Tinkerblue

Views From The Train, Rocky Mountaineer Kamloops to Jasper - Mt Robson

At 3954m (12972ft) Mt Robson is the highest point in the Canadian Rockies. 

When we were driving from Melbourne to Sydney in January, Hubby almost died laughing when he saw a sign for Mount Kosciuszko, Australia's highest mountain. Mount Kosciuszko is only 7310ft or 2228m.  It wouldn't even rank in Canada's 100 highest peaks. Hubby called Mount Kosciuszko a hill! (Still it's taller than Ben Nevis, the highest peak in the UK at 1344m).

 

June 2011

 June 2011

July 2011

 

And just for fun, here's a photo of Mt Robson that we took when we flew over it last year.

Views From The Train, Rocky Mountaineer Kamloops to Jasper - Pyramid Creek Falls.

 

Pyramid Creek Falls. 

300 feet. (Niagara Falls is only 167ft)

Glacier fed Pyramid Creek flows over the step style tiered falls, under the railway tracks and on into the North Thompson River.

Almost impossible to see from the road. Between the towns of Blue River and Valemount, the Falls are on the opposite side of the river to to Highway 5. So if you're driving you have to settle for a view across the river. If you're on the train, the mist from the falls will touch the windows.

 

Places to Fly - Tillamook Air Museum

We've been to Tillamook Airport a few times. But until now we haven't made it to the Tillamook Air Museum. (cheese always took priority).

 

The Air Museum is housed in Hangar B. Hangar A and Hangar B were military blimp hangars. They were built in 1942 to house the blimps that were used for coastal patrol and convoy escort during WWII. Hangar B was built first and took 9 months from December 1942 to August 1943. Hangar A? Hangar A was built in 27 days. Hangar A was destroyed in a fire in 1992. Hangar B is now home to one of the top 5 privately owned aircraft collections in the world.

 

 

The photos don't really show the size. But Hangar B is huge. You can see if from miles away. It's the largest clear span wooden structure in the world.  

 

• 192 feet tall - that's 15 stories
• 1072 feet long
• 296 feet wide
• Over 7 acres in area
• The doors alone are 120 ft high

 

The letters on the roof of the hangar? Each letter is 100ft in height. And the lines in each letter are 20ft wide. It took 2 weeks to paint them on. 

 

Inside the hangar is a collection of 30+ aircraft, a cafe, gift shop and theatre. Entry is normally $9.00 for the museum and an additional $3.00 to tour the Guppy. The day we flew in was the day of a show and shine, so entry was only $5.00 for the museum and the Guppy. Nice.

 

 

I want a Mini Guppy. It has bunk beds behind the cockpit, so you can have a real nap. Although our hangar is not big enough to house this thing, and hubby is not allowed to buy any more planes.

 

 

We spent a good couple of hours wandering round, reading the history, watching the film, eating tacos and shopping in the store.  Hubby's Dad would love the planes here - they're all war era planes.  But I'm about aviation museum-ed out for the next year or so!

 

 

 

Places to Fly - Tillamook Cheese Factory

We love cheese. We love to fly.  Tillamook Cheese is in Oregon. Not far from the Tillamook Airport. Perfect. Last year we flew to Tillamook Airport and then rode our bikes to Tillamook Cheese. It's about a 20-30 minute ride. Good exericse. Gotta work off the cheese somehow.

 

This year, Kim, Joanna, Miss M and Kenny were with us and they don't have bikes (yet). So riding was not an option. Luckily the Tillamook Airport has a courtesy car that we borrowed. Actually it's a truck and we couldn't all fit at once. Well Miss M wanted us to sit in the tray and just do one trip, but it's not really legal so we passed on that idea and made two trips.

 

 

Upstairs in the visitors centre is the viewing platform, where you can watch the factory at work. Yes, they are big bricks of cheese.

 

 

Downstairs is the tasting station. We may or may not have stopped at the tasting station first, then gone upstairs to view the factory and then back down to the tasting station. Just saying. My favourite is the Vintage White Extra Sharp Cheddar. Hubby liked the Pepper Jack.

 

 

Once we were done tasting, we had to buy. Squeeky cheese and a small block to have as appys back at camp. And a brick to bring home. Those bricks below are 5lbs each. We didn't buy them. We thought about it, but we went with smaller versions.

 

Tillamook Cheese doesn't only make cheese. They make ice cream too. And of course we had to taste it. We didn't buy any to take home. No cooler in the plane. Mmmm, now there's an idea.

 

 

And one last look at all that cheesy goodness.

 

The view of Tillamook Cheese Factory and Visitors Centre as we flew back to Nehalem Bay.

 

24 Hours in Whistler - Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre

Out last stop on our whirlwind tour to Whistler was the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre.

We stayed overnight at a friend's condo. Our plan was to have breakfast and visit the SLCC before boarding the Rocky Mountaineer back to Vancouver. Considering the train leaves at 3:30pm that should be plenty of time. Right?  Not so much. We were off to a late start. We had under two hours at the cultural centre and that included eating lunch. So we only saw a very small part. I'll definately have to go back.

Just as we were arriving a tour was starting up...

Legends and language
Capture a glimpse of how our ancestors lived by hearing folklore and seeing examples of cultural practices. This tour will provide insights into our connections with the earth and the beauty of our surroundings. 

It took about an hour, and I really enjoyed it. The guide shared many stories from her family and her ancestors, in particular stories from her mother. The tour ended in the longhouse where we each wove a cedar bark bracelet. It's relatively easy to do, but it does make  your wrists sore, and I have no idea how anyone can weave an entire basket. 

 

 

After the tour we went down to the cafe to have lunch. I had Indian Tacos. Instead of tortillas they used bannock, a deep fried bread. It was very good and very filling. Barb had the Venison Chili, which from memory she enjoyed.

 

 

Then it was time to head to Delta Hotel for the bus pick up back to the train station. There was so much of the Cultural Centre that we missed. Next time.

24 Hours in Whistler - Whistler Celebration Plaza

February 2010 - or thereabouts:

 photo - Krista Leesment

 

October 2010:

 

June 2011:

 

When Barb, Rose and I went to Whistler on the Rocky Mountaineer in June we did the touristy thing with the Olympic Rings, Paralympic Agitos and the Olympic Cauldron. Kind of made me feel more than a little nostalgic. Hard to believe it's been so long.

 

 

 

 

Rocky Mountaineer at Costco

 

Great Big Sea and Russell Crowe

Great Big Sea is another of my favourite bands. Russell Crowe is an awesome actor, but I've never really heard him sing before.  I know he has his own band, just never heard them play.  

Alan Doyle from Great Big Sea and Russell Crowe have recorded an album together. The Crowe/Doyle Songbook, Vol.III.  Don't bother looking for volumes I and II. They don't exist. 

I wasn't sure what to expect. Great Big Sea, I know I like, but this is not GBS. Anyway I had an iTunes gift card burning a hole in my pocket. So I downloaded it. And?  I  like it. The female voice  you  hear in the songs is Danielle Spencer, Crowe's wife. Check it out.

 

 

MacGyver Style Fly-In Camping

This weekend is the Abbotsford Air Show. Hubby flew in yesterday morning because our plane is on static display (parked under a B52!) and he's working the CASARA booth. I had to work at the train station yesterday morning so I resorted to driving over.

Barb and Jerry, our friends from Quesnel, have flown down for the air show and are camping on the field. We decided on Friday night to join them. So when Hubby left yesterday he packed all the camping gear in the plane.

Well almost all. He forgot the tent! He packed the poles and the pegs, but no tent. How do you forget the tent? Kind of the most important part of camping.

His first suggestion was that I drove home and get it. Yeah, no! So Hubby and Jerry MacGyvered a tent.

A bright orange tarp, some bungee cord and a few pegs, all borrowed from Barb and Jerry and my car = a tent.

Of course it was a hot day yesterday, but once the sun went down it was chilly. I used my yoga mat for a bit of extra padding between me an the ground and a picnic blanket for extra warmth. My work fleece was also still in the car, I wore it over my pajamas. There is something to be said for leaving random items in the car.

It was comfy and we slept well. So all's good in the end.

Oh, did you notice that Hubby's sleeping mat, sleeping bag, and t-shirt are all safety orange to match Jerry's tarp? Hubby may be forgetful but at least he matches!

BC Lions Home Game Win

I grew up watching Aussie Rules Football. 18 guys in short shorts. Full contact sport with no helmets, and no shoulder pads. Just shorts and a shirt, outside in the middle of winter.

Aussie Rules I understand. Kick the ball through the two tall centre posts, get a goal = 6 points. Kick the ball through the shorter end posts, get a behind = 1 point.

CFL (Canadian football league) or NFL ( National football league) in the US? Not a chance. And hubby is absolutely no help. If it doesn't fly he can't explain it.

Last Friday we had the opportunity to go to a BC Lions home game. Hubby knows a lady at CASARA who has a hubby who works for the Lions. Did you follow that? Lisa was able to finagle some tickets for us. The best part? The game was played at Empire Field.

Normally the Lions play at BC Place - an indoor arena. They are putting a new roof on BC Place and until thats's done, the Lions are playing at Empire Field. A temporary outdoor stadium at Hastings Park. (near the PNE, or near the Pacific Coliseum where the figure skating and short track skating were held).

I still don't understand the game but we had a good night. And the Lions won. Woohoo. It's the first home game they've won this season. Actually it's the first game they've won this season. They beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 24 to 11.