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Day 234: Vancouver to Whistler, and back again...
So on May 31st I had to move out of my lovely pimped up flat.I was pretty gutted but resigned myself to making the best of my last week in British Columbia before flying to Toronto.
I decided to move back into the hostel in Vancouver to try and organize my growing troupe of luggage and then go up to Whistler where I could see old friends, get a free bed, get my house deposit back and try my hand at mountain biking.
Going back up to Whistler felt weird - like returning to the scene of the crime.I was spending the first night with Lisa, a lovely, bubbly Swedish friend of mine.I arrived and Whistler immediately felt different.Like a patient given sedatives, Whistler had noticeably calmed down.A large group of us went out for a leaving do and the next day Lisa and I headed down to the lakes.The day was hot like fire and I bravely dipped my toe into Alpha lake, closest to Lisa, pain immediately engulfed my toe as the searing coldness of the water gleefully stole all the heat from my appendage.I'd learnt my lesson.
Next we decided to go to Lost Lake, the most popular of all the lakes in Whistler by far.The lake was surrounded by dogs playing and people of all ages sunbathing, throwing Frisbees, playing Boles (bizarrely), playing football, socializing and having barbeques.On the lake people swam back and fourth to the jetty, paddled on boats and floated on inflatable dinghies. I bumped into numerous people I knew from the winter season and a bit of regret about my Whistler damnation and even leaving Whistler was germinating.
Later I met Lucy, a really good friend from my season, who was also a keen athlete and mountain biker.Lucy reluctantly persuaded me to hire a bike (Id been sunbathing in 30c heat all day and was in no mood) and go on a ride that evening with her, Tom and Paul.I was extremely hesitant as Tom, a hilarious 19 year old from ´Donnay´aka Doncaster and Paul, a lothario from South Africa were keen Mountain bikers with well over 8 years experience between them.I, the overweight, clumsy novice would only slow them down and furthermore I might hurt myself.Lucy pretty much told me to man up and I conceded.The next few hours were some of the most arduous of my life.
I hired a ´hard tail´ bike. A professional-looking, gleaming, gold mountain bike with full suspension.I shared my fears with my friends and they assured me we'd begin with an "easy"trail.Nothing about this sport was easy I assure you.
Loose rocks and tree stumps jutted out of the trail that was steep in parts and uphill in others.You had to stand up to go down and try to lean forward to go up steep ridges to prevent the bike toppling backwards.Narrow wooden bridges snaked around different parts of the trail, sometimes banking to the left and right and in some cases going up and down like a roller coaster.Trying to keep up with the other was difficult, the cycling was exhausting and my lack of physical fitness was highlighted in all its glory.I was wheezing and panting like an old man and sweating like I was in a sauna but strangely exhilarated.When Lucy asked if I was ok and "enjoying it" I said "I…. think…. so" through shortened breaths.It was one of those things you do and don't really enjoy at the time but realise you did with hindsight.Just when I was starting to get into it Lucy called out and told me that my back tyre was flat.I had a puncture.I had to do the walk of shame back to Paul's and between me and you I was slightly relieved.
That night I had drinks with Lucy and some of Tom and his friends, then the next day caught up with Lianne and Ryan, good friends from my winter season, and stayed a night with them.There was much talk of the full moon party at the weekend in Whistler and I decided I was going to go to put closure on my time there.I had to go back to Vancouver first to sort out a few things and then came back on the Saturday.
This decision turned out to be one of my better ones and I danced till the early hours of the morning by a river in an opening in a forest with people from my season and Whistler.It was fantastic.Not a full moon in sight but good none the less.
The next day I was flying to Toronto to begin my proper travelling.I couldn't wait.
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