Alaska - day 12. Time to disembark in Vancouver on July 22

A bittersweet day - as we will be leaving the ship this morning.  Entering the Vancouver harbor was so different -- there were tall buildings, big container ships, much less trees and NO ice.  I guess we've left the last frontier.

Container ships waiting to unload:

And under a very beautiful suspension bridge - the Lion's Gate

Look at all those gorgeous triangles!   It just makes a geometry teacher so very happy.

We even saw an eagle fly in front of the ship.  Of course, I was not quick enough with the camera.

Spent the day touring around Vancouver.   At the point, looking over the harbor, I just had to get one picture of me with the Lion's Gate suspension bridge.  Found out that the bridge was built by the Guinness family. (Yes, the Irish Beer Guiness family). They built the bridge in order to ensure the success of the development of the 4,000 acres they owned in West Vancouver.  

Then we ended up on Granville Island, where there was another bridge - getting upgraded for seismic activity.  Apparently there has been quite a bit of activity in Vancouver , but not big shakes. 

And there were some Continous motion machines - like this one below in front of a concrete company.

  Rube- Goldberg would be so pleased.  I was.

And Vancouver has a Steam Clock.  

The clock is powered by steam from the city's downtown centralized heating system, which drives a piston inside a miniature steam engine inside the clock.

That engine in turn drives a series of ball-weights, chains and gears, which in turn drive a conventional pendulum, which in turn powers the clock's time-keeping mechanism that was custom-built in England based on a 1875 design.

But the clock is not entirely steam powered. It also has three small electric motors to help operate two internal fans, one of which blows the steam out the top, and another that controls the valves that play the tunes on the five steam whistles mounted atop the clock case.

The large central whistle, which was taken off the CPR steam tug Naramata, counts off the full hours while the four auxiliary whistles chime the Westminster Quarters every quarter hour. The number of chimes matches the number of quarter hours that have passed.n (Thanks to CBC Canada for a good synopsis)

*****

And this was the end of my Alaska trip.  I was sorry to leave the last frontier, but ready to get clean clothes and prepare for Part Two - flying cross country.  

Stay tuned here to follow us aross country.  And some reflections on Alaska and all the knowledge we gained.