Today was the end of our Vancouver Olympic Games Adventure.
We started by getting up at a rather leisurely pace.
Then off to a restaurant on the 99B-Line that was our primary bus to and from campus.
We were fully packed and carrying all of our gear on this jaunt.
We arrived about 9:30 AM at the restaurant and walked in. The door was unlocked.
A very nice woman approached and told us they did not open until 10 AM, and they were only just setting up the kitchen. She did say they could get some coffee on. Then a nice man poked his head out and said he could start cooking, so figuring we had a full 2 hours until the train-bus left, we stayed.
Breakfast was quite good, but it was a bit after 10:30 when we left. Ashlan assured us we did not have to do any fancy check-in for the train-bus and we let her be the tour guide.
The 99 B-Line continued to carry us toward central Vancouver. The 99 B-line is named so because it has very few stops, and like most of Vancouver’s buses they are fairly efficient at getting people on and off. However, at one stop, we stopped. For several minutes. Still not sure why, but eventually we were underway again.
Reaching Main Street we changed to the No. 3 that would take us to the train station. It took a few minutes, and several stops later we were there.
It was about 11:10, with the train-bus scheduled to leave at 11:30. Close, but OK.
We approached the bus, the driver said, “3?” We indicated only 2, and he loaded our luggage, made sure we had passports, and motioned for us to board. I did manage a hug for Ashlan, but did not manage to dig for my wallet and leave her a bit of Canadian cash. We boarded, sat, and the bus moved.
I think Amtrak just sells as many tickets as they can for the train-bus, and adds buses as they fill up. There was a second bus at the station, and it followed us on the route down.
The first stop is the border. There is a special bus customs area, but you have to wait for the buses in front of you to clear. After 15-20 minutes a bus we could not see was done we were in position to watch the routine for a Greyhound bus. There were suddenly about 7 border patrol surrounding a bus bay containing a cardboard box. They looked at it for some time. After several minutes and much discussion, one of the patrol produced a box cutter, and opened the mysterious box. It contained another box, made of wood (from our vantage point it looked like wood). Our driver said the Greyhound driver had apparently not made sure his bus was clear before boarding passengers, and nobody claimed the box. After their review of the contents it was reloaded into the bus, and everybody went on their way.
Our bus then unloaded, and into to station. Declarations reviewed. The man said, “Didn’t you get any mittens?” I indicated the part where I had listed the mittens, and he explained that, “Everybody has mittens!”
Red Mittens of the 2010 Vancouver Olympics
That was that. No searching for my sunglasses that mimicked multi-tools for the Olympic venue x-ray machines. No other questions, just mittens. Back on the bus. The ride went really quickly. After some bird watching I read a paper, and then a book.
Home is home. Little food, but we raided the freezer. Mail is being sorted and recycled. There are a few bills and other pieces that need attention.
All in all this vacation is declared a success.
We got to go the Olympics!
Ashlan survived a week of us visiting.
We got to know Vancouver a bit, after having done mostly hit-and-run visits over the last 2-1/2 years.
We all understand curling. The rules at least, if not the subtle strategy. We all agree it is a bit like bowling. Almost everybody can do it, but it takes work to be good.
WE GOT TO GO TO THE OLYMPICS!!!
Thanks Ashlan.
Raincharm's Weblog 
February 26, 2010 at 6:59 pm |
YOU GOT TO GO TO THE OLYMPICS!