Fall Foliage New England tour Oct 22, 2010

Today had me once again back on a Gray Line tour bus - this time heading north of Boston and into southern New Hampshire - after being shuttle from my hotel to the load point at the Transportation center - for a fall foliage tour. Once again we had a native Bostonian for a driver and at times he was more funny than some on the Comedy Network - the bus was near full as this trip will only be offered until this weekend.

We followed mostly rural roads out of Boston until our first stop at Waldo Pond - named after Ralph Waldo Emerson who grew up in the area - then it was pass a field of different looking cows - the driver described them as OREO Cows - they do look much like the cookie of the same name. Then it was time for a restroom, coffee or ice cream break before heading into Willard Brook State Forest at Ashby Ma which has a small covered bridge and nice stream flowing through it.

Then we headed for an old church and cemetery with lots of fall colors before passing into New Hampshire - my first time in that state - - then it was a lunch stop in Rindge NH - it was a pre-ordered meal and not included in the ticket price - I choose a chicken breast done in a brandy sauce - it was the most popular item chosen - perhaps having some brandy in it had something to do with it - I shared a table with a couple from Cairns, Australia who I found out are on the same cruise as I.

After lunch we made a couple more stops at some scenic lakes - chance to stretch our legs - the weather which started sunny, windy and cool was ever changing including a few snow flakes - yes snow flakes - near where this lake was located - the driver explained that we are in the snow belt north of Boston. Our next to final stop was a shopping mall with a restroom break - also a nice stream and colorful foliage along its banks . Then a stop at a working farm for a chance to look over a pumpkin patch and corn maze and some farm animals.

Then it was back to Boston - the traffic and the layout of the roads in the City means lots of extra time to get everyone back to there originating hotel - in my case almost 7PM - not the driver's fault just the way traffic is in Boston.

Tomorrow a bit of repacking - I picked up a 12 pack of pop - need to put that in one of my bags - if all goes as planned I will share a cab ride with a couple from Idaho who are staying at this hotel and who I have been talking too on line.

Cheers

D

Boston arrival and Cape Cod Oct 20 - 21, 2010

Added a number of photos from yesterday's trip to the Cape. Enjoy

Well I have arrived in Boston in preparation for my cruise on Saturday - the train ride here was uneventful - spent today touring Cape Cod - tomorrow a trip up New Hampshire for some fall colors.

Cheers

That's me in front of the reflecting pool and the Christian Science First church in Boston - it was built after St Peter's in Rome.

The sign says it all!

The memorial - it is located not far from the Kennedy compound at Hyannisport on the shores of Lewis Bay - we weren't able to see the compound because of choppy seas.

Real New England clam chowder.

My fish and chip lunch at the Lobster Boat restaurant in Yarmouth, Ma.

Our next stop was the town of Sandwich - named after the Earl of Sandwich - it is also the oldest incorporated town in Mass. dating back to 1638 - seems that the Puritans didn't register Plymouth even though it was established in 1620.

Halloween is coming and there was a display on the lawn of the town Library - here is one of the displays.

Sandwich was famous for it's early glass making industry and this is from a display at the Sandwich Glass Museum.

Since we couldn't do a sea cruise the driver took us to Plymouth where we had an hour to see lots of history including this exact replica of the Mayflower - imagine a ship that size with 102 passengers + crew + animals.

Finally it me again in front of the Monument to our Forefathers - if it looks familiar it should be - this was actually built first and the French designers of the Statute of Liberty actually visited the site to copy its design.

It was a great day and now it is off from a fall foliage tour up into New Hampshire.

Hornby Street bike lane Oct 15, 2010

Well the City is blazing away in the creation of the bike lane the full length of Hornby Street in downtown Vancouver - this 3 Million $$$ + project has generated a lot of discussion and controversy but the City is determined to get the project underway and my block is the first to get worked on. They have to remove a traffic bulge that was put in about 10 years ago so they can maintain parking on my side of the street. This entails either removing or moving some eight trees - they are being moved as you will see in the images below.

Fall colors along the False Creek seawall near the foot of Granville St

Sidewalk is being rebuilt and the trees moved a couple of feet. Quite the process for moving these trees.

This one is just about ready to be moved.

Looking up Hornby from Pacific.

If I was to obey this sign I would not be able to enter my condo building.

Fortunately I leave for Boston in a few days and will miss most of the mess and traffic chaos that is likely to ensue.

Cheers

A brief update

Haven`t been posting all that much as Facebook has become more of my social media source BUT as I will be leaving in a few days for Boston and a 15 day Caribbean cruise I thought I would stop in a post an update - while on the cruise I hope to be able to post fairly regularly about my comings and goings.

West End of Vancouver from the Burrard Bridge

BC Place stadium is getting a new roof.

Wind turbine at the top of Grouse Mountain.

Me at Lindeman Lake in the Chilliwack river valley.

HOHO bus and fall colors on Georgia Street bear the entrance to Stanley Park.

Enjoy

Update and a photo Aug 15, 2010

Just a brief update - this blog isn`t getting a lot of attention these days as I find Facebook to be a better short term communication device - I will continue to add content periodically so check back for updates.

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Here`s an image from the Indian Arm day cruise that I took on Friday - it`s of Silver or Chatterbox Falls - the ship was able to nudge its bow right up to the coastline so we were real close to the Falls- the highlight of the trip on a day with many.

Cheers

D

Riding some newer bike routes June 22, 2010

Today after riding up to wWest Broadway to my eyeglass store to get them adjusted I set out on a bike ride utilizing some of the newer routes in the City - from the 10th Avenue east west route I turned onto the Yukon Street - north south route and followed it up towards Queen Elizabeth Park until I reached the 29th Ave route which I followed around pass Nat Bailey Stadium and the new Hillcrest Community Center which was the site of the Curling events at the Olympics and Paralympics - that is where I spotted the street art work but there was no accompanying signpost explaining them. From there its briefly onto the Ontario route and then a quick right onto Hillcrest which I followed to its junction with the popular north-south Windsor route which I followed to its northern terminus at Great Northern Way - from there it was along the Central Valley Greenway and then Seaside through the Athlete's village to the Cambie Street Bridge and then home. In all about a 20 km ride - the weather was cool but the sun was starting to break out.

Dragon Boat regatta, False Creek June 19 - 20 2010

I spent a good portion of the past weekend working as a volunteer for the Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon boat festival.

Once again I worked on the docks helping to load and unload the participants into there boats.

It is a physically challenging task but well worth it as you get to meet the younger high school teams, the special needs teams - ie - breast cancer survivors, kidney transplant teams, people with mental challenges - there were teams from Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, LA, Houston to name a few. The MS Society also has a special team as well but they loaded from a different dock.

Saturday was sunny and warm and I was able to grab a few images with my blackberry during a break in the action. Generally as one boat is unloading the next group is lined up awaiting to board so you need to move everyone along quickly.

We are nicknamed " the deck squirrels" by our chief Nut Jennifer who barks out the orders with her megaphone - she is a real pro and while very much in charge has a good sense of humor and is respected by all of us on the docks.

Many of the volunteers are high schoolers who are doing this volunteer work to satisfy requirement for credits for community service in order to graduate.

I was stiff and sore by the end of my day on Saturday which was cloudy and cooler - this was actually preferred by the paddlers.

Cheers

D

The boats of False Creek June 22, 2010

As some of you may know I live just a couple of blocks from False Creek - now that the days are getting longer and the nights are getting shorter or to get relief from the boredom of watching the same reruns on my 200 + channel digital universe and high powered ISP computers I often head down to the water to watch the views and there is always lots of boats moving through the peaceful waters of False Creek.

Whether it is one of the little ferries transporting people to and from Granville Island, a commercial operator providing a harbour cruise to visitors or office workers seeking to let there hair hang down for a few hours, a kayaker out for a little exercise or some of the dragon boats practicing for a regatta or the big race this past weekend it is always a fun place to watch the action.

I often meet people visiting our city - spent some time with a couple from Germany who were wrapping up a long tour of the province or another couple who will be sailing on an Alaskan cruise where I was able to give them some tips as there are first time cruisers.

These images are taken with the Blackberry so they aren't the greatest plus with the sun getting ready to set or playing hide and seek with some of the many clouds that we have been experiencing recently it didn't provide a great backdrop for photography.

Cheers and hope you enjoy!

Coastal cruise - the train ride to Long Beach California May 6- 7

MAY 2010 COASTAL REPOSITIONING CRUISE ONBOARD THE GOLDEN PRINCESS - LOS ANGELES TO VANCOUVER BC MAY 9 - 14 2010

PART ONE - THE TRAIN RIDE FROM VANCOUVER TO LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA MAY 6 - 7, 2010

Having decided to take this trip only a week earlier after having received a super offer fromPrincess Cruises I put together my transportation part of the trip rather quickly.

It would entail a bus ride to Seattle - overnight on the train to Sacramento then by bus to Stockton and then coach rail to Bakersfield and then bus to Long Beach - by doing it this way I saved over $100.00 by not needing the sleeper for the second day and also arrived about 5 hours earlier as this is a more direct albeit a much less scenic way.

I took a taxi to the train station in Vancouver because of the 5:30 AM bus departure - having to detour around an accident on the Knight St Bridge added a few minutes to the trip - the border was quick - I used my new enhanced driver’s license instead of my passport to see how the process worked - other than the usual questions there were no problems and we were clear of the border in less than fifteen minutes and on our way to Seattle.

Arrived in Seattle on time and after only a few minutes wait it was boarding time on the train - it is a full train as there is a large travel group on it.

The Wi-Fi wasn’t working on the train and other than a one hour delay outside of Eugene Oregon to fix an engine problem which put us almost 90 minutes behind schedule it was an uneventful ride to Sacramento - we made up most of the time overnight - I slept well - we were only fifteen minutes late into Sacramento. Was able to use free wireless there.

Originally I was to have a four hour layover but I saw another couple from the train who said they were taking a bus in thirty minutes to Long Beach - after enquiring from the station master I was able to change my times - Amtrak likes to keep a certain amount of time between scheduled times because of lateness etc thus the longer lay over.

So it’s onto the bus and the short 45 minute ride to Stockton where our train was thirty minutes late to arrive because of switching problems - we did make up most of the time and arrived in Bakersfield only ten minutes late - then it was onto the bus one last time for the trip into Long Beach with stops in Glendale and downtown LA’s Union Station before being dropped off at Denny’s in Long Beach.

I then walked the 10 blocks to my room at the Vagabond Hotel and the first leg of the trip was complete.

Some bubbly to start off the train trip with.

Bakersfield California station

View coming into LA on the bus from Bakersfield.

Final Olympic thought and photo April 18, 2010

Well it has been almost a month since the end of the Paralympic Games and I have been trying to decide just how to wrap up this wonderful experience here on this blog - there are so many memories, images etc that I could probably go on for days trying to recap the feelings that I felt but rather than do that I have posted the signed certificate from all the members of the Slovakian delegation - these posters were given to all teams to sign and give to their assistants - mine now hangs proudly on a wall next to my retirement one.

I did also received a swatch, a bottle of white wine and a $25.00 gift card from VANOC for finishing my assignment - which I put to good use at Zellers getting a much needed new pair of sandals.

All of the us assistants with this delegation were also given a signed special edition book outlining the history of the Slovaks at the Olympic and Paralympic Games - and a gift bag with special pins and pens + a good looking Slovak ball cap.

The Games are over but the memories will remain for a lifetime - am seriously looking at applying for a volunteer role in a similar position with the London 2012 Games as I was looking at a trip to Europe to celebrate my 65th that year.

But that is another story that is yet to be put into action - only an idea at the moment and with me not flying a bit more of a challenge since I need to ensure that I can get a trans-Atlantic cruise both ways.

With Glowing and a sadden Heart I say goodbye to Vancouver 2010 - we assistants are having a small wind up party next week at the VANOC headquarters and there is a Facebook page for us to use to keep in touch.

Cheers

D