Day Off- Capilano Suspension Bridge

This is my second day off. The original calendar called for one today and another on Monday. The rest of the time we should have had events. The weather has not been agreeable for that to work so we also have one on Sunday. But I did just get an email letting me know that my aerial tickets are still good! On the bright side, days off allow us time to sight see.

Jen wanted to go to the Capilano Suspension bridge so I said that today was her day and I would follow. We didn't start too early which was nice since we didn't get home til after 11pm last night. We headed downtown to get the free shuttle once we were moving. It is pretty handy that the buses are free right now and then there was the free shuttle to the bridge. (On our way back across I took some video. The best way to see what it was like.)

One of the signs said they could stand the Statue of Liberty up next to the bridge and it would be by her shoulder. It is also as wide as two Boeing 747's wingtip to wingtip. Pretty amazing. And even more fun to walk across and look down at the river VERY FAR below you.

Once you get across the bridge there are walkways on the ground and up in the trees. We tested the treetop walkways first. You are at least 100 feet up and looking down on the rain forest. It is probably every kids dream kind of tree house situation. After that we walked down around the ponds and big Douglas firs. I love the picture below looking up at the huge trees. Some of them are 300 years old. One broke under the stress of weather and fell onto the bridge. They said the force with which it hit meant they couldn't just cut it up and take it off or the bridge would have turned into a slingshot.

Of course after walking around the forest area we had to stop in the shop. I loved the big bear dressed as a Canadian Mountie so I had to get a picture with him.

When we got back to Vancouver we grabbed lunch and then went searching for the Irish House. Unfortunately when we found it the line was forever long. So then we went in search of the Coke Pavilion. That turned out to be a mob scene with at least a one hour wait. Jen wasn't interested. (*Note to anyone considering attending the Olympics, expect to wait in lots of lines and there are tons of crowds!) So then we walked along the waterfront until we reached the Science World Museum which is where Sochi House is located. Sadly when we arrived there at 4:40pm they were closed except for the store. It looks like we will have to try again another day. At that point it was time to call it a day since we have a very early morning tomorrow. Off to see Women's Super G in the morning and Women's Hockey in the evening. GO USA!

One of the most impressive things to see up here is the Patriotism of the Canadians. I have been in Atlanta, Salt Lake City and Torino for previous Olympics. I do not remember this level of excitement by the hosts. Torino gave the impression they didn't care. Up here there are signs in almost every store and office window. The people walking down the streets chanting for their Canadian teams and of course flags on the cars. While waiting to see the Olympic flame last night we knew the home team had pulled off the win in hockey when you heard a cheer go up around the city. And I am not kidding about that. You could hear it coming from all over. It is an amazing site.

U.S. Skiing and Snowboarding medal count: Total 15 ( in Torino 10)

Snowboarding- 2 gold (Seth & Shaun), 1 silver (Hannah), 2 bronze (Scotty & Kelly)
Freestyle- 1 gold (Hannah), 2 bronze (Shannon & Bryon)
Alpine- 1 gold (Lindsey), 3 silver (Bode & Julia x 2), 2 bronze (Bode & Andrew)
Nordic- 1 silver (Johnny)