Off the Island and onto Mainland B.C.

Our first stop on the mainland of British Columbia was Vancouver. Off the ferry and over the Lions Gate Bridge, we managed to find a cheap hotel on the city's bustling Robson Street. They didn't take dogs, but Nathalie managed to convince the manager that Sierra was nothing more than a big cat. We spent the evening bouncing between some of the hip bars and swilling beers until everything shut down earlier than we wanted since it was a school night for most people.

We spent a full day in Stanley Park and cruised the seawall around the city's peninsula. Then, we hit the Sea to Sky Highway and headed to Whistler at a snails pace due to all the work being done on that road for the upcoming Olympics. Whistler was brilliant, per the usual, with the exception of Nathalie rolling her ankle chasing Sierra through the village.

North of Whistler, came the real Highway 99 (one of the finest stretches of road to date). Up and over some of B.C.'s steep peaks, we were treated to dramatic views of snow-capped mountain tops and the pristine lakes that lay below. We passed through our first bit of pouring rain before retiring at Lac La Hache and falling asleep to the lake's resident loons calling back and forth.