First Stop: Glacier National Park

...and glaciers there were. 400 in fact!!!
After searching for hiking trails that were open (most were closed due to Grizzly sitings) and Kay rinsing off all her deodorant and perfume (a little scared of Papa Bear we think), we went our separate ways to explore the Illecillewaet (prize for those who can pronounce that one) Valley and Glacier.
A little altitude-sickness later, Dave and Dan had completed their first hike in the Canadian Rockies.

...And Then Along Came Bob!

Bob (aka. Dad Cutler) and Kay heard just how much fun everyone was having, so they drove 6000 kms from New York City all the way to Vancouver, just to see what all the fuss was about (and for Daddy to give his little girl a cuddle too!).
Before long, Dad C and Kay realised that 26 US states had nothing on beautiful British Columbia.
There were mountains to climb...


Fresh Blueberries to pick (and eat)...


And of course, salmon and trout to catch!


After a special dinner atop Grouse Mountain, with views of Mt Baker in the USA (look for the white "cloud" on the horizon),


... and a few Grizzlies,


the gang sadly said farewell to the Parents Stone and prepared for their much-anticipated camping trip into the Canadian Rockies

Around BC in 6 Days! (with the Stone parents)

The beginning of July marked the beginning of the parental visits! The Stone parents arrived to 30 degree heat and blue skies (a good excuse for Dad Stone to sample BC's fine ales). I don't think they had a drop of rain while they were here so they must have thought that we'd been making up all those tales of cold, wet, miserable weather.

After a couple of days in Vancouver we left on a journey that would take us almost right around British Columbia in about 6 days! We spent the first day driving up Vancouver Island to get to the ferry that would take us up the famed Inside Passage to the north towards Alaska. We all enjoyed a geographical moment (the first of many!!) at the 50th parallel along the way...



We jumped on the ferry at the northern tip of Van Island at Port Hardy...The original ferry had sunk a few months earlier after hitting an island (there is still some suspicion over two missing people) so we were on the slightly smaller replacement. There was some beautiful scenery along the way...


To prevent another sinking, Mum "Geographer" Stone (with the help from her assistant) made sure that someone was double checking the navigational skills of the crew.



We eventually made it to Prince Rupert (on the Canadian side of the border with Alaska) without getting our feet wet and after an 18 hour ride. In Prince Rupert, Dave had his first ride on a motor bike while Dan proceeded to reminisce her 'PeeWee 80' days!!



After the ferry it was onto the train to Jasper (in the Rockies) where Dan put on her arty photographers cap...


We also had some locals come out to greet us along the way. Some were entertainers while others were a little less friendly!!


Once in the Rockies, it was time for endless glaciers, mountains, lakes and waterfalls along the Icefields Parkway. We've never seen anything like it before...a must see for anyone anywhere!.



We thought we'd better have a walk on the glacier, while they're still there. It's pretty scary the rate at which they are shrinking. This one has a rate of recession of 10m per year.


After our drive down the parkway it was back to Vancouver by bus for Dan and Dave. We'll leave it at that because the less said about that bus ride the better!!!!

Vancouver Jazz Festival (oh - and meet our friends!)

Meet Megan!! (Hopefully by now, you know the person to her right)
Megan works with Dan and is from the mid-west of America but now lives with her husband Cliff, in Vancouver.















Again, you know the person to the right, but this is John. John, Dave and Dan became friends whilst learning to dance!!





















This is Ben (crazy Englishmen who can't play soccer or hold a baby). Ben and Dulcie are from England and Dulc also works with Dan. Can't play soccer (or hold babies) but we will admit, they can handle their beers!
















This is Cliff, looking serious considering we'd spent all day drinking and listening to Jazz!