March 2017

Vancouver History Walk with Edie and Libby

What happened to the Banana Land we used to live in??  So many layers….


Wednesday March 1st:  Eoin, Flora, Larry and Bobtoc turned out Wednesday on a threatening but +2C or so evening.  The foursome chose the FG Drive route backwards for a walk.  The weather for the most part was no rain except for the portion of the route starting near the Stoney Creek Elementary School at which point a light rain commenced.  Flora and Larry bobturned a few times enroute for the lagging Eoin and Bobtoc, who were engrossed in discussion of Irish history.  Did you know that Eamon De Valera was born in Manhattan, New York, in 1882, and that his famous black car was a 1947 Dodge manufactured in the USA?
Coquitlam Cruisers: 
Jennel reports that she walked/ran the Coquitlam Crunch this am enroute to the Value Village to buy books for Anamaria; distance 10+ km in rain.  A great Mom!

Saturday March 4th:  Ivan, Larry, Len and granddog  Jax,  and Bobtoc met at the Centre bright and early  on a cold but bright Saturday morning.  The destination chosen  to walk was Como Lake.  The route used was Willoughby Avenue, crossing North Road to Cottonwood, continuing east beyond Porter St, finally to the lake, did a circuit, of the lake,  and returned again using Cottonwood, Robinson St then Smith Ave to use the traffic light at North Road,  then returned to the Centre via  Willoughby  and Cameron Street.  A lot of new construction, astroturf, and an eagle flying over the lake  were noted during  the walk, plus quite a number of dogs leading their masters or mistresses on leashes.  Jax was quite a hit with most dogs and owners thereof.  He also checked out pee mail enroute.  Which proves my theory:  If humans move to a strange town or district, and if not a dog owner or a parent of a child,  rent one or the other in order to become acquainted with the residents therein.  No charge for that advice.   Distance and time for the walk:  10.3 km,    2:15  respectively.  Came home to light snow flurries.  Go figure.
Jennel reports that she Xcross trained Saturday at the Aquatic Centre during swim lesson time for Anamaria and Sofia.  Did 15 minutes, says it felt like a 10k. 

Alex participated in the West Van Run on March 5th with an excellent time.  Looks like a good run to put on the list.  Hopefully, next month will be warmer.





This joke should not be appropriate for March!  


A recent government warning said that anyone travelling in icy
weather conditions should take with them:

A shovel, blankets or sleeping bag,
Extra clothing, including scarf hat and gloves..
24 hrs supply of food…..
5 kgs of rock salt…
Torch or lantern with spare batteries…
Reflective triangles…
Tow rope, 5 gallon petrol jerrycan…
First aid kit and jump leads…

I looked a complete idiot on the bus this morning, I can tell you.


Monday March 6th: RA Edie with April, Rod and Bobtoc met at and walked from the Centre Monday on a cold evening.  The walk was short-lived, Edie and April going just past Noel on Eastlake from which she turned back to the Centre.  Rod and Bobtoc continued to the traffic light at the Burnaby Mountain Secondary School before returning to the Centre.  Distance and time for the two groups, negligible. 
Coquitlam Cruisers: 
Jennel reports that she hiked 6x the Coquitlam Crunch Tuesday morning in SNOW from Bramblewood School (at Panorama Drive) up to the top of the hill and back down, 7.20 km.  Plenty of snow at the top of the Crunch.

Wednesday March 8th:  On Wednesday night the “blizzard” that was occurring earlier in the afternoon stopped just as Rod and Larry (no other old bodies braved the elements!) set out for a walk along Cameron, Beaverbrook, Eastlake to Underhill, and return.  As it was chilly, the walk was at a good pace, almost 5 km in a time of 53 minutes.   
From Jennel: I braved the snow and got out there today (Thursday morning)…..Winter Wonderland up here in Westwood Plateau, but lovely down at Town Centre…..So I ran down to Town Centre via Lansdowne Drive, East on David.  2 laps of Town Centre, then 5 laps on inner track completing fartleks, then back via David up Johnson to Robson, back down then along Panorama back to home.…..16.13km…..Right on track with training even in this snow!!! 
On Thursday morning Rod went out from home and did the Forest Grove loop. 7.5 km, 1h 05.   
Saturday March 11th: Rod reports:  Two Cruisers, Flora and Rod (everyone else seems to be running in the Tuesday/Thursday group), did the Forest Grove loop in a fine drizzle, but 10 degrees.  Discussions took place about cars, unions, work and Flora’s injury (which it appears, was not caused by pulling out her credit card incorrectly).
Time out 1 h22, distance 7 km.
Coquitlam Cruisers:
 
From Jennel:  Monday morning Jennel went on a long run…ran down to Town Centre, ran 1 lap, then ran to Heather’s where she joined in the the two of them ran down Shaughnessy left on Prairie, right on Coast Meridian, left on Dominion to the Orange Truck), and back the same route.  At Shaughnessy and David, the two parted ways (Heather ran a distance of 14.1 km), and Jennel continued on the route home; west on David, up Panorama back to home on Sandstone Cres. 24.58 km.  “whoever invited HILLS, was very mean!”  Editor’s note:  Larry says “hills are our friend”.

Wednesday March 15th: STAG NIGHT.  Four Cruisers: Alex, Larry, Rod and Bobtoc turned out Wednesday on an evening which produced both dry and rain times for the four, who chose the familiar FGD frontwards route.  Larry and Rod teamed up, as did Alex and Bobtoc. The first two walked at a brisk pace, outpacing the latter two.  Alex, on FGDrive near the elementary school, chose to catch up with and pass the first two, completing his run/walk in time of 1:08 or so.  Larry and Rod completed their walk in 1:20, and Bobtoc, in 1:34.  Distance for all the usual 6.8 km.
Touches of Spring with the flowers – growing in the cold and rainy weather….
St Patrick’s Day at Cameron Centre
Coquitlam Cruisers:
Jennel ran 7.16km easy run today. “sort of”……she ran down Noons Creek to Panorama and straight for…3.5km turned around and headed home.  Said she’d be home in 1 hour, so had to pick up the pace, so she had time to stop in at Starbucks before returning home!  All was well.  42.78km so far… Goal is 49.8km this week…I’ll get there!?!  “I think!?!”

Saturday March 18th:  Alex, Edie with canine April, Gillian, Larry, Len with canine Jax, Susan and Bobtoc reprised last week’s walk to and from Joe’s Trail to witness trees not yet in bud, the brilliant green moss on the trees, better visibility of the Brunette River including the current, and the stone sculptures near the North Road end of the trail.  Distance and times:  6+ km,  times 1:27 to 1:38; temperature +6C, no rain.
Coldest Night Results:
Coldest Night Walk for First United Church:

Congratulations and thanks!  Total contributions to date earned by the Cliff Avenue Cruisers, captained by Edie Kernighan,  $1,895,  including donations of $715 through the offertory system of Cliff Avenue United Church.  Thank you again, team members, others who have made donations to the team, and to Edie  for her stellar organizing job.





Friday March 24th:  Three Cruisers, Miriam, Len and Edie joined the West End History Walk and then had lunch at the

Sylvia.

My interest in Vancouver neighbourhood history was born when I moved into my first apartment in the West End. Walking to and from my workplace downtown I would choose a slightly different route each time and I was fascinated by what I saw. 
 Back in the 1980s, the West End had many more of its original houses. Sadly, most but not all of the West End’s early buildings have been demolished, but you can still find some  unexpected jewels hidden here and there among the high-rises and hidden behind storefronts.This tour, which lasts usually just over two and a half hours, snakes its way through the West End from Robson Street to English Bay. On the way you will see the site of an unusual roof-top

airplane crash, the location of the mansions of two of Vancouver’s mayors, the house in which the first English version of “O Canada” was written, the Gustav Roedde House and the beautifully restored houses of Barclay Heritage Square, the site of North America’s first Fire Hall designed for mechanical fire trucks, the location of English Bay’s first life guard Joe Fortes’ cabin, and much much more.

As with all of my history walks, I supplement what we are able to see today with peeks back into time using archival images to help recreate the lost Victorian and Edwardian streetscapes of the West End.  James Johnston

Monday March 27th:RA Edie with canine April, and Bobtoc chose to walk the Eastlake route from the Centre Monday on a wet evening.  The duo walked to the ICBC building on the south side of Eastlake before returning to the Centre due to the rain which increased in intensity.  Total time out and back, 39 minutes. 

From Rod:
Went out at sunrise this morning (Monday) and did 10 km on the run/bike trail here. Time 1 h22.  Fairly  humid  this morning but dry. Maybe the best morning of the year!!!!!!!!!!! Editor’s note:  it was better than Monday evening!
Coquitlam Cruisers:
From Jennel:
On the  road  again! Heather & Jennel ran Monday morning and met at David & Pinetree…from there, they ran 2 laps of the perimeter of Town Centre Park…..Jennel ran Heather back home on Karley St. (Heather ran approx. 10km), then Jennel continued back home, ran 1 more lap of Town Centre, up David, Up Parkway Blvd. West on Panorama back to home….total 18.11km:)  Did I mention this was ALL IN THE POURING RAIN?    
Is Spring coming???
On Wednesday evening, it was light for all of the walking time, as Flora, Gillian and Larry took advantage of the light and walked Joe’s trail.  So nice that we can get out on the trails again in the evening!  On the way along Cameron we saw some magnolia trees that were just starting to bloom in a brilliant pink colour, a sure sign that spring is on the way and that there may be light at the end of the wettest March in over 60 years.  Speaking of which, it did start to spit a bit on the way back from our walk.  While out on the trail, we saw various kinds of birds, ducks, and a good-size beaver with big teeth and big flat tail.  The Brunette River was flowing very strongly and in places looked like prime water for whitewater rafting.  As we were the only people on the trail it seemed so connected to nature.  We moved at a brisk pace too, distance close to 7 km and a time of just under 80 minutes. 
Sometime this week Jennel ran from her home down to Parkway Blvd to complete 7X Hills!!!   After her hill workout, she continued running up hill to the top of Bramble Lane, then did a few cul-de-sacs and ended at the top of Wintergreen, back down then home!  Total km 13.40km.  Then today she ran 20.20km, but…she’s not telling you how long it took!!! ha! ha!  Heather & Jennel had a few stops to make along the route…which included Starbucks and the Superstore!!!  Jennel reports that she ran 53.71 km this week!  
Rod went out as usual at 6.15 am and did 10 k in 1 h22 and is rapidly approaching 100k in runs down south.  That’s what good weather will do for you!  He should pass the 100k mark this morning, then will be joining us on Saturday morning – it will seem cold to you Rod!