In 2005 we decided on a trip to Canada, starting with a flight to Toronto, a train to Vancouver and a ferry over to the Island where we hired a car to get around to some amazing places. So join me on my Canadian trip of a lifetime.
Air: The following images are taken on coming in to land at Toronto as we circled right over the city. Sometimes even having a seat with a wing view can be interesting too.
Train: After a few days exploring Toronto and a quick trip down to Niagara Falls we joined the Canadian train departing from Union Station in the country’s largest city to cross through some of Canada’s most sparsely populated regions. On the first day the panorama changes from the glass skyscrapers of Toronto to the pine trees of Sioux Lookout. Day two took us to Edmonton, crossing Winnipeg River, the Prairies and the lakes of Whiteshell Provincial Park. On the third day the train steadily climbs through the foothills of the Rockies, crossing several rivers and glacial lakes of the most stunning colours. After Jasper the train winds its way through the Yellowhead Pass, the crest of which marks the border of Alberta and British Columbia. The Canadian is in sight of Mount Robson for 16 km before turning sharply south and descending. In the early hours of the morning the mountains suddenly fall away and the Canadian follows the flat green fields along the Fraser River. It arrives at the Pacific Railway Station in Vancouver after a long and astonishing journey.
Boat: On reaching Vancouver the next step of our journey was to travel on the wonderful BC Ferries up and along the Sunshine Coast then over to Vancouver Island. I’m not a very good sailor, but would go on these ferries any time, and if you are lucky, as we were, you might catch a glimpse of a pod or two of Orcas.
Of course there are many other types of boats on Vancouver Island, so here are a few of the smaller ones.
Road: Of course the journey would not be complete without the use of our lovely Lincoln hire car. She enabled us to get off the highways and to more remote places that were not easily accessible by public transport. On and off ferries to explore the smaller islands of Hornby and Denman, over a logging route to visit Telegraph Cove, along the Pacific Rim coastline to Port Renfrew, Ucluelet and Tofino, and north to Alert Bay. But my first journeys in the car were in the environs of Vancouver – to the fabulous UBC Anthropology Museum, Van Dusen Gardens and over the Lions Gate Bridge to Grouse Mountain.
And of course there are many other methods of transport available in Canada. I hope you have enjoyed the ride 🙂
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #215 |Planes, Trains and Automobiles
TRAVEL WORDS 
Oh, brilliant set of images, Jude!
It’s a beautiful country Jude and you did it justice with your wanderings! So much water, so little time LOL. My question is, how many of the transports you photographed did you also use? Sky ride? Paraglide? YIKES!! Loved coming along with you!
Paraglide? Me? You have to be joking. I prefer my feet to be firmly on the ground. We did use the cable car up to the top of Grouse Mountain.
What a great trip! We visited Vancouver maybe 10 years before that, but have never been back despite several other visits to Canada. You make me nostalgic.
Doubt that we’ll go back, The OH not so keen on travelling (flying) any more. I would have liked to have visited the eastern states.
I’d like to go back to Canada, though I’m not ready to fly yet either. I definitely don’t feel like going back to the US right now.
Great photos, great variety. Excellent.
What a trip of a lifetime Jude. So good to have the beautiful photos to look back on. Canada is a country I never visited, but would’ve love too. Sadly time has run out for travelling now, but I can enjoy it through WP posts.
We’re not too bothered about travelling overseas again, as you say it’s easy to enjoy foreign destinations through blogs, TV programmes etc. Though I haven’t ruled out another trip to Australia 😊
Would love to meet you if you ever get over here…
Definitely. They are still living in Brisbane so not too far from you.
👍🤞
We went to Vancouver Island on the ferry too, and back to Vancouver a few days later. It is the most scenic voyage and, even though it was quite cold, we stayed up on deck all the way.
I love how you showed so many kinds of transportation in an area. Great collection 🙂
A lovely gallery of your photos!