Expedition Canada

Foot off the gas Fri Apr 30th Hyannis, Bridle, Fishermans and Baden Powell Mainly because it was pouring with rain this morning - a more leisurely start was promised .  Jack poked his head out first thing and thought better of it.  Odd for a dog that heads to the nearest water whenever we are out. A mid morning walk first thing around the trails just north of us - Hyannis, Bridle, Fishermans and Baden Powell was at a quick pace.  Maybe a run tomorrow!  Moist but not drenching.  A few dog walkers, a couple of joggers and lots of pines! We have been researching properties ready for viewing next week when we head across to the Sunshine Coast on Sunday.  A property we were particularly interested in near Gibsons, that came in from our realtor this morning and we'd booked to see Sunday lunchtime, had gone by lunchtime today, such is the BC property market at the moment!   We find our media viewing and listening habits have changed materially ...

Norvan Falls Skunk Cabbage - grows in bogs, it smells Thu Apr 29 The weather was set fair so we decided today was a good day to do the roundtrip to the Norvan Falls.  A minimum of 14k, but longer if you park down the hill (to avoid the paid for car parks), which will add at least 2k.  We parked down the hill! We had walked half the trail on Sunday, but then hadn't come prepared to do the full distance, plus it was raining!  The lower half is relatively straight forward, though there are some areas strewn with rock, tree roots or just a bit boggy. On Sunday we got as far as The Debris Chute, an open area accessible by service and emergency helicopters which has a strange metal locked cylinder.  We assume it has rescue or services equipment.  On Sunday we'd seen a couple of BC Parks staff walking up carrying a chain-saw on their backs, but no fuel. Today we discovered the second half of the  trail is classed as 'intermediate' and is hard work.  Uphi...

Granville Island Jack checking out urban Van Wed Apr 28th The day started trying to work out how to change the Apple App store country location on my iPhone, so we could download local Apps that were barred from being added to a UK configured phone.  After much research, discussions with Apple and trial settings the project was abandoned.   Changing you country location, can only be done after you have unsubscribed from Apple Music.  You then lose all your music.  I assume this is for copyright reasons. As part of setting up the country you have to enter a local address.  No problem, we will use our rental address.  As you go through the process of adding a payment card to the store, you discover that the Paypal or Credit Card address, has to match your residential address in Canada.  Except we don't have a Canadian payment card (or bank account) yet. Lobster Brioche from Popina So after several hours of trying to resolve this and ending up back a...

Exploring the North Shore Red Breasted Sapsucker Tue April 27th A different trail this morning as we decided to take the Baden Powell trail that heads easterly towards Deep Cove.  Except we took a wrong turn and ended up on Bridle Trail.  Less water for Jack to explore, but we were rewarded by coming across this stunning Red Breasted Sapsucker.  It allowed me to get within 20' to get this picture. It's a member of the Woodpecker (Picidae) family.  I rather like the name, but have not yet found how it got it. While walking we heard a bird, we'd heard before, that sounds like a ref's whistle without the pea.  We've yet to find out what it is, or see it! This afternoon, we went checking out residential areas in West Van, the bit of North Shore on the other side of the Capilano River that separates West and North Van. The first area we looked at was a district called British Properties (not yet sure how that got its name either). Some stunning houses with views...

Vancouver Traffic Mystery Creek Mon Apr 26th Which can flow quite smoothly will come to a grinding halt if there is an incident on either of the two bridges that separate North Vancouver from Vancouver.  More later. The morning excursion was a repeat of the day before, only this time we were confident we knew where we were going.    Hyannis, Power Line, Fishermans and Baden Powell trails, with plenty of water for Jack to explore on route. Fred tried out her new hiking poles, which made going down hill much easier. Jack made short work of the hills and slopes with his four-paw drive.  He really has become quite adept at going places I would not dream of climbing up or down. Confirmation during morning that a SWIFT transfer of funds from the UK had been completed and it was agreed I could collect the car in the afternoon, which  was booked for 15.30. Poles and Pylons I set off at 1400 to drop the hire  car  back in Burnaby, which is in east Vancouve...

Quiet Day  Sunday April 25 A local walk this morning around the trails north of the house.  It was quiet as we left but Vancouver had woken up as we made our way back. There are a number of good Apps for mobiles that hold maps and trail information, tracking you as you walk.  They are definitely a handy tool and avoid wet maps.   More importantly they show your location  when it would probably have been more difficult working out where you are when there are fewer visible reference points if you were using a map and compass . On recommendation from the younger branch Fred has acquired a set of hiking poles, which makes the uphill and downhill easier.  I've yet to convert from grabbing rocks and trees! This is our last week in North Van as we head across to the Sunshine Coast next Sunday.  Fortunately it is part of the same 'Coast" health region, so we aren't anticipating any major issues being stopped on route.   At the moment non-essent...

Norvan Falls Trail Not only does the forest look like a rain forest, today it rained.  The mountains were shrouded in mist with occasional glimpses of the tree clad slopes, their snow covered caps hidden for the day.   The trail up to the falls runs alongside Lynn Creek which was flowing well with the melt water coming down off mountains that form Lynn Headwaters Regional Park.  The round trip to the falls is 14k.  New to the area, we parked short of the trail start so added a couple of extra kilometres to the walk.  We made it just beyond half way, but plan to return and do the complete walk during the week. We arrived early and only met a few people on the way up.  A different story coming down, but there is so much space it didn't spoil it.     It is amazing how close residential property is to rugged, untamed forest.  Living 100m from a trail, the forests go on for several hundreds of kilometres with only occasional roads bisect...

Three weeks already New From Old Friday April 23rd  It's hard to believe how quickly time has flown by.  Tomorrow will be three weeks since we arrived in Canada.  It feels very normal.  We're not getting used to north American TV and are rather glad we brought our Apple TV box.  The BBC's Sounds app works well; so we go to bed with the Today programme and wake to the World at One.  The Covid Pandemic continues to have a constraining effect on Canadian life. The vaccination programme is well behind that of the UK and USA and cases have started to rise again.  Travel restrictions have been put in place across Canada; no direct flights from S Asia, only essential  inter-state travel.  In BC  all but essential travel limited to your current health region.  Fortunately our next rental on The Sunshine Coast is the same as our current health region and Nick and Lizzie's. The weather since we have been in Vancouver quarantine and over the l...

Cars and More Cars Thu 22 April Today was about cars, all day.  After coffee in Kitsilano, it was off to Richmond, out near the Airport, to another car retail park.  A few more test drives and the list narrows.  Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer, Discovery Sport and Jeep Grand Cherokee.  We don't anticipate doing a lot of town driving and want something that will tow and be safe on the trails.  The last two made the final shortlist and the evening was spent reviewing specs for a decision Friday morning. Lunch back in Kits was followed by a quick trip to the bank to see if we could open a joint  account with Nick.  Not possible until we have something other than visitor status.  So getting local debit cards and cash management is at least five months away.   Back to North Van via the Lion's Gate Bridge.  Whether viewed from Stanley Park below where it's possible to admire the bridge structure and architecture, or from the bridge ...

Quieter Pace Wed 21st April After the early morning dog walk it was a b oys shopping trip .... for a car! With gas (sorry petrol) at 97p per litre should I go the petrol-head route, or something more modest?  Vancouver has car dealership malls - a bit like regular shopping malls, but cars.  A very convenient way of buying a set of wheels.  Yesterday we test drove a VW Atlas.  Nice car, solid ride but not great on reliability.  Also went looking for a Toyota 4Runner, but it had been sold before we got there.  It's amazing how long it takes to shop for cars! After a late lunch we went for a walk up Lynn Creek a five minute car ride away. In the UK, my greatest fear when taking Jack out picking up on a shoot, or alongside me as a peg-dog, was him running in to Charlie Rowland's cover crop at Bowden Farm before the drive had been through it.  Jack has an amazing nose and can smell game birds from 100 yards and will sniff them out.  Gun dogs dashing in...

  Phew! Rock Climbing Centre Tuesday 20th The pace has not slowed.  Our day was spent in and around Squamish, a town midway between Vancouver and Whistler on the Sea to Sky Highway (Route 99).  The highway goes on to Pemberton and then  the northern interior of BC.  It has some amazing views as you drive the various dual and single carriage sections.  First stop was Britannia Beach, and specifically Watts Point. An area popular with rock climbers, and Nick, who can be found up there at least once a week scaling the granite outcrops. "The first bit is step then it's OK" says Nick.  We have been lulled into a false sense of security before!   We did not get to the top.  I'd prefer to be upside down in a plane at 3,000' that halfway up tracks hewn out of the rock, where I have to look down  where I have been.  Coupled with that a spaniel has no sense of danger and at one point fell down a 10' drop when curiosity got the better of ...

Nick is in charge of activities!!! Monday 19th Jan  So it has been full on!   He has a week off and is determined we squeeze in as many physical activities this week as possible!!!! We are starting to lose track of time, so that's got be a good thing, right? The early morning walk was up the Baden Powell trail from where it meets the Hyannis trail.  Very uphill with lots of board walks.  Stunning scenery, no bears, which is just as well as I forgot to buy my bear deterrent products at MEC yesterday! Back from the walk, I was behind a computer screen booking an appointment with ICBC, who issue BC driving licences.  The advantage is that we could  benefit from reduced monopoly insurance rates ($5,000)!   It seems that as we don't have any form of status in Canada beyond 'visitor' we aren't eligible until we apply for an extension to our six months visitor stay; our super-visa comes through, or our application for residency invita...

Freedom Sunday 18th April Busy day today after a late evening when Nick and Lizzie joined us for supper outside. Great to see them properly now that we were out of quarantine and have a decent catch up.  Jack was chasing a ball until about 9.00pm and slept until I got up this morning - and that was late! The day started with a walk up in to the Hyannis Trail with Jack to get my bearings.  Just 10 mins from the house.  The bikers and hikers were just getting started as I returned. It was then out and about.  The weather meant everybody in Vancouver was also out and about!   After a quick trip to MEC (originally the Mountain Equipment Centre I think - a mecca for those into outdoor pursuits), and some maps and backpack we set off to meet Nick for lunch at Lighthouse Park.   Too many people and queues for the car park so we abandoned that plan and headed over to Kitsilano, where Nick and Lizzie are based via Marine Drive.  This runs al...