Vancouver Ventures | DAY 5 (Pt. 1): Mount Pleasant, Rain or Shine Ice Cream

Whether it be a result of physical fatigue or jet lag, or maybe a mix of both, I awoke later than expected - and later than desired, really.

After my standard coffee-oatmeal breakfast duo and a piece of cloying, unyielding Red Date Jelly from Pine House Bakery inside Parker Place, I was off to run errands.

In true Translink nature, the supposedly frequent 401 bus never arrived at its specified time, in spite of its promise on Google Maps. Instead of waiting for the next bus, which would comedically take more time, I opted to walk to Brighouse.

Around noon, I'd board the SkyTrain towards Olympic Village. Metres from the station entrance was a mobi bike-share station. The vibrant cardinal shade contrasted beautifully against the cool tones of the surrounding environment. The switch in sponsorship had replaced Shaw's mellow turquoise with Roger's signature red, consequently making the stations easier to identify.

Locating the bus stops proved a tad tricky, for unfamiliarity with a region can interfere with awareness of one's bearings relative to the ordinal directions. It also didn't help that signage was nonexistent and the bus stops were dispersed across the six-lane-plus-median intersection, as opposed to being conveniently located along the length of the Olympic Village SkyTrain entrance.

Eventually, the correct bay was located. I'd be on my way to MEC, passing street names I once heard while traversing in the opposite direction from Earnest Ice Cream.

Glancing about the bus, I'd notice not a single person engaging in the consumption of food or beverages. It was not entirely uncommon back home, but appeared almost illegal in Metro Vancouver - just like Halifax. I allowed myself to be persuaded that, due to the route servicing UBC and all of its busy students, munching on a croissant sandwich could be overlooked.

Only half of the parcel was eaten on the bus anyways, for I arrived across MEC before I realized. Needless to say, I was left with no other options that hover about the shaded section of the intersection, finishing my sandwich before continuing onward. BC fare once again exceeded my expectations: the Croissant Sandwich contained a generous amount of lettuce, ham, cheese, and even a thin slab off and even thinner smear of butter on each half, and was decidedly delicious for a day-old, $2.70 specimen.

At MEC, I roamed the floor until finding the jacket that had prompted the visit in the first place. The store layout was neat and tranquil, and emphasized peak camping season with various tents on display.

​An extensive climbing wall was found on the upper level, featuring various holds as well as a warning sign that prohibited visitors from enthusiastically hopping on without staff supervision.

The second floor also offered clean bathrooms plus one universal stall. Just beyond its doors were water fountains - a rarity in the wild, dare I say! - and even a water bowl for pets.

In no mood for Earnest, I had planned to meander towards Rain or Shine, another ice cream favourite amongst locals. The map informed me of two nearby locations: one closer in distance but lengthier in travel time, another further in distance but shorter in travel time. Apparently, retracing my route towards Olympic Village and heading into UBC would be quicker than navigating towards the Cambie location on a fifteen-minute bus ride followed by a fifteen- to twenty-minute walk. Go figure.

​Consequently, I awaited the 084 bus at E 2nd Ave and Main Street to take me into Kitsilano, but the bus ultimately never came. One could argue that the odd instance may be sheer coincidence, though statistics collected over an eight-year period justifies my claims, and commuting qualms, sufficiently. A lady who had also approached the bus stop in wait of the mass transit vehicle eventually abandoned the site and resorted to walking.

I, too, followed in her footsteps, but in the opposite direction. Traversing south along Main Street, I entered into the Mount Pleasant district. The sudden uphill climb was unexpected and, in spite of generally breezy conditions, made for a sweltering walk in the absence of street trees and shade.
The commercial portion of the neighbourhood was quite lively during work hours, its streets occupied by office workers on a late lunch break, however one could presume off-peak times to be distinctly quieter.

​It was by some twist of fate that not a single bus passed me in the southbound direction throughout this perspiration-encumbered saunter. And even if one did, I wasn't anywhere near a transit stop to catch it.

​At reaching the inverted Y-split at E 7th Avenue and Main Street/Kingsway, I debated my next course of action. A breather was sought before the patio chairs of Melo Patisserie - not to be confused with mello donuts - before mustering the determination to continue. By this point, I was just twenty-ish minutes away from Rain or Shine's Cambie location. "Let's just do it." I resolved, turning west onto 12th Ave.

The entirety of this strip would be residential buildings. E 12th Ave would become W 12th Ave west of Ontario Street. The sidewalk varied in width along the stretch, growing narrower and exhibiting signs of neglect as one powered onward. Without sodded boulevards acting as a buffer, I was subject to being pelted with dust from oncoming cars. Overall, the Mount Pleasant community was very run down, even if offering cycling infrastructure in certain parts.

At spotting Vancouver City Hall, I heaved a sigh of relief. Finally, I had arrived at the next major street.

​The scene would evolve entirely when reaching Cambie St, embracing wider, level sidewalks with new concrete, streetscaping elements, and more interesting shops to peruse. Still sunny as ever, little would improve with regard to climate conditions for walking.

Eventually, I made it to Rain or Shine. With a huff and a puff, I yanked open the glass doors to be welcomed inwards with a subtle burst of air conditioning and the sweet scent of waffles on the iron.

Although the dessert parlour was barely bustling, it was with awe that at least ten patrons were casually perched about the store's perimeter on a Thursday afternoon at 2 PM. Setting my belongings down on an empty bench, I began to take in my surroundings: a merch section by the front, a self-serve water station and compost bin, and a purple cow fixture with flourishing eyelashes and an ice cream cone horn.

A triad of non-English-speaking tourists had just beat me to the cashier. Comprising of an elderly lady, loud, hunched middle-aged man, and slim young lady, I observed from behind with undeniable restlessness. the ice cream-sampling antics of three generations. On the other hand, the apron-donning staff member opposite the counter was visibly unbothered by their excessive indecisiveness.

​The spectacle was so sluggish that I could assemble all my belongings into the single stall lavatory, furrow my brows at the sight of plush rodents in the corner coat rack, and emerge once more before they had successfully placed - and received! - their orders.

​At long last, my turn had come.

Samples were requested for the Honey Lavender and London Fog. Despite being provided on wooden spoons, they thankfully did not retain the off-putting palate of wood like Paragon. The staff responding with a calm, pleasant demeanour, but was otherwise short in the enthusiasm department.

Honey Lavender was heavenly and floral, embodying the prominent presence of lavender buds, noticeable essence of honey, and a tingly aftertaste. The natural sweetener was confirmed a stellar pairing to complement lavender's innately floral qualities. All in all, the best-seller was wonderful, but perhaps too sweet if ingesting more than a scoop.

London Fog was incredibly potent and silky without being satiating. With stronger notes of vanilla and earl grey than bergamot, it was immediately deemed attractive enough to secure a $10.50 pint (tax-free) for the trip back home.

​A Kids' Single Scoop of the Honey Lavender set me back just four dollars plus tax! While still much larger than expected, it was the perfect size to tie me over before an early dinner.

Decently strong winds were experienced while strolling south. Technically, I could have continued and boarded the SkyTrain back home from King Edward Station. My poor choice of cotton attire and cooler bag-less acquisition of ice cream begged me to consider alternate forms of transportation though.

At Cambie and W 21st Ave, I requested an Uber back home. My position would be unchanged while awaiting my driver and his Mitsubishi. As such, one could imagine my confusion at receiving an "I have arrived." message two minutes before spotting any vehicle in the vicinity.

The man had hailed from Southeast Asian origins, contrasting against the East Asian or Caucasian Uber-driving population I've encountered to date. His vehicle featured seat covers, an element I hadn't observed in any Toronto Uber. Although less pristine than the real estate agent's white Tesla, the car was clean and free of odours.

​Open windows enabled a drive back with an unobstructed view of the mountains. In spite of being a steamy day for exploring the city on foot, the conditions were ideal for a river-side drive.

Read Part 2 HERE !