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!!!