My day started with a walk down Robson Street. I passed the
art gallery and outside the intriguing Gum Head by artist Douglas Coupland,
where a model of the artists’ head had been placed out for people to add their
used chewing gum to.
With a quick detour
into the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory as my eye was caught by the amazing
toffee apples they had on show I was able to make my way down to the harbour
side.  |
| These were pretty difficult to resist. |
My goal being to pick up the free shuttle bus that runs to the Capilano suspension bridge in North Vancouver.
To reach the Capilano suspension bridge you have to drive
over the Lionsgate Bridge that I have mentioned previously in Day 1 of my
Vancouver Diary. The drive was pleasant and as the weather was good there was a
nice view whilst crossing the bridge. The bus drops you in the car park for the
bridge. Now since I arrived back home I have heard that there is an equivalent to
the Capilano Bridge at Lynn canyon, which is worth a visit and is also I
believe, free. However it may require a car to access and not having one of
these I opted for the Capilano.
My first stop was the Cliffside walkway that sweeps out into
a curve over the canyon below. You head onto it via a Cliffside wooden walkway
in single file. I went when it wasn’t too busy but later on they had people
only allowing so many people on at a time. I guess it is to keep queues down,
as people do like to stop to take photographs along the way. Then it is back up
via wooden staircases with a stop off point where if you choose to you can step
onto a metal grid above the canyon. The
Cliffside walk is on the side of the canyon as you enter the Capilano area and
sits alongside the gift shop and a small forest walk where you are able to
locate some totem or story poles.
Next stop the bridge, now this was the bit I was
most nervous about, as I’m not a great lover of heights. The current bridge is
140m long and 70 metres or about 218ft above the canyon below. It is accessed
by a set of stairs and to begin with seems ok. It is only once you are on it
you get the full experience of the swing that comes from people walking along.
It’s actually quite exhilarating and luckily enough there is a café to grab a
drink and a bite to calm the nerves on the other side. It should be noted
before going across the bridge that the only way back is to cross back over.
The bridge seems to be the busiest part of the park, as I didn’t seem to notice
the number of people elsewhere.
 |
| How old I would be if I were a Douglas Fir |
The other activities I took part in were the lovely peaceful
woodland walk, which has signs suggesting to engage with the natural world and
how to safeguard the environment. There are also sections of trees with the
growth for each year on them. I quite enjoyed working out how tall I was
compared to a 9 year old fir tree for example. Also included on this side of
the canyon are a peaceful pond and a small selection of birds of prey.
Finally I took the treetop walk. Changing your perspective
and getting up amongst the branches of the huge trees that cover the cliff
faces that make up the canyon is wonderful. Suddenly you feel transported away
from the hustle and bustle of other tourists in the area and lost in your own world.
Unlike some tree top adventures I have encountered, the access was via wooden
steps, so no hauling yourself up rope ladders was involved, making for a very
pleasurable walk amongst these giants.
Of course
no trip to a tourist attraction is complete without a quick look around the
gift shop. This one is quite large and there seemed to be a live music
performance outside. The shop was well stocked with all manner of usual
Canadian gifts but they also had their own branded items. I particularly liked
the ‘I survived’ shirts available almost making it seem as if some people
don’t.
Next up on my adventures to North
Vancouver is Grouse Mountain, that’ll be up in my next post.
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