Day 1 - Vancouver to Mission

22.8 km - Stanley Park fun ride - http://ridewithgps.com/trips/4746881

92.5 km - Total trip mileage 108.5 km (excludes fun rides) - http://ridewithgps.com/trips/4746882

• After a quiet breakfast on the YMCA hotel patio, we headed out for our early morning (7 a.m.) ride through downtown Vancouver and to Stanley Park. It is amazing to see the cycling infrastructure in Vancouver's downtown, Many of the major streets have dedicated two way bicycle lanes complete with their own signal lights. Not much traffic to contend with at 7 a.m. on a Sunday morning but I can see how re-assuring this would be on a busy week day ride to work.

  

  Start of Seawall and our ride

•  There was the customary series of pictures at the start of the Seawall path and off we went. The path is divided with the raise portion for cyclists and roller bladders and the lower portion nearer the water for pedestrians. When you hit Stanley Park per say, the bicycle path becomes one way counter clock wise, with speed limited to 15 km. We were not able to completely go around the path as it was closed off by Vancouver police and so we had to turn around. We took to the road closest to the path and enjoyed a nice climb up to and over the road leading to Lion' Gate bridge. Had it not been for this detour, we would have missed the magnificent old growth trees in the park.

  

  Having to turn around

  We were back at the hotel by 9 a.m. and immediately got ourselves ready to hit the road. It takes a few minutes to hang the luggage on the bikes.

  

  So much luggage and the last luggage picture - promise!

• The exit from Vancouver is straight forward, so we thought. Everything went as planned in Vancouver but got off the rails as we hit our first bike detour in Burnaby, At the beginning the construction detour was well marked and easy to follow and then, nothing. Had it not been for Sharon and Mark, we might still be riding in circles in Burnaby. The two of them deviated from their planned ride and escorted us back to the Lougheed Highway and back on track! Sharon good luck to you and your daughter on your upcoming Whistler Grand Fondo. 

• We were reminded today that we are but just another vehicle on the road. As such, we should only follow roads that appears on road maps and ignore those that don't. In Coquitlam we chose to follow bike routes and ended up taking a very long tour of Coquitlam without getting any closer to Mission. Lesson learned.

• This link takes you to a map of Coquitlam that shows the Lougheed Highway and the Pitt River Bridge you have to cross and continue onto Pitt Meadows, Hwy #7 and beyond to Mission.

• Hélène had issues with her gears and we stopped in for help at Cap's Westwood Cycles in Burnaby. Within minutes, they had the bike up on the maintenance stand and performed a few adjustments. Some adjustments that take a few minutes when properly equipped take for ever by the side of the road.

• As we got near Mission, we saw a small canal just covered in nenuphar (waterlily) and were both reminded of last year's Grand Tour 2014, in the Niagara Region. Nos amis Encadreur(e)! vont se rappeler comment il pleuvait ce jour la. Contrary to that day last summer, it was not pouring rain today.

  

  Best place to ask for information and they sell refreshments to boot!  

• We are comfortably settled in for the night and despite the extra mileage, we feel privileged to have met so many warm and helpful people. Looking forward to tomorrow.