Everything is Awesome!

Everything is cool...

I slept in until after midday today. It's surprising what seven months of stress and fruitless waiting will do to you. It certainly won't do anything bloody for you.

I steeled myself and packed a delicious lunch before heading out for my first expotition in Vancouver. It was like traveling for the first time. Figuring out the bus and ferry routes, except there's the internet rather than a battered Lonely Planet. Locals were friendly and helpful and with very few uncertain moments I'd found myself at Central Hobbies, a treasure trove of toy trains.

They're not toy trains, they're model railways and I'm a model railway enthusiast. Uh-huh.

But they had so much cool stuff that you just can't get in New Zealand! Special detail castings, miniature transmission gear sets, trucks (bogies, if you're back home) and track. Oh. My. God.

It was amazing that I didn't buy anything. But like Arnie, "I'll be back".

Next door was an art store where they had a massive, colourful selection of everything. Including these brightly coloured plastic bins. I knew straight away that this would be my blip.
After the long wait for our visa, seeing Vancouver even in this small way for only half a day, has been so invigorating that it's almost been worth the wait. Or maybe it just seems like a very fitting reward. Vancouver's a big city, but doesn't feel crowded. I have arrived at the best time of year, too. Both days here have been calm and warm without being hot.

I got back to the flat (should get used to saying "apartment") about 7pm and had a Skype with The Lovely Ange. So nice to see her and tell her of my adventures.

Tomorrow I'm going for a walk up Lynn Canyon, because I can.