As we approached the US border, the smell of barbeque cooking drew our attention to some activity in the park. The Chinese Association of White Rock Surrey were having a party and they welcomed us with great enthusiasm & brought us a BBQ feast & candies for the boys. We gave them our Canadian flags – better than us attempting Karaoke. 🙂
After 50km came the first flat tire along with a friendly fellow cyclist, who on hearing our story spontaneously invited us to camp in his backyard – thanks Doug!
Somehow we lost track of the cycle path and ended up on the 6 lane highway over The Alex Fraser Bridge – good job it was rush hour so everything was jammed! Had just decided to lift all our stuff over the barrier to the cycle path when a police car stopped. We were ready with a string of excuses but he just asked “need a helping hand?”
After today we’ve learnt exactly what’s completely waterproof & what is just showerproof & why Vancouver is so beautifully green!
Puddle splashing & spotting racoons and a water otter were tops for the kids.
In Vancouver (WOW! Aquarium at the airport!) all our luggage (77kg + bikes & trailers) reappeared in good nick. The children were delighted to see what weird & wonderful things turned up in the outsize luggage area: all kinds of sporting equipment, musical instruments & even a meowing cat – all good entertainment while we assembled all our equipment for “riding mode”.
The 15km ride to downtown city was fine but a bit tough at 4am (home time!) after being up all night. Cycle lanes are a little bit different here – let’s say you ride more with the traffic but at least they exist!
The children have adapted really well to the time difference – it’s the parents who have suffered the jet lag! 1st day – assembling provisions down town, riding around Stanley Park and playing in the playground.
After four years of dreaming, one year of preparing and a marathon of injections we’re finally on our way to catch the first plane.