Tuesday, January 1, 2013

New Years Day, Jan 1, 2013

We made it.   Another year awaits and new memories to be made.  This morning we made our way to Pitt Meadows for their annual polar bear swim.   Mrs Skoot has been braving the frigid waters of the Alouette River for many years but not this year because of her broken wrist, so today we were spectators.  This is a private affair and I am the designated videographer.   Sorry, I don't have time this week to edit the video as I am pressed for time and on Friday I get to meet that famous blogger from NZ

So you will have to make do with a few photos of the day

Alouette River fog

it was a chilly -2°c and it really felt cold and my fingers were frozen.


There is not much traffic this time of day


This is an area filled with blueberry farms


and waterlogged fields


with many old barns and horses


I am a sucker for old farm fences and water filled ditches


more blueberrry farms .   Later in the day we had to make our way to my Aunt's for New Years Dinner and I had to show you our cloud inversion.   Those are our North Shore Mountains (North Vancouver) with a


slight dusting of snow and part of the Royal Vancouver Yacht club in the foreground.  That dark area with the trees just horizontal of mid image is Stanley Park


This is a view of the Vancouver skyline looking Eastward from Kitsilano.   Often during the summer I climb down these stairs and walk along the beach, which is just below Point Grey Road


Here is a more zoomed view of Vancouver,   January 1st, 2013 .   Happy New Year to you all, and I hope you all had an enjoyable day


27 comments:

  1. Happy New Year Bob and Mrs Skoot! Hope you have had a good start to the year!

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    1. Dar:

      Happy New Year to you and Motorcycle Man too. Can't wait for more Chinese Food, or a cruise UP THE ISLAND when it gets warmer

      Delete
  2. Happy New Year Bob. It is good to see that you got out and took pictures on New Years Day. It is brave of Mrs Skoot to normally swim and I suspect with with her broken wrist, she might have been relieved not to have swum this year - it certainly did look cold. All the best for 2013 and I look forward to another year of reading your blog. Have fun with that bloke from down under.

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    1. Gary:

      We have been going to Pitt Meadows New Years for years now. Then there is the food . . . (ie: Brunch). I think the water temperatures are the same every year, COLD.

      Yes a New Year and more adventures. Happy New Year to you and Jackie

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  3. and some people say I am nuts.... :)

    Good pics Bob, hope it won't be long before Mrs Skoot is fully healed.

    dom

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    1. Dom:

      These are all former life guards who got tired of driving downtown to English Bay, so they use the Alouette River instead, closer to their homes. We just tag along. These are the same people we went to Hawai'i with Twice and plan to go again January 2014

      Her wrist is healing but still not muscle strength . . . working on physio for that

      Delete
  4. Brrrrrrrrrr...at least polar bears wear a fur coat!

    All the best to you and yours for 2013!

    N (who wears polar bear's pyjamas)

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    1. Nikos:

      There are no such thing as Pyjamas, too confining . . .

      Happy New Year to Mrs N too. It was cold even with clothes on

      Delete
  5. Bob, the images, place names and descriptions leave me looking for a map to open and then study. You now know the way to my heart.

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    1. Coop;

      Thanks to Martha, I'm showing you some of the ordinary scenes which we take for granted and pass by without even thinking about.

      I saw a beautiful mountain view this morning but I couldn't spare the time to find a good spot to photograph from. You'll have to wait until next time

      Delete
  6. Beautiful farmland. I do love fog and mud.

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  7. Happy New Year Bob and Mrs. Skoot.

    Great photos but I am just not a fan of fog, it freezes to everything it touches and if it does warm up it still creates a damp chill. I'm looking forward to at least a little warmer temps next week in the foggiest city I know. Maybe the Kiwi will radiate some of that New Zealand warmth and we shall bask in all that is Rogey.

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    1. Troubadour:

      Precisely, you were given several "omens" to NOT RIDE. The fog turns to frost when it clings to asphalt, thus no riding up here. It is freezing in SFO this week. They are below freezing, for some reason but I am bringing sandals and shorts anyway.

      It may be warmer away from the city. Wonder if Rogey brought his long johns

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  8. Brrrr. That fog does look chilly, not a chilly as a polar bear swim, brrrrr.

    Happy New Year to you and Mrs. Skoot.

    Three more sleeps.

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    1. Trobairitz:

      It is a great New Year. You got all of your false starts out of the way so it's clear sailing from now on so it is really a Happy New Year for you

      the fog was chilly. I could barely work the camera for frozen fingers. I don't listen so I don't wear gloves, but I do have my toque on. Not many sleeps left . . .

      Delete
  9. The fog really does make it look cold though I think you should have volunteered to proxy for Mrs. Skoot and jump in. Say hello to Roger.

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    1. Richard:

      No, Not Me. I have to stand behind my camera. I nominate YOU cause you are used to the cold. besides our cold is warm to you.

      Delete
    2. But the water will most likely be above freezing. You may dive in and not want to get out.

      Now if you're talking about hot springs, I'm in...

      Delete
  10. brrrrr! it was 28F here this AM too... brrrrr!
    happy new year to you and mrs skoot!

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    1. Ms M:

      I don't believe it. We are coming for the warmth of Calif and your temperatures are worse than ours. What happened to Global Warming ?

      A very Happy New Year to you and hope you are feeling better

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  11. Sonja:

    We usually just go to Pitt Lake or stop to see our friends. The last time we stayed for dinner. We visited for thanksgiving and they put out two extra plates.

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  12. Happy New Year to you and yours!!

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    1. Pam:

      Happy New Year to you too. Hope you had a great time relaxing during the Holidays.

      Delete
  13. Bob - absolutely stunning photos, once again. There is something mysterious about fog. -2, it's positively balmy (but I know what you mean about the fog, having spent the night outdoors (accidently) on the California coast in the fog - felt like I was going to freeze to death.) Have fun in SanFran, wish I could be there! Hope the sun shines on you. Happy New Year.

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    1. Karen:

      I know what you mean about the cool coast. After iMBC2012 with the 100°F degree temps, I headed over to Waldport where it was only 62°F and I was freezing. and I didn't have my Baker City neighbour with me.

      SFO has freezing temps right now. I was looking forward to warm weather. I hope the sun comes out too

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  14. So the fog gave them a very private affair indeed. Brrr!!! Nice that you were out and about and having some fun.

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  15. Your e-mail post works. We will be in San Francisco ourselves later this month. we'll keep an eye our for pink croc prints.......Happy New Year all.

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