I had an excellent get away to Vancouver, BC.  On Sunday, I went to Seattle’s International District to catch the Bolt Bus to Vancouver.  If you haven’t tried the Bolt Bus, it is definitely worth your while.  My understanding is that tickets can be as low as $1.  Not sure how that works simply because it sounds impossible, but that is what the website claims.  If you make your reservation early enough, the deal is there.  I made my reservation about a month ago and my ticket cost only $12 each way.  Had I driven, the $24 round-trip fee would not even have covered the cost of gas!  The Bolt Bus is roomy and comfortable.  There is free WiFi connection on the bus, a clean toilet at the back of the bus, and a plug in for your computer.  We made one stop in Bellingham, WA and another stop at the USA/Canada Border.  All passengers had to get off the bus, carry our luggage in, show our passports, answer a few questions, and get on the bus again.  This is by far the fast way to get across the border!  The whole trip took 3 and a half hours from Seattle to Vancouver, Canada.

Lion's Gate Bridge in Vancouver, BC, Autumn Trees and Totem Poles in Stanley Park,

Lion’s Gate Bridge in Vancouver, BC, Autumn Trees and Totem Poles in Stanley Park,

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit with Laurie and Dean!  We did so much in three days and yet, I felt relaxed.  On the first day Laurie and I went on a 6 mile walk around Stanley Park.  It was a sunny autumn day and the maples seemed to be aflame.  That evening, Laurie, Dean, and I went out for dinner to their favorite Italian restaurant.  So much fun!

Stop for a drink on our long city walk, still fresh before the hike and innocently pointing to Grouse Mountain Trail sign, Vancouver cityscape perfect for weddings!

Still fresh before the hike and  pointing to Grouse Mountain Trail sign, Vancouver cityscape perfect for weddings (they were the cutest couple)!

The next day, my only full day in Vancouver, we had a leisurely breakfast and enjoyed our coffee.  Then Laurie and I went on a “hike” to Grouse Mountain, otherwise known as THE GROUSE GRIND.  It’s a steep one and a half hour climb to the top.  Laurie has done ironmen, marathons, and in two weeks will do a half marathon.  Need I say more?  She is in excellent physical condition and did the Grouse Grind in an hour and 5 minutes!  As I was making my way up, the sky started spitting rain and the temperature suddenly dropped.  I was worried that Laurie would get chilled waiting for me at the top.  I think worry makes for a slower crawl!  So I just let go of my concerns and kept going, all the way up the 2800 feet  gain in altitude until I caught up with her.  And yes, we were both chilled.  However, there is a restaurant at the top of the mountain so we went to the warm indoors and ordered hot chai which helped.  Then we took the cable cars down to the car.  Hiking down is prohibited because the trail is so steep and dangerous.  It felt great to work out so intensely and to sweat so profusely.  And, it felt even better to get home and take a hot shower.  We followed up with a yoga class at Laurie’s yoga studio, Y Yoga.  Wonderful Hatha Class.

Carvings up at the top of Grouse Mountain, Laurie and Fran, Autumn in Stanley Park

Carvings up at the top of Grouse Mountain, Laurie and Fran, Autumn in Stanley Park

This morning, we had another leisurely coffee hour and then I led us both through a yoga session.  It felt great to be doing yoga with Laurie (who is now a certified yoga instructor, too!!) in the pool area of her condominium with the glass roof above us.  As we did yoga, we looked out over water, yachts, colorful autumn trees, blue sky, and skyscrapers.  As we did our yoga, we took in Vancouver’s autumn city landscape.