Vancouver in Stress Distance

Early in the morning, very early in the morning, there’s a constant tapping on the roof... sometimes quiet, sometimes louder... we look outside, it’s not raining. So it must be the murderer from Blue Lake after all. ...uuuhhh.... bravely, we take a proper look. All clear. It’s a bird about the size of a blackbird with a red belly. It’s pecking the dead insects off the windshield and has given us quite a scare. The weather is unexpectedly not bad, and so we drink our coffee on our private swimming dock by the lake. Completely peaceful, the fish jump up occasionally and there’s not a sound to be heard. A beautiful farewell morning from camper life. We have to return the camper in Vancouver on Friday morning, so we set out for the big city. The traffic steadily increases, and huge, really huge trucks are on the way. We take a little hike to Alexandra Bridge, which was built in 1926 and crosses the Fraser River. It has large metal struts at the bottom. A strange feeling looking down through the feet. And will the phone fit if it falls down? Better not find out.
Highway #1 West goes all the way to Vancouver. However, we take the slightly quieter #7 from Hope. There are many construction sites, but we’re making good progress. It’s 200 kilometers to the campsite. Hunger starts to creep in, and there’s a donut shop nearby. 12 pieces are on offer. We can easily manage those; they’re just small, smaller, well actually they’re quite big and super delicious with icing. Yes, we both know it’s very unreasonable, but unbelievably good. Good thing we finished the donuts, nerve food is urgently needed. We’re approaching Vancouver, and rush hour begins. As usual, Anja drives, Peter navigates. Anja shouts out amidst the hustle, Peter says nothing, except right and left. Women's rights, or the real right?? Man oh woman, the highway is partially ten lanes wide, pure stress with the big camper. Somehow, we manage to get to the RV campground in Burnaby. A typical urban campsite with a lot of greenery around. The constant noise from the highway is only overshadowed by the honking of the nearby Canadian Pacific Railroad, which feels like it’s speeding past behind the hedge with over 100 cars and not exactly quickly. Anja is already preparing the earplugs. We pack as much as we can so we can head to the camper rental early tomorrow morning. The bikes go back in their boxes, and when everything is ready, we’ll go to the hotel. On Sunday afternoon, our flight to Zurich departs.
We're excited about the two and a half days in downtown Vancouver. Just yesterday, an older lady asked us where we were from. Anja then asked if there weren’t too many tourists here in Canada (we certainly have the impression). No, she said, WELCOME to Canada, and she meant it sincerely, just in a normal parking lot at Seton Lake..... it gives you a really good feeling..... thank you Canada for being so nice....