December 15, 2011

More on our trip to Powell River to see the prospect garden centre.

We flew into Vancouver and picked up our rental car. It was mid-May and everything was green and warm. We stayed overnight in North Vancouver in a nice little hotel. We used Google maps to get directions from the airport to the hotel. Love those Google directions. They usually work just great. This gives you a feeling of confidence you should not have on those occasions where they do NOT. Once in a while Google sends you to someone's house that you don't know or just drops you in the middle of an intersection somewhere near where you are going. This time we got the driveway option – nice folks.

Its a long day from Ottawa to Vancouver with a 3 hour time difference. So when we finally did check in that evening we just crashed. A new adventure the next day.

From our hotel it was only 20 minutes or so to Horseshoe Bay. The location of the Ferry terminal did escape us the first time up, but we quickly recovered, panicked once and got in line with everyone else.

The line-up for the ferry is a very different experience. Very relaxed once you get there. I guess it is because everyone knows that they are either on this ferry or waiting for the next one. You aren't going anywhere. You are parked. You are waiting. It is out of your hands.

You might just as well open the tailgate, set up your lawnchair and relax. So they do. Folks visit. They walk about. Its great. There is a small town at Horseshoe Bay with a couple of restaurants, artist's studios, and shops. Beautiful scenery. Lovely little park by the marina. Grab an ice cream. You can sit upstairs at the Bay Moorings restaurant and have a snack and a drink. http://baymooringsrestaurant.com/

This is a great place to go even if you are not taking the ferry.

Once on the ferry, which is a little scary the first time, you are parked and can get out of your car. The ferry has lounges, restaurant and a little souvenir shop. Most importantly for our daughter, you can charge your laptop !!

Going up the coast was wonderful. Pictures don't do it justice but here they are anyhow.

Its a 5 hour thing, getting from Vancouver to Powell River. That's if you do not miss a ferry and have to wait for a couple of hours for the next one. More soon.