Take me out to the ball game or Dennis' return to the Nat - Monday June 22, 2009

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.

I enjoyed the game.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

That's all for now

Cheers

Dennis

Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival Part 2 Sunday June 21, 2009

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.

Cheers

Dennis

Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival June 19 - 21 2009 Concord Pacific Place Vancouver

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.

Cheers

D

Why I didn't post until now June 19, 2009

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.

D

Davie and Burrard community Garden et al June 12, 2009

Davie Community Garden - Dave and Burrard

One of the nice things about Vancouver is some of the innovative ideas that come along for making our City all that more livable - nothing is worse that seeing an eye sore empty lot at a busy intersection in your Community. Such is the case at Burrard and Davie where a recent station station complex was suppose to be developed into a condo project but with the real estate boom collapsing here in Lotusland the land was sitting there and not looking pretty - the previous City Council came up with a program whereby development companies with projects on hold for at least two years could in exchange for a reduction in there tax assessment turn the land over to the local community to use for open space, gardens etc. Each one is used differently - the one at Davie and Burrard has been turned into a beautiful community Garden and now that the warm weather is here the fruits of there labors are starting to show.

The other open space near me at Howe and Drake has been made into a mini-park and is well used - now if the dog owners would only do what the law requires it would be even more pleasurable to walk through the area.




Kelowna for the weekend

Heading up to Kelowna for the weekend - chance for some even warmer weather and rest.

Sore hands update

After a chat with my physio - went to the local walk in clinic as a follow up to my recent injuries from the bike accident - the Doctor suggested that I get the hands x- rayed which I have done - don't have the results - we done think anything is broken but mild pain is persisting - both the Physio and Doc say no bike riding - so it lots of walking.

Strata AGM

We had our Strata AGM - it went on for over three hours - a number of housekeeping by-laws amendment took forever to get through and as each one requires a 3/4 vote in favor - a proper vote count was necssary - not all of them passed.

Managed to avoid getting ask to serve on the Strata Council - the present one does a good job and we have a smart, effective and effecient strata agent so things seem to get done.

The usual bitch session from the same people on the same issue also prolonged the meeting.

Cheers

Dennis

Down by the seaside watching the sun go down June 9, 2009

Often after supper I like to take a little stroll along the seawall a couple of blocks from my condo - with the recent warm weather and brilliant sunsets I did just that last night - didn't have my camera but these images are from my Blackberry and are taken from the foot of Hornby St looking towards the Burrard Bridge and the approaching sunset - the first image also catches one of the small ferries that crosses over to Granville Island.





Hope you enjoy

Cheers

Dennis

FOYP"S Director's meeting and the ferry trip home June 6, 2009

I slept fairly well and after breakfast started the process of taking the tent and putting the camping gear in the back of the truck - usually not a big deal but with the sore hands it took a while longer but I got it done - then toured Nanaimo before having lunch and heading to the meeting site in Cedar - the meeting went well - finished in around 90 minutes - I have an additional responsibility now as the Work Party Co-ordinator - we now have a fully equipped first aid kit - we have a secure storage place for it - I just have to make sure that the leaders on each work party know where it is kept and record any materials used - at the AGM in Dec I am to ensure that any needed supplies are replenished.

I stay for the dinner and drinks - straight fruit punch for me - I was going to take the 8:15 ferry from Duke Point but another couple were taking the 7:00 from Departure Bay so I took that one - it was a good evening to be on a ferry - the weather has cooled down - we are able to see three cruise ships off of the Sunshine Coast - the view is hazy - a combination of an inversion, hot weather and smoke from a large fire north of Vancouver.

Get home, unpack, do a little grocery shopping, take some more meds and ice my hands and then off to bed.

As I am typing this report on Tuesday I am back to about 90% use of my hands - still some stiffness if I move them to fast or put too much pressure on them. I had thought of going to the walk in clinic here as a follow up but since the pain and healing seems to be working I have pu tit off for the time being.

For the rest of the week I will be taking it easy before heading up to Kelowna for the weekend.

Cheers

Dennis

Strathcona Park - Paradise Meadows June 5, 2009

I find that I am able to drive the standard although it is slow shifting as I don't have a lot of mobility in my hands - I know some reading this post probably think I am nuts and you are probably not far off the mark but when has sanity being one of my strong suites.

I finally make it up to the Paradise Meadows parking lot at Mt Washington and start out along the Meadows trail until I come to a junction - continue with the meadows loop or head towards Helen MacKenzie Lake - I choose the latter as it is a rekkie and I have done the meadows before - I soon meet two gals who were doing the Battleship - Helen MacKenzie loop - they suggested that I should give it a try and I started to do it but when my turn around time came I wasn't at the Lake and wasn't sure how much further it was.

By now the trauma of the spill was wearing off and the real pain was beginning and I wanted to hit a walk in clinic before they close for the day so I turned around and headed back to my truck.











I take the slower Oceanside Hwy #19A route back - stop at the Visitor's bureau in Qualicum Beach for info on walk in clinics and are advised that it didn't open until after the other doctor's offices close and that would be 5PM so I went back to the campsite and rested before heading to the clinic - took me a few minutes of find it - the directions given by the tourist guy were good - after checking in and being told it was a good 90 minute wait I head out for a bite to eat - found a fish and chip place called Yorkies - as in Yorkshire - where I had a piece of fish and chips - it was excellent - returned to the clinic and waited in the office for my name to be called. Won't repost the results - they are in the previous post.

Tomorrow - the Friends of Yellowpoint Lodge Director's meeting and BBQ - the latter I might skip if I don't feel too great.

Cheers

Dennis

Log Bridge Regional trail and the "Accident" June 5, 2009

After having breakfast it was time to get the bike and hit the road - while I have done parts of the Log Bridge trail before I hadn't done it completely and with a new Suspension Bridge across the Englishmen River a loop opportunity also existed as well as a visit to the adjacent Englishmen River Regional Park - the route that I took from the campsite and then to the start off of Industrial road in Parksville is the popular one. The first part is great for bikes but as you get closer to the water the trail becomes more technical and you have to push your bike - there are alternate starts where the bike is supreme.




This is one of the weirdest notices I have ever seen - dogs are responsible for the decline in the fish stocks in the river?



Some interesting rock formations where the river many eons ago carved out its route - by now you will be pushing your bike as staircases are used to navigate along the River.



Finally the new 2007 suspension bridge comes into view - this was a new attraction for me.

A little history - the name Log Bridge comes from a bridge that use to be in this place on the original Nanaimo - Port Alberni highway and was removed years ago.







It was here after crossing the Bridge that I went to do a little exploring - wanted to see where a logging road lead to - suppose to take you down to the river and the Englishmen River Regional Park - well while slowly cycling downhill I must have hit a patch of soft sand or something because next thing I know my bike and me parted ways - As I was falling I ended up landing hard on my hands and wrists - at first glance - some blood, scrapes and some pain but it didn't appear to be anything that would necessitate a 911 call.

After my initial observation I figured I better start to see if I can make it back to the Park which is about 6 kms away.

The bike appears to be in working condition.

I am able to ride back to the campsite but can't put a lot of pressure on my palms - cleaned up the wounds and relaxed - I knew that there was no hospital in the Parksville area - the closest emergency is Nanaimo.

I decided to see how I felt - because of the lack of intense pain I was pretty sure that nothing was broken and that some of the current pain could be from the shock or trauma from the fall - I still had a couple of things that I wanted to attempt to do and in a hour or so I felt better so I continued on with my plans.

POSTCRIPT:

They are detailed in my next post BUT I will state that I did later in the evening go to an after hours walk in clinic where after a two hour wait I was examined by a doctor who confirmed that I likely didn't have anything broken but if I wanted an x-ray - Nanaimo would be my option - she suggested a pain killer and lots of ice and try and keep the wounds try and covered.

As I am typing this a few days later - I still have some soreness but for the most part have recovered - the wounds are the swelling is going down.

An eventful day

Cheers

Dennis