Going Home

September 17, 2014May 15, 2020 / snailtrainers Adventures / 2 Comments

I was in no hurry to get up so lay their dozing staring at the roof of the top bunk above me

My roommate Don had got up early and gone for a stroll, suddenly I was awoken by an early morning text!!!!
“Your transaction for your Virgin Airline Ticket has been declined “
WTF!!! I phoned the number and spoke to Virgin “Sorry sir your card has been declined”
I asked if she could run it again , “sorry sir” I knew I was low on cash but was sure that I had enough to pay for my ticket.
I was now wide awake!!! PANIC, I was going to be at the airport in less than 5 hours and no ticket.
I frantically swapped my sim over to my Uk Sim and phoned my bank, I was on hold for 30 minutes , god knows how much that cost me. It turned out that it was the banks fault, they had blocked my card for some reason even though I had told them of my journey and where I would be (so to prevent this type of problem )
Sorry sir I don’t know why this happened! Great thank you .I quickly hung up and phoned Virgin to retry obtaining my ticket, the last one available !!
Thank god my payment was accepted and an electronic ticket appeared in my G-mail account, I was good to go OMG what a relief.
At that moment my roommate appeared, I explained what had just happened. I was now ready for breakfast so we headed to downtown Vancouver to see what we could find. WE walked into a small café and ordered two full breakfast’s then set about devouring them. WE both then had chores to do. Don wanted the Post office and I wanted a haircut. We walked to the post office together, I brought some stamps for some postcards then headed off to find a barbers shop .
It didn’t take me long and I was soon sat in the chair and being made “Normal again” ready for my flight home. Yes I look rather handsome lol .I then made myself back to the hostel.
I gathered my stuff and had one last sort. Fingers crossed I can get this on the plane!
Don my roommate then reappeared. Fancy one last beer I asked?
Why of course snail so we headed back to the bar that we found last night.
WE enjoyed one last ale together then said our goodbyes. He headed back out to do some more shopping. I had too much time to waste so enjoyed two more pints before heading back to the hostel to get my gear.
OMG it’s so bloody heavy, luckily it wasn’t far to the Sky train but even so struggled with the massive Transporter thrown across my shoulder and my smaller pack that I was also trying to carry
A last I was on the platform awaiting the sky train. This is an unmanned train similar to London’s underground nut much nicer clearer and efficient.
I was soon stepping off and I was at the airport a step closer to going home
I was early but I was here. I chilled out brought a few gifts for my friends and family. I felt a bit mean as I just couldn’t carry a lot of stuff. At last I checked in went through the farce of being x-rayed (I thought London was bad this was a shambles)
But at last I emerged into the departure lounge YES!!!
I enjoyed a last Canadian Ale then treated myself to a Mojito my traditional end of “Trip” drink.
Then it was time to board I AM GOING HOME!!!
Thanks again to the amazing friends I have made, walked with and enjoyed the most amazing trip with
Thank you all again everybody

a fellow hiker carried out a photo study on some of us hikers here is the link to his website enjoy

Pacific Crest trail Hiker trash

Day 150 Canada day 3

September 15, 2014May 15, 2020 / snailtrainers Adventures / 2 Comments

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Never too early for beer

10TH September
couldn’t really sleep over excited too much stuff in my brain god knows
I woke at 6.30 trail time lol and dozed before getting up for a wee and coffee
Looked at all the stuff that covered the floor there was still too much
How do I get this stuff home I got up and dressed drank my coffee then resorted the mess on the floor into stuff .Do I needed all this crap
Then filled my second pack Result!!!
I did a quick sweep of my room, Put on my smaller pack before hauling my huge pack up and onto my shoulder before staggering out of the hostel And across the road to the lodge
I tried to catch up with my blog but it was slow ,So I went for breakfast instead
The whole gang was there so I joined them I ordered hash and bacon and a beer
Sorry sir no beer till 11am
The whole gang chimed in with WHAT! No BEER FOR SNAIL LOL
so coffee instead lol
I woofed that then brought snacks for the 3 hour bus ride
The bus was due at 10 am sharp but the receptionist said its always late
We all mingled about outside, Then I suggested a photo shoot Great idea snail
Then Bowie magically a 6 pack but sadly not one left for me but then Dirtmonger produced another 6 pack which poured down so easily lol
Then we waited and waited and brought more beer and more beer and more photos and more beer
At last the bus arrived 2 hours late !!
we all filed in and found seats it was going to be a long long bus ride and unusually for a greyhound No air-con so as the hours ticked by the heat increased and so at every stop we filed off for fresh air and to stretch our legs
At last the bus cruised into the station I was in Vancouver whoop and nearer to home
I staggered through the station with my oversized pack looking for directions to the Hostel as I sat resting my arm before the next stagger XXXX joined me and we thought we could split a room we found the Hostel and booked in ,.Phew we chilled out for a while before going out for a beer
we came across a Pub and began sampling their ales Wow they had London pride !!
I had fish and chips which was really tasty and another IPA before heading back
Tomorrow I was flying home Yeah

Day 149 Canada Day 2

September 9, 2014May 15, 2020 / snailtrainers Adventures / Leave a comment

9th September
I slept so well oh my god I’ve done it.. Whoop whoop yes I’ve Completed the PCT
I still can’t believe what I have achieved from the chubby chap with the enormous pack to the slim bloke with a big pack of today
I lay in my tent not really knowing what to do.
Well let’s start with tea. bugger my water bladder had leaked in the night ,Due to me not putting the lid on properly so a quick mop up then tea
I then emerged into a warm Canadian sun and began to pack up other hikers were doing the same
Then Da-vinchi appeared and I drank more tea with him before Foxxy emerged
It was weird and sad saying goodbye to my new friends. But I wasn’t quite finished I still needed to get to manning Park. So after several lengthy goodbye hugs I hoisted my pack onto my back and strolled off down the trail. Crossed my first bridge then battled through an assault course of a trail,
Not sure why but I began to fly down the trail and in three hours was standing at the highway
I turned right and walked to the lodge I was at Manning Park
Fingers crossed my packages were there. Yes YES YES WHOOP and there was Early Bee fantastic
I booked in at the hostel and Early Bees Brother in law carried my large box for me.
I opened the boxes and thought Christ how am I getting all of this home I packed and unpacked till at last my pack was in its transporter
Now hopefully the rest will fit in my other pack and fingers crossed I can get it on as hand luggage
Job accomplished I jumped into the shower then attacked my beard with some scissors before attempting to use a razor wow what a handsome chap
Next I went to see if I could sort my flight. The nice receptionist let me use her phone but I felt embarrassed as I was on hold for 30 minutes. But hurrah flight done bit expensive but I’m going home
Dinner and a beer next. I joined early bee and his family and had two meals as I was ravenous. As we ate, a stream of other hikers arrived Bowie. Mr President. Brunch etc
I finished up and went to the lodge to email and do Fb and book my greyhound bus ride to Vancouver in the morning
Phew soon be home.
I fancied a couple of beers but the shop was now shut so I wandered back to my room.
I was too excited to sleep so I sat in the lounge and flicked through the TV, watched some of the cycling and had a coffee followed by a hot chocolate before hitting the sack

Day 148 To Canada

September 8, 2014May 15, 2020 / snailtrainers Adventures / 2 Comments

8th September
Woke refreshed I put on tea then packed up
I was pleased that my tent was dry as I thought by camping on grass and by a small pond it would be wet by condensation
We woke to a cloudy day and we were not sure if it would stay dry all day!!
Da Vinchi and i were on the trail by 8 am we pushed on out of the traps but I could tell that Da Vinchi wanted to get there as he was pulling away into the distance
I can normally keep up.but not uphill so I let him go and slowed down.
The first part was up s lot of up almost seven miles up but wow every corner or saddle revealed just amazing scenery. Mountain range or valley. Id slept really well but today I just didn’t have the engine in my leg and struggled up every slope.

It can be quite sole destroying when you see you friend miles away across the next valley. But hey it’s been like this the entire adventure. early on I’d of tried to keep up and burn myself out but not any more
I marched on stopping to take several photos and to enjoy what I was seeing oh and to grab a handful of huckleberries
Down I’m going down. The trail began to snake its way down through the woods eventually coming to a large cross roads. DA Vinchi was waiting for me here with a couple who were also hiking to Canada.
I ate breakfast then we hit the trail again and yet another climb. Up and up we went at last the sun began to shine and I began to melt phew I looked for a good spot to stop and loose a layer stuffed my shirt into my pack emptied s litre of lemonade down my throat then set off after Da Vinchi
The trail wound its way across the valley touching the rims of the mountains, occasionally I’d have to cross a steep scree that swept down the mountain as far as you could see

Some were wide to walk on others were scary and a mere foot print wide.
On I went still climbing and still being presented with fantastic new mountains and other views
I had to keep stopping to stare
I eventually caught up with Da Vinchi and we had lunch just love eating with the amazing picture before me.
We relaxed then time to walk .we were making good time and mileage
Yes we were going to do it
But there were still plenty of miles to do. But it was down and apart from a water stop we should hit the monument by about 6 pm

I chased after Da Vinchi but soon lost him on the never ending switchbacks
I then met s funny marmot ( Steve Adam Adam ) But every time raised my camera he shot into his hole.
I carried on down the switchbacks then saw a beautiful lake hadn’t seen a lake in weeks the trail meandered around it. By the bank I saw Da Vinchi getting water do I did the same
6 miles to go snail we can do it in two hours.
We headed off and down and again Da Vinchi was soon out of sight .I plodded on occasionally stopping to grab s handful of huckleberries or two.
The sun was still hot as earlier it had gone black and cold and in thought it may rain
I pounded down the trail then I noticed Da Vinchi and fantastic it was Foxxy we carried on together getting closer to our goal then we met washcloth and frizzy coming back .frizzy said Early Bee may still be there! !
That would be fantastic as we both started on the same day back in April
We marched on and on then met Pedi on the way back I gave him a huge hug said congratulations and then pressed on
At last the monument we spent about an hour taking crazy photos then Early bee re-joined us bloody brilliant .now it was time to open the “Champagne” that a friend Gwyn had sent me thanks so much Gwyn
I had carried this large glass bottle from Stehekin and I wasn’t going to waste a drop. I popped the cork and took a huge swig it tasted divine I passed the bottle to Da Vinchi then Foxxy then Early Bee before taking it back. thank you again
We then took more silly photos before for well over an hour before moving on to camp
I set up camp then cooked supper by the log fire. Fires appear to be allowed again now hurrah Tomorrow 8 miles to manning park and soon home I hope