I miss my cat. That puts me uncomfortably close to becoming "that girl," but it's true. I think maybe staying in a domestic environment and spending lots of time alone (plus being in a city chalk-full of puppies) makes me notice it more than on other trips, but there you have it.
It is delightful to be in a city full of attractive men who smile at you on the street. Altogether too rare in Toronto and a very nice little treat. I realize to further avoid becoming "that girl" this point should have come first...
I was walking home yesterday in the rain and my sidewalk came to an unexpected end. In order to get over to where the sidewalk had diverged to, I had to climb through a big steel barricade. I got one leg through the middle, bent over to duck through, and was reminded abruptly that I had my backpack on both shoulders. There was a very funny/humiliating moment reminiscent of Pooh-Bear getting stuck in Rabbit's hole. Fortunately, I forced myself through and may have escaped without witnesses.
Finally, another rainy day has saved me from myself. I picked up some groceries, made a return trip to fix a mistake on the bill, and spent the rest of the day reading in a Starbucks and on the beach. Flipping delightful :)
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Life at Lilfred Lodge
Monday I headed out for an afternoon at the UBC Botanical Gardens. Bus connections proved a bit tricky, but I've finally purchased a copy of the ever elusive transit map for Vancouver.UBC is a beautiful campus and has been filled with housing available for sale to the public. Apparently, the university leases the land and the buyer owns the home. Bit strange, but it is a lovely community of diverse neighbourhoods, still handy to everything but a bit off of the beaten track. The Gardens were a lovely place to spend a quiet day walking. Not as lush or jam packed with flowers as Butchart, but lots of tall trees and Asian themed gardens. I had a peaceful walk in the woods, had my pick of quiet benches, and walked a lovely labyrinth in the company of a giant wire Minotaur and his tiny hare (you read that right). The solo dwellers needed some space, so I left Jen to spend some time with her boy and headed for a sushi dinner and to see Mama Mia! at the local movie theatre. The day ended with some hot tea on the beach after sunset. Lovely.
Tuesday was rainy and a bit dreary, so I took the SkyTrain for the loop and saw a bit of suburban Vancouver. Then I took a SeaBus to the market and bought us a bit of dinner. I cooked some yummy mushroom raviolis, which unfortuantely seems to be the one food Jen absolutely hates. She had a date with her little sister, so I headed up to the Wired Monk to watch the open mike night. Jen joined me later in time to see her boy's set. It's a funky little spot and had some really talented (and really not-so talented) musicians playing.
Wednesday was cold! I took a walk along Kitsalano Beach to Granville Island and grabbed some clam chowder to eat on the dock. I hopped on the False Creek Ferry and crossed over to the Sunset Beach side. They're tiny little ferries, that are actually quite fun for the short ride and the same rate as a bus (http://www.granvilleislandferries.bc.ca/). I found a little bench and read a bit, but it was too cold to stay out for long. I took another little ferry back to the Kits Beach side and walked back to Jen's place. In the evening, Jen took me out kayaking along the coast of Jericho Beach. It was really nice to have a chance to be out on the water and have a chat about how things are going for her out here. It was a nice night to be out and kayaking on the ocean didn't prove to be anymore difficult than what I have attempted before (although it was quite calm out). At the end of the night, Jen took on her pre-trip laundry and I headed to the Beach for another great set of fireworks. Tonnes of people filling the beaches and a harbour full of sailboats out watching the show. My dad would have loved this place.
Thursday was a highlight for the week. Jen had passed-on a gift card for a local spa located near her work. On another rainy day, it sounded like a delightful way to spend some time and they had the exact appointment time I was hoping for. I headed downtown and spent a lovely afternoon sitting in a eucalyptus steam room (great for clearing out the rest of the Pemberton black lung), having a fantastic shower, and getting my feet done. These are really pedicures done right! I had a curtained off room with a massage chair, glass of red wine, some tea, magazines, and a lovely asethetician. I was very pleased to find out that the spa provides its employees with two weeks of paid vacation. This should happen way more often than it does. After the pedicure, I relaxed in a very calm lounge area and had a fantastic hot beverage made from rooiboos tea, a splash of apple juice, a wedge of lemon, and a sprig of mint. Write that down, it's fab! I then went to have a quick tour of Jen's office. It's a great space, with an even better view. She looks out over the harbour and out to mountains. I might not get any work done there... I then walked back to Jen's place in the rain. It was a long trek, but it felt like a good day for a long walk. We finished the day with a fantastic dinner at Abigail's Party (http://www.abigailsparty.ca/). I had a pulled pork sandwhich, but this version had a pomegranate and maple marinade. Just when I thought a pulled pork sandwhich couldn't get any better, maple showed up!
Now it's Friday and we have another transition day. Jen will be flying out for her Great Malaysian Escape and Laura will be flying in from Toronto for her West Coast Adventure. As luck would have it, they're both at the airport at roughly the same time, so Jen's brother is going to drive us out and pick Laura up while we're there. A good old-fashioned hug-&-run :)
Tuesday was rainy and a bit dreary, so I took the SkyTrain for the loop and saw a bit of suburban Vancouver. Then I took a SeaBus to the market and bought us a bit of dinner. I cooked some yummy mushroom raviolis, which unfortuantely seems to be the one food Jen absolutely hates. She had a date with her little sister, so I headed up to the Wired Monk to watch the open mike night. Jen joined me later in time to see her boy's set. It's a funky little spot and had some really talented (and really not-so talented) musicians playing.
Wednesday was cold! I took a walk along Kitsalano Beach to Granville Island and grabbed some clam chowder to eat on the dock. I hopped on the False Creek Ferry and crossed over to the Sunset Beach side. They're tiny little ferries, that are actually quite fun for the short ride and the same rate as a bus (http://www.granvilleislandferries.bc.ca/). I found a little bench and read a bit, but it was too cold to stay out for long. I took another little ferry back to the Kits Beach side and walked back to Jen's place. In the evening, Jen took me out kayaking along the coast of Jericho Beach. It was really nice to have a chance to be out on the water and have a chat about how things are going for her out here. It was a nice night to be out and kayaking on the ocean didn't prove to be anymore difficult than what I have attempted before (although it was quite calm out). At the end of the night, Jen took on her pre-trip laundry and I headed to the Beach for another great set of fireworks. Tonnes of people filling the beaches and a harbour full of sailboats out watching the show. My dad would have loved this place.
Thursday was a highlight for the week. Jen had passed-on a gift card for a local spa located near her work. On another rainy day, it sounded like a delightful way to spend some time and they had the exact appointment time I was hoping for. I headed downtown and spent a lovely afternoon sitting in a eucalyptus steam room (great for clearing out the rest of the Pemberton black lung), having a fantastic shower, and getting my feet done. These are really pedicures done right! I had a curtained off room with a massage chair, glass of red wine, some tea, magazines, and a lovely asethetician. I was very pleased to find out that the spa provides its employees with two weeks of paid vacation. This should happen way more often than it does. After the pedicure, I relaxed in a very calm lounge area and had a fantastic hot beverage made from rooiboos tea, a splash of apple juice, a wedge of lemon, and a sprig of mint. Write that down, it's fab! I then went to have a quick tour of Jen's office. It's a great space, with an even better view. She looks out over the harbour and out to mountains. I might not get any work done there... I then walked back to Jen's place in the rain. It was a long trek, but it felt like a good day for a long walk. We finished the day with a fantastic dinner at Abigail's Party (http://www.abigailsparty.ca/). I had a pulled pork sandwhich, but this version had a pomegranate and maple marinade. Just when I thought a pulled pork sandwhich couldn't get any better, maple showed up!
Now it's Friday and we have another transition day. Jen will be flying out for her Great Malaysian Escape and Laura will be flying in from Toronto for her West Coast Adventure. As luck would have it, they're both at the airport at roughly the same time, so Jen's brother is going to drive us out and pick Laura up while we're there. A good old-fashioned hug-&-run :)
Pemberton - Day Three: Hatch-Back Drivers Tail-Gate Too
The third morning was actually the easiest. I'd got my camping legs back, had a great concert experience the day before, and new running water and fresh pjs were in the near future. We had to be out of the camp ground by 11 am, so we ate another yummy breakfast and got packed up. Yogurt, granola, blueberries, and coffee - have I mentioned this "car camping" thing keeps you well fed?
Once out of the campground and cleared by the ultra-efficient/hyper-vigilant German campground guy, we headed for the free-day parking lot at the Festival Site for our pre-arranged tail-gate party. Now I can't seem to find anything in writing, but it seems that (to truly be accepted into B. C. culture) one must own both a hatch-back and a headlamp. I've seen evidence of people who would seem to own neither, but I suspect they stay home a lot... So, in the pouring rain, four hatchbacks backed up to each other and engineers and architects alike got roping tarp together to create a covering. The rest worked to install tent polls and crack open coolers with the weekend's leftover beer. No such thing, it turns out. Added bonus? A Coleman stove and smokies cooking for lunch. By far the most civilized tail-gate party I've ever witnessed.
In an unexpected turn of events, I am 33 and sporting a red-rover scrape on my arm. I simply don't know what to say about that, but find myself shaking my head periodically over it.
It was a short day at the Festival, as Joerg and Jen decided to head out pre-traffic mess. The rain had dealt with the dust situation again and the crowd were pretty mellow, festive types. Vampire Weekend was a fantastic surprise, as was Wintersleep, and Matisyahu. We headed home pre-JayZ and Coldplay, but were rewarded with clear roads and a warm shower. I fear there was a bit of a face-plant...
All-in-all it wasn't at all what I expected, but it ended up being a nice weekend. Our co-campers were good fun and very inclusive and my camping skills seem to have not deteriorated entirely. The Festival experience may be a one-off for me, but I'm looking forward to figuring in some camping and water time back home. Plus, what's better than a weekend full of music and dancing in the middle of a mountain? Please :)
Once out of the campground and cleared by the ultra-efficient/hyper-vigilant German campground guy, we headed for the free-day parking lot at the Festival Site for our pre-arranged tail-gate party. Now I can't seem to find anything in writing, but it seems that (to truly be accepted into B. C. culture) one must own both a hatch-back and a headlamp. I've seen evidence of people who would seem to own neither, but I suspect they stay home a lot... So, in the pouring rain, four hatchbacks backed up to each other and engineers and architects alike got roping tarp together to create a covering. The rest worked to install tent polls and crack open coolers with the weekend's leftover beer. No such thing, it turns out. Added bonus? A Coleman stove and smokies cooking for lunch. By far the most civilized tail-gate party I've ever witnessed.
In an unexpected turn of events, I am 33 and sporting a red-rover scrape on my arm. I simply don't know what to say about that, but find myself shaking my head periodically over it.
It was a short day at the Festival, as Joerg and Jen decided to head out pre-traffic mess. The rain had dealt with the dust situation again and the crowd were pretty mellow, festive types. Vampire Weekend was a fantastic surprise, as was Wintersleep, and Matisyahu. We headed home pre-JayZ and Coldplay, but were rewarded with clear roads and a warm shower. I fear there was a bit of a face-plant...
All-in-all it wasn't at all what I expected, but it ended up being a nice weekend. Our co-campers were good fun and very inclusive and my camping skills seem to have not deteriorated entirely. The Festival experience may be a one-off for me, but I'm looking forward to figuring in some camping and water time back home. Plus, what's better than a weekend full of music and dancing in the middle of a mountain? Please :)
Pemberton - Day Two: The Mojito Jar
Day Two started with another fantastic breakfast. Bacon and egg English muffins, cheese, blueberries, and coffee. Yum!
The headache continued, so I relented and took some Advil. By the time I had returned from soaking my feet in the lovely river, I was feeling like a new person and ready to rock. Good news as it turned out, as the morning's tasty beverages were Ceasers and a mojito jar. In an effort to nurse my noggin, I took a pass on the awesome Ceasers Jen mixed up, but the mojito jar was unmissable. The girls had brought a huge jar, into which they mixed fresh mint, limes, brown sugar, and a bottle of rum. Once mashed up, the jar was rolled into a towel and everyone had to take turns shaking up the mojito. The jar was then passed around the circle until it was finished. With twelve people it was mighty tasty, but not toxic. From what I hear, a smaller group is a bad idea (or a terribly good one, depending on how you feel about getting plastered).
I then headed out to snag a shuttle bus from the camp ground to the Festival Site. The others had decided to hitch, but I am a desperately practical city girl and just can't get my head around hopping in a car with people who have very likely been drinking both coming and going from the site. B. C. is rife with car accidents and tales of impulses gone wrong. As a result I missed Sam Roberts, but met a very lovely woman who was driving the shuttle and living in Pemberton. Very interesting lady and totally worth a slow drive to town. Naturally, half-way to the site both the driver and I had to hop out and make use of the less rustic port-a-potties. More info than necessary, but it gives you a sense of how slow traffic was moving. Remember, we're only going 3.5 km!
Day 2 at the Festival was night and day to Day 1. People were chill, the music was fantastic, and a brief rain had tamed the dust bowl situation. Also improved were the spiked lemonades made possible by my clever fellow-campers. Day 2 was also the day the BBQ pulled-pork sandwiches were discovered. Sooo good :) As far as the actual show went, this was my first opportunity to see the The Flaming Lips. I'm not sure they're all that remarkable musically, but it is an interesting show. You don't always get confetti that reaches the back of the field, bubbles, and teletubbies in one show. I also had a chance to re-embrace the Tragically Hip. They'll never likely be back on my heavy rotation, but they sure do good live shows. My Morning Jacket was a mellow good time and Buck 65 was a fun surprise. I totally dig him. Tom Petty was ridiculously good, but I cut out a bit early and secured a space on my shuttle back to camp. I braved the walk from the gates to our site with a dim headlamp and bad music playing on my cell phone to ward off the bears. I made a similar trip to the loo, only with a brighter bulb and some fancy hand-clapping. Jen's version of "If you go out in the woods today..." is cold comfort when you're alone and on bear watch.
The headache continued, so I relented and took some Advil. By the time I had returned from soaking my feet in the lovely river, I was feeling like a new person and ready to rock. Good news as it turned out, as the morning's tasty beverages were Ceasers and a mojito jar. In an effort to nurse my noggin, I took a pass on the awesome Ceasers Jen mixed up, but the mojito jar was unmissable. The girls had brought a huge jar, into which they mixed fresh mint, limes, brown sugar, and a bottle of rum. Once mashed up, the jar was rolled into a towel and everyone had to take turns shaking up the mojito. The jar was then passed around the circle until it was finished. With twelve people it was mighty tasty, but not toxic. From what I hear, a smaller group is a bad idea (or a terribly good one, depending on how you feel about getting plastered).
I then headed out to snag a shuttle bus from the camp ground to the Festival Site. The others had decided to hitch, but I am a desperately practical city girl and just can't get my head around hopping in a car with people who have very likely been drinking both coming and going from the site. B. C. is rife with car accidents and tales of impulses gone wrong. As a result I missed Sam Roberts, but met a very lovely woman who was driving the shuttle and living in Pemberton. Very interesting lady and totally worth a slow drive to town. Naturally, half-way to the site both the driver and I had to hop out and make use of the less rustic port-a-potties. More info than necessary, but it gives you a sense of how slow traffic was moving. Remember, we're only going 3.5 km!
Day 2 at the Festival was night and day to Day 1. People were chill, the music was fantastic, and a brief rain had tamed the dust bowl situation. Also improved were the spiked lemonades made possible by my clever fellow-campers. Day 2 was also the day the BBQ pulled-pork sandwiches were discovered. Sooo good :) As far as the actual show went, this was my first opportunity to see the The Flaming Lips. I'm not sure they're all that remarkable musically, but it is an interesting show. You don't always get confetti that reaches the back of the field, bubbles, and teletubbies in one show. I also had a chance to re-embrace the Tragically Hip. They'll never likely be back on my heavy rotation, but they sure do good live shows. My Morning Jacket was a mellow good time and Buck 65 was a fun surprise. I totally dig him. Tom Petty was ridiculously good, but I cut out a bit early and secured a space on my shuttle back to camp. I braved the walk from the gates to our site with a dim headlamp and bad music playing on my cell phone to ward off the bears. I made a similar trip to the loo, only with a brighter bulb and some fancy hand-clapping. Jen's version of "If you go out in the woods today..." is cold comfort when you're alone and on bear watch.
Pemberton - Day One: It was the best of days....
We started the day with a fantastic breakfast of bagels, cream cheese, capers, and lox. As far as food is concerned, this "car camping" approach is way civilized.
Once 11am rolled around (when the bars open, and it is therefore perfectly reasonable to start drinking), we packed up our lawn chairs, grabbed some beverages, and headed for the stony beach. It had beautiful, greenish, foamy water rushing by (that sounds disgusting, but it was really beautiful...). We drank white wine sangria and ate the marinated fruit from the bottom.
Time flies when sangria is involved, so soon it was time for the group to set-out and try to time things right to see Metric. The larger group set-out on foot and I hitched a ride with a car load who needed to pick up their wristbands from the shuttle site. Traffic was at a standstill and it took a very long time to get to the airport parking lot. Sadly, it was part way through this parking lot that I was forced to take the first rustic pee that seem so inevitable on this type of weekend... Things picked up once we accidentally found our way onto the workers' shuttle bus and were quickly taken to the campsite. One worker thought we were quite clever, we were really just confused.
Once there, I was a bit surprised by what lay ahead for us that weekend. To say it was a dust bowl really doesn't cut it. A fine layers of hay had been put down to protect the ground cover, but absolutely everything was kicking up. The amount of black stuff in my eyes, ears, and nose really was alarming. It was also really quite difficult to breath in it. I was astounded how many people on crutches and wheelchairs were trooping through it and wondered how they were managing. The crowd wasn't the mellow B. C. lot I was expecting either. There was a large frosh-type group, complimented by the fully-coiffed, scantily clad, cowboy hat, more-often-than-not blond contingent. Things felt unruly, but safe. There was a real sense that the first year would be a logistical nightmare, but that the first day would bear the brunt of it.
I can't say this was my favourite day. I lost Jen only a couple of hours in and spent the rest of the day wondering where she was. Her friends were very inclusive and kept me with them and we hung out mostly in the Baccardi tent where there were places to sit and yummy beverages. I didn't have much in the way of beverages, as my noggin was hurting and I wasn't quite sure how this was all going to play out. Musically, it wasn't the best line-up of the weekend either. Kathleen Edwards was very good, but NIN was the only band I was really looking forward to. Unfortunately, due to another loo trip gone awry, I lost Jen's friends at the beginning of the show and found myself in the middle of a very busy, dark, loud, festival site, 3.5 km from where my tent was. I'd also physically hit my limit, just as it became impossible to sit down anywhere. Long story short, I wasn't feeling it. The good news was, her friends waited for me at the end of the show and had clearly been keeping an eye out in case my head bobbed through the crowd. I finally had a successful phone call with Jen (who was back at the camp ground) and we headed back to Narin Falls.
I have rarely been so happy to brush my teeth from a cup and wash my feet under a tap.
Once 11am rolled around (when the bars open, and it is therefore perfectly reasonable to start drinking), we packed up our lawn chairs, grabbed some beverages, and headed for the stony beach. It had beautiful, greenish, foamy water rushing by (that sounds disgusting, but it was really beautiful...). We drank white wine sangria and ate the marinated fruit from the bottom.
Time flies when sangria is involved, so soon it was time for the group to set-out and try to time things right to see Metric. The larger group set-out on foot and I hitched a ride with a car load who needed to pick up their wristbands from the shuttle site. Traffic was at a standstill and it took a very long time to get to the airport parking lot. Sadly, it was part way through this parking lot that I was forced to take the first rustic pee that seem so inevitable on this type of weekend... Things picked up once we accidentally found our way onto the workers' shuttle bus and were quickly taken to the campsite. One worker thought we were quite clever, we were really just confused.
Once there, I was a bit surprised by what lay ahead for us that weekend. To say it was a dust bowl really doesn't cut it. A fine layers of hay had been put down to protect the ground cover, but absolutely everything was kicking up. The amount of black stuff in my eyes, ears, and nose really was alarming. It was also really quite difficult to breath in it. I was astounded how many people on crutches and wheelchairs were trooping through it and wondered how they were managing. The crowd wasn't the mellow B. C. lot I was expecting either. There was a large frosh-type group, complimented by the fully-coiffed, scantily clad, cowboy hat, more-often-than-not blond contingent. Things felt unruly, but safe. There was a real sense that the first year would be a logistical nightmare, but that the first day would bear the brunt of it.
I can't say this was my favourite day. I lost Jen only a couple of hours in and spent the rest of the day wondering where she was. Her friends were very inclusive and kept me with them and we hung out mostly in the Baccardi tent where there were places to sit and yummy beverages. I didn't have much in the way of beverages, as my noggin was hurting and I wasn't quite sure how this was all going to play out. Musically, it wasn't the best line-up of the weekend either. Kathleen Edwards was very good, but NIN was the only band I was really looking forward to. Unfortunately, due to another loo trip gone awry, I lost Jen's friends at the beginning of the show and found myself in the middle of a very busy, dark, loud, festival site, 3.5 km from where my tent was. I'd also physically hit my limit, just as it became impossible to sit down anywhere. Long story short, I wasn't feeling it. The good news was, her friends waited for me at the end of the show and had clearly been keeping an eye out in case my head bobbed through the crowd. I finally had a successful phone call with Jen (who was back at the camp ground) and we headed back to Narin Falls.
I have rarely been so happy to brush my teeth from a cup and wash my feet under a tap.
Back to Nature
I woke up in the morning and embraced the laundry situation. With one washer in the building and my own morning fog, this took about 3 hours. I am a gifted domestic engineer to be sure :) In the meantime, I reviewed my travel books, took some notes, and tried to figure out what to do with my week that wouldn't be terribly redundant once my sister arrives. In packing for Pemberton, Jen had realized she needed some things from her kayak at Jericho Beach, so I decided to walk over there and fish them out. Not my favourite beach walk in the world, but I have since discovered that a bigger, more populated chunk of Jericho lies on the other side of where Ecomarines is located. Plus, the area I walked through was where the Folk Festival had been, and it's hard to look as festive when you're tent and people free and the grass needs a drink. At any rate, a nice guy helped me get what I needed from the hatch and I trucked it back to Jen's. After that, I decided was famished and walked up to Vera's Burgers. It's a popular local burger chain, where there claim is "You can't beat Vera's Meat." You can't make this stuff up.Next thing you know, Joerg picks us up for the trip up to Narin Falls, where our Pemberton camping sites would be. Joerg had quite smartly discovered that the Falls are only 3.5 km from the Festival Site and significantly cheaper to stay at. As an additional bonus, the grounds only have 100 nicely spaced sites vs the sardine can camping for thousands at the Festival. Downside? A deep fear of bears, some apprehension about no running water for three days, and a vague confusion on how we'd actually get to the Festival. (Did I mention the bear thing?)
The trip up went quite well, without any of the massive traffic jams I had anticipated. Jen set up our tents while Joerg arranged for an extended gate time for our co-campers, and I attempted to be useful. I haven't camped in a decade and technology has changed significantly for the better in those years!
We snacked on fine cheeses, drank beer, and greeted our co-campers as they arrived. I think I can dig "car camping."
The trip up went quite well, without any of the massive traffic jams I had anticipated. Jen set up our tents while Joerg arranged for an extended gate time for our co-campers, and I attempted to be useful. I haven't camped in a decade and technology has changed significantly for the better in those years!
We snacked on fine cheeses, drank beer, and greeted our co-campers as they arrived. I think I can dig "car camping."
Transition Day
Mom left for Toronto on July 23rd. We had a lie-in in the morning and then had some breakfast in the hotel restaurant. I have to say it was a bit difficult to have her go. I am very fortunate to have family that I love to travel with. Several people have remarked how challenging they would find being on a train for three days with their family. We had a great time and were still having fun during the more action-packed days in Vancouver. It is also very strange to pack all of your bags, load the car, and then just leave your mom alone at the airport, while you take your bags elsewhere.
The trip to the airport was remarkably simple and I headed back into Vancouver to sort out the rest of my day. I had decided to keep the car until the rental place closed and took a little time to tour the city and reacquaint myself with the more popular neighbourhoods. I've got an inherent sense of direction, but Vancouver turns me on my head. Once done, I grabbed a cup of peppermint tea and headed for Stanley Park. I found a quiet parking lot looking out towards the Lion's Gate Bridge and did a little reading while enjoying the end of my Maple Fudge :)
I returned the car back after dropping my stuff off and walked back to Jen's apartment at Kit's Beach. We spent the evening with her brother's family, eating some tasty salmon and meeting her adorable niece Lara. Our last stop for the night was to pick-up groceries and tasty beverages for our camping trip and Festival festivities.
When we got home, Jen headed for bed and I stepped out her door to the park and watched a spectacular fireworks display at the beach. Really one of the best I've ever seen. Then, when everyone else headed for cars, bikes, and buses, I simply popped back across the road and slipped into bed. Jen's apartment rocks!
No face-plant :)
The trip to the airport was remarkably simple and I headed back into Vancouver to sort out the rest of my day. I had decided to keep the car until the rental place closed and took a little time to tour the city and reacquaint myself with the more popular neighbourhoods. I've got an inherent sense of direction, but Vancouver turns me on my head. Once done, I grabbed a cup of peppermint tea and headed for Stanley Park. I found a quiet parking lot looking out towards the Lion's Gate Bridge and did a little reading while enjoying the end of my Maple Fudge :)
I returned the car back after dropping my stuff off and walked back to Jen's apartment at Kit's Beach. We spent the evening with her brother's family, eating some tasty salmon and meeting her adorable niece Lara. Our last stop for the night was to pick-up groceries and tasty beverages for our camping trip and Festival festivities.
When we got home, Jen headed for bed and I stepped out her door to the park and watched a spectacular fireworks display at the beach. Really one of the best I've ever seen. Then, when everyone else headed for cars, bikes, and buses, I simply popped back across the road and slipped into bed. Jen's apartment rocks!
No face-plant :)
Vancouver Island (Victoria & Butchart Gardens)
Mom and I got up a big earlier for our day-trip to Victoria. The ferries run every hour, but all printed materials seem to think there will be epic lines and tickets need to be purchased well in advance. We missed a turn, grabbed some coffee, popped into a ferry line and were on the 8 am boat with no problem at all. The ferry ride was good and I was able to sit inside for a good chunk of it without getting motion sickness. I've been on planes, trains, boats crashing down on waves, I read in cars, but man a ferry can make me sick! Fortunately, it seems like a passing issue. I made it back from the ferry Gravol free and sitting inside the whole way.
Once on the island, we headed straight for Butchart Gardens. It was the one thing that mom had really wanted to see and it was absolutely lovely. A huge garden filled with flowers, lots of paths, and a handy little guide to look up any blossoms you are interested in. I was happy to hear my mom say that it was just as beautiful as she remembered it.
We spent a very little time in Victoria. It had been a full few days and we were really just there to check out the waterfront area. We had a lovely lunch spot on the waterfront (hard-won by an intense little staff, but totally worth it) and enjoyed some seafood pasta and beer while looking into the harbour. We did a little window shopping, found a great bookstore, and mom bought be some maple fudge. We then drove into the main strip, parked to walk through the hotel lobby, and headed back for the ferry.
The trip back to the Tsawwassen terminal was very smooth on the super-deluxe Spirit of Vancouver ferry. We had an easy drive back to the city, save for a detour on the south shore where I have a skilled ability to end up wound into neighbourhoods not listed on tourist maps. Once home, you guessed it, a full-on face-plant.
Once on the island, we headed straight for Butchart Gardens. It was the one thing that mom had really wanted to see and it was absolutely lovely. A huge garden filled with flowers, lots of paths, and a handy little guide to look up any blossoms you are interested in. I was happy to hear my mom say that it was just as beautiful as she remembered it.
We spent a very little time in Victoria. It had been a full few days and we were really just there to check out the waterfront area. We had a lovely lunch spot on the waterfront (hard-won by an intense little staff, but totally worth it) and enjoyed some seafood pasta and beer while looking into the harbour. We did a little window shopping, found a great bookstore, and mom bought be some maple fudge. We then drove into the main strip, parked to walk through the hotel lobby, and headed back for the ferry.
The trip back to the Tsawwassen terminal was very smooth on the super-deluxe Spirit of Vancouver ferry. We had an easy drive back to the city, save for a detour on the south shore where I have a skilled ability to end up wound into neighbourhoods not listed on tourist maps. Once home, you guessed it, a full-on face-plant.
Whistler Peak Adventure
I'm not going to lie, the morning was a bit rough. We had a slight lie-in (by previous train standards), called in a later pick-up time with the car rental place, and re-shuffled our luggage to make sense. My mother said I looked like I had been hit by a truck. It was an accurate assessment really, but I like to think I made a bit of a Rock & Roll comeback by the time we left for the day.
Car rental people were lovely and we were on the road (in a sporty grey Mazda 3), stocked with extremely large coffees, some yummy banana bread, and excellent directions by late morning.
The drive to Whistler is beautiful. There is a tonne of pre-Olympic construction underway, but the drive was smooth and the weather was beautiful.
Once in Whistler, we bought our tickets for the gondola and headed straight up the mountain. It's a beautiful view and was my first chance to see a big bear trekking along the mountain. I swear he had a big collar on, but no one here seems to think the people in Whistler do this...? Up at the top, we sat out on the patio and took in the surrounding mountain tops, while enjoying a cold beer and a yummy burger at the Roundhouse Restaurant.
What followed was a tricky trek to the Peak chair lifts. Though marked "easy" according to the Whistler people's sporty assessment, it is a bit of an understatement for those less sporty or mobility impaired. Consider closed footwear and a walking stick if any of these issues apply. Mom was determined and a super trooper, so we took our time and made it down. Go figure, you have to go down to go back up!
Once on the chair lift, I can't even explain how amazing the view was. Two years ago, Laura and I had made it as far as the Roundhouse, but missed the last chair lift. I was busy trying to make good from a bad situation and didn't really think too much about how different things can be after just a short ride up a mountain. It really is just breathtaking. I think it ranks in my top ten Zen Happy Places. I went on a couple extremely short trails to check things out and sat briefly on a rock facing the surrounding mountain ranges. A guy passed by and said it was a shame the rock wasn't flatter for some yoga. Strangely, I had just been thinking the same thing. Then he said, "never mind, just stay there and the zen will come to you." B. C. is frickin' lovely :)
We picked up a pizza for the ride home and made a quick stop at Porteau Cove fora peak at one of my favourite pit-stop places along the Sea-to-Sky Highway. Then, straight home for another face-plant.
Car rental people were lovely and we were on the road (in a sporty grey Mazda 3), stocked with extremely large coffees, some yummy banana bread, and excellent directions by late morning.
The drive to Whistler is beautiful. There is a tonne of pre-Olympic construction underway, but the drive was smooth and the weather was beautiful.
Once in Whistler, we bought our tickets for the gondola and headed straight up the mountain. It's a beautiful view and was my first chance to see a big bear trekking along the mountain. I swear he had a big collar on, but no one here seems to think the people in Whistler do this...? Up at the top, we sat out on the patio and took in the surrounding mountain tops, while enjoying a cold beer and a yummy burger at the Roundhouse Restaurant.
What followed was a tricky trek to the Peak chair lifts. Though marked "easy" according to the Whistler people's sporty assessment, it is a bit of an understatement for those less sporty or mobility impaired. Consider closed footwear and a walking stick if any of these issues apply. Mom was determined and a super trooper, so we took our time and made it down. Go figure, you have to go down to go back up!
Once on the chair lift, I can't even explain how amazing the view was. Two years ago, Laura and I had made it as far as the Roundhouse, but missed the last chair lift. I was busy trying to make good from a bad situation and didn't really think too much about how different things can be after just a short ride up a mountain. It really is just breathtaking. I think it ranks in my top ten Zen Happy Places. I went on a couple extremely short trails to check things out and sat briefly on a rock facing the surrounding mountain ranges. A guy passed by and said it was a shame the rock wasn't flatter for some yoga. Strangely, I had just been thinking the same thing. Then he said, "never mind, just stay there and the zen will come to you." B. C. is frickin' lovely :)
We picked up a pizza for the ride home and made a quick stop at Porteau Cove fora peak at one of my favourite pit-stop places along the Sea-to-Sky Highway. Then, straight home for another face-plant.
Helloooo Vancouver!
Mom and I arrived in Vancouver just after 1pm on Sunday afternoon. This marked the end of both gaining and losing time and the beginning of sorting out a feel for a time zone of any kind. During the trip, we had gained an hour each night, but had lost six hours in delays. While some travellers were a bit less than jazzed about arriving in Vancouver six hours later than expected, it actually worked in our favour and gave us a better chance to see the diversity of the Rockies and see Hell's Gate. Plus, we squeezed two more meals out of the kitchen :)
Jen was lovely and met us at the station. We had made a hurried call from the platform in Edmonton, so she arrived for our new arrival time and not six hours earlier! She is also an excellent person to have working with you if you are ever trying to snag a piece of luggage off a conveyor belt built much smaller than the crowd around it.
We took a quick trip to the hotel to check-in and get a bit freshened up. It was a strange deal we had taken a risk on by using http://www.hotwire.com/, but it worked out quite nicely. It was in a good location (close to Stanley Park), had a small kitchenette, a decent view of the mountains and bits of the ocean, and a balcony to sit out on with beverages. It also had more space than either of us knew what to do with after the train compartment!
Jen took us for a tour of the city, starting with the lovely Stanley Park, straight through the Gaybourhood, and into Granville Island. We had a nice walk-about the shops, sampled some Granville Island beer, and had one of the best dinners ever at the Sandbar.
We took mom back to the hotel and I gave Jen the book I made her from her last summers' Cross-Canada Adventure blog (www._________ & http://www.blurb.com/). I am happy that it was as big a hit as it was. Not everyone embarks on such an adventurous vision quest (as I think she came to understand it) and she certainly deserved a reminder of just how much can happen in a year. Don't we all?
Next, Jen and I headed out to the last night of the Vancouver Folk Festival down at Jericho Beach. We met up with her friend Stef and decided that the price to see one show was way to steep to warrant it. We walked around a bit, breathed some ocean air, stared at the mountains for a bit, and checked out the blissed out dancing hippie set (of which I am a big fan, not so sure about Jen), and headed back to face-plant at the hotel. I think this festival looks like a very good time if you were in it for the whole weekend (http://thefestival.bc.ca/). Have I mentioned how beautiful the seawall here is?
Jen was lovely and met us at the station. We had made a hurried call from the platform in Edmonton, so she arrived for our new arrival time and not six hours earlier! She is also an excellent person to have working with you if you are ever trying to snag a piece of luggage off a conveyor belt built much smaller than the crowd around it.
We took a quick trip to the hotel to check-in and get a bit freshened up. It was a strange deal we had taken a risk on by using http://www.hotwire.com/, but it worked out quite nicely. It was in a good location (close to Stanley Park), had a small kitchenette, a decent view of the mountains and bits of the ocean, and a balcony to sit out on with beverages. It also had more space than either of us knew what to do with after the train compartment!
Jen took us for a tour of the city, starting with the lovely Stanley Park, straight through the Gaybourhood, and into Granville Island. We had a nice walk-about the shops, sampled some Granville Island beer, and had one of the best dinners ever at the Sandbar.
We took mom back to the hotel and I gave Jen the book I made her from her last summers' Cross-Canada Adventure blog (www._________ & http://www.blurb.com/). I am happy that it was as big a hit as it was. Not everyone embarks on such an adventurous vision quest (as I think she came to understand it) and she certainly deserved a reminder of just how much can happen in a year. Don't we all?
Next, Jen and I headed out to the last night of the Vancouver Folk Festival down at Jericho Beach. We met up with her friend Stef and decided that the price to see one show was way to steep to warrant it. We walked around a bit, breathed some ocean air, stared at the mountains for a bit, and checked out the blissed out dancing hippie set (of which I am a big fan, not so sure about Jen), and headed back to face-plant at the hotel. I think this festival looks like a very good time if you were in it for the whole weekend (http://thefestival.bc.ca/). Have I mentioned how beautiful the seawall here is?
All Aboard?!
Mom and I woke up to a rainy Thursday morning in Toronto and headed to the train station for our trip to Vancouver. I hadn't slept terribly well (too excited?) and the cab arrived faster than a Toronto cab has ever arrived, so the departure was a bit spastic. Regardless, everything I needed made it with me and Phoebe looked calm enough to make it until Sarah's first visit.
Mom and I were very early for our departure time, so I got the required train station photo and we grabbed out complimentary continentals and paper.
After an hour, we were called for boarding and headed for the platform. There is something about the sight of a steel locamotive that will get you very excited about starting your adventure.
Let me just say, I was fully expecting a train compartment room to be small - what with the fold down bunkbeds and tuck away chairs, but this was extremely cozy! Fortunately, I had checked my larger Vancouver bag and there was just enough room for our two travel on suitcases and our two selves. These are not rooms designed for the large, mobility impaired, or elderly (more on that to follow!). It was also one of the rare actual water closets one can find, with a cute little all purpose sink and mirror out in the main area. But, as mom and I are efficient little packers, it worked just fine for us and no one sustained serious injury.
Once the trip was underway, we sat for a bit and watched the more industrial areas of Toronto pass by our cabin window. It seemed like a good time to check out the rest of our cars and see what was what. My first discovery was the door to our communal shower, with the best signage for a shower ever. I am both saddened and impressed with myself that I didn't burst into passionate song both times I was in there :)
We then walked through the dining car, which was a lovely retro 50s train dining room with full linens, light sconces, and etched glass decor. Next we walked through the "games" room (Scrabble anyone?), scoped out the coffee/snack station, and headed straight for the dome car. We snagged a couple of seats quite quickly, then took in the fact that we were in the midst of a tour group, chalk-a-block full of southern seniors. Some were perfectly lovely. Some were perfectly loud (imagine a whose-more-southern-than-who food debate). Some were perfectly dim (Q: "Well, what is that?" A: A silo). Having said that, I have always wanted to be in a dome car, and it was just fab. Great views from either side, lovely sunsets and sunrises when you can catch them (4:30 am people!), and surprisingly easy to get a pair of seats in. The only other car that was slightly different, was the very last car on the train. It was the "park" car and had a rounded end with seats around the perimeter. It also had a dome car as part of it and a sunken lounge where they used to sell liquor out of sight from the outside of the train. Quite lovely, but a bit of a treck and very limited seating.
As for food? I guiltily admitted to my mother that one thing I was particularly looking forward to was having 3 square meals a day. That is way more than I should be allowed to eat again. Certainly not for 3 days in a row! But yumm-o that was some good food. Particularly tasty were the delightful little amuse buche that came around periodically with free champagne :) Some meals were better than others, but none were bad and several were delicious. We were also very fortunate to find meal friends in Caroline and Marcel. Caroline is a librarian at a medical university just outside of London, England and Marcel is in financial services in Switzerland. Both lovely people, easy to chat with, entertaining, and some of the few not with the seniors tour. I think we all felt fairly happy to have found one another! We also elected to eat during the third setting, which ment we ate dinner at 9pm and had only one or two other tables with us. It also meant that during the busier dinner times, we had the dome car quite to ourselves.
Sleeping was a bit of a challenge. The first night I thought I was so tired it wouldn't be a problem at all. It can be very tiring doing nothing! I clambered up to the top bunk without too much of a spectacle and the bed was actually quite comfortable. The experience did however, lead to a train game of trying to determine which partner in each of the elderly couples was also trying to get into this bunk. There simply wasn't a good choice... The only trouble at my end was the crazy noises train make when you're suddenly listening to the tracks. At one point I woke up, just because it was suddenly completely quiet. The other nights were a bit more successful for sleeping and I managed to time the sunrise right for the third day.
Most of the time was spent sitting in the dome car, drinking coffee, and enjoying the great Canadian landscape go by. What an amazingly diverse country! We moved from Toronto, into the Canadian Shield, through the prairies with their changing vegetation, colours, and contours, and into the Rockies, at times craggy and snow capped, at times dusty and desert like. Simply phenomenal. I have a tonne of pictures, but none (shot from a speeding train) can really capture the diversity or largeness of it all. Fab.
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