Vancouver, here we come!

We didn't get a super early start today, but decided to take our time and make a day of the drive. First up was sleeping as late as possible, but unfortunately with the time change I was side awake at 4 AM (6 AM CST). I did manage to get back to sleep eventually, but it took some effort. Showers, breakfast and packing took us until around 9:30 and then we were off to do a little shopping.

Best Buy was first on our agenda so we could get a cable to connenct the iPod to the car. Way cool being able to listen to our own music without lugging a ton of CD's around. Guess we are finally approaching this decade! The second stop took us to a rather large mall with a really BIG REI. They are based out of Seattle so they are everywhere and much larger than the one we have at home. We needed to find a couple of jackets because we didn't anticipate that it would be so COLD here. The temps aren't too bad by themselves, but the dampness and the wind makes for a pretty chilly experience.

After finding what we needed, we finally pointed the faithful Cobalt north. Of course, the first thing on my mind was doing a little geocaching. Stopped and did a really unique one in Lynnwood, before getting on the interstate and then did two more on at a couple of rest areas while on the highway.

It was a beautiful drive and the scenary was constatnly changing. Lunch time found us looking for something "different" to eat and we decided to experience a "Jack in the Box" restaurant. Typical fast food place that I am now glad I never have to experience again. Not bad, just not good either.

The border crossing was uneventful, just tedious and then it was a GORGEOUS drive up into Vancouver. I will try to add some pictures of the drive in later, but don't have the camera with me in the Starbucks right now. We met up with Scott's friend, Chris, and his wife, Sharon, at their condo and then they took us over to see the condo where we would be staying. Definitely not what I expected. This place is extremely swanky and extremely small. It is about half the size of our first apartment at around 800 sft! When they told us it is valued at over $600,000 I just about fell off my chair.

Once we dropped our things off, it was off to dinner with Chris and Sharon at a place called The Boathouse about 20 minutes away in Horseshoe Bay. Incredible food, most of it local and a beautiful view of the sound and the mountains. It was a challenge to find something on the menu the DID'T have wild caught salmon in it, but I managed. :)

Tomorrow we are off to do a little sight-seeing and possibly a tram ride to the top of a mountain. We will have to see how brave my tummy is feeling. We are looking forward to exploring the city and the surrounding area, but I have a feeling we wouldn't be able to see everything that we wanted to if we had a month!