BRO #2 Comes to Ski*
*Skiing barely pictured
This was one fast and cold week in Vancouver / Whistler.
Number two brother George and pal JK arrived in Vancouver right in time to see the first city-snow of winter, and for the temperature to drop to -12. Yikes!
We kicked off their week-long visit with a stroll around New West, unsuccessfully searching for vegan croissants (not that long ago there were three places we could choose from!), sampling the new AM Cafe in Mt Pleasant (delicious), renting some skis, then heading up to Cypress Mtn.
Skiing at Cypress Mountain was a challenge at first - flat light and foggy glasses made visibility the main challenge, but as the daylight faded and gave way to the floodlights, the fun started. We whipped around and managed to weave our way around the crowds whilst staying warm. I got one photo of us on the lift, but I was otherwise busy trying to keep up with George & JK, enjoying all the fresh snow on what must have been the best snow conditions Cypress has had in a long time!
COLD on the chairlift.
Day two, and after coffees and a short hike to Quarry Rock in Deep Cove, we enjoyed ramen from one of my favourite spots (Workshop Vegetarian Cafe, North Vancouver) and drove on the treacherous Sea to Sky highway, thankfully following a snow plow the majority of the way, giving us at least the illusion of a sense of safety.
Checking into a pretty luxurious cabin (that George was pretty proud of finding) we got stuck into all the Whistler goodness:
We skied for three solid days, clocking over 40kms each day, which isn’t bad considering it was -20 degrees with a wind chill making it feel colder. (Note that there were definitely some ‘type-2-fun’ periods for me personally, and getting my boots off on day 1 was absolutely excruciating after not feeling my freezing toes for most of the day…)
Ate more delicious ramen, this time from my Whistler favourite Ohyama Ramen, who do an incredible spicy vegan ramen.
Soaked in our balcony hot tub, whilst my wet hair literally froze solid and tunes rang from George’s speaker.
Spent evenings eating curry, playing ‘Yahtzee’, the ‘Ranking Game’ and ‘Pass the Pigs’, and enjoying a few beers (alcy-free for me).
George looking a little unsure about how high up we are here on the peak to peak gondala.
Coco, myself, George & Tom Mitchell enjoying a post-ski bevy. Thanks to JK.
Whistler chairlift selfie thanks to JK
Peak to Peak gondala
Left to right: Tom Mitchell, myself, George, JK.
George and myself in the snow. Thanks to JK.
Once our three days in Whistler were up, we headed back to Vancouver / New Westminster, and enjoyed a few days exploring North Vancouver, Pacific Spirit, Gastown, and Kitsilano; watching United barely beat Leicester in the FA Cup, eating veggie burgers at Meet Gastown, eating ice cream, sharing a vegan feast at Viet Family on Commercial (incredible), and attending possibly the worst “talent” show I’ve ever been to in my life (sorry boys).
Selfie from Lonsdale Quay looking back to Vancouver at sunset.
Feasting at Viet Family on Commercial (sorry for the mouth-full photo George!)
And before I knew it, I was dropping them off at the airport, as they go off to enjoy 6+ weeks of exploring Central and South America. Not jealous at all.
Enjoy boys, love ya xo
Bye for now x
