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Sunday, September 22, 2013

Slowly settling in Vancouver

I realize it has been a while since my last post. It is time for an update, but I'm keeping it short though, I'm exhausted: I had my last tour ending last week Friday, drove back to Spruce Grove (12h drive) to round things up with Timberwolf tours, had one last evening with my fellow guide colleagues of too much drinking, and flew to Vancouver with my stuff on Monday.

Why Vancouver? I like Vancouver a lot and I've found a job here!!

View from the Empire Landmark during breakfast.
How I hated my job as a tour guide ;) 
I landed in Vancouver less then a week ago and I'm still in the process of getting used to the big city life oppositely to the quiet campgrounds, mountains and forest. I've also started my new job, working for OSI maritime as an engineer, last Wednesday already! It has been quite the change and a challenge to cope with everything as it went so fast.
But it all worked out great. Friends of mine have been a huge help, which I can't thank them enough for. They invited me into their home up in North Vancouver (we are almost on Grouse mountain here) and have helped me getting around and getting settled. Tomorrow I'll hopefully buy a car which will make the commute a bit easier and I'll have more freedom to get around in and outside of Vancouver.

But for now, let's try to make you guys jealous (again?!) with some more pics from the last tour!

So on this tour I had only 2 people. Yes, two. Not twelve, just two. That makes for a totally different group dynamic then with 12, and it makes the experience quite different for me as a guide, too.
There was more time to do hikes with them, to do the cooking and so on which was nice and relaxing, but it doesn't mean that it was easier then a large group. My guests where a woman of 34 who had never camped or hiked before, and a fit 71-year old male. Well, what can I say, it kept things definitely interesting!

Castle Mountain
Castle look-out!
Lake Louise from high-up
Some waterfalls on the way
Twin Falls
Takakkaw Falls
(Second highest Falls in Canada!)
On the campground next to the Fraser river
Barkerville, a historic gold rush town.
Barkerville from a view point
Burned down forest
The rainbow range trail took us through burned down forest
with fire weed blossoming; a great contrast.
An unnamed Lake. We called it Wednesday Lake.
(Yup, it was on a Wednesday we were there...)
Rainbow range in Tweedsmuir Park
Sunset after dinner
Stellar Jay
View in the morning from the 25-hour long ferry
(From Bella Coola to Port Hardy)
Ocean Falls, a ferry stop in the afternoon
View from the ferry in Bella Bella, in the evening
West coast of Vancouver Island
Wind?
Hot springs on Vancouver Island
Sea Lions on the west coast of Vancouver Island

The season for Timberwolf tours is over, they are preparing for the programs of 2014. If everything works out, I'd love to join them again next summer! 

But for now, next adventure: Vancouver.

Thank you for checking in again, let me know how you are!