A day of Remembrance

Remembrance Day, November 11, 2009: Vancouver, BC


(Cenotaph, Victory Square, Vancouver, BC)

I got a late start to the day and arrived after the ceremonies were finished.



I hadn't been feeling well for the past week. Coughing mainly and some small headaches, and I never get headaches. I went to work anyway and drew the ire of many who were distancing themselves for want of catching the H1N1 flu which I did not have symptoms.



About a week ago I went to my camera meeting and sat beside someone who was coughing continuously. I knew I should have changed tables but I am usually able to fight off the germs. So I took it like a man and said nothing. Everything was fine for a few days, then it hit.



Today was the first day that I have felt like venturing out. I haven't had an appetite and I am glad to have lost a few pounds in the interim. I decided to go downtown and check out some electronic stuff



I notice another young person begging for money. How nice it must be to be able to just sit there with your sign and hope that we would part willingly with our hard earned money.

We are standing on the corner of Granville & Robson, one of the main intersections in Vancouver and this is what I noticed



Here is a closer crop. He is also asking for some "spare change". It was hard to take his photo as he kept looking at me. When he noticed the camera he moved on to the other side of the street



I turned my self 90 degrees around and saw this



When I exited the store, he came up to the door with his hat extended towards me and asked for any "spare change" too



It's a shame that all these able bodied people are all begging in the streets asking for a handout and expect that some of us will actually throw our spare change into their hats. These street people are no longer lurking in the alleys but rather boldly venturing out into the main tourist areas of the city. Some of them are very aggressive and there have been cases where they have been physical to non contributors.

Today felt very chilly and I was thinking to myself that if felt like it would be cold enough for snow and sure enough it started to hail a bit.



Today, the weather was forecast to be the best it had been for weeks and tomorrow another rain system will be blowing in. My original thought was to take my bike out for a short ride, but as I was still not feeling well I decided against it. I also strained my throttle wrist somehow and I cannot put much pressure on it without hurting. I think I am coming down with Jack Reep Syndrome, and it is causing me some concern.



Just in case we have any readers down in Key West, FL, I mention that today our high temperature was 7C (45F) and proud of it.

Galiano Island, BC - Finale

Whenever we go into exploration mode it is our usual practice to travel onto every road we find to see where it ends up. We head up (NW) along the main paved road and came to a goverment dock and this house along the shore, which looked vacant.



This is a typical view of the road. You will find little traffic along here



Again we stop for another photo of this abandoned home wondering what had happened to the previous occupants



Another building where we find in nature's grasp



I was thinking to myself that this would be a good place to crank the throttle of your bike as there are no speed traps here.



We head over to the west side of the island to find a beautifully paved road and wondered where it went, and stopped when we noticed this writing.



Not much farther ahead there is a locked gate with more NO trespassing signs. I think it was a plan for a new subdivision which never got developed.

We head back towards town and noticed the road to the BLUFFS which has a commanding view of Active Pass, where the ferries pass.



It is our lucky day for we noticed a ferry just happened to come into view.



The house on this little peninsula has water views on both sides: front & back



The Galiano Golf & Country Club operates on the honour system. Just put your money in the box and have a round



While we were having dinner at the Hummingbird Pub we didn't realize that a snow storm was closing in. The flakes were wet and slushy making for very slippery roads. We nearly didn't make it back to our "Tree House" . There are no street lights and no moon to light our way. We really could have used the bright lights of the sun on a certain K75



I couldn't help myself. I knew the previous renters had left the day before, and we could have had the Cliff House for our last night but seeing as we were taking the early ferry off the island I thought it too much trouble. But it certainly will be on the plan next time.



Along the way to the ferry terminal we came across this scene



I imagine that it was very slippery and just a light touch on your brake pedal would have put you into the ditch, just like this. It would have happened to us too if it weren't for the AWD of our Subaru WRX. Just remember to keep constant throttle and keep OFF the brakes.

Not wanting to miss the ferry we arrive at the dock in plenty of time



There is nobody else there, except us. We have the parking lot to ourselves. In the summer season usually a member of the Ferry crew comes on shore to man the ticket booth.



We are safely loaded on board the ferry and bid Galiano Island farewell. A relaxing weekend it was. We headed over to Saltspring Island



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Addendum: SaltSpring Island, Ganges Harbour, BC

We had a mission to head over to Victoria to meet up with some friends and decided to have lunch on the Pier on Saltspring Island



They had quite the snowstorm over here too and we noticed lots of cars buried in the ditches along our way into town. They seldom get snow over here and caught the locals off guard


(Ganges Harbour, Saltspring Island, BC)

After lunch we head over to Vesuvius bay to catch the ferry over to Crofton, BC


(Ferry terminal, Vesuvius Bay, Saltspring Island, BC)

Looking out into the bay the water looked very serene and tranquil



This is our last shot of the setting sun. Notice the pollution smoke stacks from the pulp mill at Crofton BC, our destination.

Galiano Island, British Columbia

A couple of years ago on a dreary rainy day in November we decided to spend a weekend on Galiano Island. Galiano is one of the southern gulf islands located half way between Tsawwassen and Swartz Bay accessed by BC Ferries.



While the Gulf Islands are very close proximity to Vancouver, there are reasons that conspire against you in your quest for exploration. You will find that "Islanders" are very protective of their land and like to keep to their idyllic lifestyle. I would be safe to say that all of these islands are very busy with tourists during the summer months, but now that we are nearly in the grips of winter we find that we are probably the only travellers ambling about. I am usually very thorough in finding information about proposed destinations and with only 5 eating establishments on Galiano it was our thought to have a meal at each of them.

We found our way to the Marina and discovered that the waterfront restaurant had closed for the season. It looked well kept so we walked about on their boardwalk snapping a few pictures of the boats.



The Harbour Grill: we will have to savour their offerings on a future visit



We were hoping to get a mid-day meal somewhere so we drove over to the Galiano Island Oceanfront Inn & Spa, where they have a gourment restaurant. As with any upscale resort with all the luxury amenities, we noticed that the grounds had been immaculately groomed. We didn't notice very many cars in the lot and made our way inside only to be told that their Chef was on vacation this month so their restaurant will be closed until his return



No such luck here either with a moped rental even if that was your desire but the rates were posted on a sign affixed to their door.

The main shopping area is located just as you come off the ferry. There is a general store with gas station, bakery, gift store(s), artists shop, and restaurant that was OPEN. (Sorry if I left anyone out)



This was where we had most of our meals as it was the only place open all day. There was another pub/restaurant that opened in the evenings for dinner only



Another sign for the Galiano Mopeds. I would have thought that they should be available for rental here as it is more convenient as you walk off the ferry, instead of having to walk for an hour up to Montague Harbour



Our dining plans were thwarted as out of 5 places to eat, all but 2 were closed for the season.



There is one road which runs up the spine of the island through the forest without any views of the water. The main road is 2 lanes and paved. This road to the park is more or less single lane



There is limited accommodation options on the island. Except for the Luxury Oceanfront inn, you will have to find yourself a B&B (Bed & Breakfast) which we arranged before arriving. Also during the peak summer months most will only rent for 1 week min periods, or 3 day weekends. It would be difficult to find a place for only one night.



Access to our B&B is via this gravel road on the side of a cliff



We finally catch sight of "The Treehouse" which will be our home away from home for the next 3 days.



This particular property has 2 cabins for rent. One is the Treehouse, and the other is the Cliff House, which was my original desire.


(The Cliff House)

It is a neat place perched on a cliff with a sundeck virtually overhanging the water. I could imagine myself just sitting there reading a book and watching the water.

They also had a "shared" sauna which was constructed Underground



Here is another view showing the owner's residence directly above. The Treehouse is located further up the hill in the trees, and the Cliff house is directly to your left so there is a lot of privacy here.



Galiano Island is a place to energize and refresh your batteries, relieve the stresses of the world. There is nothing to do here except relax and enjoy life, breathing . . . a place to slow down and gather your thoughts. We did not find any public beach areas as there are mostly cliffs that make their way down to the shore. Here is the scene from the cliff showing you the typical shoreline.



Galiano Island, BC requested by Mr Conchscooter, Key West Diary

South Granville Street, Vancouver, BC

It had been a while since we had brunch at one of our favourite restaurants along Granville Street. The South Granville neighbourhood is a one mile strip of upscale stores starting on the south side of the Granville street bridge terminating around 16th avenue.


(South Granville: Bridge to 16th)

Vancouver is comprised of many retail areas scattered around the city. As you navigate your way along the sidewalks and peer into the small specialty stores you get the feeling that you are in a small town.



Fall is definitely in the air as you notice from the fallen leaves and longer shadows cast by the sun, as well as people bundled up with warmer outerwear. Time to ditch the T-shirts and shorts.

There is no set demographic as you notice people of all generations. Some come by bicycle, being ECO friendly



while others come in luxury



Others are just here, waiting for generous souls to throw their hard earned money away into his hat. Or perhaps he is already home and we are intruding upon his personal space.



His sign reads: "EVERYDAY, I bow and Pray that I can find a better way"

This being a Sunday there is not much traffic and only a handful of these stores are opened



Sometimes you can't dwell on the plight of others and move on. The people who live on the street stay there by choice. We have programs on the east side which are prepared to take them in during the cold of winter where they will be fed and given a warm place to bed down.



I would say that this area caters to the upper middle class and you will find many movie stars (famous people) mingling in with the locals trying to blend in



You will not find many of those national chain stores if that was your desire, but rather interesting merchandise from stores with a niche market



We happened to stumble into a well stocked store specializing in kitchen implements and they just happened to be finishing a cooking demonstration with their new stainless steel convection countertop oven. Of course samples were just being distributed to the onlookers



I wandered about the store and could see that they had every conceivable tool available for the kitchen, all in stainless steel and every type of electrical appliance made with sales ladies in every isle for your beck and call.

The stores line both sides of Granville Street, but if you were to look around the corner you would see



apartment buildings, many of which have been restored to their original grandeur



You will find that not all of the underprivileged, unemployed beg for their money. Others go on their merry way scouring the alleyways and garbage bins for objects of value, while pushing their bicycle



I stood there for a moment staring at him and wondered if he was happy in just being, and whether it was hard to forage daily for your substenance. I'm not sure I would have the fortitude, nor desire to be in his shoes. He turned the corner while I watched



I'm not sure who was happier, this fellow content to beg for money to be thrown into his hat, or the person with the bicycle wanting to earn his own way by doing the only thing he knows.



Or this new person who had just arrived and was sitting on the sidewalk



I headed down the street with thoughts of more pleasant things on my mind


(When all of us see a steaming chicken, Jack "r" sees this)