Day 16 - Journey from Whistler to Vancouver via Capilano
08:02am
8 minutes before the alarm.
Everyone up and dressed and partially packed. Down to breakfast but not before Mary decided to wash the dirty stuff! Now we are asking round everyone we meet to see if we can get dollar coins - Ho Hum.
09:45
All packed except the washing. Mary just going to find some somewhere (coins that is). One lot successfully washed - not sure if dried or anything. Finally reception people had been to the bank so we got all the change we needed. All washed and dried and packed. On our way after paying for chair lift.
Eventually on our way
Very uneventful journey towards Vancouver - lots of traffic coming towards Whistler for the evening concerts - damn!
Detour to Capilano
13:00ish - Decided that as we were so early we would detour to Capilano to see the Suspension Bridge while we had the car (it is in North Vancouver). Heaving! Paid to get in, saw the bridge and walked over it. It swayed a great deal - especially when I was not walking down the middle plank. This swaying was markedly greater if I deliberately walked with a wide stance. With each step the whole bridge swayed with me. (Despite approximately 100 other people on the bridge). Wonder why that is? Had our picnic lunch (bagels and bread rolls and fruit - 'breakfast') in the woods under the bridge.
Then to the Trading Post.
Downtown Vancouver
14:30ish - Then onwards to Vancouver Downtown. Only made one mistake on the way in but just put out a left indicator and was magically let in straight away!
Getting over the Lion Bridge took a little longer - 2 roads and 4 lanes down to 1 road with 1 lane. Actually heard someone toot their horn! Obviously not Canadian. From there it was a straight run down Georgia St till we saw the Sandman Hotel where Discount Cars is. Parked up, did paperwork and he took us in 'our' car the '2 blocks over, 1 down' to our hotel.
Rosedale on Robson
Looks plush - flunky to unload, 'nice' man in reception. Room looked good when we first went in with a view (9th floor) towards mountains in the North, with trees etc on the 2nd floor roof garden (yes really) below. However, whilst performing the now customary search for the corkscrew - found no crockery or cutlery. Mary rang Housekeeping, then reception - cost option $5/night. Mary went ballistic - certainly one for Ms Anglesea when we get back. After Mary had been to reception to complain, stuff came (had to ask for 2 more place settings!) we went to see the shops.
Initial Recce of the Shopping Situation
17:00ish - Found the Pacific Mall underneath Eatons! Luckily for me everything shut at 6pm. Wandered back to the hotel after browsing in Duthies Bookshop for an hour. Got McDonalds junk food to take out, from opposite the hotel and ate in our room.
Working Out !!
When that lot had settled, down to 2nd floor where I instructed girls how to use the gym machines (Lucy is worried about her spare tyre) before we had a pleasant hour or so swimming, hot tubbing, sauna and steaming. Back to room, girls watched their TV, we watched ours with gin and orange. Bed 11ish.
Forgot to mention whilst in the hot tub we met a family from Cardiff who had just flown in. They were going to Salmon Arm tomorrow. That is where all the forest fires are - told them it would probably be OK but perhaps they should ring and check. That night on CBC News Salmon Arm was 'featured' OOPS!!