Rolling through the Rockies

06-09-12

TORONTO

Awoke in a frenzied panic, packed our bags, scoffed a quick brekkie and rushed to the train station for our 09:15 start to the series of trains that would see us in Frankfurt at 1PM for our flight to Toronto. A series of late trains and bad decisions on our behalf saw us arrive at Frankfurt a couple of hours later than we were expecting but still in time to catch the plane.

When we boarded the plane, we found ourselves seated at the very last seats at the rear of the plane. This has it’s advantages. No little Angus’ kicking the back of your seat. If the plane crashes, you are generally the last to die. You have first crack at the food and drinks trolley. Easy access to the air crew for more drinks. Quick access to toilet. Nobody sitting next to you.

A few disadvantages. The stench from the toilet with the door continually being opened and closed and people lining up past your seat.

Nevertheless, we were reasonably happy with the arrangement. Then the flight attendant offered us seats a few rows up in a row of 4 where only one was occupied. We declined but she was insistent and explained it would help them out as it gave the air crew a few extra seats to use so, probably against our better judgement, we moved (always try and be on the good side of the air crew). The spare seat in the row of 4 was immediately occupied by another person alternately interacting with his family in the row in front and sleeping on Kathys shoulder. We also realised that there were 2 small children in the row in front and 3 in the row behind.

Never give up your seats for anything less than premium economy!

Never!!!

 

07-09-12

CALGARY

We spend a night in Toronto at one of the airport hotels and jumped on a plane early the next morning, picked up our hire car then went and picked up Morgs from the Gulag.

After a tour around the prison camp, we took a drive up to Canmore then back into Calgary via shops. Suddenly it appeared that with two females in the car, my thoughts or suggestions were no longer of any merit and didn’t even need to be listened to really. I drove where I was told to.

 

08-09-12

CALGARY

With our increasingly inexplicable attraction to UNESCO World Heritage Sites still driving us, we took a 5 hour return trip to Head Smashed In Buffalo Jump to look at a cliff where bison have been herded off a cliff by the Indians for the last 6,500 years, up until they ran out of them 150 years ago. They have started breeding the herds up again but refused to run them off the cliff for our entertainment. We said we would even be happy if they just pushed a cow over the edge, but, still no.

The annual buffalo cull has been replaced by the weekly shopping trolley maul at Costco.

 

 

09-09-12

CALGARY

With a beautiful sunny day and the temperature in the mid 20’s, we decked ourselves out in shorts and T-shirts and headed into the Rockies towards Jasper. The drive is rated in the top 10 in the world and it’s not difficult to see why. With the sun lighting up the mountains and reflecting off the glaciers, around every corner was another view to make you gasp. The camera got a serious work-out at almost every roadside lookout.

Then we arrived at Lake Louise where it started raining and the temperature dropped by around 15 degrees. Feeling pretty stupid in our short and T-shirts now. Nevertheless, took the mandatory photos of the cloud behind which lurked Lake Louise and any possible mountain views and pushed onwards. The weather cleared and the temperature rose almost back up to 20deg, which we thought would be ok for us to stay in our shorts and T-shirts. Looking back it’s an obvious mistake, if you are going to walk up to a glacier, it’s probably going to get colder. Hmmmmm.....big lump of ice. OK, lets go back to the car now. We checked into the Glacier View Inn which had a view of the Athabasca Glacier from the window...............oh, I get it! Installed ourselves in the room with the heater on. Despite it being bathed in glorious sunshine, we chose not to catch the last tour of the day onto the glacier, opting instead to catch one first thing in the morning.

 We've got our shorts and T-shirts on and we are off!

 

Morgs was fully stoked to be at Lake Louise

Look out! There's a glacier behind you

 

 

10-09-12

COLUMBIA ICEFIELDS

The morning dawned beautiful and sunny and by the time we caught the second tour of the day, had turned bitterly cold with snow coming at us sideways. An excellent time to be on a glacier. We chiselled the ice formations off Kathy and headed off to Banff.

Banff was lovely, the weather had turned nice again so we jumped on the cable car up to Sulphur Mountain where we had lunch at the restaurant looking out over the Rockies. Within 30 minutes, all we could see was snow going sideways again. And we still had the cable car ride back down to look forward to.

We dropped Morgs back at the labour camp and drove back to Calgary and checked in at the airport hotel to be ready for our 6AM flight to Hamilton the following day.

I'm so glad we didn't come up yesterday when the weather was good

Touristing in Trier

04-09-12

LUXEMBOUG – DIEKIRCHE

We gritted our teeth and suffered the 35minute train ride to Kathys birth town of Diekirche on the other side of the country and after a trip to the cemetery, had a bit of a wander around the village...sorry Kathy, town, and had a coffee in the main square. The brewery wasn’t letting people in. So we jumped back on the train to Mersch to check out the chateaux and the Roman ruins. Both of which found some finding and were unworthy of the effort.

We chugged back into Luxembourg, jumped on our tredlies and found a suitable Italian restaurant and bedded in. The ride back to the hotel was fun, interesting and a little bit dangerous.

Old Diekirche tradition of useing donkeys as piggy banks
 

You call these Roman ruins?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TODAYS BEER

MOUSEL

I've missed this baby. Although getting harder to find, a good all round beer with lovely head and colouring to be enjoyed at anytime.

 

 

 

 

05-09-12

LUXEMBOURG – TRIER

Herr Flick insisted we visit Trier to examine it’s Roman heritage and we promised we would. To be quite frank, we were worried he would check up on us if we didn’t. There probably would have been a test and we would have failed.

So, a day trip to Trier was in order. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much but was quite surprised. The cathedral dated from the 5^th century, the Roman gate was still complete and about 20 metres high. A fair stretch of the Roman walls were still intact, there were Roman bath complexes, an amphitheatre and the Roman bridge across the Mousel is still in use today.

We returned to Luxembourg happy and slept soundly.

Old Roman Gate at Trier

TODAYS BEER
WARSTEINER
I love a beer in a big pilsner glass and this one delivered on flavour, clarity and aftertaste as well despite it's lack of colour depth.

Forget Fetes

03-09-12

LUXEMBOURG

Whilst the breakfast buffet did provide smoked salmon as one of their options, it was a little bit lacking in the steak tartare and caviar areas. Nevertheless, today was the day of the Luxembourg City Fete and I wasn’t going have my spirit dampened.

The City Fete was crap. It was just shops extending their marketing area on to the street. With our spirits dampened, we rented pushies to have a gander around the city only to find all the streets were clogged with stalls resulting in us having to walk the bikes more than ride them. We gave in and joined them and had a couple of champers at a street stall followed by a wander around the lower city.

Luxembourg might be the only country in the world where it’s not viable to have a domestic airport, except maybe Singapore. But, at least in Singers, you don’t end up in another country if your plane over runs the runway.

Lunchtime champers in the street. I love being on holidays!

BEER OF THE DAY
BOFFERDING
Bofferding? Are you serious? Who would call a beer Bofferding?
Nevertheless, not a bad job of brewing by the Luxembuggers. Clear beer with nice coluring, slightly bitter bitter yet refreshing aftertase.

Loose in Luxembourg

02-09-12

LUXEMBOURG

The breakfast was sensational as it should be but we had to be in Luxembourg for the city Fete on the following day, so back to the Hauptbahnhof for another 6 hrs of train travel.

We shared the journey with many different and interesting people. I’m sure that you are not supposed to run into these people in first class. Although, they were probably saying the same thing about us. One particular chap was an environmental lawyer on his way to a seminar in Trier. I thought I was a little bit obsessed with Roman history before spending an hour and a half on a train with this freak. He reminded me of Herr Flick from Allo, Allo.

We arrived and found the city quite quiet, although, it was a Sunday so we persevered in our aimless wanderings until we came upon a square bustling with people dining alfresco. We chose a restaurant which happened to have a waitress that spoke some English and enjoyed an excellent meal followed by a few Irish Whisky’s for fathers day. Then attempted to find our way home. We did manage to find another bar that had Irish Whiskey and once again, Kathy managed to get me home.

We went the long way home.

BEER OF THE DAY
DIEKIRCH
Not a bad brew, but not a great one. Has everything a beer should have but...... Have I been spoiled for all other beers? Are all the rest just also rans? Will I ever be able to fully enjoy another beer again? I don't feel well.

No use sooking, on with the job. I think I will be OK.

Regensburg Revisited

01-09-12

CESKY KRUMLOZV – REGENSBURG

As wonderful as Ceske Krumlov was, the breakfasts were just not up to it. So, back to Regensburg for us. After around 6 hours of train travel, we clattered back into town and Hotel Maximillion welcomed us back with open arms. Well, they actually complained about that the Visa card we booked with was not working, but in a happy way I think. We were obviously preferred guests as we were given a corner suite overlooking the park, and Maccas. It was extremely nice and even had a lounge room and five big windows. Which the curtains had to be drawn on as the sun comes up not long after it goes down. Found ourselves having a couple of beers back on the Danube for a Saturday night Rocksit and, as usual, were interrupted by not one but two wedding parties taking photographs. Where’s Harry when you need him?

Went back to the brewery for beers and snags for dinner.

 No Kathy, we can't go back to the brewery!

 

 

 

 

Outrageous! 

 

 

 

Our Hotel. Our room was the bump sticking out at the corner.

 

Crumbling in Ceske

30-08-12

CESKE KRUMLOV

We decided that a few quiet days in Cesky Krumlov was in order and, as the hotel was fully booked, spent most of the morning getting across the square with backpack to the new hotel. After checking in, we went downstairs for coffee and, as I didn’t feel like going anywhere, stayed for lunch, and afternoon drinks. We were just about to try and make it upstairs when Lance wandered in so we had to have a beer with him as well.

That evening a cracking thunderstorm rolled into Chesky Krumlov. Almost like the build up at home.

 

BEER OF THE DAY
EGGENBURG
A flavoursome local brew with excellent colouring, perfect taste and clean finish. Up there with the best.

31-08-12

CESKE KRUMLOV

Managed to get out a little bit today and see a bit more of the town. My gait was slow, shuffling and awkward and mothers hurried their children out of my path.

BEER OF THE DAY YEAR
EGGENBURG DARK
Hang on, we might have a winner here. This brew is an absolute cracker. No faults. 10 out of 10.

Crashing in Crusty

29-08-12

CESKE KRUMLOV

After a series of trains, we rattled and clunked out way into Cesky Krumlov in our attempt to see all the UNESCO World Heritage listed sites in Czech Republic. After failing in our attempt to call a taxi, we decided that it would be nice to walk into town to our hotel. The town held up alright, it’s an absolute cracker. Winding cobblestone streets and alleyways through gorgeous buildings and squares with a river snaking its way around the town and past the castle. After checking in and wandering around in awe, we had dinner beside the river, watching rafters and canoeists drift past, planning for ourselves to have go the next day.

Later that evening whilst taking our computer to reception to see it we could find the WiFi network, I fell out of the hotel. My ankle rolled off the doorstep and I went face down in the beautifully cobblestoned alley with my backpack, with laptop inside, sailing over my head. Luckily the computer was saved from serious damage by landing on my finger. The F word is universal I think. Kathy rushed to my aid and immediately pulled down my shirt to save the astonished onlookers from the sight of my tradies crack. Then, just like the movies, a beautiful young woman came out of nowhere and asked “Are you all right? I’m a doctor.” By this time my ankle had swollen up to a few times its original size and Kathy thought that if a doctor was handy, we should make use of it. I spent the rest of the evening with ice applied and Kathy managed to find some painkillers.

The Luxembourg walk was looking even less likely.

I know how Casey Stoner feels. I would still be able to ride a bike but! and probably won.

Our hotel (second one)

Mmmmmm.....duck and pork and ham, all in the one dish!

Errrrr......Pilsner Urquell again!

Is it real?

27-08-12

BRNO

I woke up very excited, today we were going to do an underground tour of Brno. Kathy had researched it thoroughly and we were to arrive early to get the full experience. Except it’s not open on Mondays. Oh well, at least we can go to the Tugenhat Villa which was built in the 1920’s and has been listed as a UNSECO World Heritage. Except you book 2 months in advance. So, ok we had a nice tram ride to look at the gates. So what else can we do in Brno? Let’s go for coffee and think about it....there’s a place called chapacin, sounds like cappuccino, it will sell coffee, let’s go.

Apparently Chappucin is an order of monks that chose not to be buried and were laid in the crypt as they were when they died, and they are still there today, and for a reasonable price you can go and look at them. Hmmmm.... lots of decomposing humans.

I needed more than a coffee after that. Back to cafe Tripoli!

 

 

 

28-08-12

 BRNO - TELC

We awoke to the sounds of silence. Everything living had left the hotel. It was us and the receptionist.....and maybe the waitress from the kitchen......and there might have been a cook in the kitchen.....and possibly someone to make up the rooms, but that was it!...except for the concierge and the bell boy. It was just like The Shining. We had omelettes for breakfast and left as soon as we could.....maybe one more coffee.

The omelettes were over cooked. We were scared to complain. They might have tried to suck our blood.

Through a series of trains we made our way to Telc. Telc is UNESCO heritage listed and is quite nice, but, as Kathy said ” It’s all a facade!!” It was all a bit Disneyland 17^th century.

Nevertheless the pension was tops if you could rouse the owner and the view from the church tower was awesome and the walks around the village were as good as walks around a UNESCO village should be.

The night was finished with an excellent meal in the town square.

 

 

Yes, yes, I know. Pilsner Urquell again

Bikes at Brno

26-08-12

BRNO

Woke up excited. Off to the Moto GP today. Kathy walked me to the bus stop to make sure I got on the right bus. Arrived at the track and found a beer stall and our stand with only about an hour of being told by security that “you can’t go there” only to find out that Casey Stoner is back in Australia with a “sore” ankle. I suppose his hearts not really in it since he retired at 14 years old!

I stayed despite my displeasure. Lance told me we are now barracking for Pedrosa. It’s just as well he won, I was ready to throw a tanty!

In the end it was a terrific race with the lead changing a few times on the last lap and Pedrosa taking the lead on the last corner.

Found a brewery on the way home.



Hey Lance, where are Ros and Sam? The race is going to start soon and they will miss it!

 

Be cool, they have gone to get beers, look here they are now!

 

 

 





 



Sweet!

Bewildered in Brno

25-08-12

BRNO

After an interesting train journey (included a bus and a very helpful conductor) we arrived in Brno and with only a small amount of criss-crossing sub terrarium walkways, made it to sunlight and on to our hotel where we had thought we had booked for three nights but turned out it was only two. No problem, we will extend for an extra night at reception. Is this possible? Yes. Ok, we will book for an extra night then. Yes, you must make reservation. Yes, I would like to make reservation. Ok, when you would like, you can make reservation. I would like to make reservation now. Yes, if you like you can make reservation tomorrow. Now? Yes, when you like, you can make reservation. What about now? Yes, when you would like to extend, you can make reservation, if you like we can give you room for 86 Euros. That sounds fine, can I extend my reservation for one more night? Yes, when you like you can make reservation. Now? After you make reservation. Ummmmm.....ok.....no problem...!

Kathy fixed it up the next morning.

The brochure for the hotel proudly stated that it was quite old but it had been upgraded and modernised in 1986. I think 1986 in Czechoslovakia was a bit like 1974 in Darwin. Luckily we had a cyclone to clean that up.

We went for a wander and found Cafe Tripoli and my plans to take a bus out to the Moto GP track to watch qualifying dissolved into afternoon pizza and wine alfresco.

We caught up with Ros, Sam and Lance for ribs and beers and slivovice.

 

 



 

TODAYS BEER

STAROBRNO

A little light making it a good afternoon beer to accompany pizza.

Very good for seeing one's reflection in

Lugging to the Lesni

24-08-12

HORNI LIPOVA

We put Prague behind us and jumped on a series of trains to Horni Lipova where the Pension we may have booked into (who can tell what you have written in a foreign language sometimes) chose not to man the reception desk and didn’t respond to the bell. We pushed on into the village and came across another Pension that had a restaurant, a bar and room for us in the attic. We dumped our bags and made our way up the 4 kilometres to the Lesni Bar. We enjoyed a few beers, a few nut liquors and a few snags and skipped merrily back down the hill to the village only having to guide Kathy out of a cyclists path only once. The restaurant at the Pension did a marvellous job of dinner and we slept happily and soundly in our attic.

We made it! Yay!

 

 

 

TODAYS BEER



Not a bad drop, could have done with slightly colder stream to cool it down. There is no bad Czech beer.
The nut liquor was excellent.