Vancouver -last days

Tuesday October 4th

Another busy couple of days. We dropped Bertha back at the Fraserway depot just south of Vancouver city centre yesterday morning. It took some time for them to inspect and agree we didn't owe them anything, and then to wait for the transfer to,our hotel. We are staying at the Empire Landmark on Robson St, it probably was a landmark, once, but now it is rather dated! However the room is fine and has a great view

We walked down to the waterfront at Coal Harbour and had lunch at Carderos, a marine pub and restaurant. 

We then explored part of Stanley Park, which is a typical English style park, but with lots of trees and walking trails and no flowerbeds. My knee was troubling me so we walked back to the hotel for a rest. In the evening we had a meal in an Italian restaurant across the road. The spag bol was tasty! 

This morning we ate breakfast up the street at Abode and I indulged in eggs benedict! 

After catching up on the internet stuff we set off to walk downtown. We ventured into Yaletown, an older area where lots of warehouses are now trendy shops and cafes. We then ventured onto the public transit system, we bought a day pass and used the underground rapid transit unmanned train to  go to the waterfront and Gastown.  This is the area where the city was founded 

This is the site of the maple tree under which pioneers met in 1885 and decided to name the place Vancouver.

There is a 'steam clock here too, although we understand it is run by electricity!! It puffs and hoots every quarter hour.

We dodged in and out of shops but nothing really took our fancy. There were some nice mukluks.......

We crossed to North Vancouver using the Sea Bus, and caught a public bus to go to visit a friend in hospital. The Sea Bus appears to be a vital link and was very busy.

Looking north

A Sea Bus ferry

We couldn't find a bus  to take us back to the hotel so had to walk.......which was a bit painful, so tonight we are just going to use the lift and eat in the restaurant on the 46th floor!!!

Maybe I will get some night time shots....

Later:

It was the 42nd floor, Cloud 9, revolving restaurant! A new experience for both of us! Amazing views of the city, even the 'low' seeming buildings have 15 floors!!  Got a few shots, not very good as they are through the window! 

Looking north

So, that's it folks, on the way home tomorrow.

Farewell from Canada, a great trip, but not sure I would describe it as a holiday!!! 

Seattle Day 2 and back into Canad

Sunday Oct 2nd

Canadian geese at home!!!

Yesterday we had a gentle start, looking after the twins while Jessie, Ross and Emmet went out to meet friends for breakfast then onto Emmet's soccer session. Michael got into the van and packed up his stuff while Deb, Jim and I looked after the little ones and the dog. We went for a walk, had coffee at a lovely French bakery, and by the time we got back the rest of the family had returned. After lunch we all went to MOHAI (Museum Of History And Industry) which was excellent. We spent a while there then walked outside to look at the historical boats. We were able to board a few of them including an old fire boat and a cruiser.

The weather was very mixed, heavy showers then sunshine, but we were rewarded with a rainbow

We had a look at the Centre for Wooden Boats

Which has smaller wooden craft and which provides a programme to get children out on the water. Jim was very taken with a sailing boat for sale!!!

We then visited to flagship REI store, which sells everything and anything for the outdoors! Unfortunately it didn't have what I was looking for!!  The Capital Cider restaurant was our next port of call, for an early dinner. Some had fish and chips, some a burger and most adults had a glass of cider. The girls enjoyed fish and chips, sharing with their brother!

Today we celebrated the girls' first birthday with a doughnut party. A few friends and their children came along for coffee, doughnuts and champagne!! A good time was had by all and Daisy and Libby loved their cream doughnuts!!!

We left about 2.0pm and have just driven north, back across the border to the outskirts of Vancouver. We hand the van back in the morning and will transfer to the Empire Landmark Hotel for two nights. We are partly packed up and will do the rest in the morning. It was handy to be a Jessie's where I could trade some of our surplus goods for a few tea bags, a couple of eggs and a small amount of milk to see us through this evening and the morning.

My knee is very painful at times, so I have just started on some ibuprofen, hope it works so that I can explore Vancouver.

Km today 192

Seattle

Friday September 30th

Yesterday we left Victoria in the 10.35 Black Ball line Coho ferry to Port Angeles in the USA on the Olympic Peninsula. This was a two hour sail, crossing the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It was an old boat, built in 1959, and it rolled a little bit in the strait. We had great views leaving Victoria Harbour

 The bridge lifted to allow a yacht through

Harbour ferries setting out on the first trips of the day

We went through immigration in Victoria, then there were just a couple of questions when we got to the US, but they were happy to send us on our way without inspecting the van......thank goodness.....we've got a lot of stuff!!!

We then drove to Kingston crossing a floating canal bridge en route

The Kingston-Edmonds ferry took about 20 minutes and took us in north of Seattle, so that it was a relatively easy drive south and slightly west to Jessie and Ross's house, in Ballard. We were made very welcome, and with excellent directions from Jim, I managed to reverse the van into the back yard, it is a very tight fit and we have to get in and out by the passenger door. 

We had to turn the mirrors in but I didn't hit anything!!

We had a peaceful night, apart from the odd apple falling from the tree! 

Today Deb and Jim took us downtown to the Pike Place Market where there was a great variety of stalls particularly flowers,  vegetables and fish.

Dinner plate dahlias

And fungi!

We had a look at the original Starbucks, but there was a huge queue, so we drove back up to the Lighthouse roasters for coffee, then down to the Fishermans Terminal. We have never seen so many boats, both a variety of fishing boats and pleasure boats.

There is a wonderful fisherman's memorial here too

We ate at the Little Chinook fish cafe, when I enjoyed tempura battered prawns and chips. We then had a quick trip to the Ballard Market supermarket where they had a huge variety of foodstuffs for sale.

...and great displays of pumpkins.....already!!

Later on in the afternoon we picked Emmett up from school and went to the locks which link the sea in the Puget Sound to Lake Union and the harbour. There is a range of fish ladders there, for the salmon to move berween the slat and sea water depending on the time of year.

Just realised I didn't take any photos...just pics of the girls wearing the jackets I knitted for them when they were born almost a year ago. Apparently they are wearing them every day at present.

Libby

Daisy

...and Emmett playing with his new ferry

That's all for now, not sure how far we drove yesterday, will look it up later.

Not sure what is planned for tomorrow ! 

Victoria

Wednesday 28th September 

We left our Jordan River campsite yesterday morning in the mist, and drove south to Sooke where we stocked up with propane, and petrol, and coffee etc!  We weren't rushing as we couldn't book I not to the RV site until 12noon. Once more the road was not good, bumpy and twisty for the first part of the drive, then it got busier as we need the city. Fortunately we were driving in on an easy rout, from the west and the GPS was working well, however I did had to have my eyes peeled for traffic, traffic lights and pedestrian crossings ( pedestrians have right of way at all crossings and crosswalks at junctions).

We arrived shortly before noon and were able to chacon straight away and park up. We are at the back of the West Bay Marina RV park, the spaces on the front have wonderful views across the harbour to downtown Victoria.

After a bite of lunch 

we caught the Harbour Ferry ($40 for the two of us return, seemed a tad steep, but....)

On the way we passed the nest boxes for the Purple Martin, but apparently they have flown early this year

And some very smart floating houses!!

 On arrival we were immediately impressed by the waterfront and architecture

 The flower displays were lovely, very colourful and inventive 

 After a walk around we went to the BC museum, which was fantastic. Lots of information about the First Nations, the languages, way of life etc then the development following the arrival of Europeans, particular the British. I am astounded that we settled this place, it's a very long way by sea! 

Unfortunately my left knee has been playing up, I thought it had settled but it hasn't, so that curtailed our exploration and we got the ferry back here, seeing lots of sea planes and going across the. 'runway' on the way.

These planes are a way of life here! 

Today we have ridden the public buses, down inot town and out to the Butchart Gardens. A day pass is $5  for as many bus rides as you like in the day!! Altogether we probably spent 3hours on buses, but we saw a lot of sights. We could have got a tour bus but the would have cost about $30 each on top of the entrance to the gardens.

The Butchart Garden was created by Jennie Butchart when she and her husband moved out there. It was created in an old quarry and is fantastic. Lots of "Wow"s here!

The sunken garden

The planting and the flower displays were wonderful. Here is just a small taste

.....and just to finish off..a maple leaf! 

Off to the US on the ferry tomorrow morning for a family weekend in Seattle, back to Canada and Vancouver on Sunday evening.

Km yesterday : 67 nil today

Wildlife: hummingbird on black eyed Susan today.