Whistler/Vancouver, BC, 10 June 2011

This morning it was time to pack and head out of Whistler to Vancouver. Leaving Whistler about 10:30, we headed south out of the mountains and along Howe Sound to Vancouver for a couple of days.

Brandywine Falls

On the way we stopped again at a couple places. First was at Brandywine Falls. The light was much better for pictures than on the way up, so we retook a bunch. As we were leaving the falls, the daily train to Whistler went by. After a quick stop for gas in Squamish, we stopped in Britannia Beach for lunch.

Vancouver to Whistler train

Galileo Coffee is a funky local spot with good coffee and good food. It's in an old house by the highway near the mine (now a museum) that is the main feature of the town. We then went back into "town" to a native art gallery and center. There was some beautiful artwork. But all we walked out with was a notepad the proprietor gave me for my birthday.

at Porteau Cove Provincial Park

Howe Sound

Our last repeat stop was at Porteau Cove Provincial Park. It was interesting to see the mountains around Howe Sound with clouds flirting around them. There were also some very pretty little birds with red heads and blue backs.

On into Vancouver, with a major traffic jam in North Van leading to the highway bridge, which is under reconstruction. We reached our hotel in Vancouver fairly easily once on the south side of the inlet.

For Dick's birthday dinner we drove in to Vancouver to an Italian restaurant near Stanley Park. It was very good, but not real quiet, as the Stanley Cup hockey finals were on the TV. We did see the only goal of the game, at least. Our waiter said we should not go back to the hotel the most direct route, as that would be right by the hockey arena, with the streets filled with fans. So we took a nice slightly out of the way route. After we got back to the hotel, we knew the game was over because for the next 2+ hours people drove around honking in celebration. (And they haven't won the series yet.)

After all the honking, it was a quiet evening "at home" in the hotel.