Jill and Lyn's Great Escape

Hi all
Well here we are in downtown Jasper, Canada in the icefields and enjoying every minute of it. Thanks for all the comments, its great to stay in touch...and dont worry Ruth and Mum, the UK will be pretty exciting for you (and tell the drama queen to get on with it!!). Won't be any pictures this time round as it is really expensive here to have memory cards downloaded...will wait til Montreal where hopefully it will be cheaper.
On with the 'virtual tour' - we left Vancouver on the Rocky Mountaineer Train to head to Calgary - & funnily enough, that is where we ended up (Jill is still wondering how the hell that happened!!!!!) We did enjoy the train, but some of the other passengers we had to spend 2 days with were a bit of a worry - the couple sitting opposite us were like the Queen & Prince Phillip - in voice, accent & manners - they even suggested that some of the trees along side the tracks should be cut down to improve the view!!!!! Lets just ignore the fact that we were in a pristine wilderness!
We got off the train & headed across the street to the hotel - it was incredibly luxurious! (Of course our bags had been transferred earlier & were already there for us!)
Then onto the tour bus the next morning for the icefields - Banff, Lake Louise & now in Jasper - lots of snow in Banff & Lake Louise - started just after we left Calgary & great Xmas photos (snow was unexpected by Jill!, so that was a great treat!) We have walked on a glacier which was sensational - had to get there on a gigantic snow mobile!
The weather in Jasper is wonderful - sunny with snow topped mountains - just like you see in the photos!
Have been out canoeing on Pyramid Lake today - wonderful - no wind, in tee shirts, water like a mirror!
Tomorrow off to Banff for 2 days (just down the road really). Have continued to meet lovely people - Jill has found a quilting buddy - a lovely woman (retired opera singer) from Florida (of course - isn't that where everyone in the US retires to????) There is a quilt shop in Jasper - off there in a minute - I think it is time for me to have a coffee.
For Lyn's friends at work you would be pleased to know that people are much thinner in Canada - more outdoors sort of lifestyle (except for a poor woman that we read about in the paper who choked to death in a contest to see how many marshmellows you could put in your mouth & still say "chubby bunny" (not funny really, but you do have to wonder why anyone would want to do that).
Nearly forgot the best part - yesterday we went rafting on the Athabasca River (just out of Jasper) & I (Lyn that is!)got to be the raft leader for about 10 minutes - it was the best - darn hard work, but fantastic experience trying to guide it through some rapids & around bends - a test for my muscles (that have turned to flab with my winter coat).
Hope everyone is well....love to read your comments.
Love Jill and Lyn