The last couple of weeks have brought several days of torrential rain and a little snow, only today are we seeing some very welcome sunshine !
Most walks with Mojo have been dashing through Princess Park, or further afield at Lynn Headwaters but I wasn’t going to risk taking the camera out in some of our recent weather.
However, on two days we did manage to at least get walks in and stay dry.
The first was a revisit to Pitt Lake and the wildlife reserve. I had to visit a furniture store in Coquitlam to collect a sample for our new media room sofas so it seemed like a good opportunity to continue on to Pitt Lake.
Mojo is pleased to be back here, this walk is always a good supply of birds to chase and plenty of water to go for a dip in. No surprises he’s also armed with a nice big stick.
The day we were walking here was following a couple of good wind/rain storms and there was debris and damage to the trail in several places.
We then had a slightly surreal and brief Skype session – with Davids mum Sue, her friend Mal and their friend Bridget – Bridget lives just a few miles from Pitt Lake where we are but is visiting her family & friends in the UK and was at Sues house for the evening. Sue wanted to show Bridget the wonders of modern technology – webcamming, and I wasn’t going to be home at the computer before Bridget left Sues house for the evening. So we had a brief webcam with me on my iPhone walking Mojo and Bridget in Sues living room before continuing with our walk.
A little further along the trail winds North through the marshland towards the lake. Views here North over the marsh.
And the view South back over the nature reserve.
Soon we reach Pitt Lake itself, Mojo of course has to jump straight in and check it’s still as great for swimming as his last visit !
Final views of the lake as we head back along the causeway. Up to the right the recent wintery weather has left a very defined snowline.
Another recent walk in pleasant weather was on Monday when I took Mojo out for a couple hours to Burnaby Mountain.
At just over 1200ft this ‘mountain’ is a mere lump by comparison to many of our other local peaks, nonetheless it is easily accessible and we were able to do a circular walk starting much lower down on Hastings Street and walking up the south west side to Centennial Park, taking in the views and then returning on the north west corner.
The walk starts like most others……lots of pent up energy and enthusiasm to burn off fetching sticks and chasing the occasional squirrel.
Like everywhere else in the Lower Mainland fall is definitely over, all the leaves have dropped and the canopy in our deciduous forests have completely opened up.
Soon we reach the clearing that marks the edge of Centennial Park atop Burnaby Mountain. Beyond the trees ahead is Simon Fraser University and the adjoining residential development. Aside from this the majority of Burnaby Mountain is still predominately wild forest environment.
Mojo waits patiently for his stick to be thrown again, although he’s beginning to realise that I keep throwing it downhill and it’s a long slog back up again ! The wide open parkland is great for stick throwing and would be perfect with a chuck-it ball too.
Hiding behind a rock won’t stop me finding your stick and throwing it !
Good views from Centennial Park on Burnaby Mountain towards the North Shore mountains.
Panorama from the top of Burnaby Mountain.
Horizons Restaurant is fully re-opened after a massive fire destroyed it in April 2010.
Just beyond the restaurant is a lookout from the North side of the mountain. Here we get views North East along Burrard Inlet towards Port Moody.
Looking due North up Indian Arm.
The Dollarton neighbourhood of North Vancouver.
The villages of Deep Cove and Belcarra can be seen on the left and right respectively of Indian Arm.
These totems were erected to celebrate Burnaby’s twin city of Kushiro, Japan. Called Kamui Mintara meaning ‘Playground of the Gods’ they depict the story of Japans native peoples, the Ainu and of the gods who came down to Earth to give birth to them.
After visiting the totems we follow the well marked trails back down the inlet side of Burnaby Mountain to where we have parked the car just off Hastings St.
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