All Aboard!

Breakfast of cold pizza and then packed our cases, leaving these at the hotel reception to pick up later. We will be joining our cruise ship later and are looking forward to it

Our plan was to go to the city art gallery, but on finding that admission was $35 each decided a plan B was required

Plan B was to wander down to the Gastown steam clock and see what this was all about

The clock was gently steaming away, with the air of a sleeping dragon.

A chain driven lift slowly carried a steel ball up to a curved ramp. When the ball goes down the ramp....absolutely nothing happens

and then, completely at random, the whistles starts to play out the chimes of Big Ben. Bonkers! The clock is not even showing the right time

We then wander down to the nearby waterfront

I'm not sure what she's doing here, but Vera is making this fire hydrant very happy

Our ship is moored in the port, looking very clean and shiny

So we return to the hotel for our luggage

Walking over the roof of the provincial court building. This is like a tower block laid on its side, and is covered by plants and trees to create a linear park

Inside, the building is empty and deserted. It feels very strange

Get our bags and wheel them downhill to the ship

We have to get through US customs before embarking, and was not sure what to expect. We were photographed, I was fingerprinted - travelling on her Canadian passport Vera is exempt from this bit. The border agency officer was very chatty, laid back, and friendly. Working on the Vancouver ferry terminal is clearly a good placement

We are welcomed aboard with champagne and canapés and spend an hour or more exploring the boat

At 5.30 we start to move, and Vancouver recedes surprisingly quickly

Return to our cabin to unpack

A holiday wouldn't be a holiday without a food poisoning incident, and Vera is struck with a sudden and very urgent bout of diarrhoea. And vomiting

We'll have to wait for the next exciting instalment of this adventure to find out what happens next

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