Kamloops to Whistler

British Columbia, Canada

Our first stop is the Aberdeen Mall in Kamloops. Driving west we pass Kamloops Lake, which is a large expanse of water. It was a very warm day (about 30°C) and the surrounds were very dry (any rain water quickly drains away).

We pass by Pavillion Lake (which is "Bluetiful"... O.K.... beautiful!).

Once passed Cache Creek, the road to Lillooet is very windy and steep. The countryside is more barren too. We finally arrive in Lillooet mid-afternoon. Still a few hours travel on from here to Whistler.

Lillooet was warm and dry - lots of water flowing in the two rivers that meet near Lillooet - the blue glacial colour mixing with the wider silt stirring river we'd been following.

The road from Lillooet to Whistler is narrow, winding, and quite steep in places. There are a number of one lane bridges. Approaching Whistler, we start to see snowcapped peaks once again.

We arrive in Whistler at about 7 p.m. and had a bit of a drive around the village. We found our hotel... just minutes from the ski lifts, it is a fabulous location. We walked downtown to get some groceries. The downtown area has a lot of character. Then it was dinner and bed in preparation for a trip up to Whistler Mountain the next morning.

It was a glorious morning in Whistler and promised to be a hot day (about 30°C). We packed up the car and moved it to the day parking lot. We then joined the crowds heading to the gondola. There were plenty of mountain bikes heading up to the bike trails. We took the chair left up to the peak (about 8000 feet) from the Round Lodge. The views were fabulous and there was still a lot of snow and ice at the top of Whistler Mountain so the hiking trails were still closed.

We had a photo shoot in front of the 2010 Winter Olympics statue at the very top (Inukshuk).

Our children played a little in the snow.....

We return to Whistler Village and a busy car park - getting in early is definitely advisable! From there we take the Sea to Sky Highway (Highway 99) South to Vancouver. This is a very scenic highway, especially south of Squamish where we joined the sea. A point to note is that, there is construction work in progress along sections of the highway as part of the 2010 Winter Olympics preparation.

Our approach into Vancouver is across the Lions Gate Bridge and through Stanley Park. We find our accommodation without too much trouble. We unload our bags and head off to return the rental car further up Robson Street.

We walk down to the Pacific Centre Mall to pick up our Smart Visit Cards. On the return trip we picked up some groceries.

A short stay in Vancouver before heading off to Vancouver Island.....

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