Traveling Canada! Handy hints!

When to go!
- Warmest weather - June/July
- For winter sports - November to April
- For Whale watching - May to September
- To see Aurora - January to March

Tipping rules!
-15-20% of bill to for waitstaff
- $1 a drink to bar staff
-$1-2 for porters
-$2-5 a day for tour guides
-10-15% of fare for taxi drivers
                                                             

Food to try!
Poutine, salmon, game meats, maple syrup, beaver tail, moose burger and Tim Horton's donuts.
                                                           




BASIC CANADIAN (English & French language)
Dollar coin - Looney
2 dollar coin - Tooney
Foolish person - Hoser
Kilometres - Clicks
Bathroom - Washroom
Soda - Pop
Bottle of Liquor -Mickey
Coffee with milk and 2 sugars - Double double

Wells Gray, Clearwater Lake challenge!

Like the great Viking masters, the oars caressed Njoror and Ran’s belly as we made our way across Clearwater Lake.  Mountains topography soared to the heavens and its mirror reflection was only scattered by the rhythmic slaps of our oars and raucous obscenities that erupted from our lungs as we failed to negotiated the draw and pry steering movements of our canoe.


After 4 hours of physical torture including thunder & lightening (very, very frightening... Gallileo); we arrived at our destination. -Stellers Bay. Pure isolation descended, here we were, 13 souls wrapped in Mother Nature’s embrace. No rest for the wicked though, first job... set up camp. It was also the "Golden Oldies" rota to produce dinner that night. So under the direction of the very cheerful but slightly intoxicated Master Chef Shah, we managed to throw together a very palatable pepper steak.  The medal must go to the clean up team, who had to battle not only the primitive kitchen facilities but also that fact that every dish and utensil was used. All chores were completed as the snow-capped peaks tangled with the fingers of a colourful sunset,  then we all settled down around the fireplace for a night of fun and frivolity courtesy of Canadian whiskey.

The sea

The Vagrant gypsy.

Vessel of energy,
laps the coastline.
Rhythmic pull
of the tide caress.
Magnetism of swirls;
toss, banter and vector.

Spectrum of colour,
reflect measure.
Deep, shallow or
intermediate.

Sweeping waves
and moving tides.
The beckoning,
horizon immense.

Raw, salt odour,
crisp but gritty,
cool and fresh.

Open to embrace,
soul and spirit.
Whimsical but tempest,
complex and cruel.

Unrestrained & brutal,
indefinitely wild,
Hypnotic & mysterious.
reassuring.
Many facets.

The heart of the ocean,
secret of the seas.
A vagrant gypsy,
certainly, ye be!