December 6, 2015: Horseshoe Bay to the USA year-end walk

Waterfront Station to Lonsdale Quay

Since we made it to the USA border at the beginning of November, this wasn’t part of the linked series of walks … just a year-end walk and post-walk gathering — a variation on the first segment of the Burrard Loop Walk that started this whole exercise (two years ago!).

Seventeen people gathered at Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver and walked along the Coal Harbour seawall, through Stanley Park, over the Lions Gate Bridge and then east on the Spirit Trail in North Vancouver to Lonsdale Quay. We started at 12:30 so that we could end a little later and have an early dinner. As usual the pace was relaxed, with some small groups walking faster and others slower. We seem to have always had an unspoken agreement that the faster walkers would wait periodically and everyone would gather and recombine so that in the end you have been able to talk to everyone.

After crossing over the Lions Gate Bridge, we detoured to Faubourg, a French café/bakery at Park Royal to meet Jean and have a coffee break (an unusual occurrence that greatly confused some members). The group split between those who wanted to sit inside and warm up and the hardy ones who preferred to sit outside. It took a while for everyone to get served but we had some time to spare.

Then we resumed walking and started on the Spirit Trail section.

The rain held off for most of the first half of the walk but we had rain in the second half. We stopped at Martin Marine on Welsh Street and Liz bought a new yellow rain hat (with a steep discount courtesy of the charming sales associates).

As the time approached 4:30, we arrived at the Tap & Barrel (Shipyards location, at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue) where we had a reservation for dinner. A couple of extra people joined us here. A large group was being served at the same time and there was a temporary shortage of wine glasses, but one of our number, survival skills honed by months of these walks, had no problem drinking from the carafe.

Starting selfie

Leaving Canada Place

Christmas Crow

Along the Coal Harbour Seawall

Ralph and the Ravine Trail

Lady with a Red Umbrella

Mysterious hand signals

Liz

Dave

Janet S

Ralph

Gathering for lunch (too bad about the trash can)

Lions Gate Bridge

Leaving Prospect Point

On the bridge

Baby lion

Waiting for espresso at Faubourg

Still waiting for espresso

Trapped in Faubourg

Worth the wait

Boots on the Spirit Trail

A colourful group

Bird condo

Along the Spirit Trail

Derek helping Liz select a new chapeau

Myra at Martin Marine

Spirit Trail

Up and over

McKay Creek and Vancouver skyline

Colourful pair

End of year group selfie – or, group staring at a beer

Who needs a wine glass?

Contemplative Don

Tina and Liz

Michael and Jean

Angela and Dave

Jon and Liz

Janet and Bruce at Tap and Barrel

Fred and some of his adoring fans

Michael taking a photo of Jon taking a photo of Michael

Until next time

In 2015, we had

• Seven people who did every walk
• 20 people for the November walk
• 32 people who walked at least once

Coming in 2016 — Walk the Fraser: Up the Fraser River to Fort Langley.

November 1, 2015: Semiahmoo to the Peace Arch

We made it!

This year’s monthly hikes started in the rain and ended in the rain.

Twenty intrepid souls (our largest single group ever) assembled at Elgin Hall for the final leg of the season.  Rain was promised for the day but held off long enough for the group to gather for the traditional starting photo.  It was dry for the first few minutes until we arrived at the beginning of the Semiahmoo Trail and then got increasingly wet as the day progressed.

Our route took us south through an attractive but confusing network of trails and then down a ravine. Once out of the ravine, we reached the north end of White Rock and then walked along the waterfront, finally cutting inland to reach Peace Arch Park.  The last few kilometres featured driving wind and heavy rain that tested the waterproofness of everyone’s gear. Fittingly, the downpour let up as we reached the Peace Arch. Shortly after the triumphal (and soggy) photo at our destination, the rain actually stopped.

Most of us convened at the Townhall Pub where we more or less dried out over a round of drinks and some food.  Some of the others opted for a quick trip home and a sensible soak in a warm tub.

Now: where next?

Posing in purple

Milling about at the start

Starting selfie

Trail marker

Heading out in the rain

Pond

Concrete critters

Wet walk in the woods

Consulting on the route

Well, that’s clear!

You are here

Sunnyside(?) Acres

A pause in the rain

Jon perusing the route map

Here comes the rain (again)

Abandoned steps

Marching along

Descending

In the ravine

Down to the shore

Observed from on high

White Rock beach front

Map of the Salish Sea

Soggy Seagulls by the Sea Shore

Expo 86 benches on the waterfront

Got it!

Dude waiting for the train

White Rock Pier

White Rock

Along the White Rock waterfront

Bear with Liz

Fearless Leader

Joette displaying raingear fashion

Ducks in the rain

A soggy scene

Almost there …

Peace Arch

Invading the USA

Parasol pirouette

Parasol pose

Our destination

Photographer at work

Waiting in the rain for the photographer

We made it!

Peace Arch with Liz

Ending selfie

Dry at last

October 5, 2015: Mud Bay and Serpentine Fen

Route map

Sixteen hikers assembled at Delta Heritage Airport, where we ended last month. There was a wait while some people drove to the end point to leave cars and were ferried back. There are two kinds of people in the world: those who form pop-up transportation sub-committees and come up with complicated plans to deal with these arrangements, and those who just go where they are told. Let us call them the Herders and the Sheep. It is all a mystery how it works. (I am a Sheep.)

Almost immediately we were back on the dike. It was a beautiful, warm fall day with the full complement of blue sky, glittering sea, Mount Baker visible off in the distance, and hundreds of ducks having some kind of get-together on the water. We saw eagles, herons, and other feathered creatures.

The book warns about a couple of potential difficulties: one is access to the dikes in and around Mud Bay Park, and the other is passing under Highway 99 at the Serpentine River.

As a Sheep, I am not entirely sure what happened at Mud Bay Park. We looked at a map, milled about a bit considering our options, and then headed down a slippery, grassy bank with brambles (ouch) and then across train tracks and back on to a trail.

We had already run into a locked gate that caused some retracing of steps, and when we came to our second one on a road that had No Trespassing signs it was staffed by a security man in an official vest. Perhaps overwhelmed by our numbers and/or our appearance of solid citizenry, he let us through as long as we didn’t plan on coming back that way. We assured him that wouldn’t be an issue (fingers crossed behind our backs, just in case).

We followed the path next to the Serpentine River. Then we came to potential difficulty Number 2: the only ways to cross Highway 99 were over it (almost certainly a suicide mission) or under it (and the water seemed rather high).

We sat around contemplating the alternatives for a while. There was also a crawl space under the bridge filled with rocks and rubble. Our volunteer spelunker Fred attempted the crawl and Alan tried the water route. Alan reported that we would be likely to get wet feet, while Fred reported that he was confident we could do it. So we all crawled under the bridge, with Coach Fred talking us through it. It was a bonding experience.

Bruce walked alongside the traffic to the other river bank and found it easier to get through under the bridge on that side but we refused to let that take away from our sense of accomplishment.

After that, the rest of the walk was a piece of cake, although meandering: the Serpentine Fen proved pretty much as winding as the name implied. We arrived at the car park at the Elgin Hall at Crescent Road and King George Boulevard and then drove to the Townhall pub on 148th Street and King George Boulevard. It was the kind of pub that had a video game called Big Buck Hunter. Pacifist hiking types were seen playing it, but refused to spend more than a total of $2 so failed to bag anything significant.

Autumn colours

Colourful women

Boy band?

Setting up for the group shot

Try to look like an aeroplane, Jon

Pretend to be an aeroplane, all

Gord and Liz

Gord and Liz, closer

Lots of ducks

You can see forever

Consultation I

We ran into her nephew

Consultation II

You are here

Need … (gasp) … water …

Beautiful day, I

Bird, wire, heavenly body

Crow flying in a straight line

Watching us with a beady eye

Beautiful day, II

Slippery ground

Hikers trying to look harmless

We make it through security

Dead end

But maybe not?

Michael emerges

Angela emerges

Our motto: no man left behind

Ralph emerges

And out the other side!

Down by the riverside

Blueberries, dormant

Looking for a picnic spot

Perfect lunch location selected by Michael

Joette, reclining

Large Muscovy duck, anyone?

The kayak is gaining on us

Maybe we should have kayaked

A pause in the shade

In the watch tower, I

In the watch tower, II

Pastoral scene

Liz photographs an obelisk

Seasonal vegetables

Recreating Abbey Road

Made it!

Toasting Ralph

Sharpshooter, I

Sharpshooter, II

September 6, 2015: Tsawwassen to Boundary Bay

There were eighteen Loopers for this stage.  The transportation logistics were a bit more challenging this time as we anticipated (incorrectly as it turned out) that parking near the ferry terminal would be a challenge.  Many of the participants were dropped at the starting point, where they had to amuse themselves for nearly an hour while the cars drove to the end point, picking up the remaining drivers and returning in just two vehicles to the start.

In spite of all of this we headed out just after the appointed starting time at about 10:45am.  We headed East across the North end of Tsawwassen until we reached Boundary Bay.  After a brief trek to the north we stopped for lunch at the “John Deere Cut-Out,”  a convenient and very well equipped bench along the dyke.  As well as seating for most of the group the bench included a lost-and-found box, a drinking dish for dogs (complete with running water), a towel, and a guest book.

After lunch we proceeded along the north side of the bay, passing a strange hydro-electric installation.  Subsequent on-line research revealed that it is a “land electrode,” presumably a grounding device, at one end of a transmission line from Delta to Vancouver Island—fascinating what one can learn on these outings.  Further along we passed by Boundary Bay Airport, where a number of small planes were practicing takeoffs and landings, circling above us.

The walk ended at the Delta Heritage Air Park where we had left most of the cars.  From there we drove back to Tsawwassen for a well-earned beer at the Rose and Crown Pub (save for a small breakaway group that went for coffee instead).

It was a beautiful day for a walk, sunny but not too warm, and the total distance was almost exactly 16 km.

(Photos by Jon, Angela, Julie, Ralph, Liz, and Michael.)

Starting selfie

Heading out

Fauna

A shaggy heron

Marching along

Janet in Santiago shirt

Don in high visibility shirt

Liz

Alan

Michael

Gordon

Jon

Larrie

Angela

Jon and Fred discuss the route

And up we go …

Signs

Kiwanis Longhouse

Resuming after a rest stop

Jon is snowed in

Julie climbs Mt. Zamboni

Mosaic on side of school

Cornfield

Clouds

Approaching Boundary Bay

Descending to the dyke

Descending to the dyke

Jon and Angela

Angela – outstanding in her field

Liz snaps Larry …

… and here’s the result

Heading north along the dyke

Our lunch stop

Lunch

Lunchtime

Two Solitudes

Breathe

Signing the guest book

The guest book

Resuming the walk post-lunch

Crops – potatoes?

Strange Hydro installation

Contemplating the installation

Marching along

Solitary Tree #1

Solitary Tree #2

Bird sculpture

Pond

The wild blue yonder

And on we go …

Lost luggage?

Nearing the finish

View to the west

Delta Heritage Air Park

Delta Heritage Air Park

Delta Heritage Air Park

Arrival at the Air Park

Awaiting the final photo

Photographer at work

The ending group photo

Post-hike libations

Gordon

Post-hike debrief

August 23, 2015: Ladner to Tsawwassen redux

A small but select group of three walkers did the Ladner to Tsawwassen section on Sunday, August 23rd, while a second band were doing the UBC to Marpole leg. We started at the non-standard time of 10:00 am to accommodate commitments later in the day, leaving the car at River Road and Admiral Blvd. Probably one of the least appealing legs in this series of walks (mostly flat terrain, several sections on pavement, not much shade) — although it was still interesting to explore unfamiliar parts of the Lower Mainland. At the end of the walk we were whisked in comfort back to the start by a family member of one of the walkers, a long-time resident of Ladner. A couple of walkers explored the weekly Ladner Village Market before joining the others for post-walk refreshments at Speed’s Neighbourhood Pub.

According to MapMyWalk we walked 16.3KM in just over 4 hours; full stats here.

Starting selfie

Boats in Ladner

Flowers in Ladner

Larrie and Michael walking

Larrie and Michael not walking

Local folk art

More local folk art

Blue water

Michael and Larrie not walking

Green water

A business ready-made for Angela

Lunch break at a shady bench

Larrie and Jean walking

Dueling photographers

Stalked by Segways

Michael and Jean resting

Why did Larrie cross the tracks?

To get to the other side…

First nations church in Tsawwassen

First nations church

Interesting grave marker in first nations cemetery

The final stretch

Ending selfie

Exploring Ladner Village Market

August 23, 2015: UBC to Marpole Redux

6 walkers set out on the UBC to Marpole leg (3 for the first time, 3 for the second).  Amazingly there were no marathons or bike races to confuse things at the starting point! We started from Westbrook Village, where we had ended the last leg, and proceeded into Pacific Spirit Park.  From there we followed the prescribed route, with a brief diversion through Fraser River Park.

After ending at the Marpole cairn we retired to the Milltown Pub for post-hike drinks and munchies.  The total length of the outing was just over 14km, completed in slightly over 3 hours.

Starting Selfie at Westbrook Village

Into the woods

In Pacific Spirit Park

In Pacific Spirit Park

Marching through Southlands

Bees at work

Bees at work

Bees!

Ponies out for a stroll

Little library

Strolling along

Stopping to smell the flowers

Flowers #1

Flowers #2

Flowers #3

A bit early for Halloween

Jon is stumped

Along the rails

Along the rails #2

Flowers

In Riverview Park

Julie and Alan

Liz

Alan, Julie, Jon

At Fraser River Park

Anchor

Fraser River

Heron

We were all careful not to spark!

Ending selfie at the Marpole cairn

Milltown

Beauty and the Beast

August 2, 1015: Ladner to Tsawwassen

This was hike #8. It wasn’t feasible to walk through the Massey Tunnel, so 12 of us started at the intersection of Admiral Boulevard and River Road in Ladner. We walked on River Road, past a marina. Further along, there is a marine walkway, bordered with some remnants of Expo 86. Then we continued along the dike to Wellington Point Park, where we had a brief stop. We continued past Westham Island and saw Reifel Bird Sanctuary from across the water.

Our lunch stop was at Brunswick Point. After this, the path turned south-east.

This was a fairly straightforward walk along the river: dikes, marshes, fields. The weather was hot and sunny. The distance was 15 km according to Charles C, but we had a variety of readings from the various devices worn by members of the group. The achillea (thanks, Ralph) was in bloom. Ripe blackberries were everywhere so most of us stopped periodically to enjoy them, warm from the sun.

Eventually, we safely crossed a railway line to Roberts Bank and briefly basked in the shade of the overpass. After this, we were in the Tsawwassen Reserve and in the final long, hot stretch to Highway 17. Our bus stop was near the start of the causeway to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal.

Post-hike thirst-quenching took place at Speed’s Pub, back near the marina in Ladner.

Starting selfie sans chapeaux (mostly)

Duck crossing

View to the north

Pastoral scene

History lesson

Why did the hikers cross the road?

Boats

River view

Port Guichon

Gift shop (closed)

Morning rest stop

Morning rest stop #2

Wrong way!

Crab traps

Wooden it be nice if these were real ducks

Looking North to Westham Island

Looking South to Roberts Bank

Marching along past the achillea

Pausing

Pausing #2

Waiting to see the whites of their eyes

Flowers

Signs of the times

Lunch break

Lunch break #2

Lunch break in the shade

Ralph and Angela

Liz and Fred

Fred and Jon

Looking back to the North

Heading south-east

Mount Baker

Jon meets Segway

Down by the seashore

Crossing the railway to Roberts Bank

Into native territory

Along Tsawwassen Drive

Church of the Holy Ghost

Waiting for the #620

Pointed ending selfie

Post hike libations at Speed’s Pub in Ladner

The tapenade and the Four Winds IPA

July 26, 2015: Kitsilano to UBC redux #2

This morning 6 of us set out to do hike #4 (4 for the first time and 2 for the second).  I’m not sure if this is the first instance of a 3rd round of a hike.  Ironically, our initial plan to park cars and end the hike at the Marine Drive lookout was thwarted by a race (reminiscent of hike #5).  A bicycle race had half of Marine Drive and access to the lookout closed off.  The upside is that we parked adjacent to Biercraft in Westbrook Village.  Dropping cars there we drove to the starting point at the foot of Trafalgar Street.

It was raining fairly steadily as we set out.  Because the tide was out we were able to walk along the shoreline below Point Grey Road.  By the time we got to Jericho Park the rain was letting up and as we walked along Spanish Banks the skies cleared and the sun came out.  We ascended via the “official” route and walked across campus, stopping for a brief look inside the new student union building, and walking past the new alumni centre.

We then descended the many steps to Wreck Beach, which due to the morning rain and cool weather was almost completely deserted.  Proceeding along the shoreline and up trail #7 we backtracked up the Old Marine Drive and crossed the playing fields at the south end of the campus to arrive at Westbrook Village, where we stopped at Biercraft for post-hike beer and munchies.

Soggy starting selfie

Along the English Bay shoreline

Along the English Bay shoreline

Interesting retaining wall

Graffiti

Along the English Bay shoreline

Many boats

Observed from on high

Along Spanish Banks

Along Spanish Banks

Colourful Brollies

Leaves

Julie samples the blackberries

UBC

Descending to Wreck Beach

Descending to Wreck Beach

Jon takes a break

View toward Vancouver Island

Wreck Beach

Julie and Liz

Along the river

Snack break

Snack break

And up we go

On Trail #7

Erosion

Signs of the times

Trail #7

We made it to the top

Lost in a maze

Ending selfie

Awaiting beer arrival

… and off we go home

July 12, 2015: Steveston to Massey Tunnel redux

We were six on this past Sunday’s walk from Gary Point to the blackberry patches along Rice Mill Road; 5 humans plus one dog: Belle—who either walked twice as far as any of the humans (same distance x twice as many legs) or half as far (same distance ÷ twice as many legs): the debate raged for hours. Three of the humans were new to the HB2USA enterprise: the recruiting drive continues, and in fact this time went as far afield as Ontario…

Weather was variable: overcast to start; some sprinkles about an hour into the walk (which quickly passed); warm and sunny by the end. For some mysterious reason we walked about 1 km further than the first group (12 km) and took 45 minutes longer: clearly that additional km was quite arduous.

Highlights included: the displays at the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site; a brief peek inside the tearoom at London Farms; the blackberries; coffee and treats at a sidewalk table just outside Village Books and Coffee (Indie bookstore + 49th Parallel coffee: what’s not to like?)

Starting selfie at Gary Point

Jean and Carol contemplate the pioneering Japanese fishermen

Sandy, closely examining model ship

Jean tickles the ivories

Investigating the historic Britannia Shipyard

Bunkhouse display

Another bunkhouse display

Poultry

London Farm entrance

London Farm “antique” spices

Belle

Lunch break beside the mighty Fraser

Vegetables being picked

Belle at Finn Slough

FInn Slough

FInn Slough too

FInn Slough three

ripe blackberries in July!

Also blueberries

Final selfie

Coffee and treats at Village Books

July 5, 2015: Steveston to Massey Tunnel

There were 15 on today’s walk.  We assembled at the end point, just above the north entrance to the Massey Tunnel, left several cars there and proceeded to the starting point at Gary Point Park in Steveston.  The day started out cloudy and hazy, the latter from smoke from forest fires, but cleared as the day progressed.  The upside was that it was fairly cool for the start of the walk.   It warmed up later but there was always a nice breeze along the river.

Our route took us along the Steveston waterfront, through the Britannia Shipyards, past London Farm, and later past Finn Slough, an interesting little village at the foot of #4 road.  At the conclusion of the walk we retrieved the cars we had left earlier and returned to the Buck & Ear in Steveston for post-walk drinks and food.

The starting selfie

along the Steveston waterfront

along the Steveston waterfront

L:iz & Dave

Britannia Shipyards

model boat

At the shipyards

Julie discovers a piano

Inside a boatshed

Inside the boatshed

Mud

nets

rope

boat shed

old Victrola

boats

milling about

Stilt houses

Stilt houses

local resident

A determined group of marchers

Jon affecting the full Tilley look

rest stop

rounding a turn

Blackberries

Finn Slough

Finn Slough

Finn Slough

Finn Slough

Wise advice – twice

A slew of hikers at Finn Slough

Ralph and Gordon

Ralph and Gordon #2

Finn Slough

Nearing the end

Blueberries

Almost there

Crossing above the freeway

The End