Off to a good start....

We managed to cross off the items on our lists and finally got underway today, Thursday May 26.  By leaving at 0900 we were able to catch the 1040 ferry from Departure Bay in Nanaimo (actually we almost didn't catch it - they loaded, and loaded, and loaded.....and then we squeaked onto the vessel as the second-last vehicle on-board).  Our neighbour from across the street left out a sign for our departure.  He knows about our plans and actually (being a geologist by trade) gave us some gold-panning lessons and some equipment to try out our luck as we head north, and, of course, try moiling for gold.

Our friend and neighbour, Dixon, left us this message on our departure.

The ferry crossing was uneventful, getting us into Horseshoe Bay (West Vancouver) just past noon.  Now that we were off Vancouver Island, we felt as if our adventure had begun, and we headed northbound on the Sea to Sky Highway - so named because on your left is the Sea (Pacific Ocean/Howe Sound) and on your right, as you wind your way north, are the coast mountains.  Very scenic.  In thinking back, it has been over 20 years since we've traveled this road, and it has improved a lot in those years, but is still quite scenic.  We had to make a stop about 20 km. north of Horseshoe Bay to look at Porteau Cove - a Provincial Park with lookouts on Howe Sound, and a scuba diving paradise with numerous artificial reefs.  It was here that we used to dive with our friends in our diving club back in the 1990's. 
Then a few more km. to the north, we had to stop and walk up a trail to Shannon Falls, a waterfall which drops 1,099 feet to become the third highest falls in B.C.  On the trail to the falls was evidence of logging from long ago.

Don admiring Shannon Falls

                                                  

This old cedar tree was cut down many years ago (see notches for lumberjacks to stand and saw), then nursed a new tree from the stump.

                 

A few km. further north, we passed the Stawamus Chief, a  large granite mountain (actually the second largest granite monolith in the world).  It is difficult to fit the whole thing in, in a photo from our not-too-expensive camera, but we had a shot at it.

Stawamus Chief

                    
The weather forecast was for rain, and possible thundershowers in this area, and we don't enjoy setting up camp in these conditions.  So for night one, we are staying in a local hotel in the town of Squamish.  It's halfway between Vancouver and Whistler, and the point where we will leave the Pacific Ocean behind to start into the B.C. interior and mountains.  By 3 PM we were happily checked into the reasonably priced and friendly  Hotel Squamish.  Still early, so time for a walk around town.  Of course, we also had to check out the waterfront.  We saw a quite nice little yacht club here, and as we walked a trail along a slough, came across an interesting float home - which I had to photograph and add to the Blog.  Surprisingly, the salmon berries are already ripe here, so we managed to grab a few handfuls of these on our walk.

The berries are ripe already!

If a Hobbit had a houseboat, it would look like this

We are now off to dinner at the Howe Sound Brewery (which also has a restaurant).  Then a bit more exploring of Squamish for tonight, before we continue north through Whistler and Pemberton areas tomorrow.