Recent walks along Stanley Park Seawall

In the last week or so we have had to go into the city several times to visit a friend in hospital.  The nearest easy walking to this is Stanley Park so we have taken the opportunity a couple of times to take Mojo and combine the trip downtown with a walk for him.

The first of the walks was on a cold, rainy November day.  We had a shorter walk along the southside of the park.

This view looking back towards the edge of the West End and Burrard Bridge.

Views along the sea wall

Third Beach is deserted – not surprising for the time of year.

Sunlight catches a tanker which is anchored in Burrard Inlet.

A little sun shines through on the Lighthouse Park penninsula,

The following day we were back at Stanley Park and this time it was a lovely sunny day, still quite a lot of cloud on the Northshore but nonetheless a lovely day.  This time we walked along some of the North East side of the park.  This is a view of sunny Stanley Park.

Yachts moored in Coal Harbour, with the edge of the West End behind.

We head past Hallelujah Point and the North Shore comes into view.

The Second Narrows Bridge is just visible through some low-lying fog, the Seabus crossing Burrard Inlet in front of it.

Then a couple of days later we returned again to Stanley Park while with Mojo downtown.  This time the weather was again beautiful and we completed the whole seawall.

This is a panorama view of North Vancouver.

The towers of Lower and Central Lonsdale with snowy Lynn Peak in the background on the left and Mt Seymour on the right.

The view of the Second Narrows bridge as before, but this time beautifully clear.

Huge Olympic rings are established on a barge in Burrard inlet, ready for illumination in 2010 as a backdrop to the TV broadcasters based in Coal Harbour.

Other peaks in North Vancouver including Grouse Mountain on the right hand side (parts of a couple of the ski-runs are just visible)

Views across towards the British Properties sub-division in West Vancouver.  In the middle of the photo you can just see the two snowy peaks of The Lions peeping over the top of the hill.

Lions Gate Bridge.

Looking back towards North Vancouver, the lighthouse at Brockton Point seen on the right.

Snowy Mt Baker in Washington State can just be seen on the horizon, it was much clearer to the naked eye than on this image though.  Also, it was unusual to see it so clearly during the day this time of year, often it’s only seen later in the afternoon as the sun has moved around further and is shining on the old volcano.

Lions Gate Bridge with West Vancouver in the background.

A CN Rail train passes over the bridge next to the dog beach in Ambleside.

Another view of the bridge.

Looking West towards West Vancouver with Bowen Island beyond and the peaks of Howe Sound in the distance.

Unlike our previous recent walks, today West Vancouver is bathed in sunshine.

Finally we complete the sea wall and start heading back towards the car.  The sun moved around and now provides good views of downtown.

Finally, after picking up the car we headed back into downtown and caught this interesting snap while stopped at lights on West Georgia Street.  The sunlight and mix of new and old architecture caught my eye.

Three great walks and very convenient on the doorstep when you have things to do downtown !

Testing the new camera

A couple of weeks ago we had to buy a new camera when our previous one stopped functioning.

We bought a Canon Powershot SD980 IS with 24mm wideangle and 12.1mp. It also records HD movie so beware, there's going to be more of that too !

The day after we bought the camera was nice and sunny so we took the opportunity to take some snaps while we were out walking Mojo to see how the new camera performed.

Views along Lynn Creek

The trail under East Keith Road

And the Highway 1 bridge

Mojo stomping through the fallen leaves

Lots of golden leaves

A rare glimpse of blue sky (we've seen it we think once since this walk on the 1st November !)

The camera captures the vivid colours of the autumn leaves well

Views of the river

Mojo fetching a stick

A fallen tree branch in the river

Looking down the river from the bridge

Nice wide trails, but enough other dog walkers to keep Mojo happy

After three weeks of rain it's nice to see some colourful pictures !

Looking through the trees down to the river. The camera manages the mix of sun and shade better than our old camera.

Finally a close up of the river through the trees.

So we have established that the camera does a good job. We just need some nice weather to enable us to get out and snap some more.

Our Beautiful City.

A quick snap from the car from Cambie of Downtown & the North Shore Mountains.

It is great to live somewhere so nice and see sights like this when just out doing daily stuff!

Winter Starts

So with our first hail storm, temperature drop, morning frosts, stormy seas and yes snow on the mountains, winter is here!!

Winters are pretty mild here in Vancouver but a definite season that we have come to enjoy.

A montage of pics from this week as winter arrives.....

Schools Out !

This week we completed the second in the series of training classes for Mojo. This level was 'Beginners' and the term has finished until after Christmas when we commence 'Advanced Beginners'.

The photo here shows Mojos class, although the photo doesn't have David in it as they took the pictures in the penultimate week which was when he had surgery on his shoulder and couldn't come to the class.

Baby Shower

Last month David hosted his first Baby Shower.

Ok, this isn't something we have ever come close to getting involved in previously but Alecia, a work colleague and friend of Davids was having a baby and as we live more centrally and have a bigger house than some of her other friends we were to be the hosts.

Essentially it turns into a small party with a few rules such as it should only go on for 4hrs, you have to have sandwiches, cake and a so on. You also have to decorate the house and have a 'diaper cake' - thankfully the new mother gets to keep this not the host !

Anyway, it was a good chance for Alecia to get out with her newborn, Maya and catch up with her friends.


A week or two after the shower we then had just Alecia over with Maya for the afternoon. It was her first trip out somewhere with Maya on her own (she had come to the Shower with her mother-in-law and been out places with Dallas before but not on her own).

All went well and we both got some cuddles in.

David, Maya and Alecia

Mojo was a little over boisterous to begin with, particularly when Maya cried, but by the end of the afternoon he was pretty relaxed and seemed happy enough to have her around.

Two Canyon Loop

Last week I decided to try a new circular walk which joins both Lynn Creek and Seymour River Canyons.

I had to run a couple of errands on Lonsdale before setting out, the view here back up Lonsdale Avenue. It was a beautiful, crisp fall day.
Zoomed in on the new wind turbine and observation tower on Grouse Mountain. When I photographed it from Dog Mountain only the tower was constructed, now you can see the blades and observation pod are in place. Reading online they say the tower should be working from December 2009.
I picked up Mojo and headed over to Lynn Canyon Park, the starting point of our walk. The view here up on Braemar of more autumnal colours.

Once at Lynn Canyon Mojo was brave enough for the bridge.....just. He wasn't planning to stop and enjoy the view though. Actually, I didn't either as a large tour party arrived at the same time which was noisy and very bouncy on the bridge.

The official route of the Two Canyon Loop takes you straight up into the forest towards the Seymour Conservation area. However, I decided to take the more scenic route alongside Lynn Creek to 30' pool.

Down beside Lynn Creek, the sun is still quite low even at around 10am as it was at this point.

This is 30' pool. It looks quite calm and in the summer probably inviting but a very strong under current flows beneath the surface.

Now the downside to taking the initially scenic route alongside the river is that you have to regain the height you lost doing it.

Views across the canopy from the top of the stairs.
Once at the top of the stairs we walk along into the Seymour Conservation area parking lot where there are a myriad of trails leading off into the parkland.

We were headed for the Homestead trail

The Homestead trail was very easy walking, although pretty steep in places as it descends into the Seymour River Canyon

It was a good opportunity to practise some recall for Mojo which he has been working on for his class.

The morning sunlights streamed through the trees

We reached the base of the canyon and turned right to follow the trail alongside the Seymour River.

Until the 1930's there had been a small village situated on the banks of the river. In the 1920's the area was designated a protected watershed and this eventually brought about the demise of the village.

This arch is one of a few remaining architectural details from one of the homesites. Apparently there are also some chimneys, gates and foundations from other ranches and businesses.

Here are a few old photos taken of some of the homes in this location from the 1920's and 30's



Further along the river we reach a spawning channel built on the West side of the river. There weren't any fish visiable today as it is out of season but the channel is used to breed coho salmon, rainbow and cutthroat trout and char.

View of the Seymour River, it is quite a bit bigger than Lynn Creek.

Old tunnel cut through the rock created to carry a pipeline, now disused.

Looking back up the Seymour River.

A brief panorama view of the river and the remaining one of the Twin Bridges.

At this point our camera finally decided to stop working properly (it had been playing up for some months previously) and I found I could no longer zoom or use the wide angle as the lens was stuck in a certain position. Therefore the remaining photos on this post are simply what I could do with the camera malfunctioning !

This view downstream towards the bridge.

We reach the bridge and will cross it. It's pretty uninspiring and a quick search on the internet I can't find when the other bridge was either dismantled, or collapsed or indeed why they needed two in the first place ?

Looking upstream from the bridge

The two pillars at either end of the now removed bridge are visiable

We then walk someway downstream on the East bank of the river before joining the Baden Powell Trail and crossing back over the river on a narrow bridge built above a pipeline. At this point the Seymour River is very narrow and the water rushes through the canyon with explosive force

A short piece of movie of the water to give an idea of the force with which is passes through the canyon. Unfortunately the video is sideways and I was a long way from the bridge before I realised so I couldn't go back and refilm it.

Unfortunately I knew at somepoint I was going to have to payback for the steep descent on the Homestead Trail. We now reached another very steep staircase built into the canyonside which then gave way to a long stretch of steep switchbacks.

Once over the top of the canyon side we crossed back into Lynn Canyon Park and down close to the Lynn Creek where the trail became much more manageable again and in places was on a boardwalk where the ground was too boggy to walk upon

We found a nice quiet stretch of beach along the river. Mojo stopped for a drink, paddle and a pose.

A brief panorama of the beach area, canyon and river

Looking up Lynn Creek

Further along the trail we reach Twin Falls. Unfortunately as the camera was not working correctly the images are pretty poor, although the falls were quite impressive as it's a very wet time of year


Finally a view back up the canyon from the bridge over Twin Falls.

We then continued upstream until we reached the suspension bridge once again, crossed the river and back to the car. It was an excellent walk and one that we will certainly do again at different times of the year.

Happy Halloween

So Halloween is a big deal here in North America. Not something we have really got into until this year when we are going to a friends for a big party. Apparently their fave holiday of the year.

We have opted for a low key costume and had to carve a pumpkin as bringing one is compulsory so that the whole house is surrounded by them??!

Here is our pumpkin. They are so easy to buy & very cheap for Halloween. This one cost $3.49.

After cutting a lid you scoop out the guts!
Then carve the face. At this point we wonder how many people end up in hospital with knife injuries?
Mojo was most bemused.

All done and ready for the fun!!

Happy Halloween everyone

Lighthouse Park, Oct 2009

A couple of weeks ago we revisited Lighthouse Park for a walk. It had been a good year or so since I had last been and of course Mojos first visit.

The forecast had been for the day to be bright and sunny but unfortunately it turned out to be more bright and overcast so not a great day in the end for photos, but there are a few here from our walk.

Views of a tanker anchored offshore

Looking back towards the city, on the skyline from left to right the Lions Gate Bridge, Stanley Park and Downtown.

Then a panorama view from Eagle Point. The background noise is the very noisy tanker offshore.

Then we saw a seal swimming in the water, not a great photo but you can just see it's head above the waterline

Views along the coastline of Lighthouse Park

Looking back at waterfront houses in West Vancouver

Mojo, king of the rock....and no, we haven't 'Photoshopped' his tongue, it really is huge !

More coastline views

Starboat Cove

We walked past the actual lighthouse without stopping as it was really busy and onto West Beach where we were treated to this view of a seal sat on a rock just offshore. It keeps looking down into the water, presumably hunting for fish.


Views of Passage Island (small) and Bowen Island (big island in the background)

Closer view of Passage Island

The Coastal Renaissance ferry returning from Vancouver Island heading for Hoseshoe Bay

Another panorama view, I think this one was from Shore Pine Point.

These views from Juniper Point looking across Howe Sound

And zoomed in on the Bowen Island ferry.

Lynn Headwaters, Sept 2009

I realised there were a couple of photos taken on a walk last month in Lynn Headwaters. It wasn't anywhere we hadn't been before, but it was a beautiful day and one of the last opportunities to see the peaks before they get snow covered again.

These views from the attractively named 3rd debris chute.




Down beside Lynn Creek

Mojo having a drink and paddle

Views of the neighbouring peaks

Practising our 'sit'

Thanksgiving Dinners

A couple of weeks ago it was Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada. Thanksgiving here is on a Monday, perhaps a little more practically than the Thursday it falls on in the US, so typically it turns into a big holiday weekend, usually the last chance for families to get together or away for a break before Christmas.

We enjoyed two dinners with friends over the weekend. On the Sunday we had Sig & Helen and the kids, plus their father Bill over to ours. We initially met up in the park and walked the dogs (they brought their black lab Buddy over) so the four-legged ones could burn up some energy and we could burn off a few calories in readiness for putting them back on !

David had already prepared the veg and the chicken and potatoes were in the oven before we went out so once back in the house half and hour of slaving in the kitchen by David and dinner was ready. Rather than a traditional Canadian thanksgiving dinner we prepared a good traditional English roast. Chickens, carrotts, peas, brocolli, cauliflower, roast parsnip and everyones favourite - roast potatoes. We even had Paxo sage & onion stuffing mix we found in a British import food shop.

Desert was made simply and do-it-yourself as we put together a chocolate fondue. Sig & Helen had brought loads of cut-up fruit, cream puffs and we already had some marshmallows so it might not have been the healthiest desert but it was definately good.

We have no idea where Bas managed to tuck so much desert away. Underneath the choclate dip & skor pieces there's a piece of fruit....honest.

Bill and Max enjoying desert

Bella & Sig pretending to be healthy and only eat the fruit

Max, Helen and Bas on the sofa with Buddy. We had been unsure how well Mojo would react to Buddy being in the house with him because although he's great out on walks with other dogs we've not had another dog in the house with him before. However,. Mojo was great, infact all he wanted to do with Buddy in the house was play with him.......continually.......which if anything just annoyed Buddy. Then again Buddy is a mature 5yr old rather than a sprightly 8mth old puppy.


The next day we were invited over to Deb & Bobs condo for a traditional Canadian Thanksgiving dinner, and a good-bye party as they were heading off the following day on a long sailing holiday around Australia.
This was more typical of a Canadian Thanksgiving meal with roast turkey, large salad, roast vegetables, mashed potatoes and candied yams.

All in all a fun weekend, a great practise run for Christmas !

Pitt Lake & Grant Narrows Regional Park

Last week Mojo and I explored a new area to us alongside the south end of Pitt Lake in Pitt Meadows. There is a long dyke running along the southside of the lake which connects up with a number of other gravel top dykes south of the lake which form the Grant Narrows Regional Park.

Views across the farmland in Pitt Meadows approaching the lake.

This is where the Pitt River leads off from the south end of the lake. Views here from the end of the lake / beginning of the river and looking up the lake, which is in total 25kms long.


Looking West down the River.


There are a number of privately owned cabins further up the lake accessed only by boat and a number of small craft passed us on the walk

Looking South over Grant Narrows Regional Park.

The flat gravel top dykes make easy walking

The view North across the lake opens up.

And a panorama of the lake and park. Aside from the quiet humm of a jet overhead on it's way to YVR, there's no other noise. The park is quite a long way from major roads.

While the lake does get deep in the middle (I believe 140m at its deepest point) the edges are very shallow. Mojo here running in to fetch a stick and barely getting his belly wet !

Mojo posing on the walk

As well as the motorboats on the lake there were a couple of people using a slower method of travel

There were a number of observation towers as we were walking in a protected wildlife habitat, the towers enable you to see further as well a into the tree canopys for bird watching

Looking East from an observation tower

Nearby peaks on the edge of Goldern Ears Provincial Park

Boat ramps

The Pitt River continues in a south westerly route away from the lake, before eventually joining the Fraser River and into the Pacific Ocean

More views of the Pitt River

Finally a panorama of the Pitt River, south west of the lake.

It was a terrific and easy walk which beautiful scenery was greatly enhanced by the great weather.

Raccoons

We were surprised one morning this week to find a family of three raccoons walking around in the front garden. We have seen three (and presumably these same three) raccoons on several occasions in the garden at night but this was particularly unusual seeing them during the day.

Dog Mountain - Sept 2009

A week or two ago the weather was forecast to be good so Mojo and I headed onto Dog Mountain on Seymour Provincial Park.

Lots of sunlight through the forest


Mojo sitting to attention, while still nice and clean.

Arriving at First Lake.

A cabin is perched on the bluff above the lake

Down beside First Lake.

A brief panorama of First Lake. It was beautifully peaceful & quiet (with the exception of Mojos annoying bear bell).

Up on the mountain it was a glorious, blue-sky day

Mojo managed to get really mucky racing around First Lake and some of the trail was wet as we had quite a lot of rainfall in a few of the days preceeding our walk.

Once up on Dog Mountain we discovered that the lower elevations had become very hazy and cloudy. Very little of the city can be seen


However, the higher level views West & North over Grouse and surrounding peaks were beautiful and clear

A zoomed in view of the new wind-turbine & observation tower being constructed on the top of Grouse Mountain. Since this photo was taken they have now completed the tower, added the viewing pod and the blades for the turbine.

More views of the surrounding peaks


A very hazy glimpse of Lower Lonsdale comes into view

You can just make out the silhouette of Mt Baker

Finally another view at the views to the North and we head back down through the forest to the car.

Sheena Easton

On 25th September we went to see Sheena Easton at the River Rock Casino in Richmond. I was somewhat uncertain that this was a very good idea, but was veto'd by David after I wouldn't let us go to a show she was performing in Las Vegas a few years back.

I was pehaps sceptical more due to ignorance as I couldn't really name any music I knew of hers I was just under the impression she produced bad '80's pop rubbish. Well, actually yes she does produce some of that but she is also quite a strong female vocal performer who kicks out some reasonable slower ballad and folk numbers too.

The other great aspect of her show was that it was in the small River Rock Theatre so we were in row 'K', just 11 rows back which made it an intimate environment, great acoustics and you could clearly see and hear her both when performing and talking.

False Creek Seawall

A couple of days before Mum and Dad were to return home the weather was good and I wasn't tied up on appointments so we ventured into the city for a walk neither David or I had done before.

We walked the seawall around False Creek. We have completed the section around Stanley Park a number of times but the same seawall continues around most of the downtown penninsula and made a nice urban waterside stroll. The total loop is approximately 10kms although we did a little less than this as we took the Aquabus from Granville Island to Stamps Landing, cutting out perhaps 1.5kms.

So we parked on the South side of False Creek and walked to the waters edge near Stamps Landing.

Views here across False Creek towards the Yaletown neighbourhood of downtown.

Looking due North from the south side of the inlet again at Yaletown

Looking in a North Westerly direction towards downtown, the dome of BC Place just appears on the right and the Cambie Street bridge is here also.

We walk a little further along in an anti-clockwise direction so soon Science World appears at the end of the inlet.

Looking across to Coopers Point, BC Place behind and the Northshore mountains in the distance

We walk along the front of the Olympic Village, which is nearing completion ready for the Winter Games in February 2010. The landscaping incorporates a sensitive man-made eco-system, which we don't think is quite functioning yet given the state of the tidal creek in the foreground.

We get closer to Science World and will indeed walk along front of it, around the back of the inlet and then along the North side of False Creek. Science World was built as part of the Expo '86 fair and has remained a landmark building and tourist attraction in the city.

This is the Plaza of Nations which was also built as part of the Expo '86 fair. However this building was only designed to be temporary so in 2007 much of the site was demolished as the repairs and maintenance became unviable. It had originally housed a 4,500 seat open-air but covered auditorium plus further indoor conference and meeting facilities. The auditorium and associated office blocks have been torn down but the conference facilities have been converted and now house the Edgewater Casino.

Mojo and I

A group taking dragon boat lessons

Dad, Mum and I

We stop outside Science World for some lunch. Shortly after we continue our walk, this view across the park next to Science World looking towards the condo towers on Quebec St with the skytrain in front.

A good view of the two stadiums. BC Place on the left - home of the BC Lions and large concerts such as the Madonna show we went to earlier this year. On the right is GM Place which is home to the Canucks and smaller stage concerts such as the Bon Jovi and James Blunt shows we had been to.

A good view looking back across False Creek to the Olympic Village we had walked along the front of earlier. The assortment of towers will house the athletes for the games next year and then be sold off as condos afterwards.

Looking back up False Creek, Plaza of Nations on the left and Science World on the right.

A couple of art pieces on the North side of the inlet


We continue on the North Side of False Creek here we are adjacent to David Lam Park.

A funky new condo tower The Erikson being built.

This view is looking South over False Creek neighbourhood with the waterfront Charleson Park in the foreground.

View back to Stamps Landing where we had started our walk, and will return to by water taxi shortly.

View of Granville Street bridge

House boats along the side of the inlet

We walked under the Granville Street the view here across to Granville Island.

Looking West towards the Burrard Street bridge.

We then catch the first of two water taxis, or Aquabus as they are called.

The first Aquabus took us across False Creek to Granville Island, where we needed to change and get another one up the inlet back to Stamps Landing close to where the car was parked. Dad, Mum, Mojo and I waiting for the second of the Aquabus

Mum and Dad on the Aquabus

Mojo tolerates the ride although would have prefered to stay on dry land.

In fact Mojo is quite exhausted after this walk as it was actually his second one of the day having had a long off-leash stick throwing kind of a walk in the morning and then this longer on-leash stroll. He was ready to get home and snooze.

An excellent walk making terrific use of the waterfront and gave a different perspective to the city.

Driving Home from Nelson

After a lovely relaxing week in the Kootenays it was time to pack up and head home. The weather had improved throughout the week so by the time we were driving home the temperature was in the late 20's and sunny.

Mojo was packed into his small square of space for the journey. He actually travels very well and didn't seem to mind the limited leg room.

One of the more interesting towns we drove through on the way home was Greenwood. Proudly one of BC's smallest towns it largely became established when copper was discovered in the area around 1900. However, by the 1920's the price of copper had dropped significantly and the smelter plant eventually closed. Since then Greenwood has continued to exist predominately as a small agricultural and logging town with the noticeable feature that many of the historic buildings along the main street have been preserved.

Views here of the main street in Greenwood (thanks Mum for these photos)





Sometime later in our journey the landscape changes noticeably from mountainous, forested to open plains and desert like.


The last major town before we come back to the Lower Mainland is Osoyoos, a large resort town on Lake Osoyoos which boasts one of the warmest & driest climates in Canada.

View of the steep switchbacks along the side of the Okanaghan Highland which lead down into the valley basin where the lake and town are situated.

Views of Osoyoos


Finally we reached home having had a terrific week away and pleased to have discovered another beautiful part of BC.