http://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Cache+Creek,+British+Columbia&daddr=50.67626,-121.93248+to:Vancouver,+British+Columbia&hl=en&ll=49.954754,-122.321777&spn=1.827177,3.36731&sll=50.485474,-121.758728&sspn=0.903486,1.683655&geocode=FSNABwMdYMPE-Clh14UEZRWAVDEHdz-TaAlmxw%3BFSRCBQMdQHW7-CnxrqgKUoqAVDEQHeZEzYg5kw%3BFaqq7wIdOW6p-CmzT6lD8XOGVDGL84Gb6paRuw&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=9&via=1&z=8
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| Fraser River |
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| A hint of things to come |
I had never been to Whistler or on hwy 99 before so Peter very graciously changed the route so I could experience both of them. Our original plan had been to continue down hwy 97 to Hope BC. Believe me the detour was worth it. Hwy 99 quickly came to the top of the fantastic paved roads we had experienced. Today was the first day that Peter rode with jeans, a t-shirt & cut off gloves. He was in heaven; I wasn't far behind. The twisties & scenery were amazing.
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| It looks like we are somewhere in Europe. |
We stopped in Whistler Village for lunch. Wow! What a cool place. Extreme mountain biking was the predominant summer activity. Guys of all ages were decked out in off road riding gear. The area under the ski lift had been turned into an series of whoops, jumps and half pipes. Surprisingly, I didn't see any walking wounded.
About an hour & a half from Whistler we encounter strong gust of wind. As we struggle toward Vancouver the sky turns ugly. We barely get on the rain gear before the temperature drops & the car wash begins. Fog, strong winds & a heavy downpours spoil our trip along the west shore into Vancouver (it never rains in Vancouver; right!) I am frustrated by my face shield which keeps fogging up. I raise it slightly to let in some air, but it doesn't seem to help. Eventually, I figure out that it isn't the face shield fogging. It is my glasses; dumb. Through the fog I can make out some large islands off shore. The rain is torrential. Both of us are soaked right through our rain gear. Another first.
We stop a native store in Vancouver. Peter purchases an authentic Cowichan Indian Sweater as a souvenir of the "Living the Dream" trip. Man, the whale design is really sharp looking on him. Three young (8 to 10 year old) native girls try to interest us in other handmade items. They are quite persuasive; excited about the up coming Pow Wow taking place on the weekend.
By the time we leave the shop it has stopped raining. We decide to skip the BC crab & to head to Langley so we miss the traffic tomorrow morning. There is only one complication. We are right in time for rush hour & more destruction. They are in the process of building a new bridge into Vancouver. Judging by the size of the pillars towering into the sky, it is going to be one mother of a bridge when they finish it. Fortunately, motorcycles are permitted in the HOV lanes (pay attention Ontario.) We quickly take advantage to this to make up some time.
Tomorrow we see Dave in Penticton.
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