8/8-9/2008 - Trip to Canada: Day 1 & 2

I'm on a 10-day trip to Canada, which is anchored by a Monday presentation of my recent lightning research at the AMS's Applied Climate Conference in Whistler, B.C. My first day -- Friday -- was largely a travel day. This day included: a trip to Midway; a baby-filled and long (4-hr) flight to Seattle; a slow experience with an off-airport rental car agency; a Seattle interstate (I-5) filled with cars moving 5 mph for more than 2 hours; a border crossing ("What is your official business sir, ehhh?"); my first Junior Whopper experience (hey, I was starving!); getting lost in the city of Vancouver while looking for a place to do some night landscapes; etc. But, hey, who is complaining? Overall, it is a neat experience to visit this area ... I've never been to B.C. before and it is truly beautiful. So, here we go ...

Seattle from the air.

I arrived at my pricelined Richmond, B.C. (south of Vancouver) hotel about 9 or so that night and proceeded to try to drive into Vancouver for the aforementioned night photography. I quickly found out that Vancouver is without a good highway system and good signs. After numerous u-turns and traffic frustrations (so much for all those fancy "geography" degrees), I finally made it to downtown Vancouver and then over to North Vancouver where I got a few nighttime shots of the city skyline. I was a bit disappointed with the view since I was simply too far away for a detailed setup. I learned the next day that I should've setup in Stanley Park, which would've provided me a much closer nighttime view of the the cityscape. Oh well ... maybe I can try again on my trip back through the area.

Vancouver at Night ... views from N. Vancouver, looking South.

I got back to my hotel well after midnight and crashed. Awoke the next day to a cloudy and showery Vancouver, which meant for difficult lighting and lots of grays in my photography. Sorry. I eventually made my way downtown and took in some of the sights and sounds. The city is very cosmo -- I'd argue more so than NYC. It is heavily populated by Asians and Indians and is the definition of a melting pot. I'm intrigued by how people are able to make a living here as real estate (the cityscape is clogged with high-rise condos) is unimaginable and the cost of most things (including beer ... as you will see) is high. But, hey, what do I know? Just northwest of downtown Vancouver is what I would consider Vanouver's Central Park ... Stanley Park. It is a true oasis and provides a beautiful natural setting that contrasts Vancouver's glitz perfectly. I spent a good hour or so in the park, enjoying the peaceful setting. I then headed back to N. Vancouver, where I took the Seabus across Burrard Sound, which provided a view of scenic Vancouver, N. Vancouver, and the Coastal Mountains shrouded in clouds.

Two major industries in this port city -- cruising and shipping.

Flowers in Vancouver.

Stanley Park Totem Polls.

Brockton Point Lighthouse, N. Vancouver, and Coastal Range in clouds.

Road in Stanley Park.

After my round trip ferry, I took off for Whistler on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, which is under major construction ahead of the 2010 Winter Olympics. The drive was amazing, featuring a vista overlooking Vancouver (via a spur) and views of the numerous fjords and the Coastal Mountain range. Despite all the construction, it was a real treat to drive this road. I made it to a cloudy and rainy Whistler about 8 pm.

Views of Vancouver from an overlook on Cypress Bowl Road.

Sea-to-Sky Highway and construction.

Storm clouds gather on the way up to Whistler.

I hope blue sky will make an appearance soon ... as of this Sunday morning, it is nowhere to be found. I will be in Whistler until Wednesday and thereafter Jasper (two nights) and Banff (two nights) National Parks, which are along the B.C.-Alberta border. I'll update in a couple days.

Lesson of the day: Buy beer in the "States" before heading to B.C. A 12 pack of Coors Light was $26 (w/out the deposit!). Oh yeah, Coors Light tastes different in B.C. ... I think it has a higher alcohol content. In fact, it tastes more like ... ehhh ... real beer! Weird!