This week Heather and I traveled to Vancouver British Columbia Canada, to attend the wedding of Heather’s cousin Craig. We left early Wednesday morning flying out of Toronto at 6:00, nothing like having to get up at 3:00am to make a 6:00am flight.
The flight was pretty uneventful, when we arrived in British Columbia; we flew on an Airbus A320, we picked up the rental car that I had arranged, more on this later. We then head into town and meet up with two of Heathers friend who recently got engaged Davis, Kuy. Davis works for IBM and Kuy as I would later find out works for Matrox.
I found out that Kuy worked for Matrox when I was talking to office on my blackberry trying to get a client issue resolved and I had suggested a Matrox product to resolve the issue. After I got off the phone Kuy asked if I dealt with Matrox and I said I try not to, not even thinking why he was asking. He then tells me he a sales rep for Matrox for Asia and Australia. Good to see the Sanderson foot in mouth disease still works.
After leaving Kuy and Davis we headed off to White Rock British Columbia to a bed and breakfast that Heather had found on the internet. I had found one in Surrey British Columbia, but Heather thought it was too far away. So she booked a room in a Beach House in White Rock, which is actually a longer drive then Surrey was. So Surrey was too far but White Rock which was further was ok, I am sure there is some reasoning to this but I don’t understand it.
The Beach House was a charming little bed and breakfast with great hosts and a great atmosphere. It is about 50 yards from the ocean and there is tree out front that has a bald Eagles nest in it. I would recommend that anyone who is visiting the Vancouver area look at staying at the Beachhouse.
It was 9:00 when we arrived in White Rock and both Heather and I where exhausted so we where in bed. We got up late on Thursday and decided to spend the day exploring White Rock, which is a beautiful little ocean front city and yes there is a large white rock on the beach.
Thursday night Heather and I where looking for something to do so we decided to go driving. We eventually ended at a driving range; both Heather and I had been meaning to learn to play golf. We each went through one hundred and fifty golf balls and had a lot of fun. My longest ball was about 250 yards with most balls being about 100 yards give or take which I think is pretty good since this was my first time out and I was pretty straight. Heather on the other hand averaged about 60 yards and you never knew where her ball would land. Although I did get the record for shortest ball of about negative 30 feet when I hit a ball and it went straight up hitting the roof of the driving range and almost hitting the girl in the booth beside me.
Friday we decided to go up to Grouse mountain, it was about a hour drive from White Rock, but it was well worth the drive. Admittance to the part was little expensive at over $30.00 per person, but the views where well worth the cost.
We where only at Grouse mountain for about 3 hours when we had to head out to make it to the wedding the entire purpose of the trip, so we headed back to Vancouver. Kristen and Craig’s wedding was held at the University of British Columbia and it was an amazing location for the wedding. The scenery was absolutely breath taking and it was an extremely elegant wedding.
After the wedding Heather and I headed out to the air port since we have to catch a 6:00am flight out, which means a 4:00 am check in. We where flying home early because one to attend the wedding of John and Melanie in Waterloo. The wedding broke up at 1:00 so we figured it would be silly to get a hotel room for a couple of hours if that. I am writing this entry sitting in a Tim Horton’s at the Vancouver air port, which does not have free internet access! I had planned on getting some work done but I am not paying $20.00 for an hour’s internet access.
So concludes our trip to British Columbia, here is some observations about our limited time in Vancouver:
- It is expensive, everything seems to cost more then Ontario and the cost of property is insane.
- Pedestrians and Bikes have the right of way always over cars and they take it. This really encourages J walking but cars will stop for you and let you pass. Where in Ontario they tend to speed up.
- In Vancouver is there is a blinking Green light this is not an advanced green like it is in the rest of Canada. This is basically a walk symbol for a cross walk, Kuy told me this, good thing he did or I would have ended up hitting someone I am sure.
- Vancouver does not like left turns, it seems every street does not allow left turns, so if you miss your turn it can take a while to back track. It was a good thing that I rented a GPS unit with the Rental car it came in extremely handy.
All in all our trip to British Columbia was a fun and enjoyable however short trip. The scenery is amazing and something that every Canadian should see.
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