Whistler to Vancouver

Monday 27th May 2013
Alarm set for 7.30am this morning and breakfast done and checked out of our room 9.40am  on our way to VIC in Whistler Village to gather some  info to plan our day. Cloudy 10C. We find out that the Peak2Peak, Gondala is fogged in so decide it is not worth the $50  each to not see the views from the top. Most walks still snowed in.  So decide on Scenic drive to Rainbow Park and walk at Brandywine Falls and perhaps another shorter walk this afternoon weather permitting. First stop Rainbow Park, out for a stroll around the park with views over Alta Lake, gardeners mowing the lawns so not such a peaceful place. Morning tea this morning of Lamingtions we got in Whistler, last night, very yummy!

View across Alta Lake

Rainbow Park 

Headed off from there at 11am on our way to Vancouver took the drive to Whistler Olympic Park for some Bear spotting. Success 11.30am & 11.40am on side of the road and almost to the entrance to the Olympic Park  we saw 2 Brown Bears, another successful detour.

2nd Brown Bear

1st Brown Bear

Next stop Alexander Falls which can be seen from the car park. The it's off to the Brandywine Falls arriving at 12noon. A short 500M walk to view the falls and then off on what we believed to be a  max 7klm loop walk, starting at 12.20pm. We started off walking and reached the Bungee Bridge after an hour and watched a couple of people do a Bungee Jump. Then heading for the Suspension Bridge, only one problem with that we got lost, found it eventually only to find out we had walked a further 3.5klms away from the car and it was still raining. So had our snacks, Pringles and smoked almonds and water. Started walking again, this time following a very narrow forrest path with the orange track ribbons tied to the tress occasionally, raining and very slippery, rather hoping not to see any Bears this time.The signs on the loo doors back at the camp ground we stumbled across near the suspension bridge warned of Bears in the area. Lost the path and through Private Property finally finding the Railway line down a Private road again back to a trail entrance. Yep the sign says 3.5klms back to the carpark from here, so we walked all the way back to the car park arriving at 3.15pm, we had walked for almost 3 hours, we think about 10klms. Next time will make sure we take a map and ask more questions so as not to get lost. Certainly all glad to see the car park. Lunch at the picnic table sheltered from the rain by a large tree.

Brandywine Falls

Early in our walk at Brandywine Falls

Bungee Bridge with Jumper suspended

Suspension Bridge

On the road again at 3.30pm, still raining arriving 4.20pm at Shannon Falls. BC's 3rd Highest Falls with a 335M drop they are 6 times as high as Niagara Falls, luckily only a short walk in to view them.

Shannon Falls

Back on the road at 4.40pm so that was a quick stop arrived into Vancouver 5.30pm stuck in traffic for 30 mins arriving at our apartments 6.05pm parked out the front and in our room at 6.50pm. Checked in and we are on the 34th Floor 1288 W Georgia Street Downtown at the Vancouver Extended Stay Apartments. We have 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, large living area, kitchen and small dinning table and a laundry with washing machine and dryer. That will make the job of laundry much easier. We have amazing views from which ever window you choose to look out even more spectacular once the sun has gone down and the lights of the city come on.

Walked down the street to find some dinner decided on Shenaigan's Pub had burgers and fries. Groceries at Urban Fare on the way back to our room all feeling rather buggered after our long walk earlier in the day.