A Day of Cycling Hills

August 31, 2012

Day 15

Solly and I decided we wanted to bike to the Vancouver Aquarium today.  Well from Iain’s house to the main road, we had to bike up hill.  Now all that sitting in a car for 2 weeks has definitely effected my fitness level and this first hill I wanted to actually get off the bike and quit.  Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know I always tell my cycle classes this is how you should feel when you are reaching a PRE of 9.5 – well I hit it without a good warm up.   I was breathing heavy, my hip flexors were tight and the hill seemed like it was never ending.  But eventually I made it.  I was a little nervous at first riding on the roads of Vancouver but the city is actually nicely set up with bike lanes.  To get to the aquarium we had to cross one of the many ginormous bridges, which again made me want to get off my bike and walk.  All these cyclists who regularly ride this bridge were passing me (despite the no passing signs).  Solly thought the one time it was me passing him and yelled “Hey, no passing!” to realize it was a stranger.  It was quite funny in my books 😉

Totem pole at Grandville Island

Once we got over the bridge, we headed towards the seawall and followed it till we got to Grandville Island again.  We decided we would stop and grab some snacks to put in our bag for the day.  We grabbed some pepperettes and cherries.  We grabbed some JJ Bean coffee since we were told we have to try it because its very trendy in Vancouver, but it was not as pleasing as we hoped.  We drank our coffee as we wondered the shops and also grabbed some Chinese food, which had very good spring rolls.  (This is how I rate my Asian restaurants, based on their spring rolls.)  There also was a guy busking outside, who reminded Solly of Yonie. 

Yonie

 We continue to bike along the seawall but we realize after a while that we are heading in the wrong direction.  But the problem is that we have to cross the bridge again to get there!

An old car along our bike route

 On our way through Stanley Park, we notice people staring at raccoons. Prior to this we have been told that there are signs up that say “Do not pet the raccoons”  because people think are cute sweet little animals but then they get bitten when not looking. 

I can’t tell you what he’s doing

 We made it to the aquarium, which is definitely the highlight of Solly’s day.   We see dolphins, porpoises, beluga whales, and snakes (gross).    After a good amount of time there we head home, which means biking over the bridge for a third time.   

Smelly rocking horse

 Once we arrived at Iain’s we headed to William-Sunoman because Femida and her family gave us a gift card for the store.  Solly had seen a zoko, which is a popsicle maker at the PNE.  He bought that with the gift card, now he can make protein popsicles!

ice cream!!!!

Then we went grocery shopping because we were all going to make dinner together.  For dinner we had steaks, risotto with bacon and asparagus and spinach dip.  It was a good home cooked meal and very filling, but definitely worth it after a long day of biking. 

 

Then we just hung out, watched old Bill Nye the science guy videos while Sonia made cupcakes for her BBQ the next day.   It was a great day and well worth the exertion.