Trip Report Gareth and Nikki’s Epic Canadian Venture

[gareth_oau]

i’ve never done a trip report so here goes. Typing this as we approach Vancouver from Auckland.

2 years ago Nikki decided we should skip lady year because we couldnt really afford it so we missed a year.

The last year we realised how much of a mistake we made so we got stuck into planning an ‘18/‘19 trip about 12 months ago.

We like to book early as it means we get best choices for accommodation, car hire etc

We also managed to convince a bunch of friends to join us for a few weeks in Sun Peaks.

So off we went to the local travel expo to see what sort of discounts we could score on airfares.
We found a great deal one way premium economy via Auckland for $2100 each but the only downside was we had to travel before 6th December.

Because of our friends’ schedule we booked one way returns using Qanras FF points.

Booking one way out of Canada was quite easy because its not a blackout period on the Qantas Canada website.

So airfares booked for both of us premium economy all the way for $4800

This also meant we would be in Canada for almost 8 weeks so we started building an itinerary.

The plan is

6 days around Vancouver
15 days Sun Peaks
2 days Revelstoke
6 days Canmore
2 days Revelstoke
6 days Kelowna
15 days Sun Peaks (to show our friends around)

Return to Perth on the Australia Day Monday

 

[Telezacski]

So not only do we have to vicariously enjoy this adventure on face book, we get it here as well

Enjoy the trip!

Out of interest how was air unzud

 

[skifree]

So not only do we have to vicariously enjoy this adventure on face book, we get it here as well

Dump the fb.

 

[Amelia1810]

Looking forward to reading this and your photos. Have FUN!

 

[gareth_oau]

So not only do we have to vicariously enjoy this adventure on face book, we get it here as well

Enjoy the trip!

Out of interest how was air unzud

interesting exercuse.

We were supposed to be travelling premium economy PER-AUK on the new Dreamliner, but the plane was taken out of service for unplanned maintanance, so they switched us to a much older, leased sopwith, but bumped us up to business class.

Whilst the seats were wider, you needed to have a decent kink in your spine to sit comfprtably and so wasnt as good as hoped for. Also, the food wasnt as nice as we have previously experienced from Qantas. Buiness Class had around 36 seats and we were only 20% full

The trip from AUK-YVR was on a 777-300 and we booked premium economy. We then decided to try our luck at upgrading using AirNZ's OneUp, where they auction the upgrades off. We put in an a bif of $700 each, and won, so scored the upgrade.

The flight had the herringbone setup and whilst very comfortble seating they were a bit narrower than the previous flight, and offered you very little privacy, so overall, probably not worth the extra cash we paid.

Having said that, $2800 each one way biz class from Perth to Vancouver is a bit of a bargain

 

[climberman]

Looking forward to pics and report
Travel safe.

 

[gareth_oau]

and one suitcase damaged, so will be logging a claim and seeing if we can sort it before our trip home

 

[gareth_oau]

this is our 5th trip to Vancouver, and we were totally shocked and surprised on arrival.

SUNSHINE!!!! - havent seen that in Vancouver before

 

[Crystal]

^^ bad for snow though

 

[sly_karma]

Enjoy the sunshine Gareth and Nikki. Is there a city more beautiful than Vancouver on a sunny early winter day? In the resorts it's cold and snowless while you're enjoying the city at its best.

 

[Untele-whippet]

Hope your ski boots are comfy Nikki!

 

[Astro66]

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[Sami-P]

Sounds like a great trip you have planned. Hoping to catch up with those present in SP Jan-19 3-24.

 

[gareth_oau]

Hope your ski boots are comfy Nikki!

Nikki's ex broken ankle swelled up on the plane (us usual), so hopefully it will settle over the next day or so before we hit SP.

 

[gareth_oau]

Went for a wander around Stanley Park today, and the Granville Markets.

Very cold around the park, with large areas of frost on the ground still at noon.

Beatiful clear day though

 

[jabiru]

Enjoy the sunshine Gareth and Nikki. Is there a city more beautiful than Vancouver on a sunny early winter day? In the resorts it's cold and snowless while you're enjoying the city at its best.

Sydney .

 

[sunpeaker]

Sydney .

Ditto. Sydney. Vancouver not even close.

 

[Legs Akimbo]

Sydney doesn't have great rafts of logs in the Harbour.

 

[gareth_oau]

made a new Canadian friend today

 

[cqen2l]

made a new Canadian friend today

Your friend has more hair than you @gareth_oau just saying. Enjoy Vancouver. Looking forward to your trip reports.

 

[Summit]

I hate to break it to you Gareth, but it's not a real bear...there's a bar code in its left ear !

 

[Legs Akimbo]

I hate to break it to you Gareth, but it's not a real bear...there's a bar code in its left ear !

That's so, if you can't find poo to sniff, you can tell the difference between a black bear and a grizzly.

 

[DidSurfNowSki]

Are you skiing or snowboarding this trip ?

 

[TACKIE]

The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver is a very worthwhile place to see if you have time. Some of the best first nation stuff you will ever see.

 

[Legs Akimbo]

Sydney doesn't have great rafts of logs in the Harbour.

And the big pile of sulphur

Vancouver Sulphur

And even if you don't go to Whistler the drive up to Squamish along the North Shore is gorgeous.

 

[gareth_oau]

I hate to break it to you Gareth, but it's not a real bear...there's a bar code in its left ear !

that's part of Canada's new surveillance laws, everyone has a bar code now

 

[gareth_oau]

Are you skiing or snowboarding this trip ?

Yes

 

[DidSurfNowSki]

Yes

 

[Taipan]

made a new Canadian friend today

How did you find that bloke. Reminds me of GarethO

 

[sly_karma]

Ditto. Sydney. Vancouver not even close.

I grew up around Sydeny and Wollongong. Lovely places to be sure. But no fjords or snow capped mountains.

 

[LMB]

Nikki's ex broken ankle swelled up on the plane (us usual), so hopefully it will settle over the next day or so before we hit SP.

Does Nik use flight socks?
They DO make a difference.
I used them TO Africa because I didn’t want issues with my hiking boots, but not home (because no hiking boots required at home), and the difference was evident. Not just in swelling but in tiredness as well.

 

[Lady Penelope]

Went for a wander around Stanley Park today, and the Granville Markets.

Very cold around the park, with large areas of frost on the ground still at noon.

Beatiful clear day though

We loved Stanley Park too (and also were fortunate in scoring a rare sunny day). Fantastic itinerary; look forward to reading your TR

 

[gareth_oau]

Does Nik use flight socks?
They DO make a difference.
I used them TO Africa because I didn’t want issues with my hiking boots, but not home (because no hiking boots required at home), and the difference was evident. Not just in swelling but in tiredness as well.

she's tried them previously and didn't rate them.

Having said that, her ankle swelled after we left Auckland, but with the lie flat beds and a pillow under her foot while she slept, the ankle went down again

 

[gareth_oau]

Warm, wet and grey in Vancouver today

Went up to Grouse Mountain and turned straight back around

Then wrnt up to Cypress and the rain turned to slushy flurries because of the higher altitude.

A few desperate skiers/boarders but very few runs with mostly manmade and very wet.

Photo of Vancouver on the way back down showed an interesting cloud formation

 

[JoeKing]

made a new Canadian friend today

Hello! It's Scott Manley!

 

[gareth_oau]

Finally arrived in Sun Peaks after a looong drive.

Left Vancouver around 9 this morning to heavy rain, and the ferries weren't operating so the peak hour traffic was still at a bad crawl at that time.

It rained heavily for the first 200kms , well past Hope and good visibility was well under 50m.

We stopped in Kamloops for some shopping and eventually got up to SP at 6.30.

Only to find the elevator in fireside was not working and we had to cart all of our baggage and groceries up 3 flights of stairs - not happy

 

[JoeKing]

You're leaving the cardio/leg/shoulders workout a little late IMO, but carry on.

 

[LMB]

Only to find the elevator in fireside was not working and we had to cart all of our baggage and groceries up 3 flights of stairs - not happy

Lucky you’re a fit bugger and don’t play with your phone at the gym!

(I was glad I was also when the delivery guys dumped my 300kg stove in the middle of my kitchen bolted to the pallet today).

 

[gareth_oau]

Lucky you’re a fit bugger and don’t play with your phone at the gym!

(I was glad I was also when the delivery guys dumped my 300kg stove in the middle of my kitchen bolted to the pallet today).

I think Nikki's suitcase may have been 300kg

 

[DidSurfNowSki]

I think Nikki's suitcase may have been 300kg

How many snowboards are in there ?

 

[JoeKing]

I think Nikki's suitcase may have been 300kg

You can never have too many shoes at the ski resort.

 

[LMB]

I think Nikki's suitcase may have been 300kg

Bahahahahahja!!!!

How many snowboards are in there ?

Skis! They’re heavier than boards! And Gareth is bi remember.

You can never have too many shoes at the ski resort.

Ha ha!
ACCURATE.
Nikki’s collection of ski apparel is indeed impressive.

 

[Scooter]

6 days around Vancouver
15 days Sun Peaks
2 days Revelstoke
6 days Canmore
2 days Revelstoke
6 days Kelowna
15 days Sun Peaks (to show our friends around)

Hey @gareth_oau - when I first saw that itinerary I was wondering why 6 days in Kelowna and because I always get Kamloops and Kelowna confused I was thinking you were just off mountain from Sun peaks for a bit but of course not even close to Sun Peaks so what were the plans for that stint (you skiing Big White or Silver Star etc.)? Same for Canmore - you visiting Sunshine and LL?

and one suitcase damaged, so will be logging a claim and seeing if we can sort it before our trip home

With the airline or Travel Insurance? Assuming only worthwhile doing if its expensive luggage or lots of packed stuff was damaged? I've had a couple of bags damaged over the years but never thought it would have been worth pursuing (the actual bags haven't been worth much) because it must happen all time so I assume the airlines exempt themselves from most liability.

For the record when I grabbed my board bag in Denver this trip (also ticketed AirNZ) I noticed one of the wheels was missing and think I would have noticed it when I transferred in Denver so assume happened on the United domestic flight. Had almost 4 hours in Denver and thought about going having a whine at the baggage services counter but in the end decided it probably wasn't worth the trouble (only considered it as I had the time and was not happy). Was weird - the entire wheel was ripped out but no other damage (the irony is I spent about an hour stitching up some damage before we left - held up great) but as per above as I only paid about $100 odd for the bag $ damages in the "stuff happens" realm.

 

[gareth_oau]

Hey @gareth_oau - when I first saw that itinerary I was wondering why 6 days in Kelowna and because I always get Kamloops and Kelowna confused I was thinking you were just off mountain from Sun peaks for a bit but of course not even close to Sun Peaks so what were the plans for that stint (you skiing Big White or Silver Star etc.)? Same for Canmore - you visiting Sunshine and LL?



With the airline or Travel Insurance? Assuming only worthwhile doing if its expensive luggage or lots of packed stuff was damaged? I've had a couple of bags damaged over the years but never thought it would have been worth pursuing (the actual bags haven't been worth much) because it must happen all time so I assume the airlines exempt themselves from most liability.

For the record when I grabbed my board bag in Denver this trip (also ticketed AirNZ) I noticed one of the wheels was missing and think I would have noticed it when I transferred in Denver so assume happened on the United domestic flight. Had almost 4 hours in Denver and thought about going having a whine at the baggage services counter but in the end decided it probably wasn't worth the trouble (only considered it as I had the time and was not happy). Was weird - the entire wheel was ripped out but no other damage (the irony is I spent about an hour stitching up some damage before we left - held up great) but as per above as I only paid about $100 odd for the bag $ damages in the "stuff happens" realm.

While in Kelowna we will be catching up with Sly and with Main Street.

Will probably take a peek at Big White and Silver Star.


We had a bag previously damaged by qantas and they just bought us a new one. AirNZ have a baggage claims department, so hopefully they will come to the party also

 

[gareth_oau]

Bahahahahahja!!!!

Skis! They’re heavier than boards! And Gareth is bi remember.


Ha ha!
ACCURATE.
Nikki’s collection of ski apparel is indeed impressive.

Nikki brought 2 ski jackets and a big winter coat, and managed to purchase another winter coat before we'd even left Vancouver

Shoes aren't a problem

 

[Charlie]

The plan is

6 days around Vancouver
15 days Sun Peaks
2 days Revelstoke
6 days Canmore
2 days Revelstoke
6 days Kelowna
15 days Sun Peaks (to show our friends around)

Return to Perth on the Australia Day Monday

7 weeks???
Did you score another redundancy?

 

[gareth_oau]

7 weeks???
Did you score another redundancy?

a ombination of annual leave, purchased leave, public holidays and a couple of leave without pays

 

[Charlie]

 

[gareth_oau]

just purchased a new pair of ski boots, got meself a pair of salamon xpro 100s

 

[LMB]

just purchased a new pair of ski boots, got meself a pair of salamon xpro 100s

Unashamed gear whore

I like your style.