Having left the car at the collection point overnight I decide to get up early to drive the car to our hotel before the city awakes, at a quarter past six. We make it to the car park, but finding the vehicle is not so easy. In the underground labyrinth all the vehicles look the same. Unfortunately, whilst I did take note of the parking bay number, I did not take a note of the floor, or how to get from the car park lift to the car park itself. After around ten minutes of backtracking and walking around the core of the car park I spot our vehicle, and a prod of the car remote confirms that all is well. We start up and off we go, climbing the spiral until the morning Vancouver sun shines through the entrance to the street ahead. The previous evening I had planned my route, ensuring that I only had to complete right turns to get back to the hotel and all was well.
We have breakfast, pack up, pay and leave. All goes well for about five minutes, but then ignoring the advice of my fellow traveller and the SatNav I turn right instead of left. A series of turns, with increasingly tetchy voices from both of them and we are back on track. We take Marine Drive and are surprised to encounter so many cyclists out for a Sunday ride. I am a little confused as to what to do, as to overtake them would mean that I would have to cross the solid centre line. As I gain confidence I am happy to cross the line when the need arises.
We head up Highway 99, The Sea to Sky Highway, and after 45km we make our first stop at Porteau Cove used for diving and watersports. A number of people are in wet suites with scuba equipment. There are also people sitting cooking on barbeques and preparing food. A relaxed feeling is about the place. We hear the Rocky Mountaineer train in the distance and see it just disappear as we leave the car park and cross the line.
Back in the car and on to our next stop, Shannon Falls. Lots of people here, but the falls are spectacular.
Onward to the next stop, Brandywine Falls. A short walk through forest takes us to a viewing platform level with the top of the falls, jutting out from the cliff face. It is with trepidation that I look over the edge.
We walk back to the car, crossing the railway line on the way. As we get in we hear the horn of the train again and get a brief glimpse through the trees.
This is not the last we hear of the train.
We continue on to Whistler, for the Farmer’s Market, an eclectic collection of merchandise is being offered for sale together with individuals giving massages to their clients on the street.
After leaving here we make a stop at Nairn Falls for a picnic with some bread, cheese and fresh fruit picked up in the market. We take the 1.5km trail from the picnic area to the falls. The view is spectacular, the turquoise water cascading though a crevice in the rock and crashing down into a pool below.
A few kilometres later we are in Pemberton, our home for the next two nights. We make a brief stop at the grocery store for a few provisions for the journey and take some pictures of the old railway station. The place has the feel of a frontier town, and I would imagine has changed little over the past few years. The railway station is still there, but has been put to alternative use now as a rather good bakers shop.
In the morning we will return to Whistler for a ride on the Peak to Peak cablecar.