A Short Walk on the Waterfront & Excitement is Building

Yesterday I took a vacation day and took the bus downtown

I got off the bus and had to cross the bike lanes to get to the intersection so I could cross the street.  Bike lanes are frustrating the drivers who pay taxes and insurance to drive their cars, while bikes get a free ride and get to use these new facilities for FREE.   Yet another lane taken away for bikes while traffic gets gridlocked in rush hour traffic.  This is a two lane highway for pedal power, one lane in each direction

It's still raining, not the best day to go for a walk

Here's our rectractible roofed stadium.  Not very busy for a Wednesday

Walking under the Cambie Street Bridge I get a little refuge from the falling rain

They seem to have statues all over town in strategic spots.  Here we have a mushroom or a space ship as I walk along water here down at False Creek.   This was the site of the former World's Fair, our Expo '86

Farther along I spot some paddleboarders, I wonder if they had also taken a day away from work, or perhaps they don't have to work.  Do you ever wonder how many people are out and enjoying the day and think whether they phoned in sick, or took some vacation time ?

While the City is money hungry and you have to stuff our parking meters every day, 7 days a week from 9am to 10pm each day, how they also manage to give motorcycles a break with free parking in selected spots around the city

We are in Quayside (pronounced Key Side) Marina down in yuppie Yaletown.  This used to be in our warehouse district but it is now home to expensive, upscale condos for young professionals.   I have lived many years in the downtown area, but now I seldom come down here, mainly due to lack of affordable parking

I'm hungry and I haven't had anytbing to eat yet.  I would have preferred to sit outside and enjoy the summer by having a meal outside on the patio, but today isn't the day

I then go across the street over to Urban Fare to grab a quick bite but it wasn't enjoyable due to the screaming baby who just wouldn't stop.  It was irritating to my sensitive ears.  This is the second time in recent weeks that this has happened.  I don't know what new parents are thinking and have no regard for the peaceful co-existance of others and general lack of courtesy.   This has nothing to do with Urban Fare as my meal was delicious the portion was so large that I had to leave some behind, and I am not usually a wasteful person

This store is well stocked and you can find most things to your desire.  This product gave me wandering thoughts . . . and it didn't take long for my tongue to salivate

As I walk around I noticed this sign.   FREE is good so I went inside

And here we see a restored Locomotive, CPR engine # 374  which was the first train to make it to Vancouveer on the newly completed rail line across Canada

You have to be careful where you walk and keep to your correct side.  The bikes are quiet and the riders go fairly fast.  I nearly got run over the last time I was here

I am guessing that this is a dog walker.  I mean how can anyone own so many dogs ?  I am not so sure it is good for a dog to have to walk on concrete all the time and be confined to a small condo or apartment in the city without a back yard to be able to roam free


Not many more sleeps until we embark on our new Adventure .  My vacation starts after I leave work tomorrow.  I have to thank my friend Nigel for proposing this idea 2 years ago and for all his help in getting my car roadworthy and ready for this long trip

In the previous post  Here ,    I posted photos of my car being shipped to Harrisburg, PA

And this morning they arrived

Here is our Trailer in Harrisburg, PA being unloaded this morning

What a relief to see them just as we loaded them

One more thing off our minds.    They have arrived just "as planned", exactly as we imagined.   We did have some logistical problems which were thankfully, overcome and for a while we thought that we would not have our cars there on time

So here are our four cars, waiting for us to claim them next Monday.  Excitement is building . . .

EDIT:   Addendum:

Richard has an interesting comment so I'll explain that there are 15 Corvettes heading to Bowling Green, Kentucky from our Corvette Club.   11 are driving to Bowling Green, while the 4 of us have shipped our cars to Harrisburg, PA instead.   We will sightsee for 4 or 5 days and attend the Corvettes at Carlisle event.  Then we join up with the New Jersey Corvette Caravan and follow them for 4 days as we drive with 200 Corvettes to Bowling Green where we will rendezvous with the rest of our group and stay at the same hotel.  We are basically buying time and making our vacation a bit more relaxing,  rather than having to drive long days and be tired when we arrive at our destination (Bowling Green)

Here's the link to our itinerary for the first week or so.  We are traveling with the New Jersey Caravan

Link    click here