Whistler BC

How fortunate for us that the rain held off until last evening. It allowed us to take gondola rides all over the two mountains…Blackcomb and Whistler. Tonight, we will be back on Blackcomb with Michal Allen, known as the Bear Man …not a naked man, but one who studies bears. I believe I spelt it correctly. We will have the opportunity to hop into and out of a jeep looking at the local black bears, learning about them. That leaves today to explore the second of two museums and to clean up a little before we motor over to our next destination.

The village is hopping. Little did we know that there is some sort of endurance activity that people like to either endure or observe others enduring. It has a name, but I don’t remember it. (I’d be the worst travel guide!). Anyway, it is a ten mile obstacle course. I got into a conversation with a woman who is doing it this morning and a shop assistant. I listened mostly, or added appropriate exclamations. You register and then are given your time slot. As it becomes a slippery mess, she was planning to wear shorts and a tank top. The shop attendant told her that that was unwise. Chaffing is a bitch. People are rubbed raw and the blood makes everything that much more slippery. He then directed her to various stores that sold Navy Seal obstacle course clothing. Of course the Seals used the clothing for other deeds as well. I hope the girl buys stuff. I’m sure fear of The Chaff From Hell would affect one’s performance.

Back to the gondola ride. Beautiful vistas as we climbed higher and higher up to the snow. Around timberline is a BMX park. Loved the birds eye view of the bikers flying and racing down the mountain. Loved the birds eye view period. I will post pics as soon as I unload them from my camera onto my iPad.

Spent the afternoon shopping. I finally found a waterproof windbreaker that breathed like Gortex but not nearly as expensive. The shop lady told me to treat it like skin…cold water, hang to dry and mild soap. I wonder if you are supposed to lotion it when it’s damp, or after its dried?

Took a tour of the aboriginal cultural center and museum. At the end of the tour we were shown how to make rope from strips of cedar under-bark. I now have a cedar bracelet. My second try. The first one unravelled. Looked easy enough when we were shown how to do it, but it calls for strong fingers and tight twisting of the water soaked cedar strips. Smells good….no moths on me!

Last night, we had our one gourmet meal. We picked the Araxi, an award winning restaurant featuring all the lovely fresh and organic foods found locally, or, as Araxi calls it “Canadian Mountain Cuisine.”. It was delicious..we shared a two tiered tower of shell fish–muscles, oysters, seared ahi, salmon sashimi, spot prawns. We also shared two different salads; one a mushroom and herb, another consisting of grilled asparagus. Dessert: chocolate of course. It oozed forth from a small chocolate cake. And presentation? Superb. Being an artist, presentation is one of my favorite parts of fine dining. I’m always taking pictures of food.

The skies opened up…on us, of course, as we headed to the restaurant. But there was a lull for our walk back up to Upper Village where we are staying. This morning, although it is not raining, the mountains have all disappeared within the mists.

And that wraps it up. Early tomorrow we will leave our Cush Condo and head over to Revelstoke, a 7 hour drive from here. We will spend the night there and then hook up with the outfitters who will drop us off at Hills Beach at Slocan Lake on Monday. This could be my last posting until I get back to civilization, unless I have time this afternoon to post some of yesterday’s pictures of our Peak to Peak adventures.

Hope that won’t be too unBEARable. Sorry….that was sooooo bad that it BEARS repeating….hope that won’t be too unBEARable. And yes, I really went there. Bye for now.

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Sent from the Faery Realm. Don’t believe a word.