Walking walking walking Vancouver
So my exercise app today told me to take it easy after yesterday going up the grind. Having an average heart rate of 155 over 1 hour 40 will do that. So what did I do? 36,233 steps that's what I did.
I started by walking to the tourism centre as I had one question I wanted to ask, and if I wanted a day pass for the public transport that was just about the closest place there was to get one. Joy reminded me there's a free shuttle to the Capilano bridge that goes from there, so I ditched the plan for a day pass, picked myself up a ticket and jumped on the shuttle. I almost got ushered on to one of the hop on hop off buses, but I worked it out in time.
I had intended to go to the Lynn Canyon suspension bridge which is also over in North Vancouver and is free, but three different people recommended the Capilano, so I decided I should really do it. I got there early enough that the crowds weren't mental, but there were still plenty of people about. The bridge was pretty enough, but I think the true beauty and novelty of it was a bit lost on me as I grew up with parents who took their occasionally unwilling child (but now very thankful) on a number of tramps which featured a number of bridges (including once a three wire bridge). So paying $60 for something that was "nice enough" seemed a bit steep. Having said that they had done up the space really well, with other bridges through the tree tops and the cliff walk. I'm starting to think I'm not scared of heights so much as falling. Is that the same thing? Anyway, being up in the trees and on the cliff I didn't mind. Providing there's solid enough footing below and a handle if the bridge starts to swing I'm happy.
Most of my photos turned out blurry as I was trying to take them without stopping for more than a beat as there was a trail of people always in front and behind. I didn't want to be like the two girls that held up a whole bunch of people on 4 different bridges so they could take a bunch of photos.
After the bridge I caught the free shuttle back to the waterfront, stopped for emergency lunch handily already in my backpack (thanks to pre planning, a Chinese supermarket and 7eleven) to halt the nausea hitting me on the bus ride back. Then I walked along the waterfront around to Stanley Park. I spent two hours at Stanley park and didn't even scratch the surface. Vancouverites (Vancouvians?) are so lucky to have it right there in town. I followed the sea wall around to the other side of the park to where you can see North Vancouver and the Lions Gate Bridge. On a clear day like today the views of the city where amazing. I then stopped by the totem poles, before finding a pathway through the park to the rose garden. Only a couple of roses out, wrong time of year I guess, so I turned to the lost lagoon instead. I still don't know why it's called the lost lagoon.
After a 5 minute break for my feet, I took off up Robson street as Nat had said that's the main shopping street and I thought it was worth a browse. One thing I really like about Vancouver is how much greenery there is. Even Robson street had trees along much of it.
I started by walking to the tourism centre as I had one question I wanted to ask, and if I wanted a day pass for the public transport that was just about the closest place there was to get one. Joy reminded me there's a free shuttle to the Capilano bridge that goes from there, so I ditched the plan for a day pass, picked myself up a ticket and jumped on the shuttle. I almost got ushered on to one of the hop on hop off buses, but I worked it out in time.
I had intended to go to the Lynn Canyon suspension bridge which is also over in North Vancouver and is free, but three different people recommended the Capilano, so I decided I should really do it. I got there early enough that the crowds weren't mental, but there were still plenty of people about. The bridge was pretty enough, but I think the true beauty and novelty of it was a bit lost on me as I grew up with parents who took their occasionally unwilling child (but now very thankful) on a number of tramps which featured a number of bridges (including once a three wire bridge). So paying $60 for something that was "nice enough" seemed a bit steep. Having said that they had done up the space really well, with other bridges through the tree tops and the cliff walk. I'm starting to think I'm not scared of heights so much as falling. Is that the same thing? Anyway, being up in the trees and on the cliff I didn't mind. Providing there's solid enough footing below and a handle if the bridge starts to swing I'm happy.
Most of my photos turned out blurry as I was trying to take them without stopping for more than a beat as there was a trail of people always in front and behind. I didn't want to be like the two girls that held up a whole bunch of people on 4 different bridges so they could take a bunch of photos.
After the bridge I caught the free shuttle back to the waterfront, stopped for emergency lunch handily already in my backpack (thanks to pre planning, a Chinese supermarket and 7eleven) to halt the nausea hitting me on the bus ride back. Then I walked along the waterfront around to Stanley Park. I spent two hours at Stanley park and didn't even scratch the surface. Vancouverites (Vancouvians?) are so lucky to have it right there in town. I followed the sea wall around to the other side of the park to where you can see North Vancouver and the Lions Gate Bridge. On a clear day like today the views of the city where amazing. I then stopped by the totem poles, before finding a pathway through the park to the rose garden. Only a couple of roses out, wrong time of year I guess, so I turned to the lost lagoon instead. I still don't know why it's called the lost lagoon.
Mum - I didn't see a plaque, but this looks like the same guy from Ottawa.
The main stop I made on Robson street was actually at a Safeway (supermarket) for a few final apples and snacks to get me to the end of the trip. I saw a stand of maple syrup and thought I should finally buy some of that. Standing in front of the display I was tossing up which size to get before it occurred to me that this was a souvenir type stand in the supermarket, but this was a normal supermarket so there must be non-tourist, local type maple syrup somewhere. Sure enough, for a dollar more I could get 400ml more. So I'm lugging home half a litre of maple syrup. More than I really wanted but there weren't really any smaller options. So anyone that wants to make me pancakes - I'll supply the syrup.
After walking the length of Robson street it was time to head home to drop off the half a litre of syrup and everything else non-essential to dinner, and to take a break to let my feet recover a bit. For dinner I was catching up with Matt at a Mexican place that was nice and local. It was great to catch up with him, and the fact that he's in Vancouver, plus the food was really good. I do love Mexican food. After dinner we went for a walk along gastown and part of the waterfront I hadn't walked this morning where we got a pretty good view of the sun starting to go down.
Gastown clock.
The only thing was it meant I was that much further from home. By this point I'd walked so much I wasn't going to give up now and take a bus. So I set off on what I now think of my usual route which takes me through Chinatown and back to the Airbnb. And that's how I got to 36,000 steps. Boy am I glad that I'm on a bus trip tomorrow. Then one more full on day, then I get on a plane and go home and give up walking for a few days.
I must tell you about where I'm staying. It's a beautiful old house, so old and beautiful that it has it's own plaque out front. It's in a nice block with other beautiful old houses. Though walk a couple of blocks and it gets quite a bit rougher. It's mostly pretty safe, but I don't want to walk around here at night. Anyway, here's a picture.
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