Yesterday was, literally, the longest day of our lives.......
We were up at 3am (Fri 23rd Sept). Our friend Tania stayed with us overnight at home in Montrose. We went out for dinner Thursday night at The Kilsyth Club (which, by the way was burned down a year or so later and has now be rebuilt). We got to bed at about 10pm and then we left home at about 4.15am. We arrived at the airport at about 5.15am, had breakfast with Tan and then walked through 'the' doors at about 6am. Here are some photo's taken during that leg of the journey...
Our precious friend Tan ..... and then us about to walk through 'the' doors......
Us on the plane about to take off.....
We flew from Melbourne to Hong Kong - there were tiny sections of the flight that were bumpy and concerned me - but mostly ok (you have to remember I've never travelled more than 5 hours on a plane!). We arrived in Hong Kong and walked around duty free for a while. Didn't have long really before we had to make our way to departures for Vancouver. I was very excited when I saw we had a 'double decker' plane! my first ever.
Yeah...a 'big' plane!
It was a good flight - but a very llloooonnnnggg one. Graham went to the back of the plane and found 4 seats that were unoccupied and slept for about 4 hours. I stayed where I was and watched movies (5 in one 'long' day), until I couldn't take any more and went and found Gra and asked him to swap! He agreed (of course!) and I slept for about 1 hour. I made my way back to our seats only to find Gra sleeping anyway! Men are amazing :) I couldn't sleep another wink and there was only a few hours to go anyway. All in all it was a good flight - I love the big planes. We had an exit aisle too which gave us great leg room - but no views. Not sure which is best.
The views flying into Vancouver are to die for - they are breathtaking. We arrived in Vancouver at 1.10pm (= 6.10am Melbourne time only 1 day earlier) - so we arrived on Friday and left on Friday but we travelled 23 hours. I ended up having 1 hours sleep in 35.
Some of the spectacular sights of Canada, BC (Vancouver) from the air
When we travelled we noticed the difference in Airports. HK was only 5 yo and both it and Canada were full of glass. Even until you got to the cues for customs (and they were LONG). Vancouver Airport was really very beautiful.
Cathay Pacific was great - we were them for both legs of the journey. Meals were great too.
When we got through customs we made our way to our luggage and then got the bus to downtown Vancouver. The hotel where we were dropped off did everything they could to get us a taxi, but because of the time (4pm) on Friday, no-one wanted to take us across the bridge because it was too hard getting back!. We ended up walking - with all our luggage - to the 'Seabus'. The Seabus is a 15 minute journey over the water to North Vancouver. We arrived at the Nth Vancouver terminal and tried to find a taxi again - no joy - so we found the bus terminal. We didn't have even close to the correct money (or the right currency) so the wonderful driver allowed us to travel for free...our first taste of the wonderful people in Canada. Here we were with all our luggage - struggling to board the bus when this lovely, kind young man helped us. Then the bus got SO crowded we didn't know how we would get out or how we would know when we were at our stop! Gra made his way to the driver and he let us squeeze our way out at the right time. He was wonderful and so patient - as were all the people!
We got to our hotel - which was a very small room - but absolutely adequate for two very weary travellers.
Our room in Nth Vancouver
We had a shower and then decided to go for a walk to stretch our legs.
Even in my tiredness this sign made me laugh!
Well! walk we did! It ended up being about an 8km walk - we just kept walking. We walked over the Lions Gate Bridge and ended up at Stanley Park.
Above are some of the various views around our 8km walk...below is one that is a stand out winner for me!
How beautiful is that park!?! We decided to head toward downtown Vancouver - through the woods - yes! woods :) (we don't have them in Australia). It was so beautiful - but it was also getting dark. By the time we got to a pub in Vancouver it was dark so we had a light dinner there then got back on the 'Seabus' and headed 'home'. It was about 10.30pm when we finally lay our heads down.
We both slept quite well and made it to breakfast by about 8.15am. We were collected by 'Go-west' (from where we hired our Motorhome) at 9am and taken to our 'home' for the next 7 nights. It was so much better than we could have imagined!!! We were thrilled. After a good hour of explanations we were off (on the wrong side of the road!) to the Supermarket for supplies. We didn't really get on the road until about 2pm. I don't know that I was really ready for the beauty of all we saw. I was actually teary at one stage - just in awe of what I saw. I don't think I've ever felt so blessed. Unbelievable views of sea and landscape - it was just incredible. Enjoy some photo's of that first very, very, very long day :)
Our 'yogi' bear who travelled all the way with us and has continued to!
Our 'home' for the next 7 days WOW!
taken just out of Whistler, Canada BC
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