The BIG Holiday: My last day in Vancouver.

I had organised to stay for another whole day and, in that time, I wanted to go a bit further afield - to Grouse Mountain and to the Capilano Suspension Bridge - so I set the alarm and went to bed early. You won't be surprised to hear that the alarm went off and I went back to sleep and I woke up later with a terrible fright. "Oh my goodness!" I said. (You can believe that if you want.) I gobbled down some breakfast etc. and dashed down to the reception desk for my directions. I usually forget something in situations like this .... and I did.

Ferry terminals.

I decided to take the long route because it included taking the ferry. So I hopped on the bus, went too far, had to catch another bus back and finally reached the ferry terminal. Things have got to get better. The ferry is amazing. It arrives in its special little dock, the multiple doors open on the other side and all the passengers get off. Then the doors open on this side and the new lot of passengers get on. All very orderly and quick.

It was a beautiful, calm (thank heavens), sunny day and the trip was a very scenic and pleasant 15 minute ride to the other side of the bay where the ferry docked in the same manner and, before I knew it, I was on the bus to Grouse Mountain. That is also a very scenic drive through some of the northern suburbs where, my guess is, not too many poor people live.

When I arrived at Grouse Mountain, I was told it was 10 degrees C at the top and it could get a bit cool. Glad I wore my singlet! So I was bundled into a cable car in a way that reminded me of the Japanese train stations where the attendant pushes the passengers into the carriages. Hope I don't get an itchy nose. It's a spectacular ride up the mountain in the cable car as you rise to an elevation of over 4000 feet above Vancouver and it wasn't so cold after all. There's much to see and do up there. There's a wildlife refuge which contains, among other things, two bears that were rescued as cubs and will remain there for study and observation. They have a very large area that covers quite a bit of the side of the mountain. I did see one of them moving around in an area with dark shadows and he looked big. I wish he'd come out in the sunlight, after all it's only 10 degrees. The ranger gave us a little chat about grizzlies but nothing new for a veteran of Yellowstone and Alaska.

Mmm, not a tree or any shade in sight. It would be nice to be in the shade for a while.

I moved on to the Birds of Prey. This was great. we had all sorts of falcons, hawks and eagles swooping low over our heads and grabbing fast moving targets and all with a spectacular scenic backdrop.

But all this paled into insignificance when they bought out the big boy, the Bald Eagle. I had seen them flying, seen them in trees and on cliff tops but, wow, they are truly big and mean looking critters into the bargain. I was very impressed. NOW I know what all the fuss is about. I don't think it's 10 degrees. In fact it's a bit hot. As I wandered around the large area at Grouse Mountain, i had noticed a couple of men without shirts and who struck me as very healthy 1*#? looking. Must be the clean mountain air.

There are many things to do on the mountain: hang gliding, chair lift, admiring the many, huge wooden carvings, skiing in winter, go on walking trails and, in the evenings, there is a fabulous restaurant for special occasions. You know what I mean - white table cloths, silver service, sparkling lights of Vancouver below, discrete, gentle music, the kind of food most of us can only dream of. My brother has been to that restaurant. I had a muffin and water from Starbucks for lunch (yes, there's one up there too!)

I have always been a great fan of the woodchop competitions at the Ekka at home. I could sit for ages and marvel at their strength, speed, technique and shiny blades so I thought I might enjoy watching the Canadian lumberjacks and to see how they stack up. So I went and sat and waited for the show to begin but, again, no shade and it was downright hot. In fact, the sun felt like it was searingly hot. Time for some more sun screen. Where is it? Oh no! I left it at the hotel. I'd better go before I get sun burned. But then I noticed one of those healthy fellows out to the side of the area where the lumberjack show was to happen. What will I do? Go? Stay? Go? Stay. And, for my sins, I got the worst case of sunburn in years. It was only in a small area but it was very red.

Anyway the lumberjacks put on a great show. It was lots of fun with slapstick humour, plenty of hair raising of skill and tricks and an over abundance of testosterone driven competition.