July 7, 2000- Friday. We arrived on schedule at the Vancouver dock at 7 AM. Our breakfast was at the 8 AM seating, and because they wanted us in and out, in 40 minutes we had our full, multi-course breakfast consumed, instead of the 90-minute ordeals on regular days.
By the time we were out of the dining room, our number was called, and we zipped into the luggage pickup area. We followed the signs to the purple luggage area and all of our suitcases, some 30 pieces, were waiting for us. Grab a few luggage carts, cruise through customs, and into a the waiting taxi cab. Our direct group, Deb, Deb, Rob, Becky, Steve, Susan and myself, arrived at the Granville Island Hotel. David took his luggage to the Waterfront Hotel where we had staying in the previous week, and they stored the rest of the group's luggage. Soon we were all together for a day of play on Granville Island. The public market is a sight to behold, with displays of meat, produce, fish, breads, and a zillion other fresh products, all awaiting purchase. As we cruised the area, we feasted on bags of Mt. Rainier cherries and Okanagan Valley raspberries. Lunch was on a patio restaurant overlooking the harbor area. Watching seaplanes and ships traverse the area is never tiring.
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Soon the others headed back to Seattle for tomorrow's flight, while the seven of us cruised into downtown Vancouver for a great sushi dinner, followed by the newly released "Perfect Storm" movie. Can you believe we did a 10:10 movie? The movie was pretty true to the book, and filled with suspense.
July 8, 2000, Saturday- a day of exercise for a positive change. We rented three tandems and a single bike for the seven of us, and cruised around Stanley Park, along with a few thousand other people. It was a real happening place.
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Following we did a patio lunch on Robson Street, the main shopping district, then we walked several miles around the end of False Creek, to the Science Museum, around the point, and back to Granville Island. With a 10:30 start, we return, tired, at 5:30.
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After today's activities, the urticaria started again with additional centerline swelling, so pop a few prednisone's and we enjoyed a great Thai dinner on Granville Island.
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July 9, 2000, Sunday- all good things must come to an end, and after a great breakfast at the Cat's Meow, and our checking out a few more rental boats for possible future charters, it was time to head back to the Vancouver airport.
As unlikely as the Vegas odds makers would have given for odds, we didn't have any rain in the 10 days of the trip. Great luck and added enjoyment. All 14 of the troops got to enjoy different things on the Great Alaskan Party, and with the digital camera we've downloaded over 200 photos. It will be work to sort them out and determine which to include on the web, and which to print in hard copy.
Traveling with Stephen is a treat. From the airport to the hotel on the first night, Rob & Deb took a bus. Susan and I took a cab. Steve, with Debi and Becky, took a limo. Returning to the airport, the lines were out the door for the regular United Airlines counters, and with only four counters open, it looked like we'd never get through in and hour and a half. But, travel with Steve, who is a premier flier, and we go to a special line with nobody in front of us. Class! After an uneventful flight, with all of our luggage arriving the same time that we did, everyone looks to tomorrow to returning the "normal?" routine.
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