Sunday 25th July 2010….The Grouse Grind!!!

So back to yesterday when I picked Sara up at the ferry terminal and we came over to Deb and Rick’s house and the big family re-union.

So this is Sara’s twin Warren, with his wife Linda and daughter Jacki.

This one above is with sister Deb and Rick and daughter Heather.

Deb and Rick put on a wonderful BBQ meal and the stories started coming out…

It was a great evening and everyone had a good time but it was early to bed for everyone as we had a big day planned for Sunday!!

So here we are Sunday morning and it is a spectacular hot and sunny morning and the plan is to hike up the Grouse Grind I have heard of this but never done it.

This is taken from their website!!!

If it's action you want, there are non-stop year-round adventures to keep your heart racing. The most famous is the Grouse Grind, a seasonal (yes, we take the winter off) gruelling, near vertical run-a foot slog for some-2.9k hike up the mountain, gaining 2800 feet in elevation. Little wonder it's known as the "Mother Nature's Stairmaster."

So here are the hearty and fearless hikers!!!

Sara volunteered to be the “Bag Lady”, she took the gondola up the mountain whilst the rest of us began the 950 metre elevation hike up.

I was quite amazed to see so many people on the trail…. all ages and sizes and all mostly puffing quite hard.

It was a steep stepped trail up

Here is Jacki showing the way!!

Me having a rest

Not a very encouraging sign!!!

It was about 100 minutes later when we reached the summit and we were all happy we had completed the climb at least those of us that could speak were!!!!

Sara had been at the summit and she took all these photos, the views were quite awesome.

There were many attractions at the summit and we saw these monsters at the Bear Habitat.

We then watched a very talented lumberjack show

Another animal roaming the path at the summit….

It was time to fight the crowds for the gondola down the mountain…

We got back to the house around 3pm and it was a great adventure!!!!

Some of the family went to see Lion King and Sara and I stayed home and I rested!!!!

Another great day and it has been really wonderful for me to meet more of Sara’s family!!!