Vancouver and the C Rockies

May 2018 - April 2024
40th anniversary year trip to see western Canada and visit Paula & Danny and family Read more
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  • Day 1

    Departure from sunny LHR

    May 18, 2018 in England ⋅ ☀️ 4 °C

    Easy journey to the airport courtesy of the Piccadilly Line. Quick sketch in Queens Terminal of Air Canada 777-300ER, not ours including Concorde in the background. Should be a wonderful trip starting in Vancouver later this afternoon. We’ve left all the Royal Wedding hype behind us (maybe).Read more

  • Day 1

    Arrived in Vancouver

    May 18, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C

    Easy flight. Great views of Northolt on takeoff, north of Iceland and the Rockies coming in. Electronic border, very smooth. Taxi zipped us to our hotel in time for complementary wine and to watch cruise ship departing.
    We have an anniversary card, chocs and bottle of red too! Enjoying this...
    We’re really in the centre of things in Downtown. We wandered along Robson and decided on Cactus Club Cafe for green salad with chargrilled chicken avocado spiced pecan washed down with local beers: Cactus House ale and Granville Island Summer Ale. The sun had come out and we got a second wind, strolling down to the quayside and Harbour Air seaplane service. Back to base via whole food supermarket for some breakfast supplies. Beautiful, if long, day.
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  • Day 2

    Stanley Park and Granville Island

    May 19, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    The day dawned calm and a little grey, with all the Windsor royal wedding action on TV. We decided to walk the sea wall walk round the edge of Stanley Park starting at the lost lagoon ( it lost its seawater around 100 years ago). There were two large cruise ships in and our first stop, totems, was a little overwhelmed by Singaporeans with scarves on. There was a good spot to watch the float planes takeoffs. We found a cafe opening a little further on then climbed up under the suspension bridge to Prospect Point. Here it brightened up.
    From there we walked down through the woods with giant redwoods and woodpeckers in the distance. Wild flowers were in abundance and blue butterfly. The path emerged at the lost lagoon which was a mass of flag irises with some evidence of beavers and a charming black squirrel.
    Now we wondered how we would get to Granville Island our next port of call. Standing at the bus stop and puzzling over when one might come a taxi popped up - result! In no time were in the bustling market cum craft scene. First call ‘Off the Tracks’ for excellent Avo Toast with scrambled eggs accompanied by tasty tea or Granville Island IPA. Strolling round we found the most amazing art supplies shop and the public market was full of delicious fare including artisan granola squares by which we were tempted.
    The little aqua bus took us back across the water for $3 where we sat by Sunset Beach for the rest of the afternoon sketching or listening to pod casts and watching the world go by on cycles, roller blades or foot.
    Back at base we enjoyed a complementary Narrative Rose before heading up to open our bottle of Narrative Cabernet Franc/ Merlot from Okanangan which is rather delicious After 21717 steps we are not contemplating too many more to find something to eat later.
    A few steps more found us in Timber, the downmarket bar attached to the hotel, for fine fish and chips with local beers, a lager and Off the Rails pale ale. All excellent!
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  • Day 3

    MOA and Gastown

    May 20, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Mass at nine a few blocks along Broughton began our Sunday.
    Then we hopped on a 5 trolley bus towards Downtown then a short walk to Granville where we boarded a 4 to UBC a fair ride for $1.85 each. At the end it was a short walk through the campus to the Museum of Anthropology.
    Coffee first then a look round the indigenous peoples exhibits of carved and painted wooden totems, boats, masks and animals, all displayed in a fine purpose designed building. Some were recovered from sites, others created in the traditional styles, notably by Bill Reid whose works followed First nations’ traditions, his mother being from the Haida clan.
    There were examples of other First Nations languages and crafts such as decorated fine baskets, clothing textiles, wood and metal work.
    After lunch of tasty salmon or tomato and Brie sandwich (Janet’s was pinched by an over eager fellow diner) we went outside to see a reconstructed village and more totems.
    Taking a different route through the university we caught the 14 bus back and on to Gastown. Here we caught the steam clock whistling 3.30 and wandered along Water St, though at the end it turned somewhat seedy so we hopped back on a bus and headed back to our comfortable Listel Hotel for tea and feet up prior to the complementary bar opening at five.
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  • Day 4

    Victoria

    May 21, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    I write this G&T in hand listening to Mike & the Mechanics on our sunny balcony on Victoria Day, a public holiday. What a day!
    We left our excellent hotel on Robson headed down to the floatplane. We were in time to catch the 10.30 Harbourair flight to Victoria. So easy, a bakers dozen on the plane plus pilot, safety briefing on an iPad, calm conditions , we headed out, revved up and away we went, out over the suspension bridge down river and across to Vancouver Island.
    Smooth landing and we wondered where our suitcases were? In the float it turned out. This being Victoria Day the bands were playing , roads closed and festivities going on. The last majorettes passed in time for us to cross to our Parkside hotel. There we left our luggage and headed for Fisherman’s Wharf a couple of km round the harbour. Barb’s renowned F&C and ginormous Ice-creams made lunch. We caught a H2O water taxi back to Empress and thence to our hotel apartment where we had been upgraded to a corner suite with chocs and another anniversary card! Brilliant!!
    We tour ourselves away to book whale watching for the morrow and supermarket for provisions ( I must cook the sockeye in a mo). Pool and now balcony- what more could you ask for. BC Pinot Noir with the fish. More demain.
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  • Day 5

    Beacon Hill and Killer whales

    May 22, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    The day dawned brightly and after breakfast we set off towards Beacon Hill Park. The wild flowers were beautiful including purple common Camas and cream Meadow Death Camas. At the lookout the view across to Mt Baker in Washington State was stunning a layer of mist obscuring the coastline with mountains soaring above. From the mist appeared a large container ship in surreal ghostly fashion.
    From here we walked along the coast path towards the town. There was a lady skinny dipping on one beach though surely thermals were more the order of the day?! A bit further on there was a flash of orange which settled on a bush - Anna’s hummingbird! Quite brilliant. Coffee at Breakwater Cafe before cutting inland through James Bay. A liquor store provided more delicious Okanangan Pinot Noir and Thrifty market a few more useful essentials.
    Back to base via Parliament building, for a swim (A) and lunch ahead of a whale watching trip with BC whale tours aboard BC Luna. Captain Jim is a marine biologist and quickly headed the 12 on board to find two Killer Whale brothers heading east through the straits. Awesome!We spent quite a bit of time with them before heading towards the coast and finding our way back to port with the sun still shining.
    Great day!
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  • Day 6

    Drive to Tofino

    May 23, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Another clear blue sky. Shame to leave. Picked up our Subaru Outback from National just down the road and headed for highway 1, Trans Canadian!
    Coffee stop at Green Farms just before Duncan. Stopped for lunch at Little Qualicum Falls - beautiful rapids and falls with glorious wild flowers. Did a circuit of lower falls then up to the higher or start.
    Then on towards Port Alberni and Cathedral Grove where the oldest trees, Douglas Fir, can be found, taller than the leaning tower!
    Temperature up to 28 through the mountains and down the winding road, fell to 15 approaching coast and our destination in Tofino. Chilly now!
    Our room has beautiful view west over the beach, sadly the sun has deserted us, though the g&t tastes as good.
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  • Day 7

    Whales or maybe not

    May 24, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Morning dawned a little grey still. Heading into Tofino we had some (dangerous ) time for shopping. Beautiful gallery of Roy Henry Vickers, craft and jewellery shops and Pina. We were booked for rib at 12.00 which we changed for more sedate and comfortable Chinook Princess at 12.30, theoretically to see California Grey whale. In the harbour we saw a Californian Sealion. As we departed with skipper Keith and crew Amber and Jamie, we got the safety briefing, and the sun came out, and we were then informed that the wind had got up and plans changed , so instead of Long Beach we kept within the channels to somewhere a whale had been seen in the morning. It got pretty rough towards the end of the channel which obliged us to turn round. We saw a sea otter on the way back then headed round towards the lighthouse which took us in front of our hotel. Still no whales, so we are granted a second go which we hope will deliver in the morning.
    The remaining afternoon we drove to Ocluelet down the coast and visited the main Pina store where they print clothing to order.
    On the way back we stopped at the Rainforest boardwalk for a memorable walk in the Forrest. There were many birds we heard, but we did also see a Wilson’s Warbler. Time running low we called at The Net for pizza to go which we had with the Five Vineyards Pinot Noir, sitting in our room overlooking the sunny beach, maybe even a sunset?!
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  • Day 8

    Whales and Nanaimo

    May 25, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C

    Up early as we were booked onto a follow up boat trip since we saw no whales the previous day. Sunny to start though clouded over but less wind. We were able to head round to Long Beach where whales were reported feeding. Here indeed we found a host of spouts of Californian Gray whales. Choosing two which appeared like a cow and calf we spent many minutes watching them come up for breath, then dive down to feed. Awesome!
    Took a while, and a soup in Shelter, to warm up a bit. Then we drove back towards Nanaimo up the winding road, set to arrive around 16.00. A little hiccup with planned gas station not taking our cards then alternative via detour ended in road closures not permitting access to return the car! A large number of left turns later brought us to the drop off and there was Paula!
    Great to see her again and then all the family in their super home and we also met new dog, Bailey, an excitable morning hound. In the evening we all went for a walk at Piper’s which overlooks Shack Island and has some beautiful wild flowers and views across the sound to the mainland.
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  • Day 9

    Chief Scout Presentation

    May 26, 2018 in Canada ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Saturday we all got ready and Danny drove eight of us to Victoria where Jemima was to be presented with the Chief Scout award by the Lt. Governor. Beforehand we enjoyed brunch, blueberry pancakes for some in the diner next door. The presentation was in the theatre of a retirement complex that seemed just like a cruise ship docked. Fabulous surroundings and facilities.
    Jemima was one of some twenty who had achieved the highest award in scouting. It takes a great deal of effort and dedication and it was a great pleasure to be there when she received the honour.
    On the way back we stopped in downtown Nanaimo for an ice cream along the front returning for a bbq and later a stroll with Bailey around Neck Pt. Right at the end the boys found a little exchange house in the foot of a tree.
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