Sorry about the delay we have been working away and haven't been on the site. Thanks for all the info we will definitely have a look at it. See you on the cruise.

Gill and Sue 

So glad that you are coming on this trip!!!  It will be great to see you both again and to catch up....stories of the Scandinavian trip please.  Room and car offers are there, so look forward to whatever we can with you post trip.

Happy Cheering for the Olympics.......Heather and Georgette.

Hi Heather and Georgette,

Ann here,

As you can see we are still deliberating on how to use the days after the cruise.

Two women = minimum three opinions,

but we are going to give it some serious thought this weekend. That is unless the Olympics intervene.

Look forward to seeing you gals again in 6 weeks ish!!

Love A&J x

No longer about bears....

Hi, Gill n Sue: That's a nice block of time you have. I would agree with H. and G. regarding traveling through southern BC and up to Banff, Alberta. It is quite a mountainous trip going over several ranges (through passes). The Okanagan will give you a sample of one of BC's many climatic zones - dry interior including pocket desert (Vaseau Lake area)...a distinct contrast after a week of coastal rain forest.

I might suggest a side trip to Waterton Lakes Park in SW Alberta before heading up to Banff. This diversion will also give you a sample of the Canadian Prairie.

We did a similar trip in our RV a few years ago. RVs are gas guzzlers but having just returned from two weeks driving through Somerset, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Kent in a Vauxhall, I can say that the fuel might cost the same, as the gas is cheaper in BC and even cheaper in Alberta (than in England).

Have a great time!

Susan

It is stupidly expensive to take the RV on the ferry ot Vancouver Island, although it is beautiful over here and tons of places to go and things to see.  Victoria, Tofino, Campbell River.........lots of choices.

Taking Highway 3 across the bottom of BC is really nice.   You go through Manning Park and then the south part of the Okanagan.  Turn right there and spend a couple of days exploring wine country........then a trip to the Kootenays.  Nelson is the LGBT capital of the Interior of BC and a beautiful spot.  Then from there to Banff National Park and Lake Louise.

Just some of my thoughts.

 Heather and Georgette

PS We have two Brit couples who are friends coming on this trip.

Hi Susan

We have two weeks booked with a RV after the cruise (picking up at Vancouver and dropping off at Calgary) can you offer any advice please on where to go and what to do. We are first time visitors and apart from what we are reading in books know nothing of the area. 

Thanks,

Still undecided what to do for our days post cruise.

3 days to either see bits of Vancouver island or trip from Vancouver, Whistler?

 Decisions, decisions.

Vacations are such hard work , LOL

Thanks again for your input.

You can take a bus to both places from Nanaimo but be aware that there is no guarantee that you will see a bear in either place or on the way to and from. There is probably a better chance to see bears on the cruise from the ship, imho.

We have a cabin in the mountains east of Vancouver (and Manning Park) and in the past 15 years have seen only two bears near the cabin and a handful on the drive from Vancouver. Many years ago bears used to wander through the campsites in Manning Park regularly - had one sniff my elbow from behind once - but authorities are quick to live trap them and move them farther away these days.

Now that fruit is ripening you have a good chance of seeing them in people's back yards in North Vancouver. You could take the gondola up Grouse Mountain (accessible via Vancouver city bus) in North Vancouver for incredible views of the city, sea and mountains with a chance of seeing wildlife but no guarantees there either.

We were in Tofino last summer and encountered a wolf on a trail - caused quite a stir when we reported it to the naturalist. A week later, near Tofino, a cougar attacked a small child while he was walking holding his mum's hand. Wildlife is unpredictable and encounters can be very dangerous - especially if it involves surprise or stalking!  Aside from seeing bears, Campbell River and Tofino are spectacular places to visit.

Let's hope we see some on the shores of the hundreds of islands we will be floating past on the cruise or whales in the water.

Susan, Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC

Any advice or feedback on Vancouver Island bear watching at Campbell River or Tofino?

Is it possble to get to either location without hiring a car?

Thanks in advance for your help. x