With the new freedom from my voluntary work in the Isle of Man (don't ask!), in November 2019 I decided I would like to go to visit my Canadian cousins.
At the same time, I thought it would be good to visit the capital of Alaska, Juneau, and travel on the Rocky Mountaineer railway so I booked the holiday through my friend, Alison, who at the time worked at Hays Travel in Swanage and the date was set for the 4th May, 2020...
Of course, Covid-19 put a stop to that for two years!
BUT!
It has finally come round and I write this first article in the Hilton Garden Hotel at Heathrow Terminal 2 the night before my flight to Vancouver.
I had started to write a daily-entry but that soon got forgotten with so many things to do and see on the cruise then the early starts/late finishes on the Rocky Mountaineer and the unstructured end of the tip that I changed it to describe the various stages of the trip:
The pre-trip and getting to Canada
Time with Canadian Relations reunion
As I create/update this description, not all sections have been written yet and none of the 2000+ photographs are on show but they will be soon.
Arrival in Canada
After leaving London at 09:00 and a 9½ hour flight, we landed at Vancouver International airport at 11:00 local time (19:00 BST)
Immigration was completed quickly and I was waved through; Collected my luggage and waved through Customs too!
Met by a booked driver who took me to downtown Vancouver - I hadn't realised it was so far from the airport.
Very chatty man giving me lots of information about Canada and Vancouver - here was my first education about the North American Tipping system!
Arrived at Sutton Place hotel, a 5-star hotel, almost completely wasted on me but had a reasonable view from my room on the 18th floor.
After a brief unpacking, I went out to discover the place and look for the cruise terminal so I knew where to go on Wednesday.
After a walk around, went for my first drink in Canada at the Steamworks brewery. Surprised to find most beers quite strong ranging up to about 9% but settled for a 5.2% Pale Ale. Here I also learned more about how to pay tips using the card machine!
Wandering back to the hotel around rush hour as it had been a very long day so far - a start in London England around 05:00 and now at 17:00 local time, meant it was around 02:00 so been awake 21 hours!
Cruise to Alaska
Day One - Wednesday, 4th May
I left the Sutton Place hotel and got a taxi to the Cruise Terminal.
Here I had to obtain my over-priced Covid-19 antigen test but that wasn't straight forward - another story in itself.
Another story in itself is the convoluted route from the testing centre to where I dropped my luggage off then wound my way through various corridors and up floors to have my documents checked: Passport, Proof of Vaccination, proof of negative covid-19 and boarding pass. Next was to update the ArriveCAN app with my return details so I can get back into Canada.
Finally, there was US Customs and immigration to pass through. No problems with the scans (I didn't even have to remove my boots!) but the border officer couldn't understand my Manx passport! Twice I had to provide fingerprints and photos and he had to go and seek advice. Finally I was allowed through and it got easier after that and I was on-board the Zeuiderdam by 14:20.
Shown to my cabin - 1079, on Deck 1 and introduced to the cabin steward, Aji.
Watched the compulsory safety video on the cabin (stateroom as they call them!) then visited my muster station - which I hope is the only time I will have to go there!
Departed at 16:00 and went on aft deck to meet other passengers and have a couple of drinks then spent the evening exploring the bars and attraction on board the ship before my first night in my cabin.
The second day (Thursday, 5th May)
Today started with a brilliant sunrise through my window - so at least it wasn't raining!
Today was all at sea travelling the longest distance north to our first stop - Juneau.
Various ship-board activities were available and one I thought would be good for me was an 'International Beer Tasting session' - of course it would!
It started out very quiet with just me and two other blokes, from various parts of the US but then, 2 minutes after the event was due to start, we were invaded by about 20 Spanish men, women and a crying baby. Oh joy!
Even the bar man giving the presentation seemed to find it amusing, especially as they were all far too busy talking amongst themselves (well, shouting really) he could hardly be heard. It was funny but we struggled through. Beers were: Red Stripe (yes, I know!); Dos EKis ?, Sam Adams (USA) and Duvel (Belgian). It was fun and reasonably cheap!
Overnight, the clocks also were put back by a further hour to Alaska time..
Day three (Friday, 6th May)
Today was our first land excursion in Juneau, the capital of Alaska.
The first activity today was a helicopter trip to the M? glacier and after being picked up and driven to the airfield, getting into various hi-viz clothes and walking boots, we took off to fly to the glacier.
Unfortunately, as we arrived, the snow started to fall heavily and the pilot decided we would not be landing on the glacier as it looked like a white-out was imminent and he couldn't guarantee being able to bring us back!
We had a full refund but I would rather have walked on the glacier.
Back in Juneau, I took the tramway to the top of the cliff but there wasn't much to do as it wasn't fully open but the views - and the deep snow drifts up there were magnificent!
Day Four (Saturday, 7th May)
Today was another land-excursion, this time in the town of Skagway.
I had opted for a train trip to the Yukon mines but that was cancelled due to lack of interest from the rest of the cruise passengers so it was replaced with a town old-style guided bus tour.
This was followed by a trip on the famous Yukon and White Pass railway over some beautiful mountain passes with snow as high (if not higher) than the train itself! This was when I first me some new friends, Nick & Jane.
Back in the town, I visited the Skagway Brewing company where I met the Dutch couple from the previous night - this time, I had my Radio Caroline shirt on and I bought a Skagway brewery T-shirt.
Day Five (Sunday, 8th May)
Today was a day at sea but in the magnificent Glacier Bay.
A slow cruise around a few of the more significant glaciers like ...
Overnight, we travelled south back towards our starting point n Vancouver but before that on
Day Six (Monday, 9th May)
Today was our last land-excursion, this time to Ketchikan. After going ashore and walking for a mile or two, I met a small group of people who were booked on the Ketchikan pub crawl!
These were, John & ?, ? & ?. The
Three pubs: the ?, the Asylum and the ?
Back to the ship for the final time for the final journey back to Vancouver.
Day Seven (Tuesday, 10th May)
Today was all at sea heading back to Vancouver.
Overnight into Wednesday, 11th May (my 66th birthday!) we sailed back to Vancouver and was ready to disembark by 09:00. I had abandoned plans to use their luggage service and carried my own bergen off the ship and back into Canada.
When I returned to my cabin after breakfast, a greeting card had been left from the captain wishing me a happy birthday!
No problems getting through security, just a question about what I was doing for the next 16 days (as I had entered on my arrival form) but a quick explanation of the Rocky Mountaineer and visiting relations in Ontario and I was through.
A short wait for a taxi back to the ? place hotel where I was booked in for the next two nights.
Partially unpacked, changed into shorts and set off to walk to Stanley Park.
Climbed to the Lion's Gate bridge to watch and video the Zuiderdam leaving at 16:00 on the same cruise I had just left!
Walked back to town for a beer in the Steamhouse Brewery then back to the hotel for the night.
The Rocky Mountaineer
The Rocky Mountaineer experience started on Thursday, 12th May when I had to leave the ? hotel to walk in the rain to the ? to register and collect my boarding pass for the train journey starting early on Friday morning.
Friday, we we re met in the lobby by representatives from The Rocky Mountaineer and had to answer various Covid-19 related questions.
Boarding a bus, we drove to collect more passengers from the ? before driving to the railway sidings to board the train.
Carriage CB03, seat 32 was my position for the two days.
After pictures outside the train, I boarded and found my seat.
Once again, I sturck lucky with only 26 passengers in our car whereas the cars either side of us were full with 62 people!
This meant we had complete freedom to vmove around and from side-to-side plus we only had one lunch sitting!
Kamloops
Banff - Carribou Lodge hotel.
Two Bears Brewing.
French-Canadian Piere-Luke
Another early start on Monday (16th May) for the bus journey to Calgary airport.
Visiting Relations
The final part of my trip to Canada was self-arranged and allowed me to reunite with members of my family in Canada.
I was to stay with my Cousin, Raymond, and his wife on the shore of Lake Huron. I last Saw Raymond when he worked in London (England) in the 1980s.
It started with my arrival in Toronto on Monday 16th May and being met by Raymond at the airport for the drive back to Grand Bend some 120 miles.
Welcomed to their home by Raymond and his wife, Sabine, it was good to be there.
A quiet evening, chatting and catching up but also observing spectacular sunset over the lake (next stop west is Michigan!)
Plans had been made to meet a friend in London (Ontario!) the next day but that was cancelled which meant we had a relaxing day to settle in. A quick trip to show me the local centre of Grand Bend itself was all we did!
The following day, Raymomd took me to London to meet with Phyllis (senior).
We drank tea and spoke continually while I was there and it brought back some good memories of my trip in 1976 but also some sadness that most of that generation were no longer around.
That afternoon, I was picked up by Cameron and taken back to his house, the one I originally stayed in during my 1976 visit with Joy and Bill McGaughey when only Don was living at home. Cameron and Tom were in Kitchener at the time.
We went for beer and pizza at Palasad Social Bowl but we didn't stay late and when we got back to Cameron's house, he produced a box full of birth and marriage certificates which gave me a lot of information for the family tree.
The next day (Thursday), Raymond picked me up and we returned to Grand Bend.
Friday we went visiting: Bayfield and Goderich.
Saturday started very sunny and I had suggested I might walk into Grand Bend but the weather went downhill very quickly in early afternoon when the edge of a storm caught us and caused devastation in parts of London and on a line from Windsor to Uxbridge, north of Toronto.
Sunday, we picked Phyllis Snr up and drove to visit Phyllis and Claudio in Stauffville, north of Toronto.
Some detours were necessary due to damage from the storm but the afternoon was excellent with home made pizzas and lots to talk about.
It was great to see 'young' Phyllis again after so many years and two of their daughters, Sierra and Olivia and granddaughter, Isabella.
Monday was a holiday - Victoria Day - and we went to Stratford (upon Avon - of course!) so Raymond could play tennis while Sabine and I walked along the river with me learning more German from her to compliment my DuoLingo course as we walked!
On our return journey, we were approached by a lady who introduced herself as being connected to the Isle of Man and had a jumper on with the three legs emblem. She is sister-in-law to local photographer, Bill Snelling!
Sabine & I had lunch (& I had a beer!) at Bentley's Inn before walking back to meet Raymond for the drive home.
Tuesday was a VERY sunny day and I walked into Grand Bend - nearly 8 miles in 2 hours. Not a lot to see there but the walk did me good.
Luckily, Sabine had agreed to bring me back to the house so I didn't have an 8-mile return walk after I called her from Tim Horton's and met her at "St Johns by the lake" church.
Wednesday we left for Niagara and I left the house for the last time. After we booked into the hotel and had another brew in Hortons, a walk along the banks of the river and taking photographs of the falls, I went up the tower.
Back at the hotel, I went for a walk and found a bar called 'Local' for a drink. Back to the hotel again for tea then we walked down to see the falls all lit up. Walked to what we were told was the oldest bar in Niagara but it wasn't very interesting (although I did chat with a fellow bar-fly who was from Ipswich!). Sabine and Raymond headed back to the hotel while I waited for the fireworks and when they were over, I too returned to the hotel and started to prepare for my journey home...
Part of this preparation was to check-in online with the airline where I hoped to secure an upgrade but this couldn't be done until 24 hours before the departure time so I had to stay awake until 23:50! Sadly, after a temporary hiccup with my credit card, the upgrade was no longer available so I had to make do with my pre-booked 'Premium economy' seat. Oh well, I tried!
Thursday, we had breakfast in Niagara-on-the-lake before driving north along the river and onto Toronto airport for the start of my journey home..
The Return Home
The night before leaving we were in Niagara.
I couldn't check-in until 24 hours before my flight which was at 23:50 the next day so I waited to check-in and at precisely 23:50, I logged in and started to check-in, including taking the option to upgrade to business class. However, the card I used had a problem and by the time I sorted that out (probably less than a minute later), the option to upgrade had vanished - somebody else had bagged it ! Grrr!
VERY annoyed, I went to sleep and woke early the next day.
Packed and left the hotel at 08:30 for the drive to Toronto airport.
Stopped for breakfast in Niagara on the Lake then continued to the airport.
Saying a final goodbye and massive thank-you to both Sabine and Raymond, I went to check in.
No queue at all for 'priority' passengers - which I was in 'Premium Economy' but they wouldn't take my bags until 4 hours before the flight departed so I had to drag them around until 19:50!
With NOTHING in the departure terminal , I went to the Arrivals but was stopped by a security guard who asked what I was doing. When I explained I was here until 23:30 and wanted something to eat/drink, she kindly led me though to the arrivals area where I got a (final!) decaf tea from Tim Horton's and set up laptop at a table to take 2.5 hours to drink it!
Finally able to drop my bags around 18:50, I went through security then only had another 3 hours to wait!
More keyboard work but nothing else to eat or drink until the flight was called at 23:20.
Boarded and located seat 12A which had plenty of room as it faced a bulkhead and no passenger in the next seat meant I had even more room to spread out (still not as good as business class though!)
Finally took off at 00:15EST - 05:15BST.
Uneventful flight and landed at Heathrow just after 11:00BST although it took a further 25 minutes before we were allocated a gate to disembark!
Joined a VERY long queue for passport control but was through there just before midday then tried to find car hire place - they don't make it clear you have to use a shuttle bus!
Took delivery of my little car - and checked the tyres VERY carefully after the issue on the way down from Lancaster and was on my way by 13:15.
Joined an immediate queue on the M4 and M25 but eventually got to Lancaster around 19:00.
Parked car and checked-in to the hotel then went for a very welcome drink in the local Wetherspoons - first 'proper' beer for almost 3 week!
The next day, I returned the car and got the ferry back to the Isle of Man where friends collected me and took me home - then we all went to the pub! What else?
THE END
of a fantastic journey.