Happy Thursday!
Up at 5 this morning in order to catch the 5.45 coach for the 7am ferry back to mainland Vancouver. It's going to be difficult fitting so much in one day but sure we will try our best... I'm feeling a second helping of hop on, hop off experience, Canada wharf is a must, a definite Stanley park stop, and of course a trip to the Vancouver Canucks arena...
Hoping to have some better photo opportunities from today on, Victoria was lovely but not a lot to do if you don't like looking at flowers or whales...
We arrived back in downtown Vancouver, dropped our bags at the hotel and off immediately for the hop on, hop off! Kate had already made the fantastic discovery that we could slot in the Capilano suspension bridge, tickets bought and we're off later. Don't know why she said anything as she is petrified of heights and it is 450ft of wobbling planks, which hover above the Capilano floor!! She will run across apparently, I on the other hand will walk and savour the moment. I will also be standing on the Cliffwalk, which is 20 inches wide and 300ft above. Its a cantilevered traverse that takes you beyond the granite cliff face to viewing platforms! A shame we can't fit Grouse Mountain in, but there are only 24 hours in day... After the tour, with many interesting facts shared, particularly around Gastown, which I loved, very bohemian and chic and a whistle stop tour of the beautiful Stanley Park, we disembarked at Canada Place, apparently the place to start any day in Vancouver... My car was parked outside the Fairmont Pacific Rim, as you will see from my photos, Joe's was also there and I left the valet parking it as I headed towards the Olympic flame, which is housed here. Lucky for us the torches were also here, so a great photo opportunity again after some banter with the torch carriers...
We boarded yet another coach to take the trip to Capilano bridge. A drive over the beautiful Lions Gate Bridge and we were there in 15 minutes. It was an amazing experience. The bridge rocks so badly and shakes as you cross it, Kate was clinging on for dear life, but she got across! I then went on my own to the Cliffwalk, it was fab. The walkway is narrow but the view brilliant and the glass floor allows you to see the full 300ft drop! We finished off in the shop before heading back to terra firma! Once back, we headed up to Stanley Park and hired bikes to ride the full Seawall route round the edge of the park. It was beautiful, so many people riding, walking, roller blading and sun bathing. Well worth a visit if you ever come...
We finished a very long day with a trip back down to Gastown. There is a steam clock, the only one in the world, really cute, it blows steam out every fifteen minutes and plays tunes on the hour, sweet clock!
So, ran out of day and didn't get to Granville Island or the Rogers arena, home to the Canucks, but it's past 11, and I'm tired out. I need a holiday to get over this, I'm shattered. Up early tomorrow to board the Rocky Mountaineer and up to Kamloops on our way to Jasper.
Night x