One of the results of the swine flu hitting the Mexican tourist market is the diverting of some ships that normally sail to the Mexican Riviera to Pacific Northwest ports and Vancouver has been able to handle some of the load.
Today the Carnival Splendor which holds almost 3000 passengers is docked on the east side of Canada Place for an 9 hour visit and of course being the great cruise fan that I am I just had to head down to Canada Place and see the ship and talk to some of the passengers who were looking for directions etc. It is one of the largest ship to berth here. Don't know how full it is but one couple I talked to were actually happy to visit this great city - they have been to Mexico on many occasions and were happy to visit some new ports and didn't seem too concerned about our cool spring weather.
These images are taken with my Blackberry on a cloudy and cool day.
A potpourri of a title and a brief outline of the last seven weeks in my life.
It seems strange waking up this morning and looking at my event calendar and not seeing anything of note to do.
As most of you who have been following this blog know I spend five weeks training as a bike escort volunteer for the Vancouver Marathon, spend three days last week scrutineering for the BC Liberals in the riding of Vancouver False Creek, volunteered for the Pacific Spirit run last Saturday, found 12 volunteers for a work party assignment at Yellowpoint Lodge, found time for a stiff hike on Sunday and somehow still have my body in one piece and my mind still functioning.
After working 13 hours as an BC Elections official at the Cascadia Hotel a block from my condo I headed to the party headquarters of Mary McNeil - the Liberal candidate in my riding of Vancouver - False Creek.
I had been following the results on my Blackberry so I knew that the Liberals were ahead and just after arriving at the party - getting a name tag and a cold Molson Canadian it was announced that the Liberals had a majority - this was expected but there was some concern that if our voters stayed home the NDP could lose the popular vote but win the most seats.
Prior to the election I posted my prediction as 48 Liberals, 37 NDP - as it stands right now it is 49 Liberals 36 NDP with two seats that could still change sides in a couple of weeks when all of the absentee ballots are counted.
Not long after arriving our candidate is declared elected - while we are in a new riding carved out of the old Vancouver Burrard riding - this part of the city favours the Liberals based previous voting patterns.
The beer is free and flowing and I am doing my best to put a dent in the large cooler full of the golden amber.
The office is alive with supporters as Mary addresses and thanks us for our support - she then leaves for the main celebration at the Convention center - a large group of us stay to enjoy the beer and watch the final returns come in.
As the cooler became empty Cris and Diane are slowly getting the supporters to leave - I finish up one last beer talking to a street person outside the Hq'ers - terrible stroke of luck for the guy but he appears to be on the road to recovery and re-employment in the construction industry.
I make it home feeling no pain from all the beer that I drank.
Wednesday I spent trying to sober up and heading for the gym for a steam etc - that made me feel somewhat better.
The next major volunteer event for me is in a month time with the Dragon Boat races - until then it is more of a normal set of life moments.
I do have a couple of short trips planned over the next month - a brief weekend over on the Island to coincide with a Director's meeting with the Friends of Yellowpoint and a weekend in Kelowna with Jim and some of his language student friends.
Also can now start looking more seriously about what to do at the port of call on my Alaska cruise at the end of September.
After bike riding on Saturday and with another sunny day forecast I was determined to get out and do some hiking - it was a choice between Teapot Dome at Cultus Lake or DeBeck's Hill at Alice Lake Park - not feeling like a longer drive I chose the latter.
The normal way up DeBeck's is from a trailhead at the far end of the parking lot at Alice Lake Park - it is a 2 KM grind up an old road to a viewpoint with micro-tower and spendid views of the surrounding area and of the Tantalus range to the west - I have done it once before and wanted it more for the views than anything else. The walk up the road was boring and after about 50 minutes I reached the top and that was where my first disappointment occurred - the thin high cloud moving in advance of today's rain was starting to obscure the clear view so the pictures aren't all that clear.
It was while I was up at the top that I found this notice attached to a tree near a shed on the landing and being the adventurer that I am I decided to follow the trail and see where it came out - I was hoping that it might end somewhere along the trail that circles Alice Lake but that was not where it led.
The route was in fairly good shape, was marked with oranges markers and appears to be used somewhat as the path was fairly well defined.
It does provide better views as it hugs the north side of the DeBecks' hill - here you get a good view of the jewel of the area - the massive called Mt Garibaldi.
The route continues to wander through the forest - the trail in places was steep and the ground cover was moss and rock and my footing wasn't that great as I was only wearing my light day hikers - sure glad it wasn't raining as they may be looking for me today because if I had lost my footing I could have injured myself - but I took it easy and where necessary sat on my rear to get down some of the steeper pitches.
You aren't actually that far from civilization as you can hear the traffic buzzing by on the Sea to Sky Highway - after about an hour of delicate hiking I come to a junction and this sign on a tree - it explained a lot about what I just accomplished BUT this junction provided another challenge - the trail went in three directions and by now I was pretty sure where two of them would lead and that was to a new trail that is visible just after you turn off the highway and head for the Alice Lake Park campsite.
But where did the third trail go - it appeared to head uphill but the most important clue for me was the creek that I had just crossed would be the outflow creek from the Lake and I would need to get to the Lake to get back to my truck.
Sure enough after about 5 minutes of hiking up this trail I see the road and follow it back to the campsite and then onto to trailhead parking lot and my truck.
I am still stiff and sore from this hike but it was good exercise - don't know if I would rush back any time soon and it is also unlikely that I would try and hike up the trail.
Tomorrow I spend the day working for Elections BC - I expect it to be a long evening what with the vote count and the referundum ballots to count. Assuming that the results are as I think they will be I will head to the Convention Center for the victory party.
Then there is the hockey game tonight - it's win for the Canucks or the season is over - these are two fairly well matched teams so any thing is possible.
After spending three days working as a scrutineer for the election campaign I was once again back on the bike and working a race - this time as part of the course crew for the 10KM Pacific Spirit Park run - while a serious race as it serves as a fund raiser for the Tapestry Foundation - AKA St Paul's Hospital Foundation and raised over $90, 000 for dementia research - it is fun riding on the trails in an area that I grew up living next door to.
We met at around 7AM - picked up our t-shirts, vests, flags and radio and then headed out for a ride on the route - some in our group of 10 have never ridden the trails in the park - they are multi-purpose and heavily used by walkers, cyclists and dog lovers - after that ride we return to the starting point seen here at Thunderbird Stadium on the campus of UBC and await the start of the race - the 10KM run will go first and start in waves. I will be riding up front with the lead runners and then pick up a front runner and see him to the finish line - it took the winner about 38 minutes to finish. After seeing the leaders cross the finish line we take a breather and then head out to sweep the 5KM route for stragglers and reach the split point where we can relaxed and wait for the 10 KMers to finish.
Picking up our race gear and preparing our bikes.
Start and finish line on West Mall - that's captain Brian on the bike in the photo and a couple of images from the area around where the 5 and 10 KM split - it was here that our only real excitement of the day took place - one of the runners slipped and fell into a boggy area and cut her upper lip - we were near by and responded so while Greg and I looked after her one of the others phoned the medic who arrived shortly thereafter - no serious injury - just a bruised ego and lip - they were going to have her go to emergency just to be on the safe side.
The last two walkers approaching the finish line in just under 2 hours - there were a lovely couple of gals who had a great time walking the trails.
And finally it wouldn't be proper to not have a photo of the bikers crossing the finish line.
Having parked outside the Park I ended up doing 37 KM of riding.
May 3, 2009 is Vancouver Marathon Race day in Vancouver - for the past 5 weeks a number of us have done 10 training rides and one full course ride for a total of about 260KM's of cycling getting to know the course, our riding mates, our race day responsibilities and our communications skills.
Special thanks to Brian Smith once again for his great leadership in assembling a great crew this year and to John Christie the Captain of the Full Marathon team for trusting me with an important role this year - more on that below.
This is the front side of our T-Shirts for this year - a simple cotton T with the corporate logo and our job - CREW.
Below is the remainder of my story.
Pre-race checkin and equipment pick up:
Our final race preparations take place the day before the race as we have to pick up all of the gear that is needed for our job as Bike Escort team - because of interior renovations to BC Place Stadium they are using a make shift tent city at Concord Pacific's site on False Creek - we are supply with our T-shirts, safety vests, lunch for Sunday, a flag or pennant which we will mount on our bikes - they show the duties that each of us is assigned - mine will say FULL MARATHON COURSE TEAM - we are to "decorate" our bikes before we leave as Brian doesn't want to have to worry about that on Sunday morning.
The final piece of equipment is ensuring that everyone has a properly working radio and for some of us a spare battery. The other Dennis on the team has once again done a good job ensuring that all of the radios do in fact work.
Sofie and couple of other team members put together our kits for us - they have arrived and now we can start the process of getting our bikes ready.
My bike is the gold colored one seen here with its flag attached.
RACE MORNING SUNDAY MAY 3, 2009 - WEATHER IS CLEAR AND COOL:
While we don't have to show up too early - really only a short time before the event that we are working starts most of us were there by 6AM - that's when the first group of slow runners and walkers leave and then at 7AM - its the Half Marathon which is the biggest group of about 9000 runners, followed by the Wheelchair division and finally the full marathon group at 7:30AM
Here we are awaiting for our groups to start.
THE STORY OF ADAM'S SECOND PLACE FINISH IN THE MEN'S EVENT: As the full group heads out we follow them and ride with them as they start to open up distances between themselves - I am a little way back when I hear a call on the radio that riders were needed up front for some of the lead runners - As my job is to ride with the leaders I quickly pick up speed and pick up a runner in a red shirt - I didn't know it at first but he was the second place runner - my job now was to ensure safe passage and no wrong turns etc - to make sure that the water stations have - in his case - Gatorade available- and that the water station crew are standing on both sides of the course - this wasn't happening early on until I was notified by another team member - I then made sure that as he approached each water station that they were prepared - The only time Adam talked to me was on the Burrard Bridge near the finish when he asked if I could see the next runner behind him and the answer was no but to be sure I radioed the crew for an update - he had it appeared about a 30 second lead and never fell back - he sailed through Stanley Park but along Pacific I needed to get the other groups who share this part of the course to moved over that a lead runner was coming through - they cheerfully moved over and cheered Adam as he ran pass them - clear sailing over the Bridge and along Cornall and Point Grey Road to the turn around point near West Point Grey Academy on 4th - coming back along Cornwall we had the usual idiots in there spandex riding there $5000 bikes on a closed street and giving me the finger for telling them to get the hell off the course.
Fortunately no incidents occurred to hurt Adam's running.
Back over the Bridge and along Pacific where we once again had some of the 1/2 marathon runners to pass - no problem and then he entered the finish area about 2 hour and 40 minutes after he started.
Adam it was a pleasure to have escorted you on your run.
BRUNCH AT MILSTONES ON ENGLISH BAY:
Once the first runners have crossed the finish line some of us are given a time out to go for our no-host brunch at Milestones on English Bay - unlike the scene at Ricky's this restaurant was prepared for us and was able to serve us promptly and correctly.
Once we are finished we then head out and relieive the remainder of the crew.
Here you see our bikes all decorated and parked outside Milestone's.
THE STORY OF RUNNER #381 - A CONTRAST TO ADAM:
I was assigned to start the sweep in the downtown zones when I heard on the Radio that they needed help with one of the last runners on the course - this is nothing new expect it wasn't Lucy that we were helping along the way - on the Burrard Bridge was runner #381 - never did get his name who was lagging behind - seems his problem was new shoes and yes they looked new - not being porperly broken in and aching and making his feet sore so that he couldn't really run - at this point he is the last runner on the full marathon course - this year they are enforcing a 2PM and your on your own - so he was walking - at this point here are many km's to still go but he was persistent that he wasn't a quitter - other than ensuring that he was either on the closed road or a sidewalk and re-assuring the para-medics that his slowness was caused by his shoes and not some medical concern we finally arrived at the turn around point except that he wasn't there - well he was but we didn't see him go into the biffy so we had an anxious moment until he surfaced refreshed.
By this time I was continuing to update to course officials on his location - if he wasn't at a certain point he would have to abandon his effort - well he made it on time but when given the option of doing the entire Kits Point Loop and not finishing or heading straight for the Burrard Bridge and the finish line he opted for the latter - so it was over the Bridge, along Pacific and then he jogged across the finished - he did say to me that he wouldn't have finished if I hadn't urged him on.
While he was last for the longest time he was the second last across the line as the person in front of him did the Kits Point Loop and came in just behind him with 3 minutes to spare.
So in the course of my day - I helped the 2nd place finished over all and the second last finisher.
Once the last runner crossed the finish line many of us bikers did a short victory ride and recieved a nice round of applause from the spectators.
THE POST RACE CELEBRATION: LET THE BEER AND GOODIES FLOW:
Thanks to Jordan - race day operations guru we had a couple of small kegs of beer for an after party in the Volunteer tent - here you see Alain and Gordon unloading the liquid amber.
Beer expert and Bike Escort Captain Brian putting in the portable taps so that we could enjoy a few cools ones - there was both an ale and a lager - lot's of snacks as well. While tired it was nice to know that our efforts were appreciated - about half of our crew were new this year - most indicated that they might be back next year.
Finally just how much cycling did I do today - here's the story from my odometer on my bike - this includes the short ride from my condo to the race start.
By the time that I had finished my role I had done over 70Km's or 42 miles on the bike - perhaps that is why I am sluggish on Monday and don't have a lot of energy but did find the time to post this blog
Locals and visitors alike have been stopping and gazing at some of the current street art on display around the downtown core - wondering what all those eagle like displays are all about - well it's the annual fund raising project of the BC Lions Society for People with disabilities - in previous years there have been Orcas and spirit bears - what happens is that a company will sponsor an artist to take the plain product and turn it into a piece of art and then put it on display at a prominent space downtown and then entertain bids with the money going to further the Societies many charitable projects
While not an eagle this fountain and tulip display on the Plaza of the Sheraton Wall Center was extra beautiful because it was a sunny and warm spring day.
Dennis' much ado about nothing blog author and an eagle at Wall Center.
This one is hockey themed - most of the others are all of a first nations theme - this is former Canuck star and local hockey icon Trevor Linden on display on Robson between Seymour and Richards - what is most interesting about this and the image of Stan Smyl on the other side is who did the painting - it was done by "King" Richard Brodeur who was our outstanding goalie who took us to the Stanley Club finals for the 1st time in 1982 and still lives in the area.
Cheers
Dennis
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Had our second last training ride last night - it was sunny but there was a strong wind but I still kept a good place leading the full marathon team group around the course.
Took the bike in a pre-ride tune-up - it's free because the bike is still under warranty until August - it was even nicer and smoother to ride than normal.
Greg at Bulletproof Courier blog has a short video from our ride on Sunday - see it here:
For our Thursday ride we will be directly up against the Vancouver Canucks 1st game of the 2nd round against Chicago - Canucks in 6 - our meeting place is a block from GM Place and we meet for 5:45PM and this game is scheduled to start at 6PM so we will have to fight more traffic than usual + one of the surface parking lots used for hockey games is not available because it has been set up as the Marathon Race headquarters - with BC Place undergoing extensive indoor renovations for its role as the place for the opening and closing ceremonies for the Olympic Games it is not available to Mararthon organizers.
The other thing that we are keeping a watch on for Sunday is the weather - earlier it looked like it would be dry but now it is starting to show a wetter pattern - cycling for 4 hours with rain gear, safety gear, communications gear is not alot of fun + you tend to have more people with first aid concerns.
More on the bike escort team later in the week.
NOW IN OTHER NEWS:
Attend my training session for my work on the BC Elections later this afternoon - having done it federally last year and having work for political parties on elections for over 40 years it shouldn't be too much different - on election day I will be working at a polling location only a block away so I won't have to travel to far.
Finally got 12 people for the FOYPS work party - two less than a full quota but with the new rule that no one can participate in more than one work party each year some of the old standbys are no longer available - I did succeed in getting 6 new people - half of the group - to sign up - this is one of our goals to get more new members helping out and not just paying the $10.00 membership fee each year. Looks like they will have a nice sunny and warm day to work outside - take a look at there web site:
Had a phone call the other day from Jim C - who basically hired me at the Y more than 40 years ago - haven't heard or seen him much since our building closed for rebuilt at the end of 2006 - he was looking for some information on one of the hiking trails on the North Shore and he knew that I was heavily involved in hiking most of my Y career - while I couldn't help him directly with this question I did offer a couple of suggestions of who he might phone or which web site might have some information.
Also stopped into our headquarters and dropped off my cheque for our annual giving campaign - while I have a life membership you don't have voting rights unless you are either a pay member or a donor - I qualify as a voting member based on the latter.
Finally for today - I was finally able to arrange a meeting with my Financial advisor to review my portfolio and to discuss my current obligations.
My regular gal is away on maternity leave so I am dealing with the president of the company who I have known for perhaps 30 or more years from him being an early morning regular at the Y and me being the service clerk who greeted him in the morning.
Somewhere in among the BS we might even discuss finances.
One of the requirements for doing the Bike Escort job for the Vancouver Marathon is that you do the full course ride - usually the Sunday prior to the actual Marathon and today was the day - we had to be at the Plaza of Nations start point at 6:45 aiming for a 7:00 AM leave - we were a little late getting under way but with sunny but cool skies to start few were complaining - however I noticed one particular person wasn't there - seems that the Bulletproof Courier and his alarm clock had a conflict - anyways he was able to join us by the Cambie Bridge - having a radio he was able to find out where we were.
With a large number of riders - about 30 - keeping together with all the traffic lights etc is always a chore but those stops are usually too short for any photos - we do however have a few places where we stop for instructions from the "boss" Brian or with special guest and race director Jordon.
A brief description of our route and stops follows.
We leave Pacific Blvd and do a loop through the Downtown East side and then head up Columbia/Quebec to 2nd Ave and followed it west until Pine where we loop back to 4th and Burrard - we use the Esso station as a pit and regroup stop - we are trying to maintain an 18Kph pace as that is the pace that the faster runners will average.
I then take the lead as I have ridden this part of the route in previous years until we get to our Raymur street stop.
From there the our riding route parrells Cordova Street and then Hastings and into Stanley Park and Lumbermen's Arch.
That is where the first two photos are taken - it is one of the first places that I have time to get the camera out - there is an Earth Day race taking place in the Park so the area was extra busy.
After leaving Lumbermen's Arch we continue along Stanley Park Drive until we get to Pipeline Rd and follow it through to Lost Lagoon - the actual race route uses Lagoon Drive but we would have to ride the wrong way today so we do our usual re-route and follow the bike path to our second stop at parking lot near Cepperly Meadows and picnic area.
Our fearless Captain - Brian is giving us some more instructions. He does a lot of coaching because he doesn't really want any cases of LBS* ( answered below) on race day.
Jordon in the middle listens and then gives us some updates on road conditions especially Park Drive coming down from Prospect Point - in my words not his - A bloody mess and a disgrace to the City - if they don't get the rebuild of the road finished in the next week - it is not like the Marathon is a new event - this route has been used for a few years and there was no civic strike to delay construction.
After leaving this stop we head over the Burrard Bridge and the turn around point just past Jericho Beach Park but before we get there we have to stop for our annual "Brian wants to take a group photo that we never get to see because he nevers sends it out" stop at one of the small roadside viewpoints along Point Grey Road.
By now I am riding as the end sweep - ensuring that no one misses a turn etc.
Right on schedule at around 11AM we have finished the 42 KM ride and headed for our traditional no-host brunch at Ricky's on Beatty St - we are joined by our friend and new mother Ahna with baby and hubby in tow as well as the technical director for the Race - Frank S.
While the service is slow - they never seem to understand that when a group makes a reservation for 30 people that they should have some extra staff to help out.
I ordered the same as last year which was a toasted turkey melt sandwich with fries and pop.
Brian had some prizes donated - like bike helmets, tune-up specials etc. As usual I won nothing.
There were some more instructions but the biggest surprise came when it is announced that Frank had picked up the tab for our meal - Thanks Frank - the race organizers consider use to be one of the most vital parts of the Marathon so it was nice to get the extra recognition.
*** LBS - is a favorite saying of Brian's and means Liquid Bowel Syndrome.
As I am typing up the post the following morning I aren't even that sore - the new hybird bike is a real god send and goes in for a tuneup later today.
We have two more rides this week and then the big day next Sunday and an even earlier start - more details throughout the week.
First on tap for this update is my little trip over the Cambie Bridge for the Cambie and Broadway merchants celebration of the re-opening of Cambie Street to full traffic.
After almost four years of detours, construction, deep holes in the street for the cut and cover tunneling under Cambie street for the building of the new Canada Line rapid transit route to Richmond and Vancouver International Airport - the project is just about finished - one of the last sections to the completed was the Cambie and Broadway corridor - this is one of the most used transportation and shopping areas in the City.
Many of our large retailers like Best Buy, Canadian Tire, London Drugs, Whole Foods, Save on Foods, Home Depot, Winners and Home Sense have built urban themed stores as part of the redevelopment of this part of the City.
The area is just a couple of KM's from the downtown core, has City Hall and the largest Hospital in the Province VGH within a couple of blocks.
To celebrate finally getting there street back the above named merchants organized a street party to bring the people back to the region. Judging by the crowds that were there the event was a success.
A concert stage was set up on 6th between Cambie and Yukon - a steel band was playing while I was there but later in the day a popular Vancouver Band - 54 -40 was scheduled to play - with clearing skies and warming temps this should be a success.
I actually hope that they make this an annual celebration.
The Marathon Bike Escorts volunteering is coming along nicely.
There were 30 people out riding on Thursday night - they have had me lead our group for two of the nights recently and I was the end sweep for another - this means I stay at the back in case there are any problems with the riders.
Tomorrow I have to be at the Plaza of Nations by 6:45AM as we will be doing a ride of the full course - this is mandatory for all participants if you want to be able to ride on Marathon day - as it stands right now they have me slotted in to be a male lead rider - this means that I will be near the head of the runners ensuring that the coast is clear - it also means that I will have to be able to maintain an approx speed of 18 to 20 KPH. I have been able to do this in the training rides this year which is why our team captain has selected me for this task - it also does mean that I will be finished earlier - that is only a big deal if the weather is bad - like in rain.
The group is coming together as a team - while there a number of us who have been involved before and considering that not everyone can make every practice it is a credit to Brian our team leader and his two captains - John and Alain that we are progressing.
After the ride tomorrow we all head for Ricki's restaurant on Beatty for brunch - while it is no host the coffee and pop has been picked up from the remains of the pizza fund.
In preparation for the marathon on May 3 I will be taking in the bike for a spring tune-up on Monday and picking it up on Tuesday - it is part of the maintenance package for the the first year of the bike so it should be in fine form for the big day.
