'The best place on Earth' Vancouver

Our lovely welcome to 'The best place on Earth'.

After our very long travel to Canada, we need a lie down and then some food so we went out for some fish and chips at a sport bar called Wings. Food was yummy!

Day 1 of are adventure in Vancouver 

Posing at the harbour 

Making our way along the streets of Vancouver after Starbucks 

Skyline of Vancouver from Stanley Park. Blue sky at last!

We went to see the Totem poles at Stanley Park. It looks like I have one growing out of my shoulder.

Under Lion Gate Bridge. Messing about on benches. 

We went to the beach which leads onto the Pacific Ocean

Day 2

We decided to explore further afield. We bought a take away pizza and found a secluded beach to eat it. The pizza was yummy, the beach was tranquil and the view was stunning.

"There's sand in my boot !"

We went to Red Bull mountain bike event, in the 2010 Winter Olympic park at Whistler. 

It's was packed

Yellowstone NP

The drive down to Yellowstone was a lot like Mount Rushmore, long, straight roads for miles. I did enjoy the burrito we had on the way there. (This is us actually leaving Yellowstone...

...and leaving our cute yellow hut)

Our cute little yellow hut which we stayed in for two nights.

Waiting for Old Faithful to go off and he sure did take his time. James looks like he is about to fall asleep!

Something is happening, look behind you!

When it did go off it was quite amazing 

Now going off for a trek to look at 200 feet high view of Old Faithful

Look what we saw among the way, a chipmunk

Come on, nearly there!

Just a little further and Ild Faithful look like he was ready for another eruption!

And there you go. It was worth the climb.

Day 2: Going to Grand Teton NP

Once again family bullying the youngest !

Beautiful view of the Grand Teton mountain range.

We weren't even looking at each other 

One stinky hole because sulphur smelling like EGG

A view of the Yellowstone's Grand Canyon behind me 

The Lower Falls of Grand Canyon on Yellowstone. Mum had firm grip of me.

........anddddd bisons. "You lookin' at me?"

10 hour Journey to Mount Rushmore

The journey down to Mount Rushmore was very long but also memorable. We made quite a few stops along the way to take some pictures and do some climbing.

The view from the car of the Badlands NP

Crossing the road like the Beatles with a long straight road ahead. Walk quicker, car coming!

The family and I at Mount Rushmore, everyone just looking a little tired 

After a long day, we had our first good meal since Ames at a retro American dinner   

NO WI-FI

My post today is to say that I am sorry I haven't done a blog post yet for Mt Rushmore and Yellowstone. We have been staying in a little cabin with no wi-fi, but we stopped off at a McDonalds so I could got my dose of Internet for an hour. Will be doing a blog post tomorrow so keep watching this space. 

Corn, corn and more corn

Day 2 staying with our friends, Janet and Peter. Today was a shopping-free day. It was time to see some of the delights of Story County.

Setting off for our boat ride and a barbecue on the Great Creek.

Having a nice time sun bathing and soaking up the rays.

Happy family munching on yummy homemade guacamole and chips.

CORN !

When we arrived back home, we experienced Smores for th first time.

The next day, we managed to squeeze in a little retail therapy before the IOWA State Fair.

Just getting started. Which stick shall I start with?

We had a close up look at some great animals.

Had to be done.

Then James and I were interviewed by Ed Wilson, chief meteorologist at who.tv. It was exciting and nerve-racking at the same time. Ed and his camera man were really friendly.

It was a really great day and we have really enjoyed our time in Iowa.