Jasper

There are three types of bears in the Jasper National Park, Black bears, Brown bears and Grizzlies. Actually, close up, they aren't particularly scary. The bear necessities of life...

Athabasca Glacier

This is the middle of July and we're freezing our extremities off on a glacier? What kind of people are these? The Athabasca Glacier feeds off the Columbia icefield, the largest icefield in the world outside Greenland. You may only visit by giant buses with big wheels. It is located just off the extremely scenic Icefields Parkway, linking Lake Louise and Jasper.



At least I found someone who was sympathetic to my freezing limbs.

Lake Louise

Okay, if you come to Banff National Park, you've got to visit Lake Louise. Which is why it was jam- packed with people, though doubtless many were there to see me. It is a very nice stroll around the north side of the like and the sun even graced us with its presence at intervals. And yes, the water really is that emerald colour.

Calgary Stampede

A long flight, via Heathrow, to Calgary, Alberta for a two-week road trip to celebrate a certain person's 60th birthday (not mine) As luck would have it, we arrived just as the annual Calgary Stampede was taking place. Kind of like a State Fair. Yahoo!!!

Fanad Lighthouse, county Donegal

Stayed in this historic lighthouse on the northern tip of Donegal for three nights and had a great time. Whether it was very windy or beautifully calm it was a brilliant experience. They wouldn't let me make my mark in the visitors book though.

Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, county Tyrone

Well, strange but true, I've been up in Northern Ireland several times but, because we were merely heading to Donegal, there was no reason to stop and take photos. But this time, we had a bit of time to spare and so we stopped into the Ulster American Folk Park.

The Ulster American Folk Park is a fantastic family history story of the Mellon family, from their roots in Tyrone, to catching the boat to the New World and following their story in America. And it is very cleverly done, with the outdoor museum starting off in early nineteenth century Tyrone before heading down to the docks to catch the boat. You then leave the boat by another exit and are into New York City and then travel to Philadelphia, West Virginia and Tennessee.

The Mellons prospered in America and founded the Mellon Bank, still in existence today. Not unsurprisingly, the family founded the Folk Park here.

The four adults who I brought on the trip were particularly delighted with it because the normal price was £9 per head but for one day only, the over-fifties were let in free, saving them £36 in total. I was naturally allowed in free due to my celebrity status.

Yorkshire

Ee bah gum, can yer belly touch yer bum? A trip to Yorkshire in England for a few nights. Up in the Yorkshire Dales, where I never was before.

This place is the National Train Museum in York itself, a large sprawling shed, or sheds, filled with old trains and railway paraphernalia. The Mallard of course still holds the world land speed record for a steam train, set in 1938. Not sure exactly what speed it reached but it was close to a million miles per hour.

Above is the Coldstone Cut near Pateley Bridge, a large art installation on top of a hill. You walk up to it and on the other side, surprise, is a large quarry.

This is Brimham Rocks, a large area of weathered sandstone that has been carved into weird and wonderful shapes over many centuries. You have the Dragon and The Giant  and The Pentium Processor. Okay, I made the last one up.

Ribblehead Viaduct, built in the 1800s at enormous cost to life, to straddle a valley on the Yorkshire moors. There are 24 arches altogether. Many of the Irish navvies died constructing it, through illness or fighting and are buried en masse in a nearby churchyard.