Vancouver or bust
We arrived in Vancouver around 3:30 pm, but we got caught in traffic on Highway
1 coming in so it took awhile to actually get through and into North Vancouver where
we will set-up base camp for the next week.
The update for Friday August 5th follows today's update. I couldn't get on-line
to post the update yesterday.
We left Revelstoke this morning and headed for Vancouver.
If you like bridges, this is the drive to do, there are all kinds of different types
and sizes of bridges along the way.
Near Three Valley Gap area
We stopped at Craigellachie, this is the site of "The Last Spike".
While we were there a train went rumbling by.
The girls watching the driving of the last spike.
The girls posing as old men with beards.
Gillian trying it for real, the hammer was real, but it was only for show, we weren't
allowed to actually pound anything.
Angela giving it a turn
Angela giving Claudia a hand with the hammer.
A train in Kamloops
Some of the scenery along the Coquihalla highway
I will try to update as often as possible, our days will not be as full as they
have been for the last week, but busy enough to update. Thanks for the comments
and keep coming back.
Small World...posted by Susan
While stopped at the Last Spike site I met a co-worker from the City of Mississauga
Planning and Building Department. Julie works on the same floor as me. It turns
out that she is traveling to the west coast as well with her son and daughter. The
saying is true...it really is a small world.
A Trip to the Park...
We slept in on Sunday morning, our first time since we started the trip. We went
to Stanley Park. It was a beautiful day for being at the park, evident by all the
other people who also decided to go to the park. We started the day at Prospect
Point.
We parked the van and then hopped on the free shuttle that goes around the park.
A photo from inside the trolley will come later in the update.
Some of the cruise ships in the harbour.
Next stop was the Totem Poles.
Gillian holding one of the Totem Poles.
From there we went shell and rock hunting.
Angela and Gillian found some snacks.
"Barnacles on rock"
Claudia leaving a trail in the sand.
The "Lady in a Wetsuit"
The girls standing next to one of the huge trees.
Trying to hold up this tree.
Down by the Rose Garden
From this point we were about a 10 minute walk from the car, but the girls wanted
to go on the shuttle again. So we got on and were able to get a seat. But as the
shuttle made its way, more and more people squeezed on until it looked like this.
Time to call it a day.
The girls washing their rocks and shells off back at the house.
Swinging in the trees
On Monday we went to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. The girls had a great time.
The girls and I crossed the bridge twice. If you collected all the stamps, you could
get a "I survived..." certificate.
It didn't take long for the girls to get their bridge legs.
By the second time Claudia was doing the no hands all the way across.
There is a lot more to do on the other side than I remember from twenty plus years
ago. This is "Big Doug".
Something new is the "Treetops Adventure", it is a series of bridges strung
between some of the trees.
For those of you who wondered what the underside of the suspension bridge looks
like. Wonder no more.
Just a sampling of the awesome scenery in the area.
Coming back across the bridge.
One of the historical photo ops. Can you spot Claudia in the picture?
They have the largest private collection of Totem Poles.
Visiting with friends
Some "beary" good friends.
Next up was the Capilano Fish Hatchery
We were able to watch salmon jump up the fish ladder.
Claudia climbing the rocks.
A Great Blue Heron waiting for dinner.
The Capilano River.
Almost time to call it a day.
Vancouver by transit
Today we headed into Vancouver to see some of the sites. We parked the van and took
the Seabus from North Vancouver to Vancouver.
Then we took a city bus from the waterfront to Granville Island.
We walked around Granville Island.
The girls posed with "Skipper in a Slicker".
Some of the fruit for sale.
We saw Kermit hanging around one of the street musicians.
After the Market we headed back downtown we got off the city bus and took the Sky
Train the last three stops. Then we walked around Gastown. We listened to the Steam
Clock a couple of times.
We took the Seabus back to the North Shore and watched some of the tug boats come
back in for the day.
Claudia plugging her ears when the Seabus sounded its horn.
Tomorrow we are off to Stanley Park to see the Aquarium and do some swimming in
the morning.
A visit to the Vancouver Aquarium
We enjoyed an awesome day at the Vancouver
Aquarium today. We started the day with a swim at the pool in Stanley
Park. It was chilly this morning (air temp 23 degC) and the water was 28 degC.
Today was the first day since we have been in Vancouver that it was overcast in
the morning and then cloudy in the afternoon.
After the refreshing swim to wake us up we headed over to the Aquarium.
We saw the Sea Lion.
Then we took in the Dolphin show.
We saw some Stellar Sea Lions and Harbour Seals.
We watched the Beluga Whale show from the underwater viewing area. It is amazing
to watch these whales swim around. This is the beluga from the top.
This is the beluga from under the surface.
A few close-up photos.
You can see where they press their body up to the window.
And one last beluga shot.
Angela demonstrating how cold it is where the beluga is found in the wild.
Nemo at home.
This guy was actually cleaning this aquarium, he was scrubbing earlier and now he
is spraying the coral down.
A Jelly Fish.
The girls checking out the horseshoe crabs, they were allowed to touch their shells.
Angela under the water.
We quite enjoyed this attraction, there was lots to see and do.
We topped up the tank today in the van before heading to the island tomorrow. Funny
thing about gas prices in BC, the price they advertise isn't always the price you
pay at the pump. We have only filled up twice in BC so far and both times the pump
price was cheaper then the sign price.
We paid 102.4 cents/Litre, a bargain considering that since we have arrived it went
from 99.9 to 108.5 and then a high of 109.5.
On Thursday we are taking the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo, up to Parksville
and then down to Victoria for a few days. Not sure what internet access I will have,
but will update as often as possible. Just want to thank the Shin wireless network
( I have no idea who Shin is, but their unsecured wireless network has allowed me
to update this past week).
Vancouver Island
On Thursday morning we left Vancouver and headed over to Vancouver Island for a
few days. While in North Vancouver we stayed at the Lion's Den. It is a small unit
with one bedroom, kitchen, living room and bathroom.
We took the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo. We were on the "Queen of Oak
Bay".
It was very windy up on the top deck.
It was cloudy and overcast when we left Horseshoe Bay, but by the time we reached
Nanaimo, it was sunny and hot.
We spent a couple of hours visiting an Uncle in Parksville. Uncle Tak was trying
to catch a frog with the girls. They discovered that one particular frog liked grapes.
The "frog".
They followed the frog hunt with some blackberry picking.
We ended the day in Victoria at another cousin's house. As Angela says" what's
with all the long lost cousins".
Victoria tourists
We spent the afternoon in downtown Victoria. The highlight of our day was the Victoria
Bug Zoo. We entered into a room smaller than a classroom and ended up spending over
two hours looking around and learning.
They had tour guides who talked about the various bugs and insects.The girls were
allowed to hold many of the bugs. The coolest was the "Millipede moustache".
Each of the girls let the millipede walk across their face, it feels like a toothbrush
walking over you.
They held cockroaches.
They held different praying mantis'
Gillian holding the largest insect in the Bug Zoo.
What would be a trip to Victoria without a picture of "The Empress Hotel"
Continue to 2005/08/13 - 2005/08/21
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