onto the glacier, being pushed for time, we both decided to come back in the winter and pursue it then. Some may have seen the glacier on travel shows, it is well worth the drive, and the push and shove through thousands of Japanese tourists.

Lake Louise

This small resort precinct only an hour from Banff provides the backdrop to one of the great and most picturesque lakes in the world. The beautiful hotel sits at the base looking up towards a huge landscape of water, rock, pines, and ice. One could stand there and look at the colours for hours. For us, it meant hopping into a canoe and paddling around it. Well worth the cash if anyone makes it there, to feel the calm icy water in front of the mountains makes you feel like an ant in a puddle. A great experience beyond pointing the camera from the safety of the viewing platform.

Banff

The tiny resort town of Banff is where we lay to rest. We found a wicked little self contained Cabin to live in, right beneath a squirrel filled pine tree. A bit like Mum and Dad’s place without my puppy dog, the open fire, and the home cooking!! The town is small but lively, nestled amongst the huge Canadian Rockies and the flowing Bow River, the town is a major drawcard for hiking and mountain biking enthusiasts. The hiking here is amazing, apparently. The closest I have come so far is horse riding up the long treks, cause these legs are keeping safe for the snow. And besides, when the NBA finals, the Stanley Cup Finals, and the World Cup on television, it’s hard to pull my googly eyes away from the idiot box!! Not too mention that the NBA Draft is being televised next week, one of my dreams was to watch it live one day. It shall be fulfilled on Wednesday at 8. Now that you have stopped laughing at my inept dream making decisions, I will let you know that we haven’t seen a bear yet. We are both upset about this, because when the “great white north” gets hit with the “great white snow”, it will be home time for us and our bear hunting mission. We both feel very lucky to be living in a town where a bear can rip your arm off before lunch on a Monday. Well sort of lucky.

Vancouver

Upon leaving the USA, both Patricia and myself were hounded by security, not to mention treated like those wishing to do harm, funny a) because we were leaving the country, and b) because we had snowboards with us. We figured that it was quite nice leaving a country so wrapped in security glad wrap it could not breathe. This isn't a reflection on the people of the states, because we have met some gems, but the state of the country as a whole is really frightening!! Anyway, Vancouver, beuatiful city. Those that say it is alot like Melbourne are spot on, without the mountains, homeless, and the footy!! We have been introduced to the Hockey, and Dan's Oilers are currently down 2-1 in the Stanley Cup. Go Oilers!! Highlights from this great little city inculde: the Aquarium, and the amazing Beluga Whales, and Stanley Park. We hired a couple of mountain bikes and rode around Stanley Park which overlooks the city. One last highlight from Vancouver is a little pub called The Lennox on Granville st. Please order the BBQ burger, without doubt the best meal had so far, and as Samuel L Jackson would say: wash down your tasty burger with a refreshing taste of Molsons Canadian Lager. Best beer had so far.

Best view in San Fran

Now, thanks to the sterling advice from our friend Rohan, we ventured up to the Westin St Francis Hotel in Union Square San Francisco. The hotel itself has a lift that goes up over the skyline of the city, and gives you a sudden rush as the glass lift emerges amongst the skyscrapers. The lift is of course free, and is one of the best things to do in this city. Thanks again Roh, was wicked mate.

San Francisco

We hired another car to drive up to San Francisco. A Pontiac. Rad. We took the freeways out of LA and headed up the Highway 1. Catching huge coastlines and mountains, elephant seals, kite surfers and more. The coastline drive is without doubt the longest but easily the most picturesque coastline we have been on. Huge jagged rocks fall into the dark cold water of the Pacific. Upon arriving into our Hostel, there was a small matter of San Francisco's one way streets to master. After performing my second illegal U-Turn, we made it, and happily handed the keys to our Pontiac over. With Game 6 Pistons and Heat to witness, we drifted into a hard core sports bar just off Union Square. Upon watching the end of an era as the PIstons went down, we met 3 really cool locals, well sort of locals. Dan, Joel and Christine all lived in San Fran, and like most of the residents had arrived from other shores across the US. After too many beers and basketball, they promptly escorted us out for dinner and then onwards to the coolest Chinese Kareoke in town. After many more numerous beers and laughs the clear highlights were Dan's Axl Rose number and Nicko losing his marbles doing a rendition of Young MC's "Bust a Move". All in all, it was great to be shown a cool city by some very cool people. Thanks D, J & C. And onwards we go to the great white north.

Swinngggg Batter

So we hired a car, a Chevy Malibu. Hot. Nicko decides to take the wheel, on the left, driving on the right. I said this place was backward didn't I. We took the freeway through downtown, and descended upon Angels Stadium in Anaheim. LA Angels vs the Minnesota Twins. Photos can't do this place justice, two massive New Era Angels caps adourn the entrance. We take our seats, in right field just next to the foul pole. The Angels take an early lead but are over run momentarily by the Twins with a big 4th Inning. The game is amazing, once the sun goes down we are treated to baseball the way it should be played, big sluggin and stolen bases. At the top of the 8th the twins remain up 3-2. However, with a huge double play the Angels have a chance to tie, and do so with a single out to left field by 2nd Basemen Orlando Cabrera. So after 9, we are all tied up. The match continues until the bottom of the 11th, when another Cabrera double gets the Angels home 4-3. Between Hot Dogs, Beer (Miller), Us waving our Angels number 1 hand, peanuts, the 7th Inning stretch, and a red hot finish. The whole experience was amazing. But not to be outdone there, Angels stadium erupts into chaotic fireworks in the skies. The game of Baseball in this country is everything you expect it to be, loud, big and exciting. Lets go Angels!!!!

Smog City

Los Angeles. Smog City. Hollywood. Melrose. Venice. Compton. Anaheim.Beverly Hills. Where else in the world do you find such a diverse melting pot of suburbs all trying to become the soup of choice. A city without clouds, pure smog covering all bases so to speak. A place where cars are your identity, where finding a sandwich is liking finding nemo, where the term vegetables doesn't exist. The only place we have ever been where you see a Porsche parked next to a burnt out Lincoln, the only city to ooze glamour in every publication around the world, yet hasn't yet been found. We have stayed in easily the worst hostel in the new world: Hollywood Int Hostel. 6280 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood. Future note: Don't stay in a hostel that refuses to clean the toilets. Word. Patricia and myself have been eating well, walking heaps, and taking on the Metro bus system with ease. We have been watching all the NBA Playoff games so far, Pistons look on the brink, while the suns vs mavs is tight at 2-2. We both are hanging to get into Canada and feel somewhat at home, as LA has a mind, soul, spirit, all on it's own, and beacuse we don't drive a hot car or like fried foods too much, we are ready to go!!
Observe the following random LA quotes from Patricia and Nick:
"Tipping is a crock." "Mexicans are the heart and soul of LA" "Broken dreams around every corner" "Baby back buffalo ribs are the shizzle" "Gee it's really overcast here hey!!"
" I should have ordered the falafel" "Subway Eat Fresh- is actually the freshest"