Yesterday consisted primarily of a trip to Ikea in Coquittlan. I have never been in a store that was so large. The showroom was bigger that the Waterville plant. That didn't include the warehouse were you pick up your merchandise, the checkout area, pick up area or the parking lots. The cafeteria was the best I ever saw. I had a salmon dinner for $9.00. Kyle bought 2 brown chestfields and a bed and arranged to have them delivered. We are still pulling the Uhaul trailer everywhere we go and it is getting on Kyle's nerves.
Kyle picked up the key to his apartment and we just hung out watching TV. I tried to get Brett to go to a ball game with me but he wasn't up for it.
This morning we got a call from Dad to tell us that Ruth passes away.
We were checking out of the hotel today hoping to spent the night at Kyles new place. To kill time, went for a drive to the top of Grouse Mtn in West Van. We couldn't find a place to park because it was so busy so we came half way down the mtn and stopped at a Provincial Park that had lots of parking. We thought it was just a picnic park but it turned out to be o much more. There was a lake, dam, water falls, gorge, old growth forest, 9 ft wide Douglas Fir trees, a shady cool hiking trail and a fish hatchery.
We left there and fought the heat and traffic across the Lions Gate Bridge, thru town to Kyle's apartment. We parked the trailer in the underground parking (had to stand on the back of the trailer to get it to fit under the door.
Met Kyle's new landlord who was cleaning up after the painters.
We hung out for an hour while Brett got his computer fix and then headed down town. The people on the streets exuded a carnival atmosphere. We grabbed a burito and walked to the waterfront. We arrived 4 or 5 hours before the fireworks so we sat on a bench and took in the sights and sounds. As the sun went down, I wished I had packed a sweater. The view of the harbour front changes. A haze falls over the mountains and they are sillohitted by a pinkish blue sky. the crowd continues to build. Bikes, skateboards and rollerbladers reduce and are replaced more couples and families carrying blankets. The seaplanes seemed to have stopped for the night but boat and boat tour traffic pick up. The 9 pm cannon booms from the point in Stanley Park directly across to harbour. The tide has swung as the Navy Frigate in the middle of the harbour is pointing to where it was. Small boats take up station at the mouth of Coal Bay to get the best 'seats' in the house. The Harbour Fire Boat stops in front of us, turns on its hoses aft and stern and begins spinning in circles. It is the neatest fountain we could ever see.
The fireworks were fantastic. Certainly worth the wait.
The walk back seemed longer as the temp dropped and we were tired. We will sleep well tonight. Tomorrow we complete the trip by moving everything in.
Happy Birthday Cananda and British Columbia.
Night all.
Love you

Stanley Park by Sky Train June 29th

Last night was the first night that we had any real problems on the whole trip. After arriving in Vancouver we visited a friend of Kyle in North Vancouver. We struggled to find a hotel that had a vacancy or didn't require a first mortgage for a room. We failed to notice that we were running on empty until it was too late. The up side is that there was room to pull off the side of the road and we were within sight of an exit. The bad news was the highway was socket with traffic and Kyle forgot his wallet when he arrived at the gas station. We met half way to try again. A good Samaritan city worker in a truck gave Kyle a ride back and provided flashing lights and big truck coverage as Kyle poured the gas in the tank as it was on the traffic side of the van.

We were unable to find the hotel we had contacted that had a room but ended up finding another that was a lot nicer. It was across the street from the movie studio that films the show Star Gate /SG1.

Today we took the Sky Train into the Vancouver Waterfront and walked the Seawall Wall to Stanley Park. Kyles friend left us a VIP pass at the Aquarium so we did a tour.

It was a gorgeous day, 33 degrees and the water front was full of people. I definitely think Kyle will be happy here. I definitely would like to live here.

BC or Bust June 28th 4538 kms

Drive

Arrive

Ran out of gas in more ways than one.

27---6---20---08 Hike Hike Hike June 27th

Today was all about 'enjoying' the outdoors. Kyle was out with his friends till the wee hours so he slept in. I had the pleasure of breakfast with Brett in the Hotel Dining room. After breakfast he decided that he wanted to stay put so I headed out to explore. I walked to the edge of town, picked up the train tracks (love hearing the train whistles every couple of hours as trains run through the town) and followed them to the other edge of town where I picked up a hiking trail that lead me down the Bow River to the Bow River Falls located below the Banff Lodge.
I got back to the room around 2 quite bagged but happy to have had the exercise after a week in the van.
Kyle was just getting up and he was pumped to hike up "Tunnel Mtn". Oh Shit. I was reluctant to to go as I figured I had just did 5 to 8 k and I figured I wouldn't make it and would slow them down.
On the other hand, yesterday, standing on the patio looking at the mountains, I decided to add climbing one of the Rocky mountains to my "Bucket List" so I throw my hat in with the a mild disclaimer that I wasn't likely to make it to the top.
We meet up with Kyle's friend Morgan who was a pseudo guide and we headed off.
15 minutes in I was starting to huff and puff and a third of the way up I was considering parking it and enjoying the view from there. I decided to push on purely on the observation that Kyle and Brett seemed to struggling as well, and I was hoping to save my self from the "old man couldn't make it" ribbing that I was certain would come. The higher we went, the harder the boys found it. It never got easier for me but I decided I was going to the top if it killed me. (almost but not quite) We reached the top (twice) and the view made it all worthwhile. Absolutely breathtaking.
The trip down was slightly easier. Morgan came back to the room for a beer. I spent an hour in the hot tub and I think it helped because I can move my legs this morning without grimacing in pain. After the hot tub, a snooze was in order. I didn't wake up until 9pm. Kyle had gone out with some friends and Brett was a little perturbed that he hadn't been feed. Imagine, the nerve of me. He asked me to go to McDonalds and get something. I agreed to go with him. He was not happy when I said I didn't want to take it back to the hotel room. He even chewed on me when I suggested eating outside on a bench as the McD's was very hot. I chewed back on more than just the burger. We ended the night on a grimace and a smile as we walked back to the hotel listening to the sounds of a resort town at night.

Rocking to the Rockies June 26th

I slept in this morning until 9 and never heard Tristan or the other guys head off to work.
Got packed up and waited for Brett and Kyle to get up. Without much adieu, we packed up the van, left a thank you note and headed out to the inspiring head banging screams of Lamb of God.
Finding our way back to the highway turned into a bit of an adventure. Kyle's Blackberry was dead so he was without his navigational system and he didn't handle having to trust my directions blindly very well. Verbal fur flew in both directions. Once the vents and rants were over, we did what we did best. He drove and I navigated and we made it to TC1 West without a hitch. 'Good Job' were exchanged and we moved on.
On the outskirts of Calgary, we passed the site of the Winter Olympics ski jump and snow board half pipe.
The road returned to prairie but with the Rockies looming large on our left as we headed northwest to Banff.

We have become enveloped by mountains in less than an hour. Though the drive seems flat, we have climbed to 4600 ft. We pass the Canmor Nordic Rec Area where the primary house design is Chalet Style.
The mountains have increasing amounts of snow as we go deeper. We enter Banff National Park and I find myself having to lean down more and more to see 'up'.

Banff is not far and we pull into town. It is a beautiful resort town made up of a few main streets that are row upon row of hotels, bars and shops. Kyle took us by his old apartment, then we checked in at the Aspen Lodge.

A few calls and he makes a connection with a friend he played in a band with. We meet up for dinner and a few beer at the Wild Bill Bar. The town and the mountains fill up the vista from the patio.

Kyle heads off to check out the new Jam location for the old band and we head back to the room. Brett is watching a movie, I will load up my blog and then walk back into town to explore.

On the sixth day we rested June 25th

Awake at 7 when Tristan headed off to work. Surprise, Kyle is up and functioning. However Brett snoozes to 'check out time'.
Called Bhreagh. She was just heading into a tanning salon and will give us a call when she gets home. Watched a movie called the Punisher.





We decided to to spend the day at the Calgary Zoo. Numerous calls back and forth to Bhreagh and we arranged to pic up her and her friend Felicia. Traveled through downtown and after a few side trips we finally found the zoo.






Lots of sights to see, most of them wild life. I was quite impressed with the zoo. The girls were a laugh. Every time they saw a baby animal, they wanted to take it home. Lots of pictures but all on my Treo as I left my camera at the house.
















Stopped at Boston Pizza for supper on the way back. Felicia was just starting to work at Hooters and was explaining how it was now catering to families. We are interested in seeing how that works out.

Stopped at Walmart to pick up a new NIC card and some drinks for Brett.
Back to the house and the boys broke out the cards for a game of Texas Hold'em. Josh Galilotte and Brody Atwell were over for a visit. Brody took the honours with Brian pulling in second. The night seemed to fly by and before we knew it, everyone was heading off to bed.
I will dream of raising into pocket Aces.





Night all.