File this under the “better late than never” category. I received this e-mail earlier in June from warmshowers.org which is sort of like couch-surfing for cyclists.
“> Hello,
>
> My name is Marie-Laure. I’m a french cyclist currently in Vietnam. I will > land in Vancouver on the 15th of june.
> You can find more about my trip on my blog (but it is french) http://tdm5c.blogspot.com
> I would appreciate to have some tips for cycling around Vancouver (after > Vancouver, I will cycle south, along the coast, until San Diego (CA) – > that’s the plan). Would it be possible to meet you, for a drink for example ?
> Kind regards, > Marie-Laure
Having exchanged a few e-mails with Marie-Laure, it still came as a bit of a shock when she text messaged me as Amanda and I were at the “Shark Club” about to watch Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. I wasn’t about to give up my seat to meet with her, so we agreed to meet for lunch the following day. Unfortunately, Marie-Laure had a first-hand account of the result of the game. She writes on her blog:
“But I had not finished with the good news that June 15 was the day of the finals of the Stanley Cup (hockey).Vancouver was a finalist and the whole city was in turmoil early in the afternoon. Very friendly atmosphere and good until the end of the game (around 20 h). After the rioters broke … Around 22 am I looked out my window, I saw all these people in thestreet. Ten minutes later, this is what was left. A lot of damage. “
 |
| Before: Crowds gather to watch hockey. |
 |
| After: Tear Gas quickly disperses the crowd. |
 |
| Marie-Laure sets off on the next leg of her trip! |