Planning the Trip

Our schedule and plans for the trip have changed daily. I think we will have to always remain flexible and open to whatever transpires. We have worked out the beginning of our trip.
August 15 - September 12: Eastern Canada, Vermont, New York
Sept 12-15: Vancouver
Sept 15: leave for JAPAN
October sometime - would like to be in China, Beijing. We are excited to travel from Beijing to Katmandu on the Beijing to Lhasa high altitude train ride, then by other forms of transport to Katmandu.
November - head to SE Asia

We have had lots of requests to visit Australia, there are some fabulous people down there we could visit! So like I said, we have to be flexible.

Send us your suggestions.
Lianna

House is SOLD!

Lake Louise, Alberta

So things are falling into place. The house has been sold and we have to get out of here by August 15! That now leaves us about 3 1/2 weeks. We just returned from a cousins wedding in Edmonton. Had a fabulous time! Drove there and drove back. This was a very good adventure to spend some time thinking about how we were going to travel for a year. What are the challenges, what kind of things do we need, use, how are we going to get along with each other for the whole time?

Golden, BC

Our two 2 week trip to included Kelowna, Drumheller, Edmonton, Jasper, Lake Louise, then back home. Had a wonderful time. We experienced every type of accommodation along the way as well. Home exchange in Kelowna, crappy motel in Golden, rustic cabin in Drumheller, real country outback motel in Patricia, Alberta, Hi-rise hotel in Edmonton, camping in Jasper, youth hostel in Lake Louise and to end it all off a lovely cabin at a resort in Revelstoke.
Saw all the relatives during the wedding in Edmonton and spent lots of time with my sister and kids in Drumheller.

Drumheller, Alberta


Wedding in Edmonton, Alberta

After Edmonton, Mark and I and the kids drove through the Rockies. Spent two nights in Jasper. I have worked there many times with different film crews and have seen everything but it all seemed so different introducing the area to my family. First of all the Korean Restaurant I had visited years ago was taken over by another owner and although I raved about the food, this time it was terrible! Went for a horseback ride, saw some bears, camped in the wilderness. Real Canadian adventure. On the way down the Icefields Parkway we stopped at the Columbia Icefield - always an awesome sight. I am always amazed at the amount it receeds from year to year. There were warning signs for people to stay off the glacier itself. This did not seem to matter to many as they walked up the toe of the glacier. We spoke to a Parks Warden who watched as people lost their shoes in the muddy silt at the base trying to get to the toe. He hopes that the muddy area will eventually get so large that people will be discouraged from embarking over the ice. There is a very high chance of that ice cracking and revealing the raging river underneath. It will happen, it is just a matter of when. Did some exhilerating river rafting on the Kicking Horse River in Revelstoke and then back home to pack.

The house has been officially sold! So we have to be out of here by August 14. Lots to do and plan over the next few weeks.
We made multiple lists during the drive through the Rockies; house stuff, travel stuff, packing stuff, money stuff, electronics etc.


Columbia Icefield, Rocky Mountains, Alberta


Rocky Mountains, Alberta


Shopping at Mountain Equipment Coop, Edmonton, Alberta

Now it is Saturday our first day back. I realize that there is a lot to do but my real only concern is our cats. Two beautiful cats who have lived with us for 8 years are now going to spend a year or maybe the rest of their lives with another good family. We are all putting out the word that the best people come forward to help us with these lovely creatures.

Until next time
Lianna