Lost Hiker

A few days ago I decided to tackle the Grouse Grind (previously mentioned here) for the first time since 2007. About a hundred yards up the trail from the entrance is this sign, basically telling you that the owners of Grouse Mountain will take no responsibility whatsoever for any potentially dangerous choices you might make or mayhem you decide to perpetrate as you ascend. I took it fairly easy, and completed the hike up in 1 hour 22 minutes. The fastest people do it in just over half an hour. That's not me!


Post title from this song by Liz Durett.

You Can Never Hold Back Spring

If you're wondering why I've taken so many photos in and around Stanley Park, it's because I live downtown, near the park, so it's easy for me to get there! Here's another one. This tree-lined path is near the tennis courts, and borders the Stanley Park Lawn Bowling Club. This morning on my daily bicycle ride I noticed definite signs of spring: the daffodils and early cherry trees are almost done, the tulips are in bloom, and the rhododendrons are starting to bud. In this photo you can see more evidence of warmer weather to come: leaves are really starting to appear on the trees.

Title for this post taken from this song.

The Dreaming Tree

I have passed by this fallen tree countless times - I must have as it's right next to the seawall, an 8.8 km paved path that skirts around the edge of Stanley Park, and a frequent bicycle route for me. But I honestly never noticed it until yesterday morning. Funny how committing to posting a photo a day has really opened my eyes to my surroundings! I don't know anything about this tree, what kind it is, when it fell, and why the Park Board decided to let it sit in place. Just a couple hundred metres further down the path there was a tree that had been damaged in a big wind storm two days before and already city employees were cutting off branches and making it safe. Anyway, on this grey day I thought it looked a little otherwordly, springing out of the ground like that.

This photo was taken very close to the park entrance. On the left is the Stanley Park Causeway, which leads to the Lions Gate Bridge, one of the major vehicle crossings from downtown Vancouver to the North Shore - and certainly the most picturesque. On the right is the seawall itself, bordered by a railing to keep careless people from falling into the waters of Coal Harbour.