Day 19 - Whistler

 30 December 2025

Day 1 on the snow.

We were up nice and early today for Joshua and I to make the most of the early snow, to get Ewan and Isabelle off to Snow Board lessons and Ann-Maree, Alexandria and Eryn to their personal skiing lesson.

Our first stop was to mid-station. I had opted not to have a lesson this trip, hoping to draw on the memory from previous trips and Joshua's confidence. However, I was very happy to find my legs again in the safety of the learner slopes. It 's OK, its not like I went straight to the magic carpet. We did go straight up the chair lift to find a reasonable slope to make sure I could still turn.

I am going to be honest, the ski legs did not rapidly find themselves. After a couple of runs at mid-station, and Joshua becoming very twitchy, we headed up to Alpine level to try out some real snow. The day was spectacular. Although there was no fresh snow, there was enough around for it to not feel like I was skiing on ice. 

From mid-station looking down to Whistler Village which was covered in cloud.

The view from the top just before mid-day when we popped into the round-house for an 
early lunch.

I really felt for Joshua today, who really tried to be so patient with me. I needed frequent breaks, not so much due to the physical effort, but more for the emotional effort. Half of my ski energy feels like it goes into trying to reassure myself that I can ski, I am in control, it isn't too fast, and that I am capable. I feel very confident when I get to the bottom of one slope, until I peer from the top of the next slope. The minute I pause, it's harder to get going again. 

And yet, I love it!

For Joshua, it was like he had been skiing since he began to walk. He was ready to get going and go fast. He tried really hard to be patient and support me as I crawled my way down.

We managed to do two long green runs before I felt a bit more confident. And of course, what does one do with all of that new found confidence? The commit to their favourite son to ski down to mid-station. This run is a bit steeper and can be a lot icier, particularly at the end of the day. I really struggled. My legs were more fatigued than what I had realised, but by then it was too late. I had committed. This was really a curl, stop, breath (for about 5 minutes) and repeat. It was a good idea at the time.

Meanwhile, down at midstation in the learners area, the girls were doing their private ski lessons. By all reports the lessons went well and everyone had a good time. Ann-Maree unfortunately had to sit out early as the rental ski boots just did not work for her. They were able to get up to mid-station for lunch and to check out the amazing Alpine view from the top. 

Ewan and Isabelle had a fantastic time at their boarding lessons. Ewan really took to it and picked up some of the key lessons really quickly. Isabelle ended up shifting down a class at lunch time, but was ultimately more supported and therefore caught up to what Ewan was doing at the end of the day anyway. Isabelle had formerly skiied but had lost a lot of her confidence after we skiied on ice at Lake Louise on our last trip. I was really pleased to hear that she felt heaps better on the snow board and was really loving the experience. Both Ewan and Isabelle were a little bruised and sore from the falls but not put off at all.

By the time we all got back down the mountain we were well and truly tired and spent. We had a quick stroll through the village to check out the lights.

 

Day 18 - Whistler

 29 December 2025

A bit of a slow start for us today. After a really good sleep in, Joshua and I ventured into some of Vancouvers outer city suburbs to find another vintage clothing store. It was actually nice to venture past the city streets to see some of the residential areas. Although spotted with large, almost ugly tall apartment blocks, and despite the weather worn wooden homes, I suspect that the area was a bit wealthier than first appearances gave. Sometimes, with constant overcast weather, and the loss of greenery and brown grass, it feels like there is a lot of dullness. You can understand why there is a lot of decorating with fairy lights to brighten up the world. I suspect that I would be very vulnerable to seasonal depression, especially if I lived in a wintery world without the sparkle of snow. 

Dog parks are interesting. I saw a couple while I was in Vancouver. Both were covered in what appeared to be gravel rather than dirty / grass. I thought it a bit odd given there was a large open grassed park right next door.

I loved this. The tree was just outside of the dog park and appeared to be filled with 
decorative bird houses. Although judging by the size, or fixtures of some of the doors/windows I'm not sure that any birds would have been able to fit or access the homes.

Unfortunately for Joshua the vintage store was a bit of a bust. Belle and I had a final wonder around Indigo, one of the bookstores readily found around Canada. 

Off to Whistler. This was an easy drive by car for us. Steve, and I suspect Joshua and Belle, gets horrible travel sickness when travelling by bus. We learnt that the hard way during our first trip, as did the 30 odd passengers who travelled with us. There was a bit of snow on the ground in Whistler, but clear skies. There had been a recent dump in recent days and we were expecting more to follow in coming days.

First stop on arrival was to sort out ski hire and snow boarding lessons for Isabelle. This is an ordeal in itself with 8 of us lining up to be fitted and measured for our various boots and equipment for the coming days.

Eryn, the youngest in our party, was already finding every opportunity to form a snow ball or play in the snow. It was rather icy already, but it didn't stop Eryn, with or without gloves on.

Last stop before an early bed was dinner at the local Irish Pub. The crowds are high at the moment in Whistler so we really had to take where ever we could get in. Fortunately, the pub was warm, company was great and the food was good. I think we are all really looking forward to finding snow tomorrow.

Just a cute moment with Eryn and Joshua who was helping his youngest cousin work out 
what to eat for dinner.

 

Day 17 - Vancouver

 28 December 2025

 This morning we made what we thought would be a quick detour to visit a Vintage Clothing store that Joshua was keen to visit. Joshua has taken a real interest in fashion and takes a lot of time thinking about his 'look.' As such, he spent a lot of time considering the options at the second hand store. The shop was really clean and well sorted. Not the cluttered and busy stores I am used to. So to be honest, we all had a lot of fun trying on different clothes or picking out different things for Joshua to try on. Ann-Maree and I did a bit of reminiscing and trying to convince the girls to try on things that reminded us of our youth. They didn't buy into it in the same way we did. 

In the afternoon we headed to Capilano Suspension Bridge. Given the season they had an evening light show across the forest and canyon so we opportunistically opted to visit mid afternoon to get the best of day light and evening. 

The 147m long Capilano Suspension Bridge swings 70m above the Capilano River below. Across the bridge you get to explore the Rain Forrest and tree top suspension walks, which at this time of year are also heavily decorated in Christmas lights and fairy lights. The bridge is not for the faint hearted as it heavily swings, particularly with the number of tourists that were crossing at the time. Alexandria opted out of this, staying put. 

Ewan, Eryn and Isabelle at the Totem poles. 

Not sure the picture easily demonstrates how many people were
crossing at the same time we were.

The Capilano River below. 

On the other side, we wondered through the forest which was decorated with light features. There was also a tree top walk with suspension bridges linking the path. 

It was very difficult to get photos of the kids walking across the suspension bridge due to the movements. There is also small cliff walk, or rather a bridge, that extended out from one of the canyon walls. At varied points there is an open glass floor that peers down to the bottom. I am not sure which was more terrifying, the suspension bridge or cliff walk. After a quick mulled wine it was back to Vancouver for dinner. 

Hanging light baubles. 

Hanging around with the forest folk. 

Day 16 - Vancouver

 27 December 2025

With my sister joining me, I am having less time to write the blog so need to do a bit of catch up to the 1st January from here. 

After a bit of sleep in for everyone, we all headed off to explore a bit of Vancouver city. It was quite brisk outside and still very cloudy. We first wandered through China Town and into the Chinese garden. 

China Town was a smallish area, but somehow as we moved between there and Gas Town, an older part of Vancouver, we wandered through a couple of rough streets and had our first experience of the "Zombie" drug problems. 

We quickly moved through, watched the old steam clock and tourist shops before heading around the harbour for lunch. It was bitterly cold by the water so headed back into the shopping precinct to find a Pandora for the girls and a vintage clothing shop for Joshua. 

Joshua and Alexandria warming up by the fire in the pub.

My youngest niece, Eryn who had never seen snow, spent the day convinced that it would be snowing soon. While we did not have the same assurance, it was nice to be able to point out the snow capped mountains across the river making it feel all the more closer. 

Tonight we went to a NHL game at Rogers Arena, watching the Vancouver Canucks and San Jose Sharks. We didn't realise it at the time, but the Canucks were last on the NHL ladder. Although us novice watchers, who had no idea about the rules, could see that the Canucks were not on their A game. Regardless, the NHL games are a spectacle in themselves with projections onto the ice, entertainment throughout and so much energy from the crowd. Even the national anthem was a show. The contrast between the American National Anthem and the Canadian National Anthems was brilliant. The former was met with stone silence. The later was show in itself with the whole crowd involved and the massive Canucks and Canadian Flags being dragged across the crowds of both sides of the Arena. 

Even we got into the enthusiasm of the crowd when the Canucks got a brilliant and clean goal. Ultimately the Canucks lost, we had no idea what was going on, but we all really loved the game.