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Whistler
Still plenty of snow at the top. The cruise finished in Vancouver at 9.00 AM. By lunchtime we had found the way to Whistler and checked in to our accommodation. Not bad for our first day in Canada, having arrived without any bookings. This gave us the afternoon to explore the mountains. This time we didn’t hike. We used the ski lifts and gondolas to see stunning alpine scenery one last time. The highlight is the ‘peak 2 peak’ which connects the two mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb. The length of the cable car ride is 4.4 km and that includes a 3 km section of unsupported span. We also went to the very top of Whistler on the ‘Peak Express’ where we could see over the clouds to surrounding peaks.
The town of Whistler is very charming. It is super clean and well appointed for tourists to meander along the pedestrianized streets from restaurant to bar to nightclub to bed. We bypassed some of those options but still had a good day in the Rockies one last time. The other thing that struck us was the accents of everyone who works in Whistler. Most are Aussies. The two-year working visa is too good to pass up and
twenty-something Australians come here in their droves. The following morning, we caught a bus, train, another bus, a ferry and then were picked up by my friend Sam in her car on Vancouver Island. (I think we underestimated what was involved on this occasion.) We stayed in the main town of Vancouver Island, Victoria. Another reason to feel at home I guess. In fact, their old town clock was sent from England to the wrong Victoria and didn’t arrive on top of the town hall for another four years because of the mix up.
It was good to see Sam again. It was over 20 years ago that she stayed with us as an exchange student in year 11. Nice to catch up on a few decades since I last saw her and meet one of her daughters.
I love the place names over here; places like Tsawwassen (the only word I can think of with a double-double-u) rival Australian place names like Woolloomooloo (eight o’s out of thirteen letters) for silliness and pronounceability. Then there are the indigenous people, like the Kwakwaka’waku and the Nuu-Chah-Nulth of Victoria island and around.
We visited the Butchart gardens on
the Island and were very impressed with what had been done with an old quarry to make someone’s beautiful back garden a century ago. From there we got a ferry back to Vancouver, which was meant to go direct to its destination. However, we saw more Orcas and stopped for a while to watch them again and take a million more photos. You just don’t get bored of watching Whales.
Vancouver itself is a city like Melbourne in many ways. It has open spaces, good sporting facilities for their ice hockey, Soccer and American Football teams. It also has a lot of recreational facilities, which are used by locals and visitors, like the bike track around Stanley Park. We hired bikes and tested it out in on a sunny summer’s day and also visited the Granville Island Market for lunch. I could eat my way around that place all day if I had the chance. Then there was time for some retail therapy and even I got in to it this time, stocking up on clothes for winter. We only had to travel once more so could manage to carry the extra stuff for once.
After
Mountain Scenery
We have seen a lot of it. From Teton to Yellowstone to Alaska to Whistler there have been a lot of mountains and for Australians who don't usually spend time in this sort of terrain it is always a source of fascination. a restful stay in Vancouver we took two flights back to Melbourne and I am glad to be home, having seen both Mums/Nannas on our first day home we have now collected our two cats from the cattery and life is back to normal. Whilst we have seen and done some amazing things, right now I am please to be in the best place to live in the world. The only thing I’m not happy about is the temperature. We had sun today. I just wish it was as warm as it was in Alaska now.
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Nina
non-member comment
Welcome home!
Thanks so much once again for such an insightful blig, Jon, I always enjoy reading what write. What an amazing trip, and how many unforgettable experiences for Nathan. Thanks for sharing your journey and the wonderful photos with us. Looking forward to seeing you soon! Nina