We jinxed ourselves, it was too bloody easy - the motorhome company is out of stock and needs more notice and they can't confirm the booking. It's an agent that sources an RV via various companies so we give them an alternative date the 14th and opt to spend the 13th in a VC hotel.

We get a lift into VC with Chris we're gonna have a fun day out and forget all this stress!!

We go to his work-shop where he works as a glass blower it's amazing to watch the process, some really cool unique designs, and Jacq gets an order in for a necklace with Irish tricolours. We head to Pacific Centre by cab to find a Fido store as our new phone won't work - new SIM card done and we're good to go. Prepaid phones are different here though it's a bit rubbish as you are also charged for all incoming calls as well as outgoing so credit does not last long at all. But we need it and Matt "Delboys" the Nokia from $25 to $15 - the phrase can't take him anywhere is clearly ironic here, but you get the meaning.

We have decided to walk to Coal Harbour (30 mins) and hire two bikes to cycle the 6-mile route around beautiful Stanley Park. We grab our bikes at Coal Harbour, it's only $16 for two hours, the fella working there is from Newry. It's a really easy route, quite flat and well signposted with dedicated bike lanes, the sights are great as we cycle past the sea, under the bridge, past the lighthouse and by the bay - we stop at the "Tea House" a bar recommended to us by an Irish man we met in Seattle.

It's gorgeous with fantastic views and outdoor seating, lovely little touches like a fresh bread basket on arrival and blankets draped over the chairs in case it's chilly, it's a gorgeous day though and we opt to share a cheese board and get a glass of vino each. Only $30 for the lot and the wine and cheese is superb one platter is definitely enough for two people as a snack. Jacq had done really well cycling so far, she hasn't fallen off the bike once yet which is an amazing feat for someone so clumsy and uncoordinated, as we walk out of the bar she's putting away her phone and misses a pot hole on her left - low and behold she's down on her knees, her left ankle has clicked and she's scraped her knee, hands and pride - she can't help but laugh as she hops down the stairs back to her bike - it was inevitable - Matts only glad she didn't fall off the bike it could have been much worse, she blames the wine ;)

Jacqs pretty sure her ankle is slightly sprained, the next half hour cycle back to the bike shop isn't the most comfortable but we make it and pay only $32 despite taking 2 hours 15 mins (they let us away with the 15minutes overdue given it was caused by Jacqs balancing issues i.e. walking with one foot in front of the other).

We stop for a drink, shocker, to wait for John in a pub on the harbour. Jacq spends the whole time on the phone to the motorhome people trying to sort out a booking they really can't do anything so we book the Coast Plaza hotel in VC using Hotwire for £59, bargain as it's really central.

Off we head to pick up Jess from the ferry - so great to see her! She's her usual happy self despite a cold and being shattered! We head home stopping at a Chinese buffet and fill up on sweet & sour and yummy spring rolls.

We head back shattered, Jacqs ankle is elevated for the night and we hope to spend tomorrow with Jess before heading to our hotel.