Alaska and Canada Trip. Wildlife

[bulldog]

Hi again, glad some of you are enjoying pictures of my travels. Overall a fantastic trip very well organised by Barrhead Travel up in Glasgow. 
Our routing was fly to Vancouver, pick up 7 day Cruise to Alaska, stops at Sitka, Juneau and Ketchikan. With a day visiting the Hubbard Glacier. Then back to Vancouver for a couple of days sightseeing . Vancouver is an amazing city, all glass skyscrapers. Incredibly expensive and like a supercar showroom. To describe Lamborghinis as common sounds daft but they were. Astons two a penny. Couple of McLarens. I was always quite proud of my ageing Boxster , not now!! 

Pick up Rocky Mountaineer for day one to Kamloops, overnight then day two to Jasper. Two days in Jasper then Icefield Parkway road to Banff. This is about 2ookm of the most amazing scenery on the planet. Stopping to visit, Athabasca Glacier, Lake Louise and a few other sights on the way. Two more days in Banff then home via Calgary.

So on with pictures, First part is Rocky Mountaineer. Full silver service, sit up in glass topped carriages and move downstairs for meals. Pretty much unlimited drinkies>>

IMG_4856 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
This is seating area.
IMG_4803 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
Two single line tracks , owned by Canadian Railways and Canadian Pacific. 
IMG_1550 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
This is one train , you cannot see front or back they are enormous and go slowly!!
IMG_1562 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
IMG_1534 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
Engines on Rocky Mountaineer
IMG_4869 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
IMG_4801 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
IMG_4758 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
Big ceremony to get on, whistle blown then "all aboard"

First stop was Sitka from where we did an excursion to see whales , well we were lucky
IMG_1306 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
Humpback
IMG_1307 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

Trip from Juneau produced two pods of Orcas much to the guides surprise.
IMG_1446 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
IMG_1455 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
IMG_1454 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

IMG_1439 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

IMG_1450 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

Then a group of Sea Otters
IMG_1269 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

IMG_1262 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

IMG_1255 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

IMG_1270 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
IMG_1270 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
IMG_1276 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
IMG_1276 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
Bald Eagle

IMG_1463 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

IMG_1460 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

IMG_1456 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

We went on a trail Hike with a guide who said at the beginning, oh don't worry about the bears I've got my bear spray. Yeah right I thought we may have mozzy repellent but bear spray!! no way.

IMG_5014 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
Luckily didn't need it.
IMG_5022 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
Another sign said if you encounter a Cayote say to it "Go away Cayote" , hope they speak English
IMG_5022 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

Thought we would never see a bear but then
IMG_4949 by Clive Harden, on Flickr
IMG_4950 by Clive Harden, on Flickr

Hope you enjoyed these. The whales alone made the trip special.

Clive