A huge thank-you to Roger’s family and friends in Vancouver for some wonderful hospitality and a truly enjoyable and memorable first visit to this fine city! Today was a great day, with more teriffic weather.
We visited the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain (and yes, Aussies, it is grouse!), Deep Cove, Gastown, Granville Island, and Fisherman’s Wharf in Richmond, before finishing the day with one of the best sushi and sashimi meals I have ever had. In the two days we have been here we have barely scratched the surface of things to see and do — it’s a very safe bet to say that I’ll bring the family here one day in the future.
The original Capilano Suspension Bridge was built over 100 years ago; today there is a lot more than just the bridge, with rainforest walks and a treetop trail made up of many small suspension bridges strung high up between huge trees. Well worth the visit — collect the stamps on your program during your visit and you’ll get a special souvenir!
The highlight of the day was visiting Grouse Mountain, one of Vancouver’s skifields. Thanks to the snowstorm that happened on the night before we arrived, there was plenty of fresh snow around. Vancouver locals had come out in droves for what might have been one last unexpected punt at the slopes until next winter — the place was swarming with people. I was wandering around at one point and found myself at the top of a path, thinking “my, that’s awfully steep for a walking trail…”, then realising it was the top of a ski run! And I’ve touched some “white stuff” now — real powder snow, not just a little pile of slushy muck at the side of a road.
Again: thank-you Mr and Mrs Mah, Jim, Kelly, Georgina, Joanne, William and Lisa for your hospitality — I doubt I am one-tenth the ambassador for Brisbane that you all are for Vancouver!
I shall return.
— Gen Douglas Macarthur (1880-1964)
Crossed Wires 