Tuesday 15th July and our last full day in the northern hemisphere. We were up relatively early to check out the Pacific Coach schedule that would connect us with the BC Ferry for the return trip to Vancouver.
First, a stop off at Pacific Editions Ltd – northwest Coast Indian Art Print publishers as it had been closed the day before. i had wanted to buy a couple of prints. One to add to my collection (I already own a Danny Dennis print) and one for Mum. (The cost of the prints and postage to NZ were no where near as expensive as the framing once back in NZ!)
With that task in hand we were off on the midday bus back to the ferry terminal. The weather was perfect and we opted to spend the majority of the trip outside. We had missed most of the crossing going over as we had been caught up in conversation with a couple of fellow travellers from the USA (a teacher and a librarian!) This proved to be a good move – not just for the wonderful scenery, but because we were able to tick off another wild Canadian animal – a doe and her fawn were spotted on one of the small islands in the aptly named Gulf islands.
The trip was over too soon and we were deposited back at Tsawwassen ready for the hour long bus ride back to the Vancouver rail station. Then back to the Hi-hostel Vancouver to dump our luggage for a last look around the city.
Off we headed towards Stanley Park. Stopping off first to hire a couple of bicycles at Spokes Bicycle Rentals right across the road from Stanley Park. I had been told by a few people that the best way to see the Park was either by bike or roller blade. So off we went, along with half the population of BC, most of them on roller blades.
Bicycling around Stanley Park is highly recommended as this park is quite large. The cycle track circles the park, passing by the obligatory totem poles, the Vancouver version of Pania of the Reef, balancing stones in the harbour, public swimming pool and another beach (if only we had known earlier!) We did take a side trip through to Beaver Lake, also recommended at beaver do live there. We finally saw an actual beaver in the wild – not just beaver noses blowing bubbles in the water as we has seen before.
Rascally racoon was another treat inside Stanley Park. These checky critters don’t mind being hand-fed by the locals and tourists alike. Surprised that so much wildlife existed within this park so close to the central city and in a park that had a huge amount of roller-blade traffic.
As time was running short, we didn’t linger in the Park, but it is something that could easily be done. Our last night in the northern hemisphere so headed back to the hostel for a much needed rest.
