I just made a video at Animoto!

I just made a video at Animoto!

Miss Margaret's

Maybe it is just me, but I always find that somewhere that offers 'a vast array of pampering and spa treatments' always sounds a little bit 'dodgy'.

I am sure that this place is very much 'above board', but my suspicions where raised further when I found a voucher for 10% off 'anything you fancy' from 'Miss Margaret' as part of my welcome pack.

Imagine my surprise when I ordered a Cappuccino from the coffee shop this morning, only to be asked if I had my voucher!!

Miss Margaret's is the name of the Starbucks wannabe in the hotel... They still don't know what I am laughing at now!

Brilliant.


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Crazy Fish

I have been eating at a variety of places during my time in Canada - Japanese, Mexican, Canadian (read Alberta PrimeRib) and Italian so far...

Last night in Harrison I decided to have a stroll about to see what I could find - and I stumbled across an absolute gem, Crazy Fish Bistro.

We have a Fish only restaurant at home in Bedford (Eat Fish) which Clare and I promised ourselves we would check out; Unfortunately it was really disappointing when we did, so our search for a really good fish restaurant continued... That search is now over!

The restaurant looks like a shack from outside, but it nicely decorated inside, a bit like a log cabin.





The staff are great, really chatty and helpful: and not at all pretentious or stuffy... It is a 'cool restaurant' rather than a 'posh restaurant'.

And the food? Outstanding!

I had the Blackened Snapper, a 7-8oz. snapper fillet coated in cajun spices, topped with a lime and tequila salsa. It was served with rice and a huge amount of grilled vegetables.

The fish was excellent - The salsa sublime... And everything was grilled (how can food be this tasty AND healthy?!).

Fortunately I have another evening here tonight, so I am going back to have the chef's recommend Sweet and Spicy fresh BC Salmon (a dish they explained they couldn't do last season as they couldn't get fresh Salmon locally, and refused to use frozen!)

I know it is unlikely, but if you are in ever in the BC area, it is well worth the trip.

Oh, and the view over Harrison Lake on the walk back to the hotel is stunning too.



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Best of Both

I left the ski resort of Sun Peaks this morning, heading for Harrison Lake (my stop for the next two nights).

Following advice from some locals, I decided to take the 2 hour (!) detour enroute to visit the city of Kelowna, BC.

...and I am glad I did! Kelowna is a summer holiday location for a lot of British Columbians - Having a great mix of shops, bars, parks and watersports... And a cracking climate!

It is known here at the 'California of the North', which suits it well. This is a really nice laid-back atmosphere to the place.

I left Sun Peaks this morning in jeans and a hoodie - It was chilly!; I should have put shorts and a t-shirt on instead for here:

The weather is gorgeous, as is the view, as I sit here in the City Park overlooking the harbour with my Caramel Pecan waffle cone.





Canada continues to impress - Snow to Sun within a 4 hour drive.

Lovely.

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GyPSy Guide

I know I keep mentioning this GyPSy Guide that is helping me find my way around Canada in my previous posts, but what exactly is it?

First things first, I don't have a 'traveller' in the passenger seat who keeps offering to Tarmac my drive, or look after my 'dag'. - Not that sort of Gypsy at all... The clue is in the way GyPSy is written, emphasising GPS.

So, GyPSy is just another name for a TomTom? Absolutely not, in fact, there is no way of entering a destination into it, so it isn't designed to find hotels for you, for example.

So what is it for then?!

Rent this small device (about the size of a mobile phone) and plug it in to the car stereo (I am using the AUX connection, but it also comes with am FM Transmitter in case your car doesn't have one).

The GyPSy then automatically plays commentary as you arrive at points along your day's travel route.

For example, it tells you about the beautiful scenery, interesting stories of past explorers, gives advice on where to watch for wildlife and tells quirky tales about Canada.

All the information is presented by professional local tour guides in Canada, and really is a very entertaining and informative way to tour around.

Although I said it doesn't replace a traditional 'enter the postcode' Satnav, it works perfectly along side it.

As well as commentary on local communities and attractions, the guide also gives basic direction instructions at major intersections, shows photo viewpoints on it's screen and (best of all in my opinion) suggest short side trips to places you simply wouldn't have found on your own.

When ever we have done a touring style holiday before (California, Yosemite or Florida for example), my excellent tour guide has always been Clare with a Lonely Planet book.... as she isn't here with me in Canada, I needed a substitute: The GyPSy guide has hit the spot.

In summary, the unit is a totally unintrusive, informative, fun way to learn about Canada as you tour around, at your own pace.

It is not banging on then whole time either, if fact sometimes it goes quiet for 10 minutes or so (and tells you it is going to to let you enjoy the scenery), before making you jump a bit as it starts chatting again (but you get used to that!)

I was dubious of the benefit before I booked the unit, but in hindsight it has
proved itself to be invaluable to me - I have seen and photographed so many locations that I simply wouldn't have known about without it.

Excellent product - Highly recommended... Even if you are not travelling alone - I can imagine it prompting discussion in the car when travelling as group.

You can find out more at www.gpstourscanada.com

Now, I have to go as me and my guide are off to Sun Peaks British Columbia, via... Who knows?!




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