Okay, we’re here now. Check-in was as slow as usual in HNL, but security was quick and professional, so we got through in time to go to KBC for some wings, pizzas and beer. The two pizzas were $20 USD each (ouch!), but were excellent. All told, we ended up dropping $31 USD each for everything including a good tip for the cool server dude. We met Kevin and Naomi at the gate, and we were shortly boarded. The center overhead bins in the 767-300-2 (four-door/no overwing exits) were a little small for the Kifaru X-Ray with side pockets, so I had to pull the laptop power supply and ultrapod out and put them inside the pack for the bin to close. On takeoff, a bad baby immediately set to screeching and wailing inconsolably, but after bevvie service, the turbulence set in and I was rocked to sleep.
The landing at YVR was OK. We were off the plane and through customs quickly, but got stuck at baggage claim with only half our stuff when some issue with the baggage carousel belts cropped up and sruff stopped coming up from the underworld. A long wait later, and Taro and Kevin’s uglybags showed up and we were through customs and headed to the domestic termional for breakfast. All the work between the food court and departure concourse has been completed, and there is a significant increase in seating and tables, and a really nice new washroom. There is also a nice upstairs seating area and observation deck. I got a classic breakfast and a side of milk at A & W for $11-something CAD. We went over to the domestic-side Pacific Coach bus desk and got checked in and ticketed for our rond-trip to Whistler. In talking to the desk lady, Derek heard that there was some issue with an unruly passenger on an inbound flight after us that caused a security warning to trigger, and NO landings were being allowed at YVR , and ALL flights were being diverted. Luckily that incident wasn’t before we landed! Whew!
I knocked out on the bus before we even got over the first bridge outside the airport, but when I briefly floated out of the haze at the last stop in town, the bus was quite full. The ground was rain-damp all the way out to the brief rest stop in Squamish where a new giant lumberjack graced the visitor center. Leaving Squamish and rising from sea level, snow began to appear alongside the road, and was soon in full effect amongst the trees. The covering of snow on the ground in Creekside and Whistler Village was fairly significant, but not very fresh. It appeared that the temperature down in the village had been much above freezing for quite a while. There was a light drizzle falling when we got off hte bus, and the sound of dripping and draining meltwater filled the village square while we waited to get our room keys.
After dumping our gear and checking out the large, but antiquated unit, we headed across the village to Gone for some hearty soups, andwiches, and stews for lunch. I had the beef stew with sourdough bread and a large Cafe Mocha for about $12 CAD. Very good and volumnious. It is easily evident that the ingredient quality is pretty good, and there is a lot of time and care put into making the food. After food, we walked up the the mountain center to get our lift tickets, then headed back to the unit, stopping for a little shopping along the way.
There is precipitation predicted from today for as far out as the forecast goes, but the freezing level is supposed to be rather high tomorrow and throughout the beginning of the week, meaning except for the very highest parts of the mountains, this precipitation will fall as rain and not snow. This is a little troubling. Hopefully we can find somewhere to ride that isn’t raining. Krapp!
Pictures here
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