Day 27 Vancouver

Today unfortunately is the morning Jeffrey, Nancy and Cecilia start for home. The trip to the airport is sad but uneventful and they are off.

A return trip to the city to meet up with Cliff and Liz and another day on the coast begins. David and I stopped at a coffee shop in Joanna’s neighbourhood while Cliff and Liz prepared for the day. It was just a little corner spot and we laughed at how stereotypical Vancouver this place was. A dark roast fair trade coffee perfumed the air as cyclists, businessmen and young yuppies sat elbow to elbow. Munching on yogurt with granola, or heap seeds and quinoa cookies (not kidding – it was written on the menu board!) they painted a picture of exactly what I’d pictured when I thought of a Vancouver coffee shop.

Since our wanderings a couple of nights ago only blessed us with an experience of half of Stanley Park, we first went back to see the other half. Harbour seals played while we wandered the side of the park that overlooks Canada Place and the cruise ships that stop here on their journey to Alaska. We watched for ages as 8 baby ducks skimmed along the top of the water and then dove under the surface to reappear moments later and start the whole game again. I’ve never seen ducks do that before and whether they were feeding (very hungry if they were) or just frolicking, I have no idea, but they were very entertaining! The totems are a nice stop on the way back as we head out for lunch in Gastown. Once known as Vancouver’s skid row, this rehabilitated neighbourhood, still fringed by the homeless, is a community of cobblestone streets, trendy shops and The Steamworks Brewing Company – a great place to have lunch!

Local brews once again - true to my word!

Yet another view of the city.

Canada Place and the cruise ships.

Totem in Stanley Park.

Steam powered clock (you can see the steam at the top) in Gastown.

As much fun as we had today wandering the streets of Vancouver, today was another of those “gotta do some work” days. We went back to the RV Park about supper time to do the laundry and get ready for our next “company”. Tomorrow we leave for Vancouver Island with Cliff and Liz. Yet again we are leaving with regret. There is so much to see and do we could have happily spent more time here. Needing to be at Horseshoe Bay Terminal by 7:30 we are planning an early night for the adventures that await us tomorrow!