2010 vacation, part three

Thursday, August 19:

Today we did some of the parks around Vancouver. We left camp and crossed the border at Aldergrove. We started off at Lynn Canyon, which has a suspension bridge over the canyon. For those who know me, you know I’m not overly fond of heights to start with, and crossing this bridge was...interesting, shall we say. 

Once across the bridge, we hiked down to Twin Falls, which is pretty, then hiked back up to the car and went to lunch. This was at the Black Bear Pub, which was a pleasant find for us. We then proceeded to Lighthouse Park and hiked down to the lighthouse...and back. 

We decided we wanted to drive up Cypress Mountain. The view would normally be quite spectacular...but smoke from the fires up north and some overcast conditions made the view a little less than optimum. We also discovered that Cypress Mountain was taking down some of the Olympic stuff. We got what pictures we could, and then headed off to find a SkyTrain map. 

Our journey took us to Park Royale Mall off Burrard Street. There was a BCAA office there; we figured surely they’d have a map. No such luck. They recommended either the library or London Drugs. So we went into the mall, stopped at Murchie’s for tea, then headed down to London Drugs. 

No luck there. They recommended the library as well. 

We wandered back up the mall, stopped at Murchie’s and bought some tea to bring home (they have an excellent Earl Grey), and went into the Bay. I was looking to buy another shirt, but they didn’t have the size in the color I wanted. So I bought a few Olympic souvenirs and was signed up for their points card, and after some discussion of what sounded good, we headed to Surrey for dinner. 

Dinner was at Moxie’s Classic Grill. Deena and I had eaten in the one at Windsor and liked it, so this was actually a good choice. After dinner, we went to the concierge (This Moxie’s was located inside the Sandman Suites hotel) and asked for a SkyTrain map. 

No joy there...he recommended the library. 

We drove a bit more, found a train station, and I hopped out of the car. No maps there, either. 

At this point, it was approaching 9:00 PM, so we decided it was time to head back to camp. Back on the TC-1 over to Aldergrove, cross the border, and return to camp. Deena decided to try online for a map. 

The story of our trip: the wi-fi went down. (Actually, all along our trip, wi-fi was spotty at the very best, and non-existent a great deal of the time. Which may well have been A Good Thing.)


Pictures:
Lynn Canyon, Lighthouse Park, Cypress Mountain BC

Friday, August 20:

This morning we were not moving too fast. Took the bus/truck entrance into BC, stopped at the Visitor Info center at Surrey. Very nice, lots of information. 

No maps of the transit system. She didn’t recommend going to the library, at least. 

Driving into Vancouver proper, we started off at the Nitobi Memorial Japanese Garden at the University of BC. It’s really beautiful and serene, except for the trucks that drive past in the rear. 

Then came lunch. After a brief excursus in which we found that the Westward Ho restaurant was located in the local golf course (which leads to things like $15 CDN hamburgers), we ended up at a place called “The Diner.” 

Three words: Eat here. Now. Our server was one of the owners (we suspect) and it is the quaintest British pub. The food was good and plentiful, everyone was friendly and we left feeling like we were family.

Across the street was a Safeway, so we went in so Dan could purchase batteries. We also were able to purchase tickets for the SkyTrain...and they had maps as well. Much joy!

From there, we headed into downtown Vancouver. Parking at the Olympic Station on the Canada Line of the SkyTrain, we started walking, hoping to find the Olympic cauldron. 

We walked past the Plaza of Nations, which is somewhat disappointing because (A) all the flags of the various nations are gone, replaced with national, provincial, and city flags, as well as the flag of (B) the casino that now holds the property.  Stepping inside the casino and asking about the cauldron, they pointed us toward Chinatown. We had a walking tour planned through there anyway, so off we went. 

We walked through Chinatown, past the world’s thinnest building and other points of interest. Walked through the Gastown district, past the steam powered clock and the spot where they named the city. Stopped into a souvenir stand and asked about the Olympic cauldron. The guy behind the counter replied he didn’t have any for sale. 

We kept walking. We passed the Japadog stand, which had been featured on the Travel Channel. We kept walking toward Canada Place; we wanted to see what the cruise ship was blocking. Stopping in the RCMP Post store (where I purchased a postcard and a RCMP collar pin) I asked the whereabouts of the cauldron.

God bless the RCMP! 

They told us we were just a few blocks away. I told the gents behind the counter about the directions given us by the casino people, and one rolled his eyes and the other simply scowled. I suspect this is not a new issue.

Continuing the walk, we got to Canada Place and walked around that. Hiked might be a better term as it is rather good sized. (They park cruise ships there, after all.) We then hiked over to the cauldron. It’s not as large as I thought it would be, but you certainly can’t miss it. 

Finally, it was time to get on a train and sit for a few miles. We rode the Canada Line to the end quite literally; just past the Richmond station about 36.5 metres-- roughly 40 yards or so if that much--the track simply ends. Portland’s Tri-Met should use the signs in the station: “Way Out” instead of “exit.” (If you’ve been to Portland, you’ll understand. If you haven’t...there’s no way to explain it.) 

It is now dinner time, and a great deal was found at a White Spot: a small salad, a White Spot burger, and homemade blueberry pie...$9.99 CDN. After that, down to The Bay where I purchased a blue shirt and an Olympic shirt as well, and got credited points for my purchase in Victoria. 

Back on the train, off at Olympic Station, and back in the car for the trip over to Richmond for the Richmond Night Market. 300 booths, 50 food vendors, and a capacity to hold some 15,000 bargain hunters. Deena got a nice Alpaca jacket/sweater thing for $60; I got three t-shirts for $10. 

Once the crowd got to be a bit much, and since there were lasers and uneven lighting which is not good when you’re light sensitive, we finally left. Heading down BC-99, our last stop in Canada was at the duty free store. A small purchase there to shed some Canadian paper currency (I don’t mind keeping change--I repatriated enough of it this trip--but having $10 CDN in paper was not really in my plans), we crossed at the Peace Arch crossing and back into the US for the final time this trip. We returned to camp about 11:30PM, tired but content and ready for bed.


Pictures:
Nitobi Memorial Japanese Garden, UBC
Vancouver, BC

Saturday, August 21:

They say that all good things must come to an end. 

Today was a travel day, as we finally had to head home. We got up, broke and cleared camp, and drove into Lynden for breakfast at Dutch Mothers. If you walk out from here hungry, it’s your own fault. Wandered around Lynden a bit, then into the car and south on the I-5. Stopped for a stretch at City Blocks in Tacoma (a major LEGO studio; Dan Parker makes his living with little toy bricks), and then dinner at Country Cousins in Centralia.  Took another stretch break at Fry’s Electronics (and got a slush from Sonic afterwards), then dropped Dan off at his place...

...and finally returned home ourselves. The cats were glad to see us, and after unloading the car and checking mail, we called it a trip and a night. 

On the one hand, I could have used one or two more days. On the other, it was about the right length to be gone. Lots of pleasant memories, and plenty of pictures to boot. Like 755 pictures. Perhaps digital cameras are too much of A Good Thing.

Enough for now.