2013 - West/Northwest Adventure: May 2013

May 20

Today we attempted to get our convection/microwave oven fixed, but to no avail. While Larry was taking care of that, I took the Chuckanut scenic road from Burlington to Fairhaven and what a beautiful drive it was.

The tide was obviously out.

Because of the cloudiness, we've not been able to see Mt. Baker, but here is the best picture that I could get. There's still a lot of snow up there!

May 21

The good news, the oil got changed. The bad news, the oven is still not fixed. So off we go again to the repair shop. We then went to an appliance store to check with a technician about what could be causing the problems, when low and behold we spot the exact same microwave/convection oven. After some soul searching we decided to buy the new microwave and have the repair shop install it. While that was taking place Larry and I strolled the mall!!! And then more bad news. To make sure the oven worked before we left, the tech went to start the generator (all outlets in the area were being used) and nothing happened. More problems. So out the generator comes with more work to do. What will happen tomorrow?

May 22

Got an early morning call that repairs were done on the generator, so we brought the RV to repair shop and they will have to work it in among their other jobs. How long will this be? Went to IHop for breakfast and then headed out to Joanie and Jim Carrington's where we were expecting Larry's medicine to be delivered this morning. Had a nice visit with Joanie and Jim, medicine delivered, and got the call to come pick up the RV. Yea, we are headed out of the US and into Canada. And of course, we get the full blown inspection at the border. After about an hour there we were off to Vancouver. What a day! Once we got to Vancouver, our niece Kara and her boyfriend, Al stopped by for a visit.

Canada Border

May 23

Vancouver is very much an urban city. With a population of about 2 million, can you believe there are NO freeways in the city! Our RV park is in North Vancouver, right in the heart of everything. Today we started off our day meeting Kara at their apartment in downtown Vancouver near Chinatown and Gastown. What a view from the 28th floor! Then we headed out on a walking tour of the city. We walked about 6 miles today covering about 3/4 of the downtown area by foot and 1/4 by water taxi.

Haven't seen this before. The middle lane changes from incoming to outgoing based on vehicle occupancy.

Kara on her 28th floor apartment overlooking the bay and mountains.

This is Maggie. Isn't she cute!

Larry and I at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Park

Sam Kee Building (gray colored) - the narrowest building in the world.

Kara and I next to Gassy Jack, the father of Gastown.

Gastown Steam Clock - the world's first steam clock.

"Raindrop" - one of many art sculptures in town.

Cathy standing on the original medal podium of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

Spotted these guys in the harbor area.

And this beautiful swan on one of the lakes in Stanley Park.

"Inukshuk" - ancient symbol of the Inuit culture. The 2010 Vancouver Olympics logo was based on this symbol.

Larry and Kara in the water taxi.

Granville Public Market

Kara boarding the water taxi from Granville Island.

Skyline/Harbor View

Rogers Arena where Al works. Home of the Vancouver Canuks ice hockey team.

Al giving us the VIP tour of the arena, locker rooms, lounges, private boxes, etc.

May 24

Kara had a class to attend today so Larry and I were on our own. We started off the day at the Capilano Suspension Bridge. What an awesome adventure! If you are afraid of heights and swinging things, this is not the adventure for you!!

Suspension Bridge - definitely not for the faint at heart!

Treetop walk

Love these giant trees!

The suspension bridge showing the river below.

Larry on the Cliffwalk out over the canyon floor.

My turn!

Larry standing on the see-through glass walk.

The river pool at the bottom of the canyon.

The Cliffwalk along the side of the mountain.

Cathy and the Royal Mounted Canadian "Smokey Bear"!

Our next stop was a short 20-minute hike to view the Point Atkinson lighthouse.

These are some of the many huge ferns growing in the rainforest.

Our last stop of the day we spent touring around Stanley Park in Vancouver (think Central Park in New York).
View of the Lion's Gate Bridge and North Vancouver

View of West Vancouver in the direction of the lighthouse.

Some of the many beautiful flowers on the grounds.

800 year old "Hollow Tree"

View of downtown Vancouver

Nine O'Clock Gun - a park attendant was loading the cannon (muzzle loaded) with powder and sounds off at 9:00 pm every night.

More of the Vancouver skyline with 3 cruise ships docked in the harbor.

Totem Poles - BC First Nations artistry

We still had gulf shrimp in the freezer so I cooked dinner for Kara and Al tonight. Yum, Yum.

May 25 - Happy Birthday, Pam

Today Kara and Al picked us up for a rode trip up to the Whistler Ski Resort area.

Porteau Cove

Kara and Al at Porteau Cove

Scenic Highway to Whistler.

Whistler Village - home of the 2010 Winter Olympic Ski Competitions

This makes our 2nd Olympic Park visit this trip!

Ski slopes in the background...

and behind the village.

And when there is no snow, bike racing!

Scenic highway from Whistler.

Can you spot the witch flying on her broom?

More of scenic Highway 99

After our road trip to Whistler we said our goodbyes to Kara and Al.

May 26

This morning we left Vancouver in the rain heading to Hope, BC. After setting up, we headed out to Hell"s Gate in the Fraser Canyon. The views to Hell"s Gate were awesome, the only problem was there weren't many pullouts for pictures and it was raining.

An airtram took us to the bottom of the canyon. With all the rain and snow melt, the Fraser River is running quite swiftly.