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Published: September 12th 2006
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Having left the Ucluelet Camp ground at about 10am and missing our 12.30 ferry by half an hour we (I) was very happy that so had a lot of other people and the kind people at BC Ferries decided to put on another ferry departing at 2pm.
Having been told by Matt our whale watching guide that one of the best times to whale spot (!) was while travelling across on the ferry we took up a prime viewing position on the top deck of the ferry. Didn't see a thing!! well there was this tiny little tug boat pulling a massive amount of logs, but that was it.
The ferry journey takes about an hour and forty minutes and unless its a clear day you can't see your destination, which makes you think that it's sort of wierd having a capital way out in the ocean on an island when the majority of the state in some way off. Anyway!!
For our visit to Whistler we had decided to stay just outside of town at The Lillooet Lake Lodge near Pemberton. The description in the accomondation guide book was picture postcard stuff. right on the lake side.
beautiful we thought, spend a couple of days there, go into whistler for a day visit, spend a day on the lake may be do a bit of Kayacking. It turned out we spent no more than 2 minutes there before we hot footed it back the 50 odd miles to Whistler!! The big drawbacks as far as we were concerned centered round the fact that the place looked as scary as hell!! It might have been the 11k dirt track you had to go down to get there!! But for me it was the little wooden hut we came across about 8k down the track with an old dusty caddilack outside. Straight out of Friday the 13th, Jason Lives!! I can't believe we didn't take a picture of the place, i think we were too scared!!
So after that detour we set back for Whistler hoping for something a little more normal......
They say things come in three's!! well our first hostel stop saw us park up, walk down about 50 steps through a wood, cross a train track and low and behold a lovely wooden lodge on the lakeside, great we thought! On going through the
front door to enquire we soon did an about turn as we had walked into some (pikey!!) wedding !! LOL!! I was in stitches and wanted to stay but Jo felt a little underdressed!!
So we headed for the next place. This time when we arrived the pathway up to reception was "under construction" so we went round the back only to walk into the kitchen filled with a large group of Japanese School kids all looking a bit surprised to see us. But as we walked by them looking for reception they all bowed and said washie, washie!! Very polite! At reception we were promptly told that the hostel had been booked out by a private party for the weekend, we made our exit most humbly!!
I have missed a bit on another place we tried before, but I woudn't want to bore you with the details!!
Needless to say by this time it was getting late and to cut a long story short, we snuck into a RV park and slept in the truc.
Bright & breezy the next morning, after a most comfortable night's sleep in the truc we set about getting a
proper bed for the night. Fireside Lodge came to our rescue, great place really enjoyed our next two nights there. Met some cool people Dan & Rachel from Melbourne and Randy the Hostel manager gave us some great pointers on possible stops on our Canadain Itinerary.
After our first night at Fireside we felt invigourated enough to take on our next mountain. Garibaldi Lake is situated on top of Garibaldi mtn, right next to Black Tusk mtn and the sphinx, helm & Sentinel Glaciers. It is also a 19k round trip from the car park!! Straight up 2,678 metres , a little easier on the way back. The trip took all day but it was well worth it, times the pictures by 100 and you'll know what I mean.
The next morning we woke a little stiff!! I mean our legs...children are reading this stop it!! And feeling a little ACHY we decided on a more relaxing trip. Whistler mountain in the summer is still a hive of activity from extreme biking down the slopes to the (what we did) 40 minute gondola ride up to the top.
When at the top you can choose to go
to the summit via a open chair called 'peak chair' not for the faint hearted. The view from the top was spectacular and all those other words which don't quite describe the sight that you're seeing.
Then it was goodbye to Whistler and into the Truc for the journey north towards Jasper (It snowed there today!! we need jumpers please send donations).
We had a great time in Whistler and would love to spend more time here and may be return later on with friends (and money!) for a ski season in the not too distant future.
Also, Happy Birthday to my god son Ben we hope you had a brilliant day celebrating your 8th Birthday and got lots of presents ; )
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Suzanne
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This looks fab!!!
This looks absolutely fantastic - and you are both still smiling!! Can't be bad!! Glad you are having fun! x x x