Whistler

This weekend Heather came to visit us. She got here on Friday evening and we had decided we would go to Whistler on Saturday.

We couldn't have gotten a more beautiful day to go! The sun was shining and it was so warm that you wanted to open your jacket.

We got up early on Saturday and drove to Whistler. It is a gorgeous drive through the mountains.

I was really impressed with the Gondolas they have.

They are awesome because you just take off your board or skis and stand up and you don't have to worry about sliding off the lift.

Sliding off the lift is easy for skiers, but for new snowboarders, it is a skill.

The mountains at Whistler are sooooo high. We only went down twice and that was basically our day. (Heather is a little slow too, I wasn't aware of how little she had actually skied. I though her skiing history had been similar to my own).
I had lots of time to take pictures because I spent a lot of my time sitting on my bum waiting for her. :)

I would go down a little ways and then she would fall, lose a ski, whatever and I would have some time to enjoy the view. It was nearly impossible for me to help her once I was further away from her, and as soon as I was in ear shot, I would get an earful about how she "can't do it!". (Too late now chicky, only one way down)

Heather relied a lot on the kindness of strangers. One boarder picked up her pole, another person helped her to knock the snow off her binding to get the ski back in, another guy made a good cushion when she slammed into him and one girl helped her to stand up. :)

Here is her basic technique. Kind of looked like an old lady with 2 canes. I am not trying to be mean, but it was pretty funny. :P

By the end of the second run though, she was doing pretty good, but I think a couple of lessons may be a good idea. I just really thought that she'd gone a couple of times a year in childhood like I had.

Finally we returned her rentals and went and had a well earned drink and some excellent nachos.

We drove home and that night just relaxed and watched a movie and had some dinner.
We also played some guitar hero, which Heather is now addicted to. She is saving for a WII and Guitar Hero.

On Saturday we got up and took the aquabus across to Stamp's Landing and walked to Granville Island.






Here are Mike and Heather in front of a blooming Cherry Tree.
There were all kinds of artists like this winter princess on stilts.

There was and event about saying goodbye to Winter. (Winter break or something?)

We walked around, watched the jugglers and buskers and then had some lunch on a patio.

It was funny because it was just warm enough to sit outside with the overhead heaters in the shade, but people kept coming out onto the patio and then leaving after 5 minutes complaining of the cold. We figured that they probably saw us out there and decided that we looked happy so they would try it too. Mike said we should warn them when they first came out that we were all Maritimers and that this one here lives in Edmonton. Heh!
We looked at some more boats too.

This is about the size we are looking for. It is fairly small, but a beauty!

On Sunday we went out to dinner and then Heather left early the next day. Thanks Heather for coming we had a fun time!

I'm just teasing about the skiing, you were very brave!