Day Twenty Six - Leaving 'Home' - All good things must come to an end

Today has been a pretty sad day for me personally... I was at risk of bursting into tears throughout the morning. Ress, Anthony and Rachael came down to us at Spring Creek, and we took them down the valley trail to ride their 'aussie pluggers' down the hill. Very hilarious to watch. We walked them back to the bus stop and said our goodbyes as we won't see Ress and Ant for another 6 months as they are off to travel Europe. We went home and packed our bags and hung out with Leigh (who was home for the day feeling very unwell). Called a cab and said our goodbyes to Leigh is when the waterworks started for me - and I had a lot of trouble controlling it for the rest of the afternoon up in the village. We went to the Longhorn Saloon for our last 'Poutine' and other Canadian food. Walked the village for souviners for the family - and then at 3.15pm we went back to Cory's work and grabbed our bags and said goodbye to Cory. The waterworks were bad at this point - boarding the bus down to Vancouver, in the dark, I was a bit teary the whole way down to the city. We are now sitting at the Vancouver airport - which marks pretty much the end of our holiday - about to board a 15 hour flight back to Sydney and then the 1.5 hour flight to Brisbane.

(photos to come)

Day Twenty Five - Function Junction, Tattoos, and Snow snow snow.

We walked down the Valley Trail to 'Function Junction' where I had a 12pm tattoo appointment booked with Dave of 'Black Ohm' Tattoos. I finally got to get my snowflake tattoo on my wrist and it looks so much better than I had hoped. Dave did a really great job. We then walked around the junction and grabbed a hot drink and a cake, went to Prior and looked at boards, and then walked back up the Valley Trail 'home'. We had half an hour or so with Leigh and Cory before heading into town so I could repair my nails. Quickly got some stuff together from Ress and Anthony's - Sam and Ian's - and then we caught a cab home and ordered pizza and hung out for our last night in Whistler. Boston Pizza, beer, and Lord of the Rings.

(photos to come)

Day Twenty Four - Boxing Day

Boxing Day for us was very low key. Spent a good chunk of the day just relaxing at 'home' before heading up the mountain for one final run. I rode up the gondola with Craig to the top and then he boarded down and I rode the gondola down. At least I didn't waste my pass. We then met up with Sam and Ian, and Sam and I went out and grabbed some dinner and had a quick look around the village. We ate Chinese at Sam and Ian's room before getting a cab back home.

(photos to come)

Day Twenty Three - Christmas Day

Hooray, Christmas Day. Spent the morning with Cory at home, watching the rain turn to snow. Finally we got to experience what a white Christmas is like. Snow falling outside, warmth inside. Craig and I went up to the top of Whistler Mountain for a late lunch - conisisting of a burger and chilli cheese fries. Very festive. As we were enjoying our lunch a blizzard blew in - this was the coldest I have ever been in my life - I suspect the wind chill factor would have been upwards of -30. The gondola download took us 45 minutes from peak to base due to reduction in speed because of the wind. We bought Caramel Apples from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Company, then went and collected Sam and Ian before heading to Ress and Anthony's apartment. Dinner was booked for 6pm at '21 Steps' in the heart of the village. I discovered ice-wine martinis. ;) Turkey Dinner followed by pumpkin pie, and then the caramel apple at Ress' while we played our secret santa game. Craig came out of the game with what he wanted - his Vancouver moose photo holder, and I got a jamaican beanie (tea cosie - lol)  - We then got our stuff together and caught a cab home.


(photos to come)

Day Twenty Two - Christmas Eve

We awoke to 11cm of fresh powder today, and it was still falling. Glorious. And they predict that there will be much more snow over the weekend!  Sam and I had decided that we were going to go up to Mid-station and I was going to teach her the basics of skiing. We were going to get her on my short skis while I tried out my long skis. Whistler wouldn't let her use the short ones due to the fresh powder that was falling, but they did give her pretty much free rental of her skis, poles and a helmet. She did really well - skiing straight down parallel without too much fear at all. We ended up skiing longer than anticipated, finishing at 2pm! Skiing on long skis for me will be impossible while my foot is still so weak, but at least I can say that I got on them. I have a feeling it will take me back to beginner stage, but I look forward to learning on them!  We went back to Sam and Ian's, had showers and went down and called Mum, Nan-Nan and Ken from the lobby - so great talking to them on their christmas morning. We went back upstairs and finished getting changed and went and met Leigh and Cory at 'Earls' - a couple of drinks and a delicious dinner - oh my god - the Chicken and Brie sandwich, is out of this world delicious. We then headed to the liquor store and grabbed drinks and headed to out apartment crawl - Ress/Ant's apartment, followed by Sam and Ian's, ending at Terry and Leslie's. Too much transpired to write! We skyped with Craig's Grandma, and Wendy and Phil, and talked to my Dad on the phone. After the apartment parties wrapped up, we went for a walk up to the village and then ended the night, at around 2.30am! Phew.

Ress, Anthony and Rach

On the phone to Mum

Sound of Music on TV!

Tom as 'The Gatekeeper'

Skyping the Moynihans

Skyping with the Smiths (and Niemeyers)

Day Twenty One - Alpine Sightseeing and Steak

Another day arrived where my foot was too sore to get into my ski boot so Sam and I decided to go up the mountain to have some lunch and do some alpine sightseeing via the 'Peak to Peak' - We were approached by a professional photographer and had a couple of really amazing photos taken that were under no obligation to purchase - and decided if they were good we would get them.  We discovered that the poutine at the Roundhouse Lodge at the top of Whistler is really REALLY good. Sam had her photo taken with the Inushuck atop Whistler Mountain, and then we rode the 'Peak to Peak' from Whistler to Blackcomb and then returned on the glass bottom gondola. Craig and Ian went to Mid Station and Craig tought Ian how to snowboard, and by the time we were ready to get back to them, they had boarded down the mountain to the base. Amazing. We then went and walked around the village showing Sam a few of our favourite places - and then went back to their apartment and I grabbed some Chinese food from the IGA. Later, we went to Hy's Steakhouse to see if they continued to provide us with their amazing steak - and thankfully they didn't disappoint.

Ian snowboarding

Sam at the top of Whistler with the Inushuk

Day Twenty - Shopping and rest

The last couple of days for me have been spent on the couch. On Day 18 I skiied Whistler and Blackcomb, and my foot siezed up and I haven't been able to get my foot into my ski boots since. Craig has been managing to get up each day (except today) so we have been spending a good amount of time with Sam and Ian. We had Maccas, and while we were walking around the village, we had our first 'Beavertail' which was pasty with maple butter and chocolate. Holy cow - so bad for you, but so delicious. Oh my god. Craig and I went to Black's Restaurant before getting the bus home.

Last night was a bit of a huge night - Spaghetti Factory followed by the boys deciding to drink at Sam and Ian's hotel. We ended up crashing on their couch. 

Tomorrow I am hoping to get up the hill. There is a weather system moving in off the Pacific which promises to bring a decent amount of snow to the mountains - including falls on Christmas day. Amazing news. Cory may be heading down to Squamish tomorrow night - I might get to go and have a bit of a shop down there with her. Yes! Since I haven't bought Christmas presents yet, might be a good idea!!!

Day Seventeen - Enough with the lazyness

Woke up absolutely rotten - had some cold and flu and a heavily medicated lemon drink which managed to perk me right up. Had some vegemite toast which always makes me feel better when I'm really under the weather. Leigh and Cory cooked up an amazing breakfast of bacon benedict with skillet hash browns. Soooooooooooooooooooooo yummy. Then, at 1.30pm we decided we'd best get up the hill and do at least one run! We treked up to the village and rode the 'Olympic Chair' and did two runs. The run from Olympic Chair, and then the Olympic run down to the village. I only had to stop for a break once during this run which really boosted my confidence no end. Really looking forward to getting up the hill tomorrow to smash out a few runs. We then went and had a few drinks at the Moynihan's room before heading back to Leigh and Cory's for pizza, the Canucks game and of course, to set up the Christmas Tree. Woo. Speaking of Christmas I really need to get out and do my shopping! Running out of time.

Day Sixteen - Lazyness and 'Fire and Ice'

Still suffering from the flu. Spent a good majority of the day on the couch watching movies and eating. Managed to get up to the village, ate some KFC, watched the 'Fire and Ice' show at the base of Whistler Mountain (where snowboarders and skiiers jump through a ring of fire doing tricks, and there were fireworks as well) then we went with the guys to the Delta for a spa, before catching the bus home. Instead of going to bed I thought it would be a good idea to sit up and watch 'Dawn of the Dead' - heading to bed at 3am.

Day Fifteen - Day off

We had a sleep in this morning and decided that we would both not ski/snowboard today. Went up to the village after watching a few movies at 'home' before heading to the Avalanche Pizza Co in the village for a couple of slices. Then met Sam and Ian in the village, grabbed some cold and flu drugs and groceries and chilled out at the Pinnacle watching Star Wars and Night At The Museum. Caught a cab back 'home' as it is POURING rain outside and didn't want to walk in the rain with this flu that I have. Everyone is telling us that it should be falling as snow above mid-station, so hopefully we have some fresh powder tomorrow when we are both planning to get up the hill.

Day Fourteen - Pain and Hangovers

Slept in until really late - Craig managed to get up the hill for a peak to base run, and I hung around in the village with Sam and Ian as my foot was telling me that it was really not very happy with me. Also, the beginnings of the flu started to show as we got home for the evening - I have never been ill on vacation. Here's hoping I can kick it's butt quickly.

Snow falling out our living room window.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day Thirteen - Happy Birthday Craig!

Spent all day on the slopes (well Craig was up there all day, I managed half a day) - I have learned that my foot cannot take skiing for three hours straight (top to bottom) so I am going to have to take breaks between runs. During my time waiting around, I managed to get on the 'Today Show' who were filming their weather segments from Whistler. Yeah!!! :-) Walked around the village and bought Craig's birthday present.  We had dinner at the Whistler Brewhouse and then spent quite a few hours at the GLC. Whoooooo boy. Craig certainly made it known it was his birthday. :-)

 

Day Twelve - Sea to Sky, returning to Whistler

Craig and I walked down Burrard Street to try and grab him a 'Japadog' for breakfast, alas their stand was not open yet, so we had breakfast at the hotel with Sam and Ian. Checking out at 11am, we were picked up by Duane (our amazing lovely bus driver) and driven back to Whistler via Breckendale where we saw a bald eagle. Everyone checked in at their respective hotels, and we returned to Leigh and Cory's place. Dropping off our things and heading into the Village for lunch/dinner (Spaghetti Factory) - Everyone organised their lift passes and ski hire and turned in quite early.

Goofing around on the bus

Woohoo here we come Whistler!

Shannon Falls

That little speck in the trees is a Bald Eagle

Getting photos of the (1) Bald Eagle

Aussies at Breckendale

Day Eleven - Aquarium and Lookout

I awoke feeling like I had been run over by a freight train. Really wanted to meet up with Carmen for breakfast but had to get as much sleep as I possibly could so I could survive the day.  We met up with the McCoys, and Sam and Ian at Starbucks for what is becoming my daily ritual 'Pumpkin Spice Latte' (I am going to be devestated when I can't get them anymore.  We headed downtown to catch the 19 'Stanley Park' bus (which was an electric bus, finally got to ride on one of them!) - got to play with some squirrels in the park before heading into the Aquarium. Craig and I had previously visited the aquarium on our last trip to Vancouver. It's such a great place - so many animals that we wouldn't have the opportunity to see in Australia - especially the gorgeous Otters, and the HUGE beluga whales. We saw most of the shows, all of the exhibits - and then jumped on a bus back downtown. Went down to Canada Place with Sam and Ian, showing them around a little bit before they headed back to the hotel, and we went and met the Moynihans up at the Vancouver Lookout for a cocktail, and to watch the sunset. We have had the most amazing weather while we have been in Vancouver, and I had an overwhelming sense of sadness as we said goodbye to our final day in the city. We wanted to go to CinCin after reading the article Gillian did for her favourite spots in Vancouver - but, we were both exhausted and ended up having dinner in the room. Terry buzzed us on the walkie talkie saying that there had been a shooting on David/Howe Streets. Insane. We learned that there had been a gang related shootout at a Tim Hortons two blocks from us. Very scary!!! One guy was shot, and the gunman got away! What?!?!