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Robert
Ferry to N. Vancouver
Lions Gate Bridge Thursday, June 16th 28 Miles riding It is a calm ride to the the ferry just a few miles from the overnight camp out, we get to the ferry ride with just over an hour to spare and sit around their shops and have some sweets. The ride to Horseshoe Bay on the ferry is beautiful, we are feeling good about actually being in Vancouver and seeing the sites.
We decide to take the scenic route from North Vancouver into Vancouver but it is considerable longer with more hills, for over an hour we see beautiful views, gardens and home on the coast, some traffic but we felt safe as local riders were taking on the hills as well. We did not have a host for the night and no campgrounds in the area so we had to turn to hotels.com. There was a listing which said it was within 10 miles, so we booked it. We had to cross the Lions Gate Bridge to get into Burnaby for our hotel. |
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Carmen at first has a very difficult time crossing, I am a little scared as well as we have never crossed such a long and high bridge, I see others on it and I tell myself just to focus on the road and walk with the bike. I walk, because I can not leave Carmen behind, I often stop to look back to see how she is doing and always she is right behind me, near the top I look back to make sure she has not fell behind and I am surprised to see that she has stopped to take pictures, I'm guessing to tell her self that she is brave and can overcome her fear. She takes pictures of me to assure me she is OK, a few minutes later I ride down on to finish the bridge and go to the bottom to take her picture by the Lion which begins at the bridge from Stanley Island, I see her coming down with a smile knowing that she has overcome the fear.
What we thought would be just about 10 miles end up being closer to 20 miles all through the center of Vancouver and clear over to Burnaby to our hotel, we are burned out , tired, stopping just once to get some dinner and charge the phone to finish the days trip, we arrive at the hotel at about 9:30 and almost dark, Once at the hotel all we did was showered and went to sleep.
A morning that started so calm with a ride of just a few miles, the sun out and a calm ferry ride, turned out to be such a stressful day, due to not knowing where we would spend the night, being in a big city with lots of people, lots of traffic, not being able to get on Google map to at least know our route to the hotel because the batteries are dead. The stress of crossing the bridge, the distance to cover for the hotel, being hungry. This is part of touring, each day is different each day has its challenges, some days are just perfect, but each day has its rewards. The reward today ?, maybe knowing that we have been lucky to have had so many nice days with so many positive experiences.
What we thought would be just about 10 miles end up being closer to 20 miles all through the center of Vancouver and clear over to Burnaby to our hotel, we are burned out , tired, stopping just once to get some dinner and charge the phone to finish the days trip, we arrive at the hotel at about 9:30 and almost dark, Once at the hotel all we did was showered and went to sleep.
A morning that started so calm with a ride of just a few miles, the sun out and a calm ferry ride, turned out to be such a stressful day, due to not knowing where we would spend the night, being in a big city with lots of people, lots of traffic, not being able to get on Google map to at least know our route to the hotel because the batteries are dead. The stress of crossing the bridge, the distance to cover for the hotel, being hungry. This is part of touring, each day is different each day has its challenges, some days are just perfect, but each day has its rewards. The reward today ?, maybe knowing that we have been lucky to have had so many nice days with so many positive experiences.
Carmen - This was the day I most feared and worried about ....ever since the planning of the trip, thanks to Google Map, I knew that there would be a BIG bridge to cross. I had put it in my head that I could not do this, that it was going to make me anxious. I fretted about the bridge, causing myself to not enjoy the ride of the day. The bridge kept looming....and as I began to ride within sight of the bridge it got to the point where I said - That's the bridge - I can't cross. We both knew that there was an option....a Sea Bus. Robert kept riding and I kept following. I began to tell myself - other people have done it. I actually saw other cyclists ahead of me riding their bikes up the incline that led to the Lion's Gate Bridge. The bridge did have a dedicated area for walkers and cyclists. I feared looking down at the water, so I set my vision ahead and forward. I followed Robert and walked my bike. I waited for the anxiety attack - and it did not arrive! I began to look around me and slowly adjusted to the height, the wind and the sound of the cars on their lane. By the time I was midway - I knew it was halfway over, so I allowed myself to look to the right ....It was a beautiful sight! I slowly took my phone out to take a picture and began to breath easier. Robert decided to ride the last part off the bridge and wait for me at the end. I continued and walked the bike the entire way. I did it....and will remember this when I come across other bridges in my life. Now as I view the pictures of this day and reflect on the emotions I had this day - I consider how I let this one dark moment overshadow all the beauty of the day. This was a full day of seeing new sights, but the happiness was practically overshadowed by the worry of the BIG bridge. I must continue to work on calmness and worry less.