We made it to Rockie Mountains International Airport (that is, Cranbrook) in a two prop Air Canada sopwith camel and Kath met us at the airport on time and on budget! How indescribably wonderful to see and hug Kath again. Yes, we know, it has only been 4 months since we saw her but it seems like 4 yrs.

Actually, so far our experiences have been very good, especially casually chatting to the locals at bus stops, parks, in the street etc. The flight Syd to Vancouver of 14 hours was OK and I recommend the movie The Stone of Destiny especially for those of us with limited Scottish history. Had trouble sleeping at all so arrived zonked.

It was a surprise to get to out hotel at 9am Sunday and hour and a half before we left (body clock time 2am Monday) and to be told "we can let you in to your room now if you wish". Wow, did we wish! We then slept until 4pm (yes, I know, mature years catching up with us) before getting a taxi into downtown Vancouver.

We were a bit late for everything but the visitors' centre told us to hop on a 19 bus to Stanley Park so we did. At the bus stop we talked to a elderly Canadian couple who were born in Vancouver and knew all the ropes. They mentioned that they had good Australian friends who lived in Geelong, actually Belmont. The Hendersons. For a while there we thought they were going to say the Jenkins (who are OUR good friends who live in Grovedale next to Belmont in Geelong).

At Stanley Park Laurel chatted a woman after we finished a dinner meal in Stanley Park bar (photo later) and she paid for our dinner! Turns out she was there with her niece Laura (can you believe that Laura M?) to eat and see Throughly Modern Millie in an open-air theatre just 100 metres deeper into the gardens. Laura has been to Sydney and other parts of Oz and so as we chatted Colleen just grabbed our bill and insisted on paying while we sat there dumbfounded. Aren't Canadians wonderful?

Oops, I off to Invermere with Kath now to pick up some bread for the cafe. See ya later. Dennis. Laurel will continue shortly. And hopefully, with pictures.