Last night in Stampede

We drove down from Edmonton to Calgary on Tuesday. It's about a 3 hour drive and pretty boring.

The temperature dropped significantly though - when we left Edmonton it was around zero but by the time we reached Calgary, it had fallen to about -10. The other noticeable thing is that Canada is incredibly dry so you constantly had this powder snow blowing across the carriageway...seemed dangerous, but they're all equipped for it with snow tyres, 4WD etc.

Calgary was the home to the 1988? Winter Olympics and is a strange mixture of cowboys and snow. Whilst we were there it actually snowed significantly ...I guess not unusual for this time of year.

Block Heater

I've been wondering what the Block Heater is in the boot of the rental. Well, I think I've figured it out...at each of the parking bay's at the hotel, there is a stanchion with 2 electrical sockets - I initially thought this was for electric vehicles, but now I've realised it must be to plug the Block Heater in...I note the weather forecast has it down to something like -15 later this week...might need it!

Ship in a bottle

As part of the WEM, there is a Pirate Ship parked at one end of the Mall. Quite amazing actually, it moves along rails at certain times of the day.

The ride

Picked up a Volvo XC 30 as a rental. It's actually quite nice. Good interior but a bit small - fast though!

West Edmonton Mall

Spent the day at West Edmonton Mall or WEM for short. It's apparently the largest shopping mall in North America and I can certainly confirm this is one big place! Over 60 fast food outlets!

(Canadian) Outback

Have arrived in Edmonton, Canada. Somewhere I've been looking forward to coming to...Canada is not somewhere I've been before but it's always been a place I wanted to visit.
So far it's lived up to its reputation...cold and snowy!

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Dog beds

I never realised just how much Malamutes love their beds..seriously, they could advertise the things, they look so comfortable in them. Chief is normally the one to settle in, however Indi has a good go as well...

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New Zealand, Bali, Oz, Singapore

New Zealand and Australia 2012 / 2013

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One night in Bangkok

Well, almost. We've started our journey to NZ. We left Sunday night on a Thai Airways flight to Bangkok. Flight was alright actually, although Bangkok airport is a pretty confusing place.

We're now en route to Auckland with about another 9 hours to go.

Red wine in hand, movie on, meal about to arrive...what's not to like?

 

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The night before the trip

Leaving the dogs is never easy and this time it's for nearly four weeks...we're heading to New Zealand, Bali, Sydney, Perth and Singapore for a holiday...as much as we look forward to this, it's tinged with a sense of sadness of having to pack up the dogs to the kennels. Indi doesn't really mind but chief does...great big softie...

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