Boarding boat. English bay Vancouver
Out on the water . Many boats vying for space to geta good view
Sun set over the water
Lions gate bridge
Vancouver after dark
Canada's fireworks display
The top level of the boat we sailed on
More fireworks
And even more
Well here is an adventure for the books.
A night of fireworks, a view to remember, and well I can say it a night to go into the back memory to come out on a few occasions just to have a laugh or two. Wellaybelrmaybe not.
A few weeks ago a tour group sent out an event to go see the fire works in Vancouver when Canada was putting off their display in a completion. So I put my name in to go along and see what is was like. It was tone a red hat event.
So I book the day off work and the next on or at least the morning. I knew it would be a late night and I did not want to have to head into work for an eight o'clock shift tired from the night before.
Yesterday was the day to do this. Dawned my purple cloths and red hat and set off for Langley. Said that we should meet at the events centre in Langley to catch a bus at 4:30, but time got changed to 5:00. Well I was there in plenty of time just in case the bus was early. Drove around this huge parking lot wondering where we were suppose to meet up.. Well after awhile I said whatever and parked were I could see the whole or at least most of the paring lot. In a little while a few other ladies showed up and parked at back of parking lot. You couldn't miss them they were all in purple and red hats. At least that is one way to find someone. Unless everyone is dressed that way.
So now out in a hot parking lot waiting for a bus to show up. And waiting and waiting and then some more waiting. Finally at 5:45 a bus rolls in. Now it is not what we were expecting. This was not a luxury coach line bus but a rickety bus that if you go over a bump will end up flying up in you seat and hoping you land back on your seat on the way down. No air conditioning to speak of. Windows did open though which was a plus.
So now the bus did not get filled up with red hatters going so the tour group approached a seniors centre and asked if they would like to go. Well the bus did fill up after that. So wehad to make another stop in surrey to pick up some more adventurers. Mind you this is an adventure.
From there with a full bus and driving around smaller roots instead of taking the freeway we come across traffic heading into the city of Vancouver. Yes lots of traffic!!! Guess what another event is going on the same time. Justine timberlane is doing a concert this night as well. Vancouver is just packed with cars and people EVERYWHERE!!! Parking is 40 dollars. Well at least we cameo by bus so did not need to worry about that.
Sonow after a few run arounds in order to find a place to be dropped off we are finally off the bus.
Okay now where do we go? Standing therein a group just gaucking at all the activity going on around us. Finally a tour guide comes up and says we go this way. Well this way was a bit of a walk past the casino and down the ramp to where the dock is. Well we go down the wrong ramp. Back up we go and over to another ramp. Down again and over the dock to where the boat is moored. Now mind you it is not to bad walking for me but some of the ladies have walkers and bad knees and such and are not able to make it too far when it comes to walking.
So onto the boat we go where wear we are hurded into a room with dining seating. Cramed in I say. So they could get as many people out ontheis tour as they could. Your back was right up against someone else's back so did not make it easy to get in and out of your chair when you had to get up to pee or something. And it was buffet type meal so did have to get up together your food.
Well we sat in this confined space while the motors worked their magic down below us. Well at least we where toon level lower. The sound of the engines and the exhaust that was coming in would be unbearable down lower. But they had another seating are below with the same set up. It must have been hot down there.
Well after a couple motor reavings that we thought we were taking off had gone through we were finally off and out on the water. Dodging other boats to take a cruise around the harbour. Well at least it had cooled down in there with the wind blowing through the cabin area. Still feeling a little claustrophobic though.
Okay now where is our meal. We are siting down for it. Some ladies drinking wine and others coffee. Me just water thanks. Never been one for that stuff. Well water does bad enough in having to go pee. Need to get out now. Ladies room is calling. Finally the meal is out. One table up at a time. Well we need to have this lady at our table served as she has a walker and needs help. Before the line gets too long and she cannot maneuver to get around other people. So now other tables are getting up. Then tables from lower deck are being told to come and get food. Well what about our table. And the table behind us. Do we not get to eat? So finally adjust decided to get up and go whether he liked it or not. So went and stood in line to have to wait until more food was brought out. No veggies left, not buns left. So stood there and waited. Finally some stuff came out but not what you were looking for. This is getting discouraging here. And I am starting to get a headaches from being so closedin and the exhaust. Well are we having fun yet? Got to see the lions gate bridge from underneath though. Obey really exciting.
Meal is finished. Salmon that is not really cooked though to my likening and beef that is over cooked. Not real veggies or buns and desert is not out yet. I had enough of being cooped up inside and head topside. Aw fresh air and it is not too cold. Find a seat up there by the railing and watch the sunset. First fine thing I have seen tonight. All the boats on the water are making it tough to get around the bay. Have to get a good spot to see the fireworks. I guess this boat has a spot that is reserved for him though out facing the barge
So while sitting out on deck a small airplane started doing some maneuvers as in a little air show for us to watch. He did loops and dives and turns all while smoke coming out of his plane. Interesting to watch. He sure came close to the water a few times on those dives.
After that the dusk is now soon us. Starter fireworks are going off every 15 minutes to say show will be starting soon. Our boat gets into position to get the best view. I had a perfect seat up on deck and the her turned the boat the other way. So had to get up and move to other side. Then he moves again and it is time for me to move again. Alright if he stops turning the boat I have a great view. Yes he doesn't turn anymore. I am right by the railing and can see everything. My gosh all the boats out there you could walk to shore and not get wet. Just step from one to another.
The show finally begins. BOOM, BANG,BOOM,!! Off goes another one. You can not here the music that goes along with it but it is dang impressive. Oh guezz it is after ten. Thei is going robe a late night. I just know it. More BOOM,BANG, BOOM,!! Some even have shapes of heart and happy faces. Neat, I loved the show. I think I got a few good pictures too. Usually in dark my pictures do not come out very well.
Oh well show is now over and time to go back to shore. This is going to take awhile. There are boats everywhere going every which way. It takes and hour and half just to get back to the dock. You can see boats trying to get in front and making it hard forthisbig boat to get back were he belongs.
Oh oh it looks like there is lightening going off as well over Vancouver, just a little though. But it does light up the high rises on shore.
We get off the boat after ithasfinally docked. Oh for peats sak it is now 12:30 . One late night coming up. As we get off the boat the concert is getting out at the sometime, great. People everywhere. Trying to get to their cars. Orto the sky train. It is just one big parking lot out there. We have to walk along wa to get to were the bus is going to pick us up. Now thinking of the ladies that have trouble walking. Great for them. Then we stand and stand and stand just waiting. The us cannot get anywhere near we're it has to pick us up. So we stand some more. I am getting dang tired and the headacheis not much better.
I watch the younger people who have just come out of the concert. The highest heals they can wear and the shortest skirts or shorts with out being naked. Then there are the tops that really do not hide much of anything. I know I use to wear heals but i don't think that high. Now I would just fall off of them and break something. But the contrast between the ladies I was with and what had come out of the concert. Just a sight to see both generations and how the dress is so different.
Well you knowi don't get out much so some strange things do fascinate me. Like looking at the tall building and the amount of people around. Compared to where I live in small town BC.
So now two. O'clock in morning na finally boarding the bus. Traffic is still nasty. Bus driver goes down kingsway to grandview to hopefully get away from traffic leaving down town are. Well not much better luck but a little easier driving. He does seem to find every bump going though. Get to expressway and runs into and accident. Slowing down more traffic. And there should not be this much traffic this late at night.
Drop off the ladies in surrey. Has to wait for one lady to have her ride pick her up. So sitting in a parking lot for a few more minutes.
Finally back on the road onto expressway to Langley. Getting closer. Onto 200 th and back to events centre. Oh oh. The gate is locked. Hmmm!!! Drive to next entrance. That gate is closed too. But my car is just on the other side of gate. Okay how does the us get in and how the heck we get out? Driver drives around to back entrance. Oh no another gate. This is not looking good. One,ore road to try. And open road. Yes into it we go. Follow it around. Are getting closer to parking lot. Another gate. Drive a little further around this parking lot and yes an opened gate. Someone goofed, but good for us. So through the bus goes. Follow the road a little and come up to behind the events centre. There are our cars and no gate blocking us out. Yes can go home for what is left of the night. It is now almost 3 o'clock. Great. Really would love to home to my own bed.
Off the bus an into my own car. Lets see how did that bus get in here. Follow this driveway around back to this road and take this driveway. Oh that gate is closed. Where from here. Oh yeah over this driveway. Oopps! Thereis a curb I didn't see. Scrap bottom of my bug.. It isn't going to like me for at. Was that a driveway or a sidewalk too narrow for a car. That could have been the big bump the bus had gone over. Well at least I am on my way home. Straight onto the freeway and a mad dash for home. Yes within the speed limit but still a mad dash home. The freeway is almost empty. Easy driving. I should have made sure that the rest of the ladies got out okay but the bus was following behind everyone else to get out. So they should have been fine.
three fifeteen in the morning and I am resting my weary head on my pillow. That was one long day and quite an adventure. Really do not want to do too many like that. Red hatting does have its adventures but please this was way past my bedtime..
So until next time. Talk to you later. I think it is time for a nap now
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