What a Difference a Day Makes.

After a couple of days of drizzle and rain it was a pleasure to wake up to see a dry morning. While the young ones had planned a day at the Capilano Suspension Bridge, Sylvia and I had arranged a meet up with my third cousin Jim Hatton and his wife Irene. We got to know Jim via a common interest in family history and while we had met a couple of times on his visits to the UK, this was the first oppurtunity to see him in his own back yard.

Jim picked us up at the hotel and the first stop on our sight-seeing trip was the totem poles in Stanley Park. Located just past the aquarium that we visited a couple of days ago this selection of native art is both colourful and varied, with each telling an individual tale.

Leaving the park we crossed the Lion’s Gate Bridge towards West Vancouver, where the next stop was Wythecliffe Park with views across the bay to the islands beyond.

Much of the park was roped off as preparations were under way for the filming of a TV series. This is an increasingly common sight around the city which is often referred to as North Hollywood.

Next stop was a coffee break at Horseshoe Bay , a picturesque little coastal town.

It also gave a chance for a group photo.

Next we climbed up from the coast towards Grouse Mountain passing the entrance to the suspension bridge on the way to the cable car station. The car park was packed with skiers and snow boarders taking perhaps a last chance to experience the winter snow.

Moving back down the mountain we stopped at Capilano Lake, the source of most of the drinking water in Vancouver. On one side of the dam the lake is calm and serene…...

……before thundering down the ravine on the other side.

Moving across into North Vancouver we attempted to stop in the small village of Deep Cove for a spot of lunch but the sunshine had brought everyone out meaning there was no parking to be found. Instead we travelled back towards the seabus terminal finding a White Spot burger restaurant on the way to satisfy the hunger pangs.

Jim then dropped us off at the Seabus Terminal to take the short ferry journey across to our hotel. This was a lovely way to end a superb day seeing parts of the city and its environs which we would not have done without Jim’s expertise. Thank you for a lovely Sunday.