U.S.A. - Virginia City, Montana - September 1970

Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park campsite.

 Pennie checking out Sandy and Norman's tent.

Anaconda copper mine, Butte.

 Earthquake Lake... and below from Google.

  Click to see more of Virginia City, Montana.

 

 Same spot today from Google Maps.

 These were the first real 'Boardwalks' we'd seen.

 Original old house in Virginia City.

 Virginia City Museum and below from Google Maps.

Postcards sent by us - Banff, Alberta. Canada - 21.9.1970

Upper Hot Springs Pool, Banff National Park, Alberta. Canada.  Warm sulphur water bathing, as well as plunges and steam baths are available here throughout the year. Located on Sulphur Mountain, these springs  were the initial reason for creating the National Park, and these facilities are operated year round.

To:  The Rodds, Crescent Road, Newport. N.S.W. 2106.  Australia

Hello All,

     We've just spent the majority of yesterday in the above, fabulous, just like the ones in N.Z., even the smell.

     We have another Australian couple with us.  Works out fine, we cut costs, we sleep in the car, they in borrowed tent.

     Old Falcon going extra well, covered 2,500 miles so far.  Re-enter U.S. Tomorrow into Montana, then Idaho, Utah, Nevada etc.

     Got a 'Himalaya' booking!!  See you on November 13th.  Love P & D

Canada - Calgary-Lethbridge - September 1970

 What a thrill!  The Galgary Stampede Ground with the Calgary Centennials in a training session.  Gosh! we were experiencing so many things that we'd heard about from the USA but never seen of course. 

 Here is Jack Nelson at the Japanese Gardens in Lethbridge.  Jack was the son of one of Virginia's friends from the Hospital in Carmel, they were both volunteers and of course Virginia was on a mission to find young people for us to meet.  We saw a fair bit of Jack while he was in Carmel so it was lovely to see him once again.  Sadly not long after we got home to Australia Jack committed suicide.  So sad, he was such a nice bloke, we have no idea why he did this.

 Prairee, Alberta

This is the Alberta-Montana Border Station.  I remember it well, I also remember the lovely old chap who checked our Passports.   He said, 'Austraaaalia?'  'Where is Austraaaalia?'    In the Pacific Ocean we replied, next to New Zealand.  'OOohh Yes I know, that's the country that has those Droots!'  Droots?? Droots?  we had no idea what he was saying....  eventually it clicked.  He meant Droughts!  LOL  Well at least he didn't think we came from Austria! 

Now this is the same spot today from Google...  it's enormous and I spent a lot of time thinking we must have come back into the USA at a different entry point but... no...  It is 40 years ago I guess, little towns grow.

Back in the USA...

From Banff, Canada... to the US border.

Postcards sent by us - Banff, Alberta. Canada - 21.9.1970

Cascade Mountain - altitude 9,840 ft. as seen from Cascade Rock Gardens at the Banff National Park Administration Building.  This view overlooks the Bow River and Banff Avenue, and has much attraction for visiting photographers.  The scene here feature annual and perrenial plants such as pansies, poppies, delphinium, nemesia which are suited to the climate.  Alberta. Canada.

To: Mrs D. C. Evans, Fiddens Wharf Road, Killara.  N.S.W. 2071.  Australia.

Dear Dudu,

     Still going very well, our Falcon is performing superbly, 30m.p.g. average and we do about 250 miles a day.

     Saw a cheese factory, a brewery, the U.S.S. Missouri where they signed the Japanese surrender in 1945, stayed with friends in Vancouver for two days, met another Aussie couple who are now travelling with us in the car, we sleep in the car, they their tent!  Loved Banff, especially hot spring bath - JUST like N.Z. even the smell

     Much love P & D

Postcards sent by us - Mount Rundle, Banff - 15.9.1970

Mount Rundle, altitude 9,838 ft, near the town of Banff, Alberta Canada.  It is here reflected in Second Vermilion Lake.  The peak is named for Rev. Robert Tyrrell Rundle, a Methodist missionary to the plains Indians, who visited this area in 1847.  These lakes immediately west of the town, provide excellent habitat for wildlife, best seen in the early and dusky hours of day.

To: The Griffiths, Dominion Circuit, Deakin.  A.C.T.  2600 Australia

Hello All,

Having a really fun tour - now have another Australian couple with us, met in Vancouver at the Charlesworth's (our friends from Dubrovnik) - quite a little Australia House.  We sleep in the Falcon, they in their borrowed tent.  We've been in some fab. national park camp grounds etc.  and had a hot dip in the Springs at Banff.  JUST like N.Z. - even the smell.

AND we have a booking on the Himalaya, sailing October 24th, see you November 13th.  Love P & D.

Canada - Kamloops- Banff - September 1970

 Kamloops Paper Mill.

 Deer on the side of the Trans Canada Highway.

 David feeding Deer.

Baby Deer.

Trans Canada Highway.

Camping at the Glazier National Park.

Lake Louise.

Banff from the North.

 Hot Springs Banff.

 Banff Street, Banff and same shot today from Google Maps.

 Banff Museum Fort.

We slept very well at this Camp site just outside Banff.  We'd gone to the outdoor Hot Springs pool as it started to snow.  The Staff and Signs everywhere told us to get out after 20 minutes but we knew better, we were freezing, lacking showers and thought we'd stay in for at least one hour... but...  after 15 minutes we were struggling and had to get out... it was very exhausting all that hot water and snow falling on your head. What a wonderful experience it was.

This night bears came searching for food in the camp, some peoples food had been taken but we slept through the whole thing.

Cache Creek, Kamloops, Lake Louise to Banff.

Canada - Vancouver - Cache Creek -September 1970

 On the Trans Canada Highway, heading East towards Fraser Canyon and one of the many tunnels.

 Our first camp site with Norm and Sandy at Cache Creek.  David and I slept in the back of the Falcon ,Norm and Sandy put up a tent each night.

 Cache Creek from Google Maps.

Postcards - B.C. Canada

A couple of postcards we never sent... beautiful in their black and white.

Canada - Vancouver - September 1970

 Downtown Vancouver from Stanley Park and below from Google Maps without the little building.

The Planetarium and Museum, East Vancouver.

 Vancouver Trolley Bus.

 Aussie friends of Ted and Penny's were staying in Vancouver as well, it was suggested they join us on our trip... which they did.  Here are Norm and Sandy.

 Vancouver by night from Grouse Mountain and below today from Google Maps.

Canada - Ted & Penny - September 1970

 We met Ted and Penny in Dubrovnik, they were travelling with their two children Grant and Shirley, we exchanged addresses and here we are meeting up at their home in Vancouver.

 This is Ted and Penny's home today from Google maps, incredibly clear isn't it. 

We are still in touch with Ted and Penny and we did catch up with them once again when we were on our way home from England on the 'Oriana' in 1978.  They were incredibly kind to my brother Nick when he was studying in Vancouver several years later on and just as welcoming to our oldest daughter Nerys and her friend Sal in the late 1990's when they got Canadian work Visa's and toured the country.

Ted picked us up from the ship and took us to Grouse Mountain for a bit of fun in the snow with our three children, before returning us to the 'Oriana' before it sailed that evening.  That's Briony in the sleigh and Tomos beside... Nerys must be ahead.  Ted is behind and David is pulling.

Postcards sent by us - Waikiki Beach, Washington - 5.6.1970

Waikiki Beach.  Located in Fort Canby State Park at the mouth of the Famous Columbia River in Southwest Washington, Cape Disappointment Lighthouse in the background.  Historical Light built in 1858.

To : Mrs D.C.Evans, Fiddens Wharf Road, Killara. N.S.W. 2071.  Australia

Dear Dudu,

     'On the road again' as you can see, doing very well about 200 miles a day in lovely weather, soon we'll cross into Canada to visit some friends in Vancouver.

     We've seen and stayed the night in some fabulous State Parks.  Lots of one horse towns all the way and some beaut scenery.  Driftwood on all the beaches (see over) .

     See you November 13th, we hope.   Love D & P

 The little driftwood beach is right in the middle of this shot.