Wednesday, June 6, 2018

June 6 – Stanley Park Sea Wall and False Creek Bike Ride

After my fall on my butt the other day I was a little worried about riding the bike. I took it out for a short test spin last night. I was a bit sore but it was easily doable so I loaded the bike on the car.

We did the seawall loop in Stanley Park and the followed the bike trail down to False Creek and looped around it as well. After a stop at Granville Island we went over the Burrard Street Bridge and then back up to the car for an easy 24 km.

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We left the RV around 10 am to try and miss some of the traffic. The GPS said that the best route, although longer, was to go up to the north shore and then back down over the Lions Gate Bridge. It was probably our one and only time over that bridge.

Once we got the bike loaded up and ready we had a bit of confusion as to which way to go. I hadn’t realized that the seawall path on the west side of the park is one way counter clockwise. So we weaved our way over to Brockton Point Lighthouse first.

From the bike path.

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From the lower walking path, that here was separate.

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Next to the Girl in a Wetsuit, with the lighthouse off in the distance.

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And the Empress of Japan ship’s figurehead.

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A freighter exiting the harbour.

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And under the bridge.

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The photosphere.

A weird panorama going from horizontal to vertical.

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And Prospect Point Lighthouse

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A photosphere by the lighthouse. I should have stood farther away from it.

Looking back, when I was far enough away to see the whole bridge, you can just see the lighthouse around the corner.

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We found a nice bench with a view and had lunch.

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Lots of rental bikes including a large number of tandems.

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I didn’t notice this guy on his huge unicycle until he was almost out of sight.

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Jennie went down the seawall steps to check out the shoreline.

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The photosphere from our lunch stop.

A heron getting ready to take off.

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Heading out out of the park, just before we got to English Bay Beach, we stopped to check out this sculpture called A-maze-ing Laughter.

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We walked the bike along the beach path.

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This, new to us, shrub was just about done.

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The path along the north shore of False Creek was mostly in front of tall condo buildings.

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There were a few dragon boats out practising.

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The Telus World of Science is at the eastern end.

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They had one of the ball and track contraptions out front for Jennie to check out. There are some rainy days coming up. We may have to see what is inside.

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This carved stump is starting to show its age.

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Heading back on the south side we were mostly in front of huge, well landscaped, low condo developments but I forgot to take any pictures.

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In for a quick stop at Granville Island tourist area.

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It seemed very weird that there was a huge cement plant on the far side of the island. I guess it was here first but it meant that there were massive cement trucks jockeying for position with all the poor tourist cars on the tiny roads.

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We had seen the opposite side of the silos from the north shore.

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Another contraption for Jennie to follow the balls.

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Having the bike with us limits what we could do so we mostly just walked by on the streets.

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Jennie wanted to check out the Lobster Man store.

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But then we saw the sign on the back wall. Do they not have lobsters on the west coast?

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We succumbed at one place and ordered two pieces of halibut and chips with some chowder, to go. We found a bench with a view for an early dinner.

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Then, after walking the bike for a while to settle the food, we headed up and over the Burrard Street Bridge back to the north side. Nice wide bike lanes everywhere.

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Looking east from the bridge down on Granville Island.

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Then looping back under the bridge.

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And back to the car.

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By now it was 4:30 so we had to work our way through rush hour traffic. Slow but not terrible. It took about twice as long to get home.

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