Needing to get in some quality hiking before I head for the Rockies in a week's time and also having a couple of other events on tap for today I decide to head over to Cypress Provincial Park and do the Cabin Lake - Black Mountain summit trail - the trail to the top has been altered by ski resort expansion - it is now a much shorter but steeper trail - it only took me about 45 minutes to reach the lake - the trail is hard surface gravel and is well marked - only met a couple of other hikers coming down - it was still early in the day when I started - about 9:30AM but already the temperature was well in the high 20's - one couple remarked about looking out for the skinny dippers at the Lake - the lake is popular with the pure au naturel types - except there wasn't anybody at the Lake.
You get some great views on the way up - across to the Bowl to Strachan, the Lions and up Howe Sound and the massif of Garibaldi at Squamish.
The lake itself is quite charming and peaceful - the opposite shore is where the naturalists usually sun tan - judging by the amount of people I met while hiking down the trail I am sure that some where going to do just that.
After you reach the Lake it is only a short five minute walk to the Summit of Black Mt - here there are more great views in all directions - from Black you can continue west across a short plateau to Eagle Bluffs and then down to Horseshoe Bay - you can also loop around Black Mt and rejoin the new trail just before Cabin Lake. I opted to return the same way.
Yes there is a bit of a flower show on the Mountain - it is alpine terrain after all - here's a few of the flowers that I noticed on the hike.
I was finished up and off the mountain before noon - had a quick lunch at McDonalds at Park Royal and then home to take in event #2 for the day. The Granville Street Party and a preview of the new Vancouver Center Rapid Transit station and one of the new trains that will run on that line.
Later in the evening it was supper with Jim and then home for the fireworks and quite the show it was. In addition to the regular fireworks mother nature presented us with one of the most spectacular thunder and lightning shows seen in these parts in years.
Subaru West Coast Triathlon Series Race - Vancouver July 12, 2009
My most recent volunteer event was working as a volunteer for the the Triathlon held this past weekend at Jericho/Locarno Beach on the west side of Vancouver.
On Saturday I helped with registration and with marking the running course.
My task on Sunday will be as a bike escort for the runners in both the Sprint and Half Iron course - the Sprint is a 5KM loop around the race sight utilizating the trails in nearby Jericho Beach Park and then escort the second place women's runner around two loops of the full 10km course.
But before they can run we have to mark out the course - so I met some of the other riders and race officials and set off on our bikes to mark the course - in the old days you used chalk to line the course - now they use flour - not toxic and disapates fairly quickly.
The first image here is of the start finished line just west of the Jericho Sailing center - it is also the entry point for the swimmers into the waters of Burrard Inlet.
Check in booth for the participants.
This is the entrance/exit to the bike transition point - this is where I will await the second place women's runner to leave her bike and start the final leg of the Triathlon - the first three runners in Men's and Women's half iron will have a bike escort the entire way - we don't stay with the runner if someone laps them - we stay with the second place runner and indicate to the booth every km if there has been any change in the positions - this year the first three postions did not change. The girl that I escorted is from Hawaii and was considered one of the favorites - she set a personal best on this course - here's a link to her blog and her thoughts on the event and her effort.
Volunteer check tent - there was a variety of sandwiches and treats for the workers.
Another view of the Volunteer tent.
Here we are lining one of the marshall points - we use old water bottles to dispense the flour.
This fancy art work is actually the turn around point at the end of the beach at Spanish Banks - about 5km from the start.
More of the crew at the turn around point. While we did this marking more official signage would be put up the morning of the race.
All participants must check in their bikes the night before the race - this is the transition point.
After leading the sprint runners around the course I had a few minutes to spare so snapped these two images of participants in the bike transition area.
The runners are given a slot to mount their bikes - the elite runners/bikers will have a place closest to the entrance/exit points so that they can make a fast transition.
This was a fun filled event that I hope to be able to do again next year - unlike most races this events isn't always held on the same weekend each year - because it uses the ocean for the swim event it needs to reply on high tides because at low tide the area around the course can have upwards of a km of sand before you reach water.
That's if for the volunteer events for the time being as I can now start to turn my attention to getting things ready for my week long hiking trip in the Rockies and my week long cruise to Alaska.
While working my way from Canada Place to Yaletown I came across this reflection of the Harbour Center tower on the glass paneled windows of the the Vancouver Community College building and I thought it was worth a separate post - actually if the truth be told I missed it on the previous post.
HIKE TO MT SEYMOUR'S PARK - DINKEY PEAK, FIRST LAKE AND DOG MOUNTAIN - TUESDAY JUNE 30, 2009
It was a short 5KM round trip as I did this popular local hike - there was still some snow on the trail coming down off of the Dinkey Peak and heading for Dog Mountain - there are great views of the Metro Vancouver area from both peaks - a hot hike on a hot day.
YALETOWN GRAND PRIX - CANADA DAY JULY 1, 2009 The second event that I took in on Canada Day was the annual Grand Prix bike races in historic Yaletown- this is the sixth annual and there was a good crowd on hand to watch the riders race around a tight loop of Yaletown - just after arriving one of the riders had a spectacular crash - his body on one side of the street and his bike on the other - didn't see the final outcome of the crash but he appeared to be moving - later saw a guy icing his wrist at the medical booth so perhaps that was the extend of the injuries.
Also bumped into a couple from the early bird crowd at the Y - got updated on there happenings and was able to tell them when the building will be reopening etc.
CANADA DAY AT CANADA PLACE - JULY 1, 2009
My first planned event for Canada's National Day of Celebration was the ongoing festival at Canada Place - because of the ongoing construction at Canada Placein preparation for the Winter Olympics the event was held outdoors under sunny and warm skies.
There were lots of events for all members of the family including face painting, rock bands etc
There were also two cruise ships in port so some of the early boarders got a bird's eye view of the festivities.
RAINBOW OVER THE CITY - SATURDAY JUNE 27, 2009
After a brief rain shower this was the scene from my condo window - it lasted for several minutes.
DRAGON BOAT WIND-UP BBQ FRIDAY JUNE 26, 2009
A windup BBQ is held for the volunteers working on the event at the Dragon Zone area just south Science World - there were probably 100 people over the course of the evening - we were treated to hamburgers, hotdogs and beverages of our choice + lots of prizes were awarded - it was also a chance for anyone to try out dragon boating - I would have given it a go but my hands are still hurting so I wasn't too sure just howwell I could handle an oar.
THE WORLD COMES TO VANCOUVER - NOT THE OLYMPICS BUT THE CRUISE SHIP THURSDAY JUNE 25 - 26, 2009
The World Residence of the Seas is a luxury cruise ship where all the cabins or suites are privately owned and where passengers sail around the world - getting on or off as they please - I last saw the World in New Orleans in Febuary - it will come into a City or Port stay a day or twothen head for another port - it will often go into lesser known port likes Port Alberni.
Hope you have enjoyed this recap of my busy week - I also cycled out the Central Valley Greenway once again to Burnaby Lake as the project is now finished - well at least that is what the press release and media would have you believe.
Today I am going to take it easy - other than a slow bike ride downtown it is too dam hot for me to do much in the way of hard exercise.
One of the perks for working the Dragon Boat races was a free ticket to see our Rookie A league baseball team the Vancouver Canadians play at Nat Bailey Stadium.
I haven't been to a game at the Nat since Triple AAA ball left a few years ago. A couple of years ago the team was purchased by a couple of successful local businessmen and they also got a long term operating contract for the stadium which is owned by the Parks Board - they have lovingly restore and refurbished the grand old gal. Don't know if you can see the A&W mug out in the outfield in any of the images but that is the business that one of the owners heads here in Vancouver.
It is only the third game of the season and many of the players for both teams were right out of high school or college - it is a development league so you don't expect anything to great to happen.
The Canadians were playing the Everett Aqua Socks who are affiliated with the Seattle Mariners - the game was won by Vancouver 7 -1
As I had rode my bike up I left after the seventh inning stretch as I wanted to get home before it got too dark.
Today I took a little drive out Langley way and took in a free crossing of the new Golden Ears Bridge - it sure is a nice connection across the Fraser - while I will miss the Albion ferry I won't miss the 45 - 60 minute wait to cross.
Things are starting to come along for the Alaska Cruise - final payment has been made - edocs from NCL printed off - round trip bus fare to Seattle purchased - just looking at some excursions now - my friend Marla is working on the Meet and Greet with the Cruise coordinator.
There are somewhere around 45 people on-line who are taking the same cruise - the trick is to get them all to attend the event - usually we get about a 50% turn out.
My final shift working on the festival for this year started the same as the others - a short 3 KM bike ride from my condo to the docks and similar weather - overcast and chance of some light rain.
Some of the same volunteers are here and some new ones - once again our dock control person Jennifer gives us our dock assignments and safety reminders. Once again I am with Gerard.
Here a couple of the teams have boarded and are starting to paddle up to the start point - Boat #5 I helped to load.
There are two types of boats used in the competition - the one above is called a BUK and has a yellow dragon head to help indentify it - these dragon head and tails on the other end are only used in competition and not everyday races or training sessions.
This is a Gemini and has a black Dragon head.
One of the true stories of these races is that they are open to people of all abilities - there was a team of vision impaired, organ transplants, breast cancer survivors, mentally challenged and the team seen in the above image - a team of MS sufferers - they are loaded at a separate dock and then slowly paddle out to the start line - there object is not to win the heat but to prove that despite your challenges goals can be meet or exceeded if you try hard.
After I finished my shift I walked with bike through site and then home - rested up for a while and then headed to a friends' place for a Father's Day BBQ which was really a birthday party for there seventeen year old daughter and here frineds.
Tonight - weather permitting I will be taking in the Vancouver Canadians baseball game - first time watching the team since it became a rookie league team - tickets were given to Dragon Boat volunteers who wanted them.
Final dragon Boat event will be our windup party next Friday night at the Dragon Zone area at Creekside Park.
One of the sure signs of summer in Vancouver is the holding of two major events - the Dragon Boat Races and 24 Hr Relay for Kids.
While I have done the 24 relay in previous years and sponsor one of the runners each year I have become attached to the Dragon Boat Races held on nearby False Creek - this event attractions large number of participants - over 100 teams and approx 20 per boat + backup and supporters and it is not hard to see how the organizers come up with a figure of over 5000 people.
There are two parts to the event - the Festival which is the public part - music, food, merchandise mart and the Races which is where I get involved.
Having done this event before I worked on Friday - helping to prepare the boats, and load and unload some of the visiting teams who wanted some practice time in advance of today's first round.
This event uses two types of boats - BUK and Gemini - don't ask me the difference I couldn't tell you.
On race day up to eight boats will take part in each race - alternating between the two types of boats - this event attracts all ages - from juniors to geriatrics - special needs - there are teams composed of vision impaired, mentally challenged and a special MS team who will paddle tomorrow.
I worked the early shift from the start to 1:30PM and will do the same tomorrow.
For our efforts we get a nice tech T-Shirt - lunch and pop and water + a windup BBQ next week.
These images are from my Blackberry - as it is too awkward to have my camera down on the docks.
This volunteer work has also brought me out of my shell which I alluded to in the last posts.
Tomorrow - another day of work on the docks and then a couple of Father's Day BBQ's to consider.
This post is going to be mostly text because I don't have the energy to spend the time to upload images - had a great trip up to Kelowna and did a couple of new hikes and trail rekkies.
Got a phone call just as I was leaving Kelowna from my cousin Connie who lives in nearby Penticton - I had emailed her earlier in the week but hadn't heard from her and with my Blackberry I would have gotten any emails etc. Short story - I detoured south to me her - had lunch at her place - spend a couple of hours talkng about family matters etc then hit the road for home.
Monday was a quiet do nothing day until the evening while eating a salad one of my front teeth that has been rebuilt fell out - just what I needed - so Tuesday morning I head to my nearby dentist office and got the bad news - because some of the old regular tooth had broke off and not just the new place falling out I would have to pay close to $300.00 to get a fixed - got the work done and do a slow burn because I have already used up by dental plan allowables for the year - just when I think I am getting a handle on my finances and starting to get some disposable funds this has all but wiped out anything special for the next couple of months.
Then I get a phone call from my Doctors office regarding the results of the xrays on my hands from my bike accident - as they are busy I will go tomorrow.
Then at supper as I was enjoying a legendary White Spot hamburger the new tooth came out again - by now my stress level was rising rapidly - I suffer from anxiety disorders and have for a number of years and meds generally keep it under control but incidents like this bring on fatigue and laziness which helps explain why I haven't been active on this blog this week.
So on Wednesday its back to the dentist office to get some more work done - free of charge - we have recemented the tooth and hopefully it will stay in place - I need to be careful on how I bite into things like apples etc - in the short term - some posts or a crown are the best solutions but that will wait until next year when the plan will pay for some of the costs.
I did get back on the bike but my hands are still huring and it wasn't all that enjoyable but I survived.
The Doc office was busy in the morning so I went in the afternoon and there was no wait - the good news is that there is no damage to the hands, palms etc but the bad news is that I have arthritis in both hands - mild and not surprising as Mom had it in the same place.
The Doc did clear me to return to exercising - bike riding etc as the hands will continue to heal but the pain is still there as I type this post - so it will be back to the pain meds for a few more days.
This weekend I have my volunteer jobs with the Dragon Boat races - I start this afternoon as part of the advance crew - we get to dress up the boats and then later in the evening watch as they are blessed for the event.
Saturday and Sunday I will be dockside helping to load and unload the various teams - if the weather holds it should be just about right for the participants but in Vancouver when you have had more than three weeks with little to no rain the odds of it staying dry aren't that great.
Now that I have posted my woes I am starting to feel somewhat better.
