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This is part two of a trip to British Columbia in November 2003. This is the Vancouver leg of the trip.

Vancouver 2003

Tvor
2005-09-05 15:25:52

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November 7

Spent the last week on Vancouver Island and I am now heading across to the mainland for a few days spent with my cousin in Vancouver. The incoming ferry was late so the outgoing was as well and was nearly an hour late all tolled getting into the other side. The ferry ride was uneventful, views nice but I was surprised to see a haze of pollution over Vancouver. I didn’t realize that the smog does gather and sit in the Fraser Valley, the mountains more or less harnessing it in. Cold on deck but I was in and out a lot as the fresh air was bracing. I fretted about getting hold of Linda who was waiting for me at a downtown terminus, knowing I had to get the skytrain from the bus terminal as well. A woman sitting by me on the bus once the ferry docked kindly lent me her mobile phone. Once Linda knew I was going to be late, I could relax. The skytrain stop is across the way from the bus terminal and there is no elevator unless it was at a different entrance so I humped my bags up the stairs. I’m glad I only brought a carry on roller case!

The ticket machine at the skytrain station seemed broken so I took the chance and got on anyway. Nobody came through to check. Linda was waiting for me at the Waterfront terminus and we got on a commuter train to Maple Ridge where she lives. They didn’t check for the tickets that she'd bought on that either. They seem to work on an honour system but if you don’t have a ticket and they check, you can be fined. I don’t know how that works for them lol I suspect a lot of people take great advantage and risk getting caught.

Linda only lives a few blocks from the train station so we were home fairly quickly. Her husband, Dave, had just arrived home as well, having picked up their son Brian. He’s grown about 4 inches since I was last here 3 years ago too and is quite a good basketball player. He’s in his last year of school and looking at universities.
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