Have you ever seen such a beautiful place?

Nazi camp hostel in Jasper. As you can see I'm having second thoughts about staying here.
see all photos »

Hey guys and gals,

Thank you for all your comments thus far please keep them coming. Oh and Aunty Gess, excuse the gramatical errors, I am well hung over from a massive night out in Banff.

Pictures can't explain just how beautiful it is here!

Well after settling in Vancouver I have taken to the mountains and headed off on my first road trip. The first 2 days in Vancouver had been overcast and in some instances raining, so I figured getting I would get out of the city. Myself and my friend Rachael from Australia(but currently living in Vancouver) booked with a great hop on hop off tour company Moose tours and we started out for the Canadian rockies on Monday just past.

Nice place for lunch!
see all photos »

It is hard in an email and even the pictures can't explain just how beautiful it is here. From the moment we left Vancouver the clouds parted and the sun shone through and it has been sunny and warm since.

First stop on our journey was a place called schuswap lake where we stayed in a hostel just above the towns only pub which was full of rednecks yolkals that all drive beaten up old utes or pickups as the call them. Very quiet night in schuswap but a pretty place visit.

Lake Louise, perhaps the most beautiful lake I have seen.
see all photos »

Next day we headed to Banff which is one of the major ski field towns in Alberta. Another lovely place surrounded by snowcapped mountains.... just incredible. Banff is one of the larger towns on my canadian rockies tour and the only one with 2 nightclubs, both of which were pretty cool place with not to expensive beverages...... needless to say I have had my fill in the last few days and as we speak am nursing a sure head from last nights escapades.

The most breathtaking scenery we experienced occured on our journey from Banff to Jasper. Once you hit the highway the mountain ranges open up and the views are certainly awe inspiring.

Columbia glacial ridge
see all photos »

Jasper was a great town but couldn't compensate for our one night stay in a camp hostel in the woods just outside of jasper that was run by an Austrian women that would have best suited to running a German concentration camp. She was certainly a stickler for the rules, no shoes on in the dorms or common areas and no having fun.... oh I failed to mentioned no running water onsite so no showers (I know some of you are thinking "Does he care, he looks like he never showers anyway") but the campfire we lit certainly made up for it.

One of the million waterfalls over here
see all photos »

After Jasper it was back to Banff where I am at the moment. On the journey we came across bears, elk and all kinds of wildlife which was pretty exciting. We were meant to leave Banff this morning at 8am to head back to Vancouver but last I ended up on the piss(Hmmm seems to be a trend appearing already) with our tour guide Keith, an absolute legend, an I didn't manage to drag my sorry self home until 6:30 this morning and I missed the bus.... oh well these things happen.

I think a Canadian big horned sheep... I could be wrong
see all photos »

And as that is that for the moment..... I will post a new entry in a week or so once I cause some mischief somewhere else.

Missing you all..... well most of you. The people that know I don't miss them are sitting in their chairs giggling as we speak.

Take care

Simon