Vancouver

 On our last day in Vancouver, our friend Lydia took us for drive through downtown Vancouver and dropped us off at the airport in the afternoon.

We stopped first at a viewpoint in Stanley Park looking towards North Vancouver.

The Lions Gate Bridge named after two mountain peaks north of Vancouver.

Downtown Vancouver. 

Lydia then drove us around the Park and I was surprised by the amount of vegetation and trees. I had presumed that it would be mostly open fields.

We then drove to the Gaslight district downtown to see this steam clock. The link has a video with sound that you can listen to. I took a video but Blogger does not allow me to upload it without converting it.

Gaslight district.

The other way. This area used to have an unsafe reputation but it has apparently been cleaned up. I was surprised by the number of high-rise apartments which is much greater than in the Australian capital cities. 

For lunch, we went to a restaurant at Kitsilano Beach where I enjoyed some particularly tasty mussels. They are local as you would expect.

The sand on the beach does not compare with our beach in Urangan, but you have to take what you can get when it comes to beaches.

Some of the ships waiting to unload their containers and then be placed on trains which would have priority over our Canadian train.

Our flight on Air Canada took over 14 hours and the seats on the 787 were definitely narrower with less legroom than what we used to get on a 747 or A380. It was not a pleasant flight with a nearby woman coughing every minute and a few noisy children and babies nearby.

Marianne is not too keen about doing any more 14 hour flights. I don't blame her. If you take these long flights, it is essential to reserve an aisle seat and get up to stretch your legs every couple of hours.

We landed in Brisbane on time and took the train into the city. This is the Tilt Train that would take us up to Maryborough.

The train was almost full when we set off. The train is much cheaper than a plane and seniors get a 50%  discount. There is also more room for your backside and legs.

These seats line the length of the platform and they are under cover. Compared to the awful platform at Union Station in Los Angeles, this is luxury.

This is Australia's fastest train and the train tilts as it goes around bends. Most of the time for this journey, it travels about 50 mph.

With all the rain we have experienced this year, everything is green compared to the west coast of America. Normally this would still be brown after a dry winter. We even had some rain during the trip from the airport to the city. 

We arrived at Maryborough West station on time. The locals wear shorts.

The bus then took us to the Boat Harbour just 200 yards from where we live.

I was somewhat nervous about doing this trip. Despite my fears, we did not catch Covid and except for the late trains, everything turned out as planned. Fortunately, I had built in some buffer days to allow for delays, but for future trips, I may plan two buffer days instead of one. We were extremely tired in Toronto and my legs seem to weaken after five days on the Canadian train. We are getting older.

However, it was a wonderful trip and both train journies were well worth doing. And of course, it you get the chance, go to Victoria by ferry.

 

Squamish and Howe Sound

 Our friend Lydia drove up from Seattle yesterday and today she picked us up at the bnb and took us for a drive to Squamish, at the top of Howe Sound.

We know Lydia from our shared love of Airedales and you might remember she took us to Wenatchee five years ago along with two Airedales and one Kerry Blue. Sadly, all three dogs have crossed the Rainbow Bridge but our friendship continues.

It was a very glary day which makes photography difficult, but the scenery is beautiful as the road north follows the coast of Howe Sound.

It's the most southerly Fjord in North America.

We stopped at Shannon Falls.

Because of the prolonged drought, the volume of water was much less than normal.

We drove through Squamish and stopped at a bar & grill for lunch. The town is about an hour from both North Vancouver and Whistler, the ski resort which hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Our dining spot was right beside the Squamish River and we ate outside without jackets. Lydia was amazed we could do this halfway into October. Normally it's wet, cold, and miserable. The restaurant was very well patronized on this gorgeous day,

The water in the river comes from a glacier and has a distinctive light-blue colour.

Nearby peak.

Lydia spotted a seal.

I had tried poutine in Toronto but this version was much better with beer-battered chips. I could only eat about half.

Lydia and Marianne looking for the seal that was playing around in the river.

A lovely place to have lunch.

On the way back to Vancouver, we stopped to look at this unicorn statue.

Each holding a hoof. It's some kind of art studio but it was closed.

Even the building is unusual.

We stopped on our way south at Porteau Cove.

The dock was built as a way to carry cars from Squamish to Vancouver by ferry if an avalanche or landslide blocks the road to the north or south,

The views are wonderful here.

Scuba diving is popular in the area.

It was amazing to have such warm weather. From October 1 each year, cars need to carry snow chains and be equipped with winter tyres to be allowed to drive here. Apparently, conditions can get very wintry and dangerous very quickly.

A walk in North Vancouver

 After the late arrival of the train in Toronto, we were very tired the following day, so we just rested in the motel near the airport. The following day we flew to Vancouver and took the Skytrain to the downtown ferry terminal and then the ferry to North Vancouver. After picking up some groceries, we took a Uber to our Airbnb.

The next day (Monday) was Canadian Thanksgiving, so we decided to take it easy in the morning and walk down the hill about lunchtime and have a beer at a Mexican brewpub. Our bnb is close to Andrew's on Eighth at the upper right of the map. The brewpub is marked by the white-on-red heart.

It's a nice bnb and the owner obviously believes in Halloween.

Most of this appeared the morning after we arrived.

Occasionally I like to do a blog showing local houses when we go for a walk.

The local coffee shop which I mentioned earlier (Andrew's on Eighth). It's very popular with people enjoying sitting outside in the unexpectedly warm weather.

There is a park across the street which the neighbourhood people enjoy. The grass is brown because Vancouver has had very little rain for quite some time. The whole of the west is in drought conditions.

We were puzzled by the cars parking so far out from the kerb. North Vancouver is built on a hill that slopes down to the water. It's great for walking down but not for walking up.

It turns out there is a bike path.

More brown grass.

We were struck by the purple flowers.

Some more interesting houses.

Even the units look good. If I had to live in Vancouver, from what I have seen, I would choose North Vancouver.

Almost down the hill.

The Mexican brewery. 

I tried a glass of this and it was really refreshing. It's their biggest seller by far. M was less impressed.

Note the blue tiles on the wall.

More tiles.

I ate two small tacos and enjoyed both, though I don't think they are traditionally Mexican.

We cheated and took an $8Uber back up the hill.