Day 14 Whistler to Vancouver



from hotel window at night

Today again was fine with 

from hotel window in the morning

no rain, little cloud or wind.  We were able to have a more leisurely coming into the day as the train was not due to leave until the afternoon.  We sorted ourselves out, breakfasted and then decided to explore the town.  It took about 5 minutes to walk 

the Fairmont Whistler

from the hotel to the town which is quite smart and clean

river on way into Whistler

with many pedestrian areas and a variety of shops.  As they were the 2010 Olympic winter hosts a lot of development had taken place in the last 15 years and was pretty obvious.  The town was much more impressive 

an Olympic champion

than Quesnel where we stayed the previous night.We wandered and took

Whistler town

photos, shopped 
and then decided to go on a gondola as far as we could up Blackcomb mountain.
  The gondola was very efficient and from the top there were magnificent 

going up in gondola

views of the town and the surrounding mountains.  There was still quite a lot  

the ride to higher levels

of snow on the slopes and skiers were able to take a 
ski ride to higher levels to begin their descent.  We remained there for a time observing the various activities.  We then decided to return to town level and 

from the top

wander the short walk back to the hotel for a light lunch before boarding the train.  We did not realise the size of

at the top of the gondola

portions and one sandwich would have been sufficient for both of us!  Anyhow we ate what we could and then waited for the time when our coach would arrive about 1440.  We all made 


the view of the hotel as come down
 

it back to the  train and settled in for the last stage of our Rocky Mountaineer journey.  We were soon on 

ravine

our way with some very good scenery, history and activities along the track.  We saw ravines, waterfalls and to everyone's joy we saw a black bear sitting a few yards away as the  

white witch

train passed.  Unfortunately we did not have time to photograph it.

As we travelled on we came 

Howe Sound

across a shear rock/cliff formation which was called the "white witch"  you may make her out in the photo and evidently was used to threaten naughty local 

waterfall feeding Howe Sound

children.  We descended to the coast of Howe Sound a fjiord in southern Canada and were beside the sea for the rest of our journey.  We saw some bald eagles soaring along the 

approaching Vancouver

coast and you may make them out in part of the attached video. We soon approached the outskirts of
Vancouver and arrived at our destination.  We were delivered to our hotel and have the journey to Seattle tomorrow.  I may not post tomorrow as we do not arrive at the hotel until after 2230.