VeloCity: Clipless in Seattle: RSVP Day 3: The Hostile Hostel and Jericho Beach

This door.............

Di >>

Toward the end of Day 2, as we biked those last few miles into downtown Vancouver to the finish line, we first had to pass through this ornate red door. Something about the intricate black ironwork against the brazen red metal portal truly captivated me. Or, I could have just been deliriously awestruck after biking almost 200 miles from Seattle to Canada.

L to R: Hai, Di & Nhan

This beautiful door led to a lovely courtyard behind a bike shop, fenced in with a wisteria trellis, furnished with a few bistro tables under bright red umbrellas. Their employees waved bikers in from the road to refill their water bottles, use the restrooms, and quickly wash their bikes with a garden hose before that last stretch into downtown.

Sometimes, it's these little corners that we remember just as fondly as the big, scenic landmarks on destination rides.

As we approached the finish line in Vancouver along the heavily-traveled waterfront trail, I heard someone shouting my name! I turned my head to see Chinh's wife, Hong, running and waving at me from the sandy shore. It was something to see her friendly face in a crowd of Canadian strangers! Soon enough, we saw our Feisty Five buddy, Chinh, himself. We had not had any real word from them since Stateside the night before, so we were happy to see our friend feeling no worse for the wear after the rough day he had yesterday.

We wished he could have biked Day 2 with us too, but we were all just as thrilled to be reunited with him right before the finish line! It was a symbolic reunion more than anything. Hong & Chinh were also kind enough to deliver our overnight bags from the finish line to the hostel in their car so we wouldn't have to bike there with them.

L to R: Di, Hai, Nhan & Howie

L to R: Di, Hai, Nhan, Howie & Chinh

Hong took a few pics of the re-united Feisty Five off the trail right before the finish line. Too bad we didn't think to get any photos with her too!

Finish Line Party

Oddly enough, finishing RSVP seemed really anti-climatic after 200 miles. Of course we felt ecstatic and accomplished at completing another major ride-- but the hunger, physical fatigue, and mental numbness kind of settles into your bones after two days of riding for hours on end.

We collected our Finisher's Badges and had celebratory beers and burgers at the Finish Line Party before heading to our final destination for the night.

Nhan planned for us to bike an additional 5 miles beyond the finish line, across the city center to Jericho Beach, where we would be staying at the international hostel until Sunday afternoon to round out the weekend.

At first I balked at staying at a hostel, but not for the reasons you think. I'm no diva or princess, so I don't need a swanky hotel room. On various past adventures, I've slept in tents, in a sleeping bag right on a sandy beach, on hard floors, in the back of a pickup truck, on friends' couches, even in a yurt. It was more a matter of personal safety. I traveled through Europe as a teenager, and stayed in some really sketchy hostels where total strangers come and go in the middle of the night, sometimes sleeping less than 3 ft from you in the neighboring bunk.....awkward!

Nothing is worse than balling yourself up with your back against a bunk wall, using your backpack as a pillow so you won't get robbed in the middle of the night, trying to avoid eye contact with strangers, while sleeping with one eye open! Been there, done that.

Nhan>>

Hostels aren't what I remember from my college days. I couldn’t sleep much at all at the Jericho Beach Hostel. I didn’t think Di slept at all. It was just very noisy with all the travelers around and no walls to separate people. I thought I wouldn’t have minded, but I guess I’m old now – no longer a carefree and active college kid who can sleep anytime, anywhere. But I do want to give the hostel kudos for being a fairly clean, safe and inexpensive place to shower and for storing our stuff.

Di >>

Says the guy who naps like this.....

Nhan & Howie making up for lost sleep at the hostel

So I have to agree with Nhan that the hostel was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be, but still bad. The hostel was actually quite clean and otherwise pleasant-- it was only hostile if you were trying to get a good night's sleep.....

There were tons of international travelers milling about, speaking many different languages. Our berth was just 4 bunks, 2x2 on each side behind a curtain, not even a real door. Even the walls did not go all the way to the ceiling. Hai and Howie had to book their own bunks last minute in a separate common dorm with up to 20 beds in a great room. Nhan and I thought we lucked out with a semi-private dorm with just 2 other people, but that was even more awkward, I think.

By the time we got back from dinner with Howie's family, it was already kind of late. We had to "sneak" into our own dorm so that we wouldn't wake up the couple we shared it with since they were already fast asleep in the darkened room. I insisted on taking the top bunk, and Nhan obliged. But it hardly mattered where I attempted to sleep. I could actually hear the person in the next dorm rustling around in their bed and snoring. Had I reached over the low wall under the ceiling, I might have poked them in the face-- we were that close.

Nhan and I took great pains to be quiet, but apparently our neighbors did not. We heard people coming and going, laughing and talking through the open windows, slamming doors, stomping feet, and lots of multi-lingual snoring. The French girl in the top bunk across from mine even whimpered in her sleep like a puppy having night terrors. And, it was hotter than Hades on that summer night, so sweaty and humid.

First thing in the morning when I woke, I made brief, terrifying eye contact with the French guy in the opposite bunk, <awkward greeting grin>. On the upside, at least I didn't get robbed!

Nhan>>

Nhan

The morning after, Di and I set out to explore the beach in front of the Jericho Sailing Center. Howie and Hai would join us later. We saw someone who came to the beach for an early morning swim, someone setting out a drag net to catch shrimps, and an older Chinese man who passionately bellowed out Chinese opera while fishing. At this early time, the beach was calm and the water was without a single break on the surface – smooth like a blue mirror.

The sun came out gently and shot light streaks all around behind the grey clouds – the sun looked like a bike’s wheel. Soon, the wind picked up at around 9:30 and the beach was bursting again with people sunbathing, windsurfing, swimming, paddle-boarding and sailing. As we walked around the Jericho Sailing Center, I couldn’t help but admire all the seafaring wares they have at their disposal. So impressive! I would love to work here if I can!!

L to R: Howie, Hai & Nhan

Di >>

L to R: Howie, Di & Nhan

Howie and Hai finally made it out to walk the beach with us. Jericho Beach and Sailing Center is just a rad little place in Vancouver. We mostly had the beach to ourselves to explore in the quiet morning hours.

We stopped in at The Galley Patio & Grill and ate a leisurely brunch on the deck that overlooked the beach.

Nhan>>

As we were sipping coffee and eating, the Sea Dragons assembled on the beach. They are a group of young kids, mostly Asians (hence the name, I guess), working on jibbing techniques for their scout badges. Wow, how cool is that?

The Junior Sea Dragons practicing their drills

Howie making new friends...or rabbit stew

Nhan>>

Howie seemed to be more taken with the local wildlife. Not too many people know that Howie has a soft spot for animals. His pets at home are two chihuahuas and a small flock of geese. Here he was, charming a wild rabbit with Di’s granola bar. If we stayed a bit longer, I think Howie could have taught this rabbit to play dead :)

L to R: Hai, Nhan & Howie

Nhan with the Voyageur Canoes

Di >>

We spent the rest of the morning just exploring the Jericho Sailing Center and taking photos, enjoying the warm sunshine, and savoring our last day in Canada.

L to R: Howie, Di & Nhan

Nhan attempting to bring Sea Dragon sexy back

These "dinosaur" leaves felt hard & scratchy like sandpaper!

Howie reflecting on a floating mirror. See the ships on the glassy surface?

L to R: Howie, Hai & Nhan

L to R: Howie, Hai, Di & Nhan

Our friend Ly, her daughters Amy & Tammy, and her husband Minh came to pick us up in their truck and take us all back to Seattle like they did for STP this year and the year before. Without their very generous efforts, our destination rides would not have been possible-- or we would have had to bike back to Seattle ourselves!

To Ly & Minh, and to Hong & Chinh, we owe a debt of gratitude for their kind friendship in helping us accomplish this major 200 MILE-stone!!!