Something Like a Phenomenon

A strange phenomenon occurs when traveling alone.  It lurks in the shadows.  Creeps up when you least suspect it.  Echoes of the unfamiliar shudder down your spine.

It's your voice.

I learned very quickly on my first day that I could not complete this journey on my lonesome; my interactions relegated to the hospitality industry.  Because when I ordered a sandwich for lunch, the sound of my own voice shocked me more than the sound of "Your 2016 Republican Presidential Candidate, Donald Trump" ever could.

I spent my second day in Vancouver on Grouse Mountain.  Rejecting the idea that riding my bike on the flat Chicago terrain made me physically fit enough to scale the mountain, I opted for the tram.

WEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

The mountain activities were included in the initial fee, but I paid extra to go ziplining.  Hell, this was my adventure.  And I was going to live it up.

But since my departure time was still a couple hours away, I decided to escape the hubbub of Grouse Mountain: Tourist Adventure and enjoy Grouse Mountain: Mountain.  I grabbed some overly priced (but not really, because Canadian Dollars...) lunch foods and headed down the mountain a wee way to enjoy a serene lunch.

Looking out on beautiful Vancouver and Mt. Shasta, I felt "This is it.  I'm going to have my epiphany.  My stroke of genius.  Here it comes... Here... It... Ewwwww, that's a really loud bug.  I hope it doesn't COME OVER HERE!  GAH!  GET AWAY FROM ME!  And there goes my bag of chips.  Can't litter in Vancouver!  The punishment is worse than death!"

Man, so even this didn't inspire my Kerouacian breakthrough:

I must be dead inside

After an entertaining lumberjack show that I didn't think was a thing, it was time to fly.  Five lines of awesome until I realized that the first "practice line" was included in the five.  But still!  Four lines of awesome and one photo op!

Ziplining was the perfect amount of adrenaline that didn't tire me out the way I imagine skydiving or going on a date with Ryan Gosling would.

"Hey Gurl, I picked some lilies from my backyard.  They're for you."

"I had egg salad for lunch and now the smell is coming out both ends."

So I zipped and, for all intents and purposes, I lined.  They were breathtaking views that I had about 4.2 seconds to soak in before concentrating on how to land without snapping my neck Buffy-style.

But it was lovely, and I don't regret doing it for a second.  Because, Canadian Dollars!

After checking out the grizzly bears and watching the Birds of Prey show-

I'll take any excuse to show off little Daenerys

-It was time for me to leave Grouse Mountain.  The prospect of missing my shuttle and having to figure out alternative means of transportation back to Vancouver did not suit me in the slightest.

Back in Vancouver, I hiked quite a ways to find a sushi place Lonely Planet had recommended.  It was lovely, but the sun hadn't even set yet and I was out of ideas for the day.  (I decided the moment I planned the trip that my money would not go towards partying at night.)

So I headed back to the hostel where two of my roommates were getting ready to go to the beach and then see the Celebration of Light fireworks display.  They invited me along, and I agreed because I couldn't bear to listen to the sound of my thoughts for another 5 hours before falling asleep.

Here I got my first real taste of the ocean.  Salt in my hair, fly infested kelp beds.  It was delightful.  And the ensuing Celebration of Light did not disappoint.  Landed itself in my top 3 fireworks displays of all time.  Who rounds out the list?  I don't know.  They're fireworks displays.  Probably something in the month of July.  And probably not my dad setting off the value pack in our backyard.  (Sorry, Dad.  Your efforts have always been greatly appreciated.)

So here I was.  End of day two, and I had seen some spectacular sights while ending with a couple gals who not only allowed me to have a better time than I could have had myself, but broke me free of the phenomenon.  Granted me respite from the chaos of uninterrupted thought.