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Published: August 1st 2006
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Totem
Totem pole in Stanley Park Quick run down of trip
Sunday 9th July
Flight to Vancouverl left on time, watched 4 films, had a nap,had meal, free drinks every hour, watched 4 films.
Arrived 1.50pm, Went to collect hire car. No Pontiac grand am 😞
So got Toyota Corolla automatic.... Best thing as it did nearly 50 miles to the gallon !
Set off for 45 minute trip to BnB in Port Moody... 2 hours later we found it. Map they gave us was awful and no one told us the street name signs were placed differently to ours so the street you was on was named on the side streets and the side streets were hung across the main street...
At this point we were knackered as we had been up over 24 hours. And it was only 4pm Canadian time.
The room at the BnB was lovely, had a big soaker tub, could of done with a ladder to get into it.
We went for a subway sandwich, had a bath, chilled out then went bed early.
Monday
Got up 6.30 am, had been up and down all night because of the 8 hour difference. (was 2.30pm UK time)
Breakfast 8.30.
Totem
Another in Stanley Park Fresh fruit salad, Juice, Coffee, Pancakes, Maple syrup, Strawberries,scrambled egg, bacon.
We went to Stanley Park- about 1 hours drive away.
What a lovely place.
Had a guided tour for 1 hour in horse drawn carriage. £12 each, not bad for 1 hour.
Back to car then drove to each car park throughout the park and parked up and looked around each area.
Prospect Point, you could see right across Vancouver, wonderful rose gardens, water park for kids with its own kiddie drying machine ! totem pole area which was fascinating.
Went for pizza hut on way back. £12 for the 2 of us...
Tuesday
Breakfast 8.30. Same as yesterday but with scones as well. blueberries as well. they came with everything,the Canadians have a thing about them as they only in season for a short time.
Went to Vancouver centre to Gas Town to see the steam clock.
Walked around Vancouver centre for 4 hours.
Went back to BnB for rest then went for a drive to Port Moody Park where some kind person took a chunk of paint off our car door with their door. So was expecting a bill for damage when we returned car.
Totem 3
Yet another Totem... Last 1 I promise Wednesday
Breakfast. Packed cases and set off for Ferry terminalfor ferry to Vancouver Island. Stopped at the town where terminal was, Nanaimo, for a coffee. This was the only day it rained. The ferry was a 2 hour crossing and cost £40 so why do ferries across channel cost over £100??? us English being ripped off as usual.
We arrived on Vancouver Island and drove 40 minutes to Parksville, pulling in at museum and phoning our friends for directions to house. They came and met us. We stayed in this night and just chatted for hours. These are friends I made on internet. Been chatting by email for years and met them for 4 hours last year as they were on a tour and were in Chester for 1 evening so we met up with them, we got on so well they invited us to stay with them.
Thursday
Breakfast,watching the humming bird feed off the flowers in their garden.
We went to Coombs, lots of shops and 1 known for goats living on the roof.. the roof has a lawn on it and 2 - 4 goats live up there in the day, there is
Horse
One of the horses that did tour in Stanley Park also a hut for them to shelter in. This brings in many tourists. We had lunch there then I had a strawberry and banana smoothie ice-cream. Delicious.
We went off to a Bird sanctuary and saw a talk on owls which was very good, even I learnt a few things I didn't know and owls are my favourite bird!.
Then we went for a walk around Englishman's river falls park. It was a 200 year old forest and had a lovely water fall there too.
Friday
Went to another forest. Again it was 200 years old and the trees were at least 200 ft high.
Went to a pub on a lake side and saw the water bomber planes on stand by in case of forest fires.
Back to Pat and Russ's as we were guests of honour at their BBQ that night, they had 15 friends coming over to meet us. We had a lovely night, they were all lovely people.
Saturday
Went to Parksville beach to see Kites flying, all shapes and sizes.
Had an afternoon in garden chilling.
Neighbours came over for a drink and chat. Then Pat and Russ took us out
His Mate
easier for 2 to pull for a meal.
On the way back we stopped car and took photos of 3 deer that were eating the bushes on the road side.
Sunday
Russ was showing his car at a classic car show so we went along to that, had a nice afternoon and Carl got his photo taken with a bike cop who Carl had posing with his bike magazine (MCN) this photo will be sent off to them and hopefully printed. Went to place called Chemanus where all the walls have murals drawn on them, all to do with the towns history.
Went shopping then back to Russ n Pats for BBQ Salmon.
Monday
Up early (7am) and long drive to where we were going to catch the stream train, it was fantastic, whistle blowing at every road it crossed, traffic halted and people waving and big rigs sounding their horns. The train took us to a saw mill where we learnt the history of the site being set up and the lives workers lived, then a display of the saw mill working.
Then off for a meal and back to Pat and Russ's.
Tuesday
Carl and I went
Heave Ho
this was only half the weight they can pull HONEST to Victoria this day on our own, it was a 2 hour drive. Spent 5 hours walking around the shops, harbour, went into undersea world where we saw strange fish, octopus, eels. and stroked starfish.
Stopped at The Pantry for a meal on way back, Had to eat with feet up as little mouse was running around, been evading capture for a few days ! Place would of been shut down here. Back to Parksville where we walked around night market then back to Pat n Russ's.
Wednesday
Went to Parksville beach and walked in sea then a walk around Parksville. Went for a Chinese all you can eat lunch. I actually tried lemon chicken.... yum yum.
Back to Patand Russ's and watched a film 'Matador' was different.
Thursday
Up early, breakfast then set of for Nanaimo for the ferry back to Vancouver. Weather was lovely and we could see all the islands as we sailed past, couldn't see them on way there because of rain. Could also see Mount Baker in Washington USA and what a spectacular sight, full of snow.
Got to BnB 7pm, had a long chat with Helen, she had been away
Lovely
mounds of sulpher ready to be made into fertilizer when we stayed the first 3 days.
Friday
Went to Grouse Mountain, I overcame my fear and went in the cable car (holds 100) I clung on for dear life but at least they warned you when it was going over a rumble bit and said it would sway... Boy did it sway. 7 minutes later we were 3100 feet up mountain. Saw lumberjack show, bird of prey show, bears, chipmunks and had a lovely meal there, it was over 100o. It got to hot so we went back down after 4 hours.
Saturday
Went for drive around, ended up at Lake Como, what a lovely place, walked 1km around the lake looking at all the huge dragon flies, geese, ducks, butterflies. Then went to Barcella park and had a walk around.
That evening we went up Burbury mountain to watch the sun set... Beautiful.
Sunday
Had breakfast then packed up and off to airport. Dropped car off and they didn't bother about the chip on the door. We had done 750 miles and only used about £30 petrol.
Our flight was delayed by 1 hour. Watched 4 films, had a nap but it
Heron
lonely heron in water at Stanley Park was light outside all the way home, saw top of mountains in Greenland and all covered in snow, just the peaks peeping through the snow.
Had a meal, free drinks every hour and a snack.
We flew with Zoom airlines, went economy so paid £900 for both of us return, other famour airlines would of been £2000 plus. We no complaints at all about Zoom.
Hope you enjoy reading this
Sue
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