I've been cycling in to the office for one or two days a week more or less continuously since October 2021, with just a couple of breaks. That means, whatever the weather, I set out on the local roads and head up the hill to UBC. Ah yes, the hill... Or perhaps, more ominously, The … Continue reading Vignette: A winter commute
My job takes me to North Vancouver twice a year and, after completing the task at hand, I like to venture into one of the nearby parks to soak up a bit of rainforest atmosphere before heading back to work. In the past I've visited Mosquito Creek and Capilano Canyon, while today I opted for … Continue reading Vignette: Lynn Canyon, 31 Jan 2023
I know, I know - another vignette. I promise there's a hike report coming soon! A couple of weeks ago I stopped in at Camosun Bog, a tiny remnant bog ecosystem on the edge of Pacific Spirit Park, to capture the bog laurel (kalmia) in bloom, having seen some photos on Twitter. The laurel was … Continue reading Vignette: Camosun Bog, 29 May 2022
Most people go to Whytecliff Park for the beach, to scramble over the rocks at low tide to get to Whyte Islet, or to go SCUBA diving in the sheltered bay. And sure, we do enjoy wandering over to the islet - at least when the rock is dry, unlike today. But there's a spot … Continue reading Vignette: Whytecliff Park, 15 May 2022
Another weekend had come to an end, and without having ventured out on a hike, we both needed a dose of nature to top up our senses before plunging into the busyness of a working week. Lighthouse Park almost always fits the bill for a place that feels a little wild - wild enough to … Continue reading Vignette: Lighthouse Park, 1 May 2022
It's been exactly four weeks since we were last in Stanley Park and in that time Spring has definitely begun to take hold. We did a very similar 7.5-ish km loop around the park, from Third Beach along the seawall to Lost Lagoon, then across to Coal Harbour and north past the aquarium to the … Continue reading Vignette: Stanley Park, 26 Mar 2022
The Fraser River estuary is an important area for overwintering birds, perhaps the most visible of which are snow geese, which flock in their hundreds - if not thousands - to the wetlands and marshes where the Fraser meets the Salish Sea. A great place to see them is along the west dyke in Richmond, … Continue reading Vignette: snow goose-a-palooza, 16 Jan 2022
As I type these words, the rain has returned, though thankfully not in the same quantities as on Thursday night. The wind had dropped by this morning and light snow had started falling again. Knowing that the rain would be back, we went for a wander along the beach between Spanish Banks and Jericho. The … Continue reading Vignette: After the storm, 8 Jan 2022
A gap in the rain means time for a walk on the beach! We are moved on from our first parking spot by a film project that had reserved the lot just west of Spanish Banks Creek, so we park up in the westernmost lot, beyond the film crews and among all the dog-walkers letting … Continue reading Vignette: Jericho-Spanish Banks beaches, 12 Nov 2021
Seeking - and finding - tranquility on a sometime rainy day I expected the park to be busier, but the threat of rain kept the crowds away so we had a delightful couple of hours checking out the usual viewpoints and exploring a couple of new ones, at least until the rain caught up with … Continue reading Vignette: Lighthouse Park, 25 Apr 2021
Being. Outdoors. 