The 'Sea to the Sky' Highway
After a morning exploring Capilano Suspension Bridge Park we headed north along highway 99, otherwise known as the 'Sea to the Sky' highway. It is a lovely stretch of road that hugs the coastal inlet to the north of Vancouver. We first stopped off at Horseshoe Bay and enjoyed the sunshine walking around the small town watching the ferries embarking on their journey across the bay.
it was good to see the sun burning away the morning cloud as usual (this seemed to be the pattern around these parts)
The ferries here were very busy with long queues of cars covering several lanes awaiting their turn to board. The small town has some beautiful views out across the bay and just enough shops to support the daily necessities.
After standing on the jetty soaking up the sun a while a second, smaller ferry set off along the bay, it seems a busy route. Ferries from here cover a number of routes including crossing the straits of Georgia to Vancouver Island.
Our next stop off was Whytecliff Park which is close by. Sarah insisted she was going paddling but this is as far as she ever got. We explored a small hiking trail and climbed that lump of rock visible in this picture which Sarah insists is a steep mountain.
The highway itself is a destination for many people, simply to drive along it and back again is a fantastic trip but stopping off to explore justs adds to that.
We stopped off again to stretch our legs at Porteau Cove Provincial Park where we explored the emergency ferry terminal which is in place to allow detours via ferry when landslides block the roadway.
Further north we came across Shannon Falls by following a sign off the highway, after viewing the falls we sat eating ice cream in the sunshine.
We finally stopped in a nice pub and had a drink and bite to eat before turning around and heading back to Vancouver, I enjoyed this route so much that I took it again on my way home......I took the long route obviously.