Vancouver -- A Fabulous Start to our Canadian Adventure

We left Seattle early on July 5 and headed north under sunny and warm skies.  In a few short hours we were across the border.

We had been advised that the Canadians were very friendly and welcoming.  But I was still surprised when we drove into Vancouver and I had the map open on my lap and Alan was driving.  A municipal bus driver leaned over from his bus and asked me "Are you lost?"   "No, I replied, I was just a few blocks from my hotel."  "Well, good luck and off he went on his route."  I so totally can not imagine a SF bus driver even helping a paying customer, much less, a fellow driver!

We found our hotel -- 1 block from the beach and Stanley Park -- another great success with Priceline.  We quickly were settled and then took off on bikes on the perimeter trail that offers views of the water, city front, and Vancouver at play.  

Totem Poles in Stanley Park

The City Skyline from the bike path

In the evening we walked to the Vancouver Art Gallery and enjoyed the exhibits.  Then Alan and Bryan found this park by the hotel and made a bit of art.

Life imitates Art

The evening was warm and being so far north -- 9pm seemed like 6pm.  Everyone was enjoying the scene.

In the morning we rode our bikes to Gastown for breakfast.  Vancouver is very bike friendly -- there are separate bike lanes and lights; car drivers are quite patient; and the city is small and compact to navigate even with hills.  We had a great experience.

Bryan meets his first Mountie -- note our bikes

By mid day we were ready to begin heading east; still much to do in Vancouver but the Rockies were our destination.  We visited the neighborhood around University of BC, Vancouver; had a pizza lunch and then found Canada Route 1.  Traffic was a mess like every big city, but in no time we were far enough east to see farms and range land.  We camped overnight at a provincial park in Chilliwack.  Not so nice but fine for the journey.