We reach Whistler only to grab a quick lunch and jump back into the roadster, this time heading in the opposite direction, back down the Sea to Sky highway. Once again the curves snaked their way through rocky crevices, the Z8 winding its way with the fluid grace of a large cat chasing its prey. Beyond the town of Squamish, intimidating granite cliffs loom overhead and sobering drop-offs lead to the ocean surface a few hundred feet below. The cool breeze stings my cheeks, a deep roar from the exhaust escapes with every blip of the throttle, yet again another spine-tingling curve beckons the Z8 to surge forward - a magical memory in the making.
Blue skies darken as we approach the Vancouver skyline, the sun well over the horizon as faint lights glimmer in the distance. The only negative, in what was one of the most entertaining road trips experienced on a highway I have traveled hundreds of times, is how quickly it comes to an end. Dropping Dave off, I make my way through Burnaby back streets, and across the south side of Vancouver toward Richmond, where BMW Canada keeps its West Coast offices. All around me are cars filled with people with minds filled with their business of the day. I calmly guided the Z8 through congested city streets, feeling like a trusted hand carefully leading a race winning thoroughbred to its table after a deserving victory. Such as Secretariat, Phar Lap and Man o'War, there are few cars on this earth with the breeding heritage of the thoroughbred Z8. And isn't the embodiment of an animalist heart and soul the defining element of an exotic? I think so.
