Day 11 - Vancouver

Was up by 5:30 AM so we could meet the gang for breakfast at 6:30.  Am all packed and ready to go.  Then of course it was wait, wait, wait.   But as we pulled into Vancouver oh my, what a sight....just gorgeous.  I had no idea Vancouver was so large!!!  It was overcast, no sun in sight so things looked a little dreary, but the city looks huge and very modern from our vantage point.

The cruise lines has a very well organized process for getting people off the ship.  I think guests don't consider how many pieces of luggage has to be moved from the ship to the dock and some folks get more than a little antsy...like really rude.  I felt sorry for the staff and the grief they get.  

Finally my turn came I got off the boat and found my luggage very quickly.  I  was surprised that all customs did was collect our disembarcation paperwork....I expecxted more than that.  Anyway I quickly got my rental car and was on my way to the Capilano Suspension Bridge in North Vancouver.

OMG!!!! I am now and forever more in love with temperate rain forests.  I was in three different forests in Alaska and they were all beautiful....but this one sealed the deal.  The property of this tourist trap is incredibly beautiful.  I wish I was a millionaire so I could buy out the park and have it all to myself for a week. 

The suspension bridge itself was scarey.  I give myself credit for going across given my fear of heights and the bridge swaying quite a lot.  It didn't help that there were a zillion people on it at all times. 

Then there was the Cliff Walk which was a walkway hanging off the side of the gorge walls.  That at least did not sway.  There was a Tree Canopy Walk that also did not sway and finally a Nature Walk through the forest floor.  You will have a better sense of what this all was like once I get back into the US and can download photos from my phone.  I loved this attraction except for the zillions of people.  If they would control the crowd it would feel much like walking through a cathedral.

From there I headed west and went out to Horseshoe Bay which was where we entered the Sound this morning.  There is a ferry terminal there and a very pretty little village that surrounds the ferry operation.  Had lunch there and checked out the only motel in the area....would have liked to stay there this evening, but their rates were a little higher than I wanted to pay.

So picked up Marine Drive heading back into town which turned out to be a very tiny 2 lane road hugging the coastline.  Couldn't see much as there are large homes blocking the fabulous views.  But did find Lighthouse Point Park which was another walk through the big trees.  This one was much more enjoyable as there were few people there.

Am now sitting poolside at my motel waiting for a small load of laundry to finish up.  Tonight I have clean PJs...yeah!!!!

Tomorrow I'll hang around here until late morning and then head off to Seattle and the Olympic Pennsulia!!!

I'll load photos tomorrow.