Dibbo's and Trotty Trips

Well I have started this message from Rossland in southern Alberta at John'splace (John is Robbies - from OZ - brother from Canada). I will finish the message when we get to Toronto when we stay with Dibbo's brother who is doing a 1 year Teacher exchange.

Monday 5/6

Had a sleep in and rang Jenny to finalise details for tonight - they are coming to our hotel and we will go to the local bar near our hotel). Off to the West Edmonton Mall (the bloody thing doesn't open until 10). We had alook around and went to get our photos copies to CDs. This place is amazing- it has 2 floors full of shops, as well as a hotel, 2 cinema complexes, asea lion waterpark with penguins and flamingos and above and underwaterrides (submarines), a 3/4 replica of a pirate ship and full indoor waterpark with numerous waterslides, bungee and a large wave lagoon, there is also a full amusement park with rides and rollercoaster plus a whole "street -Bourbon St" of pubs/bars. Well Lynne and Glenn took off to look around the shops, I went to the movies and watched "The Da Vinci Code" - not bad -almost the same as the book - but not as good as the book where they got their material - "Holy Blood, Holy Grail". We meet up at 3.30 at Sherlock Holmes pub - had a drink and back to motel to get ready for the big game tonight - game 2 of the Stanley Cup (Ice Hockey). Jenny and Ian arrived just before 6 and we walked the 100 metres to the pub - the place is packed, probably 300 people all going for the Oilers from Edmonton (they are playing the Carolina Hurricanes). Well - for $6 we can get a litre glass of Canadian Molson - so we had that and the girls had something else (Iced Tea and Vodka). Well what a start - the Oilers up 3-0 going into the last 20 minutes (they play 3 - 20 minute periods). The crowd were going wild - (we cheered a bit as well) - then it went 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4 (at this stage the crowd were a little stunned), then 4-4 (the crowd wild agin) - and then it happened, the Oilers Goalie (who is a champ) did his knee (and as we found out later, will be out for the rest of the finals), With 30 seconds to go with everyone thinking it will go to overtime, the new goalie and another player had a mix up and the Hurricanes scored to win 5-4. Well things were a little quiet, but the confidence was still there as there is still 6 games to go. Jenny and Ian left as they had to work the next day - we stayed and went to the bar and had a few more and talked to the barman that was there last night - around 11ish back to room and to bed.

Tuesday 6/6

Today is our day of big things. Leisurely start to the day (me driving) and our first stop is Elk Island NP and we are looking for Bison (Buffalo) -well within a few minutes of entering the park we saw 2 on the side of the road - they weren't bothered by the car, but just as we got there a bloke on a bicycle came the other way and frightened the crap out of them and they bolted into the bush. We drove around the park and did some walks and saw some beaver homes and deer (or things that looked like deer or elk - we don't have a clue). The park is broken up into 2 sides (either side of the highway) the side we went to first is the largest - but has the least number of animals. However, the other side doesn't have any roads - its all walking. We walked for about 2/3 km each way and saw nothing except mosquito'es - bloody hell these things are as big as birds. Back to car and onto our second half of big things. (As I am typing, Glenn has just taken a photo of me - with FTC - don't forget the prize for the first to guess)******. This area west of Edmonton must be the home of big things.They have the world's biggest (statues) of Mushrooms, pumpkins (unfortunetly we didn't get there much to our dismay), sausage (bloody great), Easter Egg(amazing) and Mallard Duck (needs to be seen to be believed). we also missed out on the the UFO landing pad that they constructed 30 odd years ago just in case that they needed somewhere to land!!!!!!. A lot of this area was settled by Ukranians (have no idea if any of this is related - except for the Easter egg which is something called a ..... Lynne doesn't know what its called - but its something beginning with P - I mention Lynne as she is our Linguist and proof reader - some call her the "BITCH". What a day - we had lunch under the big Easter Egg - after getting some sausage from the town with the big sausage. On the way back to Edmonton we stopped at the Farmers Market - Great place - a selection you would not believe (Jenny and Ian - you really need to go there - e-mail us what you think). We then travelled to Jenny/Ian's apartment near the city centre and had a few drinks while I typed away - nice location - overlooking the local Baseball field. We then walked a few blocks to a bar where we had a few and had dinner. Back to the apartment and said goodbye and back to out motel - all in bed by midnight.

Wednesday 7/6

Up early and on road just after 6 - we are going to the Dinosaur museum and area at Drumheller. The drive (Lynne driving - she seems to get all the long flat bits) was OK - saw quite a few oil wells with the horse looking pumps slowly going up and down (probably why they call their local hockey team the Oilers). Once in Drumheller, we went to the Info centre - you wouldn't believe it - but they have the worlds largest dinosaur ******(youcan actually walk up the 130 steps to its mouth) - we just can't get away from big things. We then drove to the Hoodoo's - bloody hell in the brochure they looked BIG - guess what - they were small (actually I thought they were absolute crap - but I have been to Turkey and seen Capadocka -where the same sort of things strech for 100 kilometres and they look like Penis's which is even more impressive). Then back thru town to the Tyrrell Dinosaur museum - great place (Apparently one of the best - if not the best, in the world) - we spent 2 hours looking around - awesome. The area around Drumheller is called the badlands and its a complete change from the surrounding countryside - the rest is rolling plains with farms - this is a canyon with rock outcrops that look like something out of the Arizona desert- this is where they got most of dinosaurs skeletons. We drove around the area (heaps of those oil wells/pumps again) and took a ferry over the Red River river (which has created this canyon). We also stopped off at a church that can seat 10,000 people (6 at a time). Back into town via the ferry over the river to get some lunch supplies. Now its the drive to Fort Macleod (Basically the place where the Canadian Mounties were formed). Stopped for lunch at Rosebud. Then into Fort Macleod - found a good motel and we got a 2 bedroom cabin for $70/night. Down to the Moose bar to watch game 2 of the Stanley Cup - only a handful of people watching. We had dinner and watched the first 2 periods (Oilers down by a few). We decided to go back to the cabin to watch the last quarter - I stopped to get grog and then had to sprint 150 meters home as it started pissing down rain. Well I just got there before I had the heart attack and settled down towatch the Oilers get thumped 5-0. Watched some TV and few more drinks - G/L asleep by 12 - me at 1.

Thursday 8/6

Lesurely start just before 9 - down to the Museum at the Fort - this was where when the Mounties were first formed was the site where they were sent to first to bring law and oeder to the West. Good museum - the atually fort is a replica - but still has a lot of the old gear from the 1800 and early 1900's. Then it was off to Wateron NP - its a bit overcast with drizzle -still OK. Nice area - we are back into the edge of the Rockies again. Drove to Wateron Town - nice spot on the lake. We then drove up to Lake Cameron -beautiful spot. At the far end of the lake is the USA border. Had lunch on the side of the river that flows out of the lake and then off to Rossland(Dibbo driving today) about 4/5 hours away. Thru some nice countrside again(Mountains, etc) - we passed Franks Slide - which is the site of a massive landslide aout 80 years ago that came down on side the mountain and thru the valley and about a third of the way up the other side - heaps killed - the highway goes over the top of the slide. Went thru some mountain passes - the last big one we went thru still had heaps of snow and right at the top there was a lake still partly frozen. Arrived at Rossland at John's place just after 6 (after ringing him for directions). He has a great old home where he has lived for years. He took us for a tour of the town (this is an old gold mining area) - their is great ski slopes here on Red Mountain. Also took us to an old gold mine museum - it was closed but you can still walk around and have a look at a lot of the old machinery. Had dinner at a the Hillside Bar and then back to John's to have a chat and a few drinks. All in bed by 12.30

Friday 9/6

John is driving us for a scenic trip around the Rossland area. Away just after 9 (much better than those early starts) and the drive took us thru mountains and passed rivers and lakes. We saw a hydro dam and stopped for lunch at the New Denver golf club (overlooking Lake Slocan) - another great spot for a lunch stop. Then we headed east and across to Kootenay Lake,stopped to have a look at the Ainsworth Hot Springs and then onto Nelson(this is where they filmed the movie Roxanne). Nice town - we went into theTourist Info place and they offered us 2 options a walking tour of town or a driving one - well of course we not bloody walking and also the town is built on the side of a mountain. Drove around - saw some nice houses. Stopped in town at a pub for a few refreshing ales and then back in car for the trip back to Rossland. Back to John's for a few while we decide what we are doing for dinner. Its been another great day - sunny with a few cloulds and quite warm. Decided to go to the Flying Steamshovel pub for dinner -this was the name that they gave to a local invention that was a steampowered helicopter - it actually got off the ground before crashing - first helicopter in the world to actually fly. We all had the nightly special of steak and prawns - not bad. Back to John's and a few more drinks and wine. All in bed around 1.

Saturday 10/6

Another sleep in - its overcast and a few bits of rain early. We did some internet stuff and then as the weather was looking better, decided to have agame of golf at the local course. Great course only 9 holes - but set in a forest on the side of a hill. We saw chipmonks, squirrels, deers, gophers everywhere) and actually saw a young moose (knew it was young as it didn't have a rack - John said thats the first one he has seen around here). We all played OK - Dibbo is currently holding a PB (Personal Best) - the last 3 drives he did went absolutely straight - we will have to wait for the next game to see if he can make it 4 or even more - I would put my money on him finishing with the current 3. We had lunch at the clubhouse - great meals for a small price. Some of John's friends are playing in a comp this afternoon - a shot gun start - it started raining just before they started -once again we have been lucky with the weather. Back to John's to collect our bags and say goodbye. He said it was hoping to come back to Australia the next 18 months or so - we will have a cold beer waiting for him.With me driving (and about a half a dozen beers behind me for alertness) we are off on the road back to Vancouver. We went about 300km and stopped at Keremeos - found a nice place to stay for the night - Elk's motel. Watched a bit of Game 3 and then to the local to watch the last period - Oilers won so now they trail 1-2 in the 7 game series. Then to a nice resturant for dinner - back to room to watch TV and polish off the last of our disposable grog supplies - in bed by 12.

Sunday 11/6

Up early and Dibbo driving to Vancouver airport - Lynne in the front directing and me in the back reading my book. Our plane goes at 2.30. Got to airport and dropped off the car no probs - its only 11.30 so we have a bit of time to kill - so we went to a bar to wait for our departure on Harmony Airlines. Good flight - got a meal and 3 glasses of wine (Lynne only got 2 - apparently you are only allowed to get 2 free - we got ours OK- but the hostee questioned Lynne about her second). Into Toronto about 10 (its 3 hours different to Vancouver - so it now 10 hours difference to Australia). We had to wait for ever to get our bags - Dibbo's brother Chris is waiting outside - we can see him everytime the auto doors open waving an Aussie flag. Anyway eventually got our bags and out to Chris's car for the trip to Kitchener where we are staying with Chris, Jenny (his wife) and Jenny's daughter Alex. Chris is doing a 12 month teacher exchange so they are staying in the Canadians people house, while the Canadians are staying in Chris's and Jenny's back in Australia and teaching at each others schools.They have been here since January and have experienced the snow/cold thing. Its about an hour drive back to Kitchener and we got the house (Nice place -3 stories) just before midnight - stayed up for a few hours having a drink with Chris - Jenny and Alex in bed as they get up at 4.45am so Alex can go to swimming training - Chris is taking tomorrow off so he can show us around town.

Monday 12/6

Another sleep in - Glenn last out of bed (a first so far on the trip - its always me) - for a drive around town. Nice town - has some nice old houses. Stopped for lunch at a resturant called Sole - not bad - a little expensive. Then off to collect our Hire car from Avis - we got another upgrade - at one stage we were going to get a PT Cruiser - bllody hell the second Ugliest Car ever made - even FTC wouldn't be caught dead in one. Anyway we got a Buick station wagon - great - plently of room. We then follwed Chris and Lynne (Dibbo driving - both the Dibben boys drive like they are on a race track) to a pub to meet some of Chris's work mates. Had a few drinks with Sean (nice bloke - however he did put his foot into it when saying we would have a game of golf when we get back as he assumed Lynne wouldn't be playing - he wont make that mistake again) - Chris off to pick up Jenny from work - its her first day today - then they came back for a few more. Then we went to by some supplies for tonight - grog and some steaks - a BBQ tonight. Back to house and I dropped some of my grog on the front driveway and broke 2 - bloodly hell. Had a few drinks and then Chris cooked the Barby - Jenny had already preparared a salad and baked spuds - great feed. Then to lounges to watch the last part of the Oilers game -they lost 2-1 - so now there 3-1 down - not looking good. Everyone having an early one tonight (Jenny and Alex have to get up again at 4.45 - this is every moring during the week for the swimming season.

Thats all for now

Trotty/Lynne and Dibbo