An early start for breakfast and then drive to the Sutton Place Hotel to pick up Mon and Cats for a drive out to Whistler. First stop, Cypress Provincial Park to see the magnificent view of Downtown Vancouver and Stanley Park from the viewing platform and then a short drive further on up to the Olympic venue for all the "cool" winter sports - snowboarding, freestyle and that lunatic event the ski/snowboard cross, where 4 guys/gals hurtle themselves down the mountain, negotiating jumps and turns and trying not to crash out! When you see steepness of the slope you get to thinking that anyone who chooses to hurtle down that can't have both paddles in the water........MAD.
A few photo ops and a snowball fight between Mon and Cats (poor luvs haven't seen much snow in their lives coming from Melbourne and Florida respectively) and it is back on the road. The first thing we do is drive through a cloud (spooky). You just don't get to do that much in Maidstone.
We continue along the Sea to Sky Highway in glorious sunshine until we come to Shannon Falls. The 3rd highest waterfall in BC, it is stunning at this time of year and in full glorious flow. Greatly appreciated by our companions and always a pleasure for us to revisit. And a worthwhile loo break too!
Another hour along and we reach Whistler, which is still busy with a few skiers and snowboarders enjoying the last few days of the season and the usual Snowboard Festival stuff - cool free stuff being given out, loud music and lots of guys in board gear. Could be Newquay with snow!
A lunch break at the Old Spaghetti Factory is welcomed. It's chilly in Whistler and French Onion Soup, Clam Chowder, pasta and veal goes down well. As does the Coke and free fill ups (something I LOVE in North America)
We go up the mountain and play in the snow, freeze our arses off because it's still damn cold and windy up there and take many photo ops again. Then it's back down the mountain again in the gondola and a short stroll around the shops before we get in the car and head back. Jim didn't go visit the bobsleigh site, but saw it from the mountain - somehow it's not quite the same as when it's covered in snow and ice, it just looked like a long, swirly, concrete tube.
A lovely drive back in the evening sun gave us some great photo ops along the Highway and, tired after a long day, we said goodbye to the ladies and came back to the hotel for a quiet night in. No evening meal tonight, just a few snacks, a bit of TV and an early night.
Tomorrow is another busy day. We've scored tickets for the Canucks game and a ride in a floatplane. We need our energy levels on high!
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