Tuesday 6 May Rocky Mountaineer day 2

We didnt arrive in Banff until after 10.30 last night, so after 14 1/2 hours on the train (same flight time as it took to get to Canada!) once we got into our hotel room, we simply fell in to bed! Be that as it may, I now need to recall all we saw and experienced yesterday. It was amother early start as we had to be in the lobby by 6am to be coached to our train which was about a 15 minute drive. Back on board the Rocky Mountaineer for a 7 am departure. Straight away, half our group were at breafast in the lower half of our carriage. While they had breakfast we were provided with coffee and cake. Not a bad wayto start the day. By the time we had had our breakfast and returned upstairs, the bar was open. You will be somewhat surprised and amazed that I didn't order anything.... well not straight away! So many lovely places we passed through that it is a bit of a blur of what photos were taken where. We passed through Chase which is situated on Little Shuswap Lake. We then passed the mouth of Adams River which is the site of a salmon run.

Sicamous meaning in the middle, is known as the houseboat capital of the world. During the summer months it is home to some 300 houseboats. We are just at the start of the season so many of the houseboats were gathered in one spot, ready to be hired out. Mara lake is to the south and a lovely valley.

More great scenery as we follow Eagle River for some 48 km. The tiny little place of Craigellachie showcases the last spike of the Canadian Pacific rail line which was hammered in on 7November 1885. Legend goes that when DonaldSmith stuffed up his first attempt by bending the spike, so this was probably his second, but last, attempt!

We passed the Three Valley Gap resort which I would have liked a better photo opp of, so no photo sorry, but it has a brilliant history with a heritage ghost town, antique car collection and roundhouse full of railway equipment, all specially brought in to the location just to set up the village. Along the way we cross a number of bridges. They are all different styles and types. Stonemasons bridge was a great engineering feat.

We pass through Revelstone, which looks nice. My only complaint about being on the train is the inability to stop and get out at so many spots I would like to spend more time in or at.

Lots of tunnels too. the Connaught tunnel is 8 km long. The spiral tunnels were amazing.

Love some of the names of places such as Kicking Horse river, Field, Surprise Creek, Golden and Chase. We pass through the Continental Divide and eventually stop at Lake Louise station where some passengers on other carriages get off. By now it is dark so we didn't see much at all, however we did see a grizzly bear on the side of the train at one stage before we got here. Had also seen an elk. Some said they saw a black bear, but I missed that! We finally arrive in Banff 14 1/2 hours after departing Kamploops. We were 3 hours delayed through the trip due to often having to stop and remain on one track while a freight train or two passed. This took ages as one of those trains had more than 110 carriages loaded with each carriahe holding 4 containers stacked 2 high! We often had significantly reduced speed too, as we approached different track junctions. Anyway we finally made it to our hotel, the Fairmont Banff Springs, and have a fabulous large room where we are only too happy to fall into bed as it is now 11.30 and we have been up since 5.15...

good night