Day 1 (Leaving Powell River)

November 3rd finally arrived, the day that we leave for our vacation!  I don't think either Brian or I got much sleep the night before........well I know I didn't.  There was no need for the alarm to go off because  I was wide awake feeling anxious and nervous about the trip.  No, that was the night before.  I was wide awake because there was a three year old sleeping in our bed.  If you have a child that sleeps in your bed on occasion you know what I am talking about.  The constant kicks to the back, the sideways sleeper, the frequent checks to see where their face is buried..  I decided that I wasn't going to get anymore sleep so I figured that I might as well just get up and get on with the final preparations.  I put in my contacts put on my ugly blue robe on and trudged down the hallway into the livingroom to do what I do every morning........log onto Facebook.  I figured since I was going to be without a computer for awhile I better get my fix in.  Hmmmmmmmm, nothing has changed since last night.  I know.  I'll have breakfast and make tea and re-check it in 10 minutes.  I showered, packed all my remaining bathroom junk and attempted to close my suitcase.  Since Brian decided to buy the jumbo sized suitcase I figured I would just put everything that wouldn't fit in mine comfortably in his.  We decided to catch the 2nd ferry out of Powell River to Earl's Cove.  Such a good idea.  Usually we catch the very early ferry (5:35 am) in order to maximize our time in Vancouver.  Since our only mission was to get to our hotel in Richmond and sleep, we were in no hurry.  One last check around the house to make sure nothing is forgotten, a few lights left on, passports, garbage taken out, passports, travel itineraries, lots of food and water for the cats......okay we are good to go!  Somehow we manage to fit all our suitcases into the sunferrari.  I felt bad that we would not be around to rake up the leaves during the week.  Hopefully our neighbor won't mind.  A lady down the street told me that her daughter's neighbor was so anal about the leaves that he would dump the ones that blew onto his yard on her front steps!  We raked up about 5 bags of leaves in the few days prior to us leaving, but I knew that there would be at least 10 waiting for our return.  As much as I worried about our house being broken into or something worse happening while we were gone I knew that I would not miss the depressing fall weather in Powell River; cold (10°C this morning), wet and grey skies for the next 6 months.  I pop some gravel and we are off to catch the ferry.  Catch the 1st ferry with no problems (Brian and I's travel plans are constantly delayed to due BC Ferries horrible service) and drive to Langdale to catch the 2nd ferry.  This is the route that we take to get to Vancouver.  We get to Langdale and the lanes are already filling up.  The ferry is sold out but we have managed to get on it.  We are so hungry when we get on the ferry but they are still serving breakfast and I am hungry for lunch.  We decide that we will eat when we get to Vancouver.  We arrive in Vancouver, it is raining; I am excited for some sunshine and warm weather.  We have lots of time until we check into our hotel room in Richmond so we decide to go to Metrotown for some quick last minute shopping and some lunch.  As we are making our way towards the mall, Brian and I are both reminded why we would never live in the city again.  Traffic.  Living in Powell River, we only deal with 1 or 2 traffic lights daily and there is no such thing as rush hour or asshole drivers.  Bad drivers, yes, but everyone is quite courteous.  We make our way around the mall and head towards the food court.  Should I try and eat something healthy and low-fat?  I certainly did not lose the 10 pounds I would of liked to before this trip and I know I am going to gain at least 5 after this trip so KFC it is for Brady and I.  Jorja and Brian opt for sushi of course.  We finish lunch and follow Brian around the mall in search of a hat, I am interested in buying a bathing suit.  Yes I am going to Mexico and have only bought one bathing suit which I managed to find the week before on the clearance rack at Walmart.  I am just happy that it fit and looks pretty decent.  We quickly look around and decide that it's time to leave.  Oh goody, they have closed off one of the exits out of the mall and EVERYONE is driving around the underground parking lot looking for a way out.  We make our way over to Richmond and find our hotel easily.  We check in and ask at the front desk if my parents have checked in yet.  They tell us they haven't so I figure they must be visiting with family.  I ask Brian really nicely if he will take me to Richmond Center so I can find a bathing suit.  I know he doesn't want to go there but he gives in and says yes.  As we are leaving my parents pull up and my mom mouths the words to me "I want to go to the mall".  We wait for my parents to check-in and Brian takes my mother and I to the mall.  I'm pretty sure that will be the last time Brian will ever visit Richmond Centre.  Seriously is it always this busy here?  I'm pretty sure everyone in Richmond got paid on the same day, today.  There is no parking anywhere on the roof, in the front and we finally decide to park in the overflow parkade.  We head off into the mall.  I am in search for a bathing suit and so is my mother.  We quickly  walk around and manage to each find a few bathing suits and Brian takes us back to the hotel so we can have dinner.  Many thanks to Brian for once again driving me and my mother around.  We all go to bed early even though we are going back to Standard Time and get an extra hour of sleep.  We have asked for a wake up call at 5 AM.