Day Nine

Vancouver Traffic

Mystery Creek
Mon Apr 26th

Which can flow quite smoothly will come to a grinding halt if there is an incident on either of the two bridges that separate North Vancouver from Vancouver.  More later.

The morning excursion was a repeat of the day before, only this time we were confident we knew where we were going.   

Hyannis, Power Line, Fishermans and Baden Powell trails, with plenty of water for Jack to explore on route.

Fred tried out her new hiking poles, which made going down hill much easier.

Jack made short work of the hills and slopes with his four-paw drive.  He really has become quite adept at going places I would not dream of climbing up or down.

Confirmation during morning that a SWIFT transfer of funds from the UK had been completed and it was agreed I could collect the car in the afternoon, which 
was booked for 15.30.
Poles and Pylons

I set off at 1400 to drop the hire car back in Burnaby, which is in east Vancouver, crossing the Ironworkers Bridge, the easterly of the two main crossings.  The Lionsgate is the westerly bridge.  A kilometre down the road and the slow moving car park began.   A four car accident in the middle of the south bound highway, and traffic was predicted to clear by 1700-1800!

Fortunately I was near the front, but even then, what should have taken twenty minutes was an hour and forty.  

Car dropped off and a taxi over to Richmond (south of downtown Vancouver near the airport) I hooked up with the sales agent, then the business manager who wanted to sell me lots of extra's, then the independent insurance broker who sells BC state insurance (all very odd), then the man who puts the licence plates on which were given to me by the insurance agent, then the sales agent (who was with an other customer) to hand over the car.

Speaking of insurance, I shall not complain of UK car insurance rates again.  Owning a car in BC, with a British licence we are priced as beginners. Readers of one of the earlier blogs will know we are unable to convert to BC licences until we have a non-visitor status.  Fully comp insurance, was an eye-watering CA$4,800 - that's £2,783!  The good news is that when we move to the Sunshine Coast, we will get a reduction and when we can convert to BC licences in 4-5 months time, it will halve.  Still not as competitive as the UK though.   

It made me chuckle, when on arrival I was taken to the top floor and a darkened spotlit room, where my car was shrouded in a large branded sheet, for the big reveal!  Rather OTT.  "Would you like me to take your picture taking the sheet off" he said, "lets just see it" I said!

Two hours later, we had become the proud owner of a 3 year old Discovery Sport, my sixth Discovery, albeit the smaller sibling.  Smaller engine, fewer features, but it will get us around and it was amazingly cheap compared to UK prices.   It's a delight to drive.



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