Calgary and the Rocky Mountaineer train

We flew to Calgary straight after picking the boys up from camp. We liked Calgary - found the CN Tower of the town to view the surrounding area - visited the zoo and found a launderette to wash the boys clothes - which were a little dirty and smelly after camp!!!

The next morning we boarded the Rocky Mountaineer train very early and for 2 days rode the train through the Rockies and the arid area in between the Rockies and the Columbian mountain range. We followed the rivers and from the viewing platform on the train enjoyed the views - some of which were spectacular - especially around Hells Gate. We stayed overnight in a funny town called Kamloops where the rivers meet. We learnt about the salmon (4000 spawn created per salmon of which 2 survive; takes 21 days to swim from where they spawn to the sea and they always spawn where they were spawned! Cannot wait to catch some Salmon soon!) We learnt about the track, tunnels and the countryside/animals as we passed along from a very informative "Chad" - who kept us enthusiastic and looked after our train cabin superbly. We finally arrived in Vancouver after a long 2 day train ride - where the kids enjoyed bits and were very well behaved in between!! It was a good chill out for all but we enjoyed being in the city again when we arrived in Vancouver.