Sorry, we have not had a lot of time to update the blog. As the scenery was so fantastic and tranquil it made a day trip to Emerald lake such a delight ... The day was culminated by scenes such as this and was a joy just to be part of it.

We had a great dinner, shared by some very funny traveling colleagues and all in all made for another very special day..

Unfortunately we are on the move again tomorrow, however great this experience has been, we are filled with expectation for some more exciting times tomorrow

Emerald Lake was just like stepping into a postcard. We arrived late afternoon and even though we were given the keys to our log cabin as soon as we arrived it was very hard to put the camera away. The cabins were all ready to light the log fire but "unfortunately" the weather has been so fantastic it was out of the question! We were so spoilt this day as we started off at Morraine Lake - stunning place then we moved on to Lake Louise another place like "heaven on earth" where we had lunch and our tour group photo. From there we travelled to Emerald Lake (photo opposite). We thought things couldn't get better but this is a beautiful part of the world. After our celebration dinner we all sat by a camp fire to learn about s'mores. Out came the local ranger and he was an Australian from the Gold Coast who has been a resident at Emerald Lake for 5 years. He was more pleased to see and hear us - I think we made him a little homesick but not too much when you could see his surroundings! So getting ack to the s'mores - they are a honey biscuit covered with Lindt chocolate placed near the fire to soften. Then you keep rolling the marshmellow over the fire until they look like they are going to fall off - quickly place on top of the chocolate and put another honey biscuit on top. Now you try and eat that without anything dripping drown your chin and all over your clothes. Absolutely decadent but you always want somemore - hench the name s'mores.

These are our two new friends in Canada - meet them on the way to Jasper! We are seeing the most amazing sights and I have to say if Canada is not on your "bucket list" then you better put it on. We have a wonderful tour guide and driver (both women) who live in Calgary, so locals showing us around their country and loving every minute of it. As it's near the end of their season for this particular tour you might expect a bit of lack lustre but they are full of energy and going out of their way to show us wildlife and stopping near waterfalls and while our cameras are clicking away they have set up wine, cheese and biscuits to keep us going till our next stop. Yesterday we motored along the Icefields Parkway and witnessed some unforgetable, amazing scenery such as Crowfoot Glacier hanging from a cliff face some 900 feet above the Columbia Icefield, North America's larget sub-polar ice pack. At Athabasca Glacier we climbed aboard a specially designed Ice Explorer bus for a guided tour over steep grades, snow and ice as we acended partway up the glacier before we were alowed to get out and walk on the glacier that had a depth as high was the Eiffel Tower. Tonight we are staying at Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge - where the Deer and the Buffolo roam (come on I herd you singing it). Actually it is true that the elk their babies and the daddy bull roam about the park so we have been warned to look before opening the door to our room! I know this is supposed to be a holiday but there is so much to see that we are up early and on the go all day but we re having a wonderful holiday

Day 8 we travelled along the highway to see the 3 exquisite lakes of Louise, Moraine and Emerald. We walked along the shores of Lake Louise, Canada's Diamond in the Wilderness before moving on to Moraine Lake, crowned by 10 notable peaks. We passed by the spectacular Natural Bridge carved by Kicking Horse River before arriving at the beautifulk Emerals Lake (pictured) It is one of Canada's mose outstanding wilderness settings. The hotel at Lake Emerald was individual cabins made of hand-hewn timber and each room featured massive stone fireplaces. After a beautiful dinner we stargazed under the night sky and had s'mores so named because once you've tasted one you want "some more". They are made of 2 honey wafers placed in front of the bonfire - cover one with Lindt chocolate squares and put a marshmellow on the fork and gently melt it until it is just about dripping off and quickly place it on top of the chocolate and make a sandwich by placing the other iscuit on top. The trick to eating it is not to let the meltin chocolate drip all over you.

This trip through Canada has been so amazing that we have had no time to spend in our room adding to our Post. We would miss so much if we sat in our room typing this up. It's hard enbough to find the time to download our photo's before we forget where we have been! Today we travelled from Whistler to Kelowna through the sun-drenched Okanagan Valley, one of Canada's mst beloved vacation spots. This lush region is known for it's fntastic fruit and vegetables. Alistair is showing off the size of the onions and tomato's at a loca market. It is also Canada's wine capital (but I have to say Aussie wines are much better). We have developed a taste for a local Canadian beer called Kokanee - very refreshing. Our tour group is fantastic - not a grouch in site and all are quite punctual which makes for a great day. The group is made up of 70% Aussie's with 1 couple from England, South Africa, Malaysia and 3 couples from Vermont & Florida. Can't tell you how many times the geat Aussie chant has gone up - you know aussie, aussie, aussie, oi, oi, oi. Even at a dinner show called Oh Canada Eh! At Banff we stayed at the Banff Fairmont Springs hotel on Canada's Labour Day weekend so needless to say the place was full to the brim and on top of that they had 3 wedddings on the Saturday. This hotel is a grand Scottish baronial castle resort with heaps of history.