It was the last day in Vancouver on our two week trip to Alaska.

We rose to a preset alarm at 7am dressed and finished packing. Next we went downstairs for breakfast. The plan was to check out of the hotel and they would lock up our bags for us to retrieve later in the day.
We headed out to catch the Hop On/Off bus for our walking tour of the ‘Gastown’ area of Vancouver. What an interesting area. Lots of cute shops and restaurants as well as some notorious stories and history.
The woman who was our guide was not quite as cognizant of the audience as our previous walking tour guide. She walked way ahead and left a couple of us in the dust. When we finally caught up, it would be just as she was ending her talk. The guide would then head off to the next stop.
It was an informative tour but not much fun.
Linda (my travel partner) and I got on the Bus to go to ‘Canada Place’. This is the main terminal of the Hop on Hop off bus tours. You can go all over the city. From here, we nabbed the special bus for Capilano.
What is Capilano you wonder? Well . . .
Capilano is located in Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Vancouver. Over 1.2 million people attend this park every year.
The bridge is 460 ft long spanning a deep gorge over the Capilano River which is 230 feet below.
If you don’t buy a ticket to go into the park, you don’t get a ride back. Ha! Gotcha! Weird though. Anyway, I had said that I would ‘do’ the bridge. (second thoughts anyone?)
We arrived just as it was opening so it wasn’t too crowded thank goodness. Linda and I walked together for a while looking at the different exhibits, totems and descriptions of the plants and trees. I sent her off by herself as I was not quite ready to brave ‘the bridge.
Okay, as Linda suggested: I put on my big girl pants and walked over to the bridge to get a better, close up look.
Uh, the steps down to the bridge are made out of wood.
Oh dear, they move, and sway from side to side as people descend or ascend them. Another observation is that the people walking on the bridge also impact those steps.
UMMM
HMMMMM.
Did I mention that I am not fond of heights? Yeah, really not a fan.
I walked to the line formed for going on the bridge.
I got out of line.
Nope, gotta think about it a little more.
Did I tell you about my right eye? It decided to cloud up on the 3rd day of my vacation to Alaska? Yeah, the cataract that was brewing decided to ‘bloom’ overnight. FUN. So, depth perception is an issue.
Are we clear on my fears, idiosyncrasies and frailness?
Okay.
One more time . . .
“You can do it” I said to myself.
So, with a deep breath, I stepped onto those swaying, wobbling, creaking stairs and proceeded, step by step down to the bottom. My stomach was swirling. but I managed to make it about 10-15 feet onto the bridge.
I did it! HA! Nanner Nanner Nanner. I did it!!!
Then,
I froze.
I could not move. That slight look to the right and down must have done it.
YIKES!
That is really, really far down!
I couldn’t remove my right hand from the railing. I stood there like a deer caught in the headlights.
A nice gentleman heading back asked me if I needed help. I guess my pale, stark white face, death grip on the hand rail and terror ridden eyes was a clue that I wasn’t doing well.
“Yes, please” I croaked. “Just help me get onto your side so I can go back up.”
He took my left hand and helped me get my death grip on the other side. I thanked him before he went ahead along with his group. I waited for a lull so that I could make it up those swaying, rickety, wobbly steps.
Let me just say that I was very, very tempted to just lay on the ground and kiss the earth, grateful to be back on solid ground.
About 15 minute later, Linda called to ask where I was. I told her how far I made it and that I would be staying off the bridge. She did the entire bridge, the tree house and the cliff walk. The cliff walk is another narrow walkway jutting off a cliff in a horseshoe shape. Strategically placed metal grid walkways with glass over the grids are placed along this walk. Yes, you can walk out and look down through the glass and see the wonder way,
way,
way down below.
No, I did not do that either.
I talked with different people who were waiting for others to finish their trek through nature. It was a lovely park. Just not the bridge, tree house or the cliff walk. Some cool trees, squirrels and birds though.
We got back on the bus and toured Stanley park again. It is a very beautiful park. It would be a nice place to explore if you ever get to Vancouver.
We didn’t have any extra time to take another boat ride. We had just enough to get back to the hotel to get our bags. In order to get to the train for the airport, we had to push and or pull them down the street to one depot, down and escalator, through the depot, up an escalator, then out to the street and up a small hill to the other train station, down and other escalator. Tickets purchased, we waited for the next train. We arrived at the airport, checked our big bags and then got a well deserved drink. The airline offered free bags checked as it was a full flight. I ended up checking my backpack as well. Linda checked both of her carry-on bags too.
Our plane left at 10:15 pm for Toronto.
That, my friends, is another tale for another day.

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