Day 17

Hello Heather!

We left Kamloops (there was nobody about to say 'goodbye' to - I hope they didn't think that rude) and, after first taking the wrong turning onto the (to be avoided at all costs, according to Heather), Coquihalla Highway, we continued along the Trans Canada Highway, passed glorious Kamloops Lake, where we stopped, just outside of Savona, for gas - to Cache Creek and a peek in the jade shop there. Continuing on the Trans Canada route, took us down the Cariboo Highway and then down to the Fraser Canyon Highway. All was glorious scenery! We stopped at Skihist Provincial Park for a picnic lunch under the cool of the trees.

We headed on down the highway and next stopped at Hell's Gate Airtram, where we took the (perilous?) ride down over the river to the fudge factory and shop! There was also a display on the lifecycle of salmon, but I was disappointed that you couldn't actually see the salmon leaping! Paul went onto the bridge and took photos, which unfortunately, we never saw as his camera went funny. Meantime, I was doing a little gold panning! I couldn't find anything much, but gravel, but the hub found a little piece of garnet and later (much later) a tiny sliver of gold!

Mounties! As rare as bears!

We stopped again, just past Hope, for food from Tim Whatsits. And another strawberry tart!!

The road now became quite unbeautiful, as we were driving through the suburbs of Vancouver. Once into the city proper, we didn't have *too* much of a problem finding the Times Square Suites. It was heck of a job to know how to get in!! Once parked and inside though, we went up to register and there was a strong indication that somebody had already been here and had had something left in our apartment!!! Sure enough, on the table, there was a basket full of goodies and a bottle of wine, from Heather! T-shirts (even one for Meanie!), choccies from Purdy's, apparently, a Canadian institution, Maple syrup cookies, pen, mugs - what she described as our 'tacky tourist basket', but was much more special than that description! I had intended to freshen up and change before meeting her, but, knowing that she must be close at hand, I gave her a call on her cellphone! Our apartment, incidentally, was very nice indeed. A lounge with complete kitchen, a bathroom, a biggish bedroom and a smallish bedroom. There was also a small balcony, which looked out to nothing much, although, if you looked hard enough through a gap, you could see the yachts at Coal Harbour!

While hub and Paul went back to the car to pick up the rest of the luggage, I went outside (with difficulty - the place was like Fort Knox!) and waited for Heather. There she was - just about to cross the road, a little way off! We waved!!! Finally, we hugged outside the apartment block - well HELLO!!! I don't think it actually dawned on me until after our trip, that I had actually met Heather - LOL! So, we got ourselves back inside the building (somehow) and got into the lift, when we were joined by hub and Paul, lugging cases - so all intros were made in that lift!! Back to our apartment, we sat and chatted a while, gave Heather her (late) birthday presents - and we then decided to drive around Stanley Park!

I wanted to see those totem poles!!! So those were our first stop! There were views over to the harbour and to Canada Place, while people cycled, walked and rollerbladed around the park wall. The place was a veritable hive of activity, even in the early evening! Heather told us that this park, and, indeed, every park in Vancouver (of which there were many) was always like this; the people of Vancouver were very active and made good use of their parks. We then drove around to Prospect Point, from where there was a great view of Lions Gate Bridge, the statue of the 'girl in a wetsuit' and RACOONS!! I had only, minutes before, said how disappointed we were at not having seen any racoons - and, there they were! Altogether, three of them - very unshyly, rummaging in the bins!! We watched the sun set and then continued around the park, before parking the car back at the Times Square Suites and walking up Denman Street in search of something to eat.

Heather's photo - she has a bigger zoom!



(Heather's photo)

(Heather's photo)

(Heather's photo)



(Heather's photo - pretty obviously!)



(Heather's photo)

The street was choc-a-bloc with eateries, but, finally, we decided on one of the many fish 'n' chip restaurants (can't remember the name - I thought I'd taken a photo - but seemingly not!), where hub and I enjoyed Pacific cod (not nearly as nice as Atlantic cod!), Paul, shrimp - and Heather had octopus!!! Finally, we got to meet Lucy! Alana had driven down to pick up her mother and brought Lucy with her! She performed a whole repertoir of tricks! I don't like dogs all that much - but Lucy appears to be very friendly and is a whole heap of fun!

How good it was that we got on so well! There was no awkwardness - only some slight, understandable shyness, early on - but it was as though we had known each other for years - which, I guess, we had!

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[ Introduction ] [ Day 1 ] [ Day 2 ] [ Day 3 ] [ Day 4 ] [ Day 5 ] [ Day 6 ] [ Day 7 ] [ Day 8 ] [ Day 9 ]
[ Day 10 ] [ Day 11 ] [ Day 12 ] [ Day 13 ] [ Day 14 ] [ Day 15 ] [ Day 16 ] [ Day 17 ]
[ Day 18 ] [ Day 19 ] [ Day 20 ] [ Day 21 ]

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