Early start this morning out the the Capilano Suspension Bridge. It was only a 7km drive from our hotel and we contemplated taking a shuttle bus to go over there but I’m really glad we didn’t… We arrived about 9am and walked straight in and there was barely a soul in the entire place. We wandered over what I thought was a very wobbly suspension bridge and got into the red cedar forest where we had a huge complex of treetop walks, fish ponds, boardwalks and cliff top views almost all to ourselves.
Anyway, we wandered over the suspension bridge which is definitely not for the faint hearted and meandered around the treetop canopy walk which is definitely not for those afeared of heights and scampered around the cliff walks which is likewise not for those who can’t look down.
I took a lot of photos of the gorgeous red cedar and Douglas fir trees and it was humbling to be stand under this ginormous tree, and being able to reach out and touch it knowing that it is 1300 years old… I don’t know how people could just come along and hack through these amazing forests without massive pangs of guilt and huge amounts of heartache. They’re enormous and so majestic and are so beautiful I can’t imagine cutting them down. We really enjoyed the cool walk around the treetops and the amazing views down the canyon. And were so glad we got there early, because by the time we were getting ready to leave a few hours later there were hundreds of tourists lined up to buy tickets to go in, spilling into the complex and excitedly taking each others photos (what’s with that? I rarely want me in a picture that would otherwise be a nice landscape shot? but everywhere you go you find yourself surrounded by people going… ‘oh take my photo here… take my photo there’? I don’t get it).
Basically by 11:30am the place was like a shopping mall full of Japanese tourists making lots of noise and effectively despoiling the tranquil peace of the forest. If you ever come here, avoid the crowds and come early – that’s free advice. It also happens that the light is better for your photos at that time of day too, so bonus.
That is the view back down over the steps I had just had to come up after doing the nature walk around under the treetop walk… every step I take that goes down, in the back of my head is a little voice saying ‘Thank Christ I didn’t eat breakfast because I’m going to have to come back up these steps’, along with a fervent prayer not to throw up all over the place. I don’t think I’ve gone up and down this many stairs since I went for a walk down at Springbrook National Park a few years ago! I’m going to feel this tomorrow!
After Capliano we decided to head back into town to run a few errands and grab a bit of lunch. Found Big Jim’s favourite hamburger joint, Five Guys and had a kid’s sized burger for lunch… have to say, it was still a big burger and was pretty tasty, so I was impressed. Feel like I won’t need dinner though. 🙂
No rest for the wicked though, because after lunch we planned to go to the Dr Sun Yat Sen’s Chinese Gardens which are apparently the largest most authentic Chinese gardens outside of Asia (Vancouver, I am told is home to the second largest Chinese population behind San Francisco, outside of China… but I wouldn’t quote me on that). It was a lovely set of ‘roomed’ gardens with various reflection pools, Chinese stonework, paved courtyards and gorgeous foliage.
I imagine it would be a very pretty place to visit in the rain or even if it were snowing. The place as a very meditative feel about it and all visitors were on their best library behaviour while they were there which added to the tranquil feel of the place. Classically beautiful and very quaint, it was a strange counterpoint to the traffic and sirens of the city that were audible just beyond the garden walls.
Straight from our visit to the gardens, we caught up with the Canadian Relatives for another Magical Mystery Tour. Last night, Grandpa D took us to Granville Island and the Granville Markets, drove us past the hospital Mr K was born in, the house he lived in when he was a tiny guy, and the Safeway that he nearly beat a guy up in front of, after he pushed little Mr K over as a toddler – yep! Grandpa D was one of those Dad… protective and sounds like he had a bit of a temper if you messed with his little man 🙂 He also took us to Queen Elizabeth Park which had gorgeous views of the city and more fabulous gardens – I can’t believe how green this town is! It’s wonderful.
Tonight’s Magical Mystery Tour with Grandpa D took us out to some real Canadian favourites, starting with dinner at Swiss Chalet (very Canadian restaurant, eh) with a Cousin that I never knew I had 🙂 Was awesome to finally meet someone who I had heard so much about and she is very cool… would love to spend more time with her. Then after food, we went up to Mt Barnaby where the Simon Fraser University is (SFU… hehehe) and more amazing views over the city and the inlets and some beautiful rose gardens and all good things including living public art that looked like cranes and were covered in lichens and mosses. On the way back we stopped at TIm Horton’s for a cuppa and more travel goss and catch up. Having some locals to show us around has been great – we have seen a lot more of the city than we would have on our own, and when I’m not driving on the wrong side of the road, on the wrong side of the car, I have had a chance to look out and take in the scenery which has been great too. We are looking forward to catching up with Grandpa D and Grandma S once with hit LA for our great DisneyLand adventure in a few weeks…. but that would be getting ahead of ourselves now wouldn’t it.
So long day. Lots of fun. Lots of food. Lots of laughs and lots of stairs! Oi! Tomorrow a long drive to Revelstoke as we head for the mountains 🙂