- Visit the 70m high Brandywine Falls
- Short hike to the 335m high Shannon Falls
- Continue on the Sea-to-Sky-Highway to Vancouver
- Stop on the beach at busy Horseshoe Bay
- Standing in a traffic jam
- Pick up Niki at Vancouver Airport
- Drive to hotel
- Eating out at the Earls
So today is already marked by Niki's arrival. After almost 4 months, I'll see her again today at around 7 p.m. But first I have to drive from the mountains near Whistler down to Vancouver to the sea. The route is known under the aptly named Sea-to-Sky-Highway No. 99 and is well developed. I make a first stop at the Brandyvine Falls and hike the short distance to the impressive 70 m high waterfalls. I feel strongly reminiscent of the falls in Wells Gray Provincial Park, which I visited with Oli when I started my trip.
Then I drive further down to the sea to the town of Squamish. After a bit of searching, I still find a parking space at the extremely popular Stawamus Chief. The 700 m high granite monolith right by the sea is an impressive landmark and a challenging destination for hikers and climbers. Especially on this bright Sunday, it attracts numerous people to the local recreation area. My goal, however, is the nearby Shannon Falls, which at this time of year only have sparse water and are therefore only moderately attractive despite their 335m height. The path leads through the dense green coastal vegetation, which provides a welcome cooling on this hot day.
I continue to Horseshoe Bay. There I let my soul dangle a bit on the beach and my legs in the water. Now it's time to make my way to the airport to get there in time. As feared, the short walk turns out to be a test of patience on this late Sunday afternoon. For almost 1.5 hours I am stuck in the traffic chaos, as my path unfortunately leads straight through downtown. I reach the airfield just in time and wait. Then comes the long-awaited reunion with Niki. We pack your overcrowded backpack in the car and drive back over to the pre-booked Travelodge hotel in North Vancouver. Next door we have something small to eat before we go to bed.
