Paid a little visit to historic Gastown. First I stood in front of the Europe Hotel, a flatiron-ish sort of building which was the first fireproof hotel in western Canada.
I then walked across the street and visited the man for whom this area of town is named - Gassy Jack. I kid you not. Capt. John 'Gassy Jack' Deighton was a former riverboat pilot turned saloonkeeper who, in 1867, was the first settler on this site from which Vancouver was to evolve. Apparently, in Victorian times the term 'to gas' referred to talking a lot, something which Captain Deighton had become famous for. Thankfully they didn't refer to him as being full of crap, otherwise the area could have had a very different name.
Following our little visit there was a brief standoff with a fellow outside the Western Boot Headquarters which, thankfully, did not lead to any major casualties.
Next I ventured into Blood Alley where the Gaolers Mews is located. This site dates to the 1850s, which is quite old as far as Vancouver is concerned. Bloody brawls within the former resulted in incarceration in a small unlocked cabin in the latter. Gastown's first constable, Jonathan Miller, ankle-chained the prisoners who were then guarded by John Clough, a one-armed drunkard.
Intrigued by the sign, decided to pop into the Shebeen Whiskey House for a quick pint of whiskey.
Took a brief walk around while waiting for the Steam Clock to go off.
The tour culminated with a noontime visit to the famous Steam Clock. Not too thrilling but steam does in fact come out of it and it was only about five minutes slow. There was a sizable group gathered to watch me pose for Superfuture.
THE END
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