From Vancouver

On the road and loving it! What a fabulous day we’ve had for our first real day on tour.

After driving through Stanley Park we headed out through North Vancouver. A light fog this morning, but it just made the islands look slightly more magical. Condominiums seem to be tucked into all sorts of places and Fred, our driver/guide, told us that Vancouver was second only to New York in population density for North America.

Pine trees, mountains and water were our main view for the first hour, then as we headed up into the mountains the water was replaced by snow. Through the Coastal Mountains and on into the Cascades has been a wonderful drive. Thank goodness for digital pictures – we were just clicking way. I’ve deleted all the blurry tree shots, so have some great pictures to try and post here later.

Whistler was our lunch stop today. Even though the snow in the village has already melted there is still skiing up the mountain.

A few of us took the gondola lift up to the second ski point. Wonderful views. It’s very pretty to have firs and snow together, something we don’t see a lot at home.

From Whistler we spent two hours trailing through the river valleys with snow right down to road level. Again, much clicking of cameras.

After a very brief stop at Lillooet – with a great little Museum that had a 1811 sampler worked by a nine year old – we were back on the road heading for Lac le Jeune, via Kamloops. We have spent a lot of time driving through ‘First Nations’ land, but I can’t believe they live here in the snow, because the housing looks quite basic.

Today has been one of contrast. Mountains covered with fir trees, rocky outcrops with fir trees and snow, mountains – huge great things – with snow and a few trees, then granite cliffs, schist, dry flat valleys that are heavily irrigated to a false green.

And now, we’re at Lac le Jeune where 95%of the lake is ice and the firs are right down to lake-level. No TV, no phones – heaven!

Tonight we've met with Myrna Geisbrecht, wow! Check out her Blog and Website. Her work is free and inspiring - texture, shape & form. Most of us have come away feeling that we want to get home and chop up finished quilts and remake them!

Tomorrow it's on to Jasper, Alberta.