A Golden Season

When I returned to Golden after spending time in Banff over new year I wasn't quite sure what my plans were, I knew I wanted to wait till the spring before I adventure North and cash was getting low. It all happened quite quickly as I fell in love with this little town in the Rockies. I spent my first week of so back at the Dreamcatcher Hostel, a very homely place run by a wonderful couple called Gerald and Abi both whom make everyone feel so welcome (you are made feel like your being welcomed into their home rather than just another hostel)






It wasn't long after I had bought a season pass for the local ski hill as I was determined to learn or re learn how to snowboard.

With a little help from some friends and word of mouth I found a room in a house to stay for the rest of the season. I moved in just a few days after going to see the house. Its a beautiful timber framed house in around 1 and a half acres of land and around 8 minutes out of town.

The Town of Golden is beautiful place to Visit for all who like the out door, there is plenty of out door activity's all year round. So some down off the hi-way, stay at the Dreamcatcher hostel (more than just a hostel) a wonderful place for the family, and experiance the small town with so much to offer.

Happy New year from Banff, Canada

Happy New year one and all...

I decided to see what the famous mountain town in the Rockies had to offer. Over the last few days I have been snowboarding in some breath tacking scenery with veiws that make you feel like your on top of the world.
I had a wonderful New year with an amazing street party as midnight hit. it was great to see so many people out enjoying them selves in the sub zero climate. Good on you all!!!
It has been a great stay here and met some fantastic people.
Michael took me on a tour of the Spectacular Banff springs hotel, as well as telling me a few ghost stories along the way, as well as being told that this hotel inspired the movie "the Shinning" its all great stuff :D

As for me on the 4th I will make my way back to Golden where I hope to spend the rest of the season.
On the way back I plan to call into Lake Louise for a bit of boarding and to see the spectacular frozen lake in the Rockies...

I'll keep you all posted on the season


Just to say a big thank you to all my new friends over the last couple of weeks for making this time of year so special for me as it has been a long time since I have seen my family and friends and I do miss them all very much and do think of them all.

Missing you all xxx

Christmas...in Golden, Canada

Staying at the dreamcatcher hostel.

I have just had a wonderful Christmas with some wonderful people......

It all started at 6.45am with an early morning wake up call from Abi (the owner) with a secret Santa at 7am.
Everyone was in the Christmas spirit.

Most of us left the hostel around 8:30am to head up to kicking horse mountain for some Christmas day snowboarding and skiing.

We met for a drink at the Eagleseye bar for a festive drink.

As I hadn't been on a board for a few years and so being my first day I did more than my fair share of wipe outs.
It was really having a couple of others with me on a few runs to watch me wipe out!

I ended being up there for the whole day but by the end of it every muscle in my body had turned to jelly.

Let the evening commence.....

Well on returning to the hostel it was time to start getting ready for Christmas dinner. Just about everyone was cooking.
So at around 7:30pm when we started to eat...
It was a fantastic meal with great company.
With a few festive games to be had after.

Well the night draws to a close, on the wonderful day.
Merry Christmas everyone

Thank you
Abi and Jerold
owners of the dreamcatcher hostel Golden, Canada
For making this a Christmas to remember.

A view from the window

A perfect Monday morning looking over Vancouver in to the mountains.

After a few great days in Yakutsk and meeting some wonderful people it was time to leave and make my way to Magadan!!!

I left the city on rather cloudy drizzly day. i made my way to the ferry where I borded straight away but still sat here waiting to leave for around half an hour till we left.
As I sat in the car watching as we floated down the river back to the other side I couldn't help but feel a little sad as I was starting my final leg across Russia.

Well the ferry takes around an hour to cross from one side to the other but its a lovely ride either way costing 470 roubles for the land rover.

The drive today was quit spectacular with the vast changing colour of the trees.... Such a vast aray of colours over a huge scale.
I must admit even though I won't be driving the summer route of the road o bones I am really happy that I get to see this magical change of coloures.

I arrived at the river at around 6:30pm. Even though there was a boat waiting to go I decided to camp this side and cross in the morning.

1st September 2011

Good morning Setptember and what a morning it is!!!
It must be the coldest its been since winter time back in the Uk. I have ice on the inside of my tent from I suppose the frozen condensation. It is giving me a tast of what was to come over the next few weeks.

After kind of warming up by putting on lots of layers, jumping aroung for a little bit and with a coffee inside me I got moving.

The road to Yakutsk was the same as it has been for the last 700 miles a rough dusty dirt road with the odd stretch of asphault.

I arriver at the ferry for Yakutsk early afternoon. It was more of a ship than a ferry taking nearly an hour to reach the city.

East side Bikal

On the 16th Of August I drove up thу easten side of Lake Bikal. I drove up with Tanya a girl I had met in Ulan-ude hostel. We left late morning and by lunch time had our first veiw of the lake.
Just the sheer size of it is just incredable with it holding 15% of the worlds fresh water. With the waves rolling onto the shore and even a slight tyde mark in the sand but yet we were standing by a lake.
We arived in the Natinal park late evening.

With a clear sky we camped on the beach right next to the lake. Even better there were NO mosquitos.