Railroading in the Rockies

Group Photo!

2009-08-25T06:19:00.000-05:00

A big big thanks to Pam Green,

our tour guide from "Holiday Vacations."

A big "Shout out" to all of our new friends from Memphis and Louisville, who came along for this adventure.

You'll see that our video diary is complete... please check out our final days of the trip. The problem is, the video, as spectacular as it is, cannot compare to actually "Being there" and "experiencing it" in person.

This Rocky Mountain trip has taken us from Seattle, to Victoria, to Vancouver, to Banff to Lake Louise to the Columbia Ice Fields and to Calgary.

We've travelled on planes, trains, motorcoaches, water taxis, ferrys and "ice explorers"

We saw bears, elk, moose, deer and chipmunks in their natural habitats.

It's simply been, an amazing, "once in a lifetime" adventure.

Twilight, Victoria, BC

2009-08-12T18:29:00.000-05:00

My favorite pics, click on them to go full screen

2009-08-12T18:13:00.000-05:00

Butchart Gardens

2009-08-12T18:11:00.000-05:00

A few pictures from the trip

2009-08-12T18:10:00.002-05:00

Banff....

2009-08-07T20:51:00.000-05:00

After 2 days on board the "Rocky Mountaineer" we have arrived in Banff.

We're tired, but here. Long day tomorrow visiting the Ice Fields and that Chateau Lake Louise.

Remember, I'm getting all kinds of video, and will be posting another video entry, maybe later tonight.

Thanks for coming along.

Rocky Mountaineer

2009-08-06T23:00:00.003-05:00

It's been a long, but fun day on board the "Rocky Mountaineer."

It was a long ride out of Vancouver to Kamloops, but very beautiful. You'll want to check out the VIDEO portion of Day 5, I let the view do most of the talking.

We're up early tomorrow morning, it's a long ride to Banff, but apparently the scenery is even nicer.

Look for the next report Monday morning....

Thanks for coming along.

Vancouver, BC

2009-08-05T18:57:00.002-05:00

While Vancouver is a great place, I'll take Victoria any day of the week.

One is laid back, the other is the hub of activity. Both with beauty of their own, Vancouver has much more of a "Big City" feel. More than 2 million here. Huge port for trade, cruise ships poised for sail to Alaska.

The weather has been great... and we can only hope it will continue as we board the train tomorrow and head for Kamloops. There have been a lot of fires in West Canada, but I'm pretty sure we'll avoid all of that...

The "Vancouver Diary" VIDEO portion is up now... enjoy, before you get to see it tomorrow on WREG News Channel 3.

Butchart to Vancouver

2009-08-04T23:58:00.002-05:00

The day started early in Victoria, a city I now love and would love to live in one day. Our early morning start allowed us to beat the crowd at the famous "Butchart Gardens," I'm posting some video on that on "Day 3" but it's a bit slow going at the moment, hope it makes it.

After Butchart, we hopped on a very nice ferry boat, with a ride over to Vancouver. Settled in, a bit to eat a the "Aqua Riva" restaurant, and now to get some rest.

A tour guide will get our group started on Vancouver in the morning, followed by free time, likely to be spent at the aquarium in Stanley Park.

Thanks for checking in!

Day 2 Victoria, BC

2009-08-03T17:20:00.001-05:00

We started the day with a motor coach tour of Victoria. There's some mighty pricey real estate out here... several "Stars" or "Celebs" have homes here.

I can't believe how nice the weather has been for us, none of that "Heat Wave" that you heard so much about, most hotel rooms here don't even have "air conditioning" because they don't need it.

Beacon Hill park was just beautiful, the scenery magnificent, tomorrow we are off to Butchart Gardens, then a ferry ride over to Vancouver.

Day 2 video diary is ready, just click it to the right!

We're here

2009-08-02T18:02:00.001-05:00

It's been a great day so far, up early for the ride along the Olympic Peninsula, Ferry ride out from Port Angeles to Victoria....

We've arrived at the hotel very near Victoria Harbor... I can't wait to bring you the sites and sounds.

Now, go to the "Video Diary" to the right, and click, on DAY 1, for my first report.

SEATTLE!

2009-08-01T22:57:00.003-05:00

It's been a long day... but after a 4 hour flight, we arrived in Seattle this morning, and had an absolutely great time at the Pike Place Fish Market, which is really "so much more" than just a fish market. It's a farmers market, a seafood market, an incredible buzz there today with the "Blue Angels" practicing overhead.

Be looking for some video from here, posted by Monday morning.

My reports, will air on News Channel 3 Daybreak and the "First at 4" and 4:30 shows as well.

Off to bed, up early for our trip to Victoria....

The adventure begins!

Time to get packing

2009-07-31T05:37:00.002-05:00

The plane is out early tomorrow on the way to Seattle as we begin our adventure to the NW.

First by plane, then motor coach, then ferry, train and fly back out from Calgary.

I can't wait to start shooting some video, posting it here, and also putting together my reports that you will see on Daybreak, First at 4 and 4:30 starting Monday.

It's going to be a lot of fun... hope you can check back often!

Hot, in the Northwest?

2009-07-30T05:59:00.003-05:00

Yep, you may have heard, "record heat" across SW Canada. Here's the forecast for some of the cities we're going to be travelling to in the next few days:

Seattle: Sat/Sun August 1/2

Victoria: Sun/Mon/Tue Aug 2/3/4

Vancouver: Tue/Wed Aug 4/5

Kamloops, BC Wed/Thur Aug 5/6 *** REALLY HOT HERE *****

Lake Louise/Calgary
Thur/Fri/Sat Aug 6/7/8 *** LOOKING WET ***

Calgary Sun/Mon Aug 9/10

First few days offer up sunshine, highs 80-85. Kamloops appears to be the only "trouble spot" as the heat will be breaking as we arrive.

Staying cool...

2009-07-29T09:37:00.005-05:00

One place I'm really looking forward to next week, is being on a glacier.

May not sound like much, but this is mega-cool, especially since parts of the northwest are currently dealing with all time record heat!

You take one of these little buggies out to the ice, play around for a while... get your "chill on" and then bring it home.

A walk in the park

2009-07-28T06:14:00.003-05:00

I'd never heard of Butchart Gardens until this trip. It looks beautiful and I can wait to see it, and smell it, in person!

You can see more pictures at their website.

Next week at this time, we'll be enjoying the sites!

You will be able to keep up with my "video diary" and clips that will be seen on WREG News Channel 3.

Less than a week to go

2009-07-27T04:55:00.004-05:00

Next week at this time our group from Memphis will be in Victoria, BC checking out the sites and sounds of the Parliment area. Time for a "Baggage Check" of my own to make sure everything is ready to go!

In just one week...

2009-07-25T17:13:00.001-05:00

About this time in just one week, the group will be arriving in Seattle after a flight from Memphis. Then, the adventure begins!

NEXT Saturday... we go!

2009-07-24T06:04:00.007-05:00

I have had a chance to "look up" a few of the places we will visit on our tour of the "Canadian Rockies." The one place that absolutely "jumps out" at me is Lake Louis. If it is even "half" as beautiful as the pictures show, it will be all worth while.

I'm not sure how people would ever want to leave this place...

Hopefully, when I shoot some video while there, I'll be better able to put into words the "awe" that the pictures give me today.

Click on the pictures above to visit their website.

Thursday, T-Minus 8 Days and counting

2009-07-23T07:44:00.007-05:00

This "trip of a lifetime" continues to get closer and closer. Our group will be flying out of Memphis Int'l Saturday, August 1st, to Seattle, where we will spend the night before really getting our trip started on Sunday. One of the places I'm hoping to visit while in Seattle is famous for it's "Flying Fish" It's the Pike Place Fish Market.

These guys know how to do a website. Click on the link above (or the picture) to go to their site. Visitors are invited to send in their photos. Many already have.

We are big seafood lovers, I'm confident my wallet will be much lighter after we leave. But, according to all I've read, it'll be well worth the trip!

getting closer

2009-07-22T14:36:00.002-05:00

I have been trained on the laptop, with its video features and am looking forward to documenting this adventure! If done properly, my reports will air on New Channel Daybreak and at 4 and 4:30.

2009-07-21T04:52:00.003-05:00

Wow, that didn't take long. Already with a link to our weather page from www.wreg.com.

Today I will be learning more about a video record system with a flash cam. I will be recording my progress with reports here and maybe even on News Channel 3.

This is going to be fun.

Clock is ticking, August 1st will be here before you know it!

When and where

2009-07-20T08:08:00.000-05:00

I will likely be posting each evening, after the days events, but I may just post from my PDA while enjoying the sites...

The countdown has begun!

2009-07-20T07:33:00.000-05:00

August 1st will be here before you know it. Our trip with "Holiday Vacations" where we will be "Railroading in the Rockies" is less than 2 weeks away.

The adventure begins on August 1st.

My goal, to keep you posted on our daily events, share some photos and let you in on the fun.

Maybe you can join us next time!