Ah, the good life – doesn’t get any better than this!
August 2nd: On Wednesday Flora, Larry and Bobtoc met at the Centre and walked the Stoney Creek trail route in the hope that the trees and stream may mitigate the effects of the smoke in the atmosphere. The sun was a red-orange circle in the smoke-saturated sky. The trio walked to the gate at the North Road end and returned to the Centre, after which the three went over to the Paro Greek restaurant for dinner or an appetizer. Time and distance on the SC trail, about 50 minutes, 4.2 km.
August 5th: On Saturday morning Flora and Ross, Larry, Sherian and Bobtoc turned our sharp at 8:00 at Rocky Point on a warm and hazy-with-smoke morning. The five set out on the usual route to cross to the Old Orchard Beach and beyond. Flora and Sherian opted to run, achieving April Road, while the men walked the route but turned back before reaching April Road. Flora, Sherian, Ross and Larry walked over to Clarke Street to look at the consignment store there before returning to Rocky Point for the customary ice cream debriefing. Bobtoc returned to Rocky Point and waited for the others to return. Sherian went home early. Time out 2.13 for Bobtoc. Time for the others, not sure; however the other three met Bobtoc at the ice cream place. The atmosphere was decidedly smoky and hazy; all five took it easy since the air was not at all healthy.
Coquitlam Cruisers:
Jennel has been doing a little walking & running with her family and running alongside of their daughters while they bike. 3-5km per day….nothing much, but don’t want to be out there too long in this smog either….so this works! Haven’t written a report each time, as nothing too much to “write home about”. Heather, same thing…each of us have been doing family stuff and keeping active……=
August 7th: On Monday morning Flora and Larry plus four others kayaked at Rocky Point , after which they enjoyed fish and chips at Pago’s emporium at the beach; a good time had by all.
In Burnaby meanwhile, Alex, Bobtoc and RA Edie and April met at the Burnaby Lake parking lot. Edie unfortunately returned home since she had an upset stomach. Alex and Bobtoc decided to walk the perimeter trail of the lake. Enroute the duo met and talked to Rainy and two Giro;s heros who set out to run the trail. On their walk Alex and Bobtoc noted the Metro Vancouver Regional District has made improvements on the south and east portions of the trail i.e. widened and placed more gravel on the paths, with more improvements coming, since wood and galvanized steel I beams were noted beside the route for rebuilding some of the trail bridges. Alex and Bobtoc during their walk tested some blackberries, found them not too sweet, talked to and patted a few dogs and talked to their owners. Distance and time for the duo, 10.5 km and 3.18 respectively.
Dog Days of Summer…. April celebrating Rod’s BD
August 9th: On a hot but sort of gritty Wednesday evening, RA Edie, Larry, Rachel whom we have not seen for ages due to her work schedule at VGH, Sherian, Susan and Bobtoc began their walk on the Stoney Creek trail to take advantage of some shade plus a filtering by the trees of the dry smoky air. Edie took a call from Flora advising she was on her way to the Cameron Centre. The group retraced its steps to meet Flora who joined the group. While on their walk the group phoned Rod who was at home, nursing his injuries from lifting very heavy pieces of concrete for the waterfall effect in his home garden, serenaded him with a passable, it is hoped, rendition of Happy Birthday, the day being the 77th anniversary of his date of birth. The seven didn’t make it to the North Road gate, having turned back short of that place; time 58:52.
August 12th: On yet another hot outing, Alex, RA Edie with April, Larry, Sherian and Bobtoc walked from the Centre Saturday am west to Government St to Cariboo and from there along the trail north of Burnaby Lake for respite from the smoky air; took a detour onto an alternate trail due to improvements to be made on the usual route. The alternate route was surprisingly good; a number of very large Douglas firs, some growing out of stumps were spotted, all very impressive, and blackberries, although for the most part they were not sweet. There was an assortment of walkers with dogs, some runners. The five continued for an hour before reversing direction back to the Centre, total time out 1:48 and distance 6.5 km. The five then motored to Sherian’s home on Cardinal Drive to enjoy delicious refreshments; cookies, rice krispies squares, carrot cake muffins, juices, coffee, water on the spacious back garden. Flora drove from her home to join the five at Sherian’s to enjoy the company and refreshments. Flora noticed a piece of furniture available for the taking opposite Sherian’s home; took a look at it, talked to the owners, arranged for transport of said furniture to her home in Coquitlam on the owners’ pickup, enlisting the aid of the fabulous five, so away she went. A great adventurous morning indeed. Our thanks to Sherian for her hospitality!
August 12th: On yet another hot outing, Alex, RA Edie with April, Larry, Sherian and Bobtoc walked from the Centre Saturday am west to Government St to Cariboo and from there along the trail north of Burnaby Lake for respite from the smoky air; took a detour onto an alternate trail due to improvements to be made on the usual route. The alternate route was surprisingly good; a number of very large Douglas firs, some growing out of stumps were spotted, all very impressive, and blackberries, although for the most part they were not sweet. There was an assortment of walkers with dogs, some runners. The five continued for an hour before reversing direction back to the Centre, total time out 1:48 and distance 6.5 km. The five then motored to Sherian’s home on Cardinal Drive to enjoy delicious refreshments; cookies, rice krispies squares, carrot cake muffins, juices, coffee, water on the spacious back garden. Flora drove from her home to join the five at Sherian’s to enjoy the company and refreshments. Flora noticed a piece of furniture available for the taking opposite Sherian’s home; took a look at it, talked to the owners, arranged for transport of said furniture to her home in Coquitlam on the owners’ pickup, enlisting the aid of the fabulous five, so away she went. A great adventurous morning indeed. Our thanks to Sherian for her hospitality!
Flora can shop anywhere, even on Sherian’s street and get movers, too.
Coquitlam Cruisers:
On Thursday Jennel ran a couple of laps of Trout Lake in East Vancouver on a very hot day.
And Jennel again: Well, Feast or Famine it is with me!!! I went out Friday morning for an 8km run. The kids got some new bikes and away we went! Goodness! They’re making me run at a speed to qualify for the Olympics!?! They’re super fast!
Not content with her Thursday and Friday workouts Jennel ran Saturday am from her house down Lansdowne, down David cutting across to the Coquitlam Crunch, ran down it, then hiked up and walked a bit; grabbed her family members and doing the Crunch again to our Church BBQ. 8 km for me, add another 2 or so with them, call it 10 km at the end of the day.
August 14th: RA Edie with April, Flora, Larry, Laura, Mary, Rod and Bobtoc met at the Centre Monday evening with a perfect temperature and healthier air for a welcome change, and chose again the oh so familiar Stoney Creek trail for their walk, due to a few injuries in the group. Edie and Rod walked about a third of the route before returning to the Centre. The remainder continued to the North Road gate, then onto Chapman Ave to Clarke St, North Road, south to Lyndhurst, Willoughby, Cameron St back to the Centre. Time and distance for the five, 1:42 and say, 4.5 to 5 km respectively.
August 16th: Larry, Laura, Rod and Bobtoc met Wednesday to walk the FGDrive route backwards. The group went not quite to the Forest Grove Elementary School before turning back. Time 1:04, distance guestimate 3.5 km. The group enjoyed the weather and temperature: some cloud, lots of sunshine, + 20 C.
August 19th:
RA Edie, Larry, Susan Vedoy and Bobtoc Skytrained west to the Waterfront station at the north foot of Burrard St on Saturday a.m.and commenced their walk passing the Convention Centre to the seawall of Stanley Park. The four enjoyed awesome weather, the best day of the year! The four stayed the course to Second Beach, in so doing passed the prow of the Empress ship at which location 29 years ago Joe Turtle and Bob had their photos taken of them while running their first half marathon, by a bus- load of Japanese tourists tumbling out of their bus armed to the hilt with cameras. The two of them at that time guestimated about a thousand copies ended up in living rooms in Tokyo or Yokohama. (probably less). Joe thought Bob was suffering a hard attack due to his abrupt stop and grabbing Joe to pose for the picture-taking. Ahh, such memories! In any event, the four at Second Beach then changed north and east and walked past Lost Lagoon, made their way via the West End back to the Skytrain Waterfront station to return to Burnaby. Time out not counting a half hour for coffee, 4 hours, distance 15 km. All in all a wonderful outing, lots of cyclists, walkers and runners, families, a few dogs, tour buses bringing tourist $$$ into the Vancouver economy. 
Rod Hargreaves went solo from Cameron Centre into the Forest Grove area, time and distance , 55 minutes, 5.25 km.
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August 21st: On Monday, another beautiful summer evening saw Rod, Larry, Alex and later Edie attend at Cameron Centre, with the three men walking along the Stoney Creek trail to the North Road gate, at which point Rod returned to the Centre where Edie and April met him, about 4.5 km in about 50 minutes, while Alex and Larry continued up North Road, went along Burnaby Mountain and took Jim’s Jungle trail back down to the Stoney Creek trail, and returned, distance about 5.5 km and time of 1h:14. It was noticeably cooler in the mountain trail.
From Jennel: Tony just picked up a bike today (Saturday)….we’re now the “Fatiguso Bikers” – we all biked 6km of laps of Town Centre/Lafarge Lake today. Had LOT of family fun. Going out again after dinner….”biking 6km is much easier than running 6km!!!” LOL…. hmm, new sport!?! Just kidding! Running is good! On Sunday night, I was doing the dishes, (getting ready to hike the Coquitlam Crunch)….I looked out the window and right in front of me I saw a BIG BLACK Bear walking across our lawn through the bushes to the neighbour’s yard! Oh my goodness!?! Needless to say, I opted out of hiking the Crunch that evening!!!
August 23rd: On Wednesday evening, Alex, Larry, Edie and canine April walked to Joe’s Trail. On the way a train happened to pass through the Winston-Government-Cariboo route, and the sound and vibration frightened April, so after calming her down somewhat, Edie walked her to the entrance to the trail then returned to Cameron Centre, distance about 4.5 km, time about 1 hour. Larry and Alex continued along Joe’s trail, sampling the last of the blackberries which were pretty much picked over, and returned north on North Road, following it up to Austin, then walked through the Lougheed Mall parking lot and back to the Centre. Time 1h:28, distance 6.3 km. Another beauty of a summer evening, although dusk was setting in before 8 pm.
August 26th:
August 26th:RA Edie, Alex, Susan, Larry, Rod and Bobtoc met at Rocky Point Saturday morning at 8ish am on what turned out to be the best day of the year, bar none, notwithstanding the days previously described as the best, temperature about 10C, which temperature warmed up as the day progressed, providing ideal conditions for a walk/run. Walkers, runners, a plethora of dog owners and dogs on each end of leashes, young families with strollers were in abundance on the trail leading to the north shore. All six used the familiar route. Rod, who is nursing a sore left leg, walked to the Old Orchard beach then turned back, his distance maybe 4.5 or so. The remainder kept going, with Edie, Susan, Larry and Bobtoc reaching April Road before returning; Alex continued to the Esso pearly gates before he returned to the Rocky Point pier then to the ice cream headquarters so to speak. Alex was second in after Rod, having run for the most part; his time and distance being 1:59 and about 12 km. The remaining four returned to the parking lot then the ice cream parlour for debriefing a smidge later than Alex, their distance about 10 km. Serious attention was given to colour and flavour of the ice cream tested.
August 28th: RA Edie with April, Libby from the Sunshine Coast, Alex, Rod and Bobtoc met at the Centre on a blistering hot 30C+ evening. The group quickly agreed to walk only, and use Stoney Creek trail to avail themselves of the shade afforded them by the trees and the coolness of the creek water as well. The five walked to the gate at North Road only before returning to the Centre. Time and distance, 1:01 and 3.9 km respectively. Alas, no ice cream!
August 30th: On Wednesday evening, Larry, Edie and April, and Cheryl Davies met at Confederation Park by the Eileen Dailly Pool and appreciated the cooler air while they walked across the park on the field sports track and went northwest across Penzance Drive to a trail that was thought to turn east and come out at Eton and Willingdon, but found that the trail did not go there, so the three plus dog returned back up to Penzance, walked down Willingdon where we said hello to Rainy Kent and Joe Turtle and some of the Bushtits finishing their run, and continued to the refinery and headed west to the Burnaby Heights trail and walked along that trail for awhile. As we returned to Confed Park the same way and made our way around the sports track towards the library, we saw Alex, who had gone to Cameron Centre but made his way to Confed Park and ran 6.1 km in 48 minutes. The three plus dog walked total distance of 5.2 km in 1h:20. Rod had a late physio appointment on Wednesday and making Eileen Dailly by 6:30 was not going to happen, so he went out from his home Wednesday afternoon and did 5 km in an hour.