The final day

We got up early the next morning and packed up our tent. It wasn't as much of a chore as I thought it might be to get everything back in our packs.

We had to leave behind quite a few of our treasured seashells because they wouldn't fit and I couldn't figure out a way to save Jake's giant leaves. We decided maybe taking photos of them would have to be enough and then we let them go for the wind to scatter.


Our goal this morning was to get to the Aquarium right as it opened. We had been told that was the best way to beat the crowds. We timed it right and were walking into the building just as it was opening.

There were more people there than I thought there would be - but when we went to see the animals, we had no problem getting up close and personal. We got to spend a lot of time down below the water and they were so interactive it was incredible. A female sea lion spent some time laying right beside the glass near our youngest. She would put her hand on the glass and the sea lion would rub her nose on it.



The belugas were incredible too, purposely swimming right next to the kids. The dolphin too made her morning path right past where M and A were tucked against the glass.

Of course my favorite - as always - was the sea otter. I find them so amusing, lounging on their backs, cleaning behind their ears.


We spent a lot of time in the 'caves' of aquariums too. The jellyfish


the butterflies - we even got to see a brand new butterfly slip out of its chrysalis.


the crocodile


And when we came out of the caves, the dolphin show was beginning and the crowd there was tight so we decided to instead watch a diver going into a main tank inside. As we stood there, the dolphin show let out and the crowd of people that came back into the building was crushing! I look across at K and said - are we ready to go now?? And we beat a hasty exit to the gift shop.

Everyone got a souvenir and then we headed over to the train station.

There was some waiting around



but we boarded the train on time (wow! imagine!!) and the journey back home began.


We were lucky enough to be sitted in front of the most annoying mother and daughter. Their loud conversation went something like this:

**cell phone rings**
D: Hello? Oh hi. - Its Josey.
M: Oh hello Josey.
D: Mom says hello.
M: Tell her we're on the train.
D: We're on the train.
M: Tell her it was a crazy pushing match to get on the train and I'm not used to that. I like it orderly.
D: Mom says it was a crazy pushing match to get on the train and she's not used to that. She likes it orderly.

**the train begins to move**
M: Tell her the train is moving.
D: The train is moving.
M: Well, this is good. At least we are on the way now. I'm glad to be on the way. I'm sure we'll be just fine.

**the train now stops and begins to move backwards to hook onto the second half of the train. It was so long, it was in two lengths at the station for ease of boarding and we now had to hook back on**
M: Oh - wait! Tell her now we've stopped.
D: Well, now we've stopped.
M: Oh my goodness. Now we're moving backwards aren't we? Why are we moving backwards? Do you suppose we are seated backwards?

By this point my dh is squirrelly - trying not to gauge his eyes out listening to the inane conversation. I am thrilled to have such fodder for my blog.

**now they try to get the person on the phone to understand where they are at**
M: Tell her we're passing a fence.
D: We're passing a fence. And there's some homeless people.
M: Oh yes, look. There's some homeless people. And tell her there's a sort of industrial yard behind the fence.
D: There's an industrial yard. Oh - look! Maybe its a movie set.
M: Tell them its a movie set.
D: I think its a movie set.
M: Now we're going under a bridge.
D: Now we're going under a bridge.

And the conversation continued as such for much longer than it should have. When they finally said goodbye, we heaved a sigh of relief which was short lived as the cell phone rang again and they began the whole conversation again with someone else. We learned more about Janelle and Uncle Albert than we ever needed to.

Nonetheless, the train ride was really great. We were passing through the mountains in the evening but we still got quite a bit of sightseeing in through the windows. Around one in the morning though, I woke up because I realized we were just barely chugging along. We were obviously climbing and I decided I'd sneak out of my seat without disturbing my family and head up to the observation car.

There were about ten other people up there doing the same thing and wow, what an incredible view.

The full moon cast a bright light over the scene, thin clouds dancing in front of it. We were climbing the Fraser Valley and to one side of the track was a sharp cliff with the river below. On the other side, the mountain continued upwards. And behind us, snaking along the mountain tracks, was the rest of the train. It was beautiful and surreal. It was an incredible scene and I tried in vain to capture a photo..but without a flash, I couldn't get anything. The most I can give you is my description.

The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful. We slept and read and caught some of the great views out the window.



This waterfall was a highlight...

And before long we were back in Edmonton, completely unwilling to admit our holidays were already over.