As the provincial health guidelines now allow outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, and interest expressed in re-starting our outings, the Cruisers are returning to a more normal existence. We will be mindful of distancing and can break into smaller groups based on people’s walk/run pace. We respect everyone’s different comfort levels with group activities during this time, so please use your discretion and keep in touch with us!
March 29
Edie has maintained her daily record of walking every day this year – still going strong!
From Bobtoc: On Friday March 26, Edie and Bobtoc walked from his home on Heathdale Court west to Hastings St to Artigiano’s coffee shop on the north side near Rosser Avenue, obtained coffee, took it to Confederation Park, enjoyed the coffee while watching a number of folks walking the oval’s path, then continued east and south to return via streets and avenues back to Heathdale Court. Distance and time, 6.55 km and 2h14. The duo enjoyed the no rain, relatively mild morning.
On Saturday, Larry, Rod, Alex, Edie, René, Rick Davidson and Flora enjoyed a surprisingly no rain morning as they split into a few small groups and walked/ran their way along Beaverbrook, Eastlake, Underhill, Broadway and Arden along the paved pathway as we used to do so regularly. Along Eastlake, René, Larry, Rod and Alex jogged to Production Way. Partway up Arden at the intersection at Meadowood, Rick turned back, while the rest of the group continued on. René and Larry jogged to Phillips, walked back to meet the walkers, then jogged back to Cameron Centre using the same route, again walking back to meet the walkers, meeting them at Eastlake and Beaverbrook, where the groups walked back to Cameron Centre. Distance, 10 km; for Larry and René about 12 km; time just under 2h.
Broadway is still closed between Underhill and Arden, and also further west, and now the pavement has been torn up.
Sunday was Eoin’s birthday! Hope you had a good day Eoin. Eoin and Laura say hi to all the Cruisers. Susan is still walking every day and is keeping well, and also says hello to everyone.
Stay safe and strong everyone.
Larrytheyounger
March 25
On Wednesday evening, it stayed light out on an early spring evening as some Cruisers resumed a weeknight walk – Rod, Larry, Edie, Kevin and Alex walked the Stoney Creek trail, up North Road to Chapman, and returned. It was not a bad night as amazingly, it did not rain during the time the group was out. Distance 5 km, time 1h06.
Stay safe and strong everyone.
Larrytheyounger
March 22
Edie has maintained her daily record of walking every day this year – she went out last Saturday afternoon and walked to Como Lake Village, had coffee with Flora and took the long way back for 8 km so her daily record is unbroken. On Sunday she walked with another friend and ran into Rod and Pat on the Stoney Creek Trail. Was so good to see them. Way to go Edie!!
From Bobtoc: On a rainy but relatively mild morning Friday at 8:15, Edie and Bobtoc walked west from his home to Howard Ave., south to Halifax St., then north to Fell Avenue to Kitchener St., west to Holdom Ave., crossed to Grant St., west to Howard Ave. then north back to Heathdale Court. The duo walked the shorter than usual distance due to the rain. Distance and time, 3.02 km and 58.02 minutes respectively.
On Saturday morning, 9 Cruisers turned up at Cameron Centre and divvied up into smaller groups to walk and run Joe’s trail, enjoying the sometimes drizzly conditions, with Flora, Len, and Len’s friend Gord, who all jogged 7.8 km in a time of 1h18, and Larry, René, Bobtoc, Edie, Alex and Kevin walking in various small groups there and back. It was good to see the group again and catch up with everyone.
Stay safe and strong everyone.
Larrytheyounger
March 15
Edie continues to walk miles with various others during the week, and actually took a well-deserved day off on Saturday. One of her outings was with Bobtoc on Friday as described below.
From Bobtoc: Edie and Bob walked from his home Friday morning March 12, destination Confederation Park at Edie’s suggestion. For Bob, it was a blast from the past, being a reminder of days from his youth when he with his parents, brother Ken and sister Linda used to walk from the family home in the 4300 Pender Street. In those days, there was a wooden grandstand in the park, and league softball games were played by adult leagues. Memories! The route taken from Heathdale Court by Edie and Bob was west to Howard Ave, north on Springer Ave. to Union St, west to Willingdon Ave. then north crossing Hastings St. to enter the Confed Park, walked the running-walk track around the soccer field, then east to the lacrosse box, continued east to the road heading south to Hastings St., crossed Hastings to Springer Ave. then a bit south and east back to Heathdale Court. Distance and time, 6.38 km, time 1h50.
On Saturday, Rod, Alex, Kevin and Larry met at Cameron Centre at 8:30 a.m., and walked down to Joe’s trail in beautiful spring sunshine. There were groups of cyclists on the path but everyone was respectful of space. We watched the CN railroad workers and various automated equipment replace the ties below the rail tracks, which was quite interesting. One machine pulled the old tie out, and another placed a new tie to replace it, with assorted other equipment levelling the rocks and securing the ties into place. It was done very efficiently and we were marvelling at the speed at which it was occurring. Other passersby on the trail commented how well it seemed to be progressing and that our fascination with it was a “man thing” – perhaps it was ha ha. On the way back, we were delayed for almost 20 minutes by a train crossing at the Cariboo Road and Winston intersection. Oh well, it was a nice day. Distance 7.5 km and time about 2h30, including stoppage time for track maintenance and train crossing.
Rod has also been walking every day with Pat. One of their outings this week was an 8 km walk along Forest Grove, down to Underhill for some coffee and snacks at Cafe Artigiano, then back along the new gravel trail installed by BC Hydro just east of Underhill and Broadway. Cafe Artigiano is located in the business park just off the intersection of Underhill and Eastlake and open during the week to service the business park and Mammoth Studios, which Kevin reports is a beehive of activity lately. On Saturday afternoon, Rod and Pat walked and ended up at Joe’s trail near the end of their walk. The rail maintenance crew had moved on by then however. Total distance walked by Rod for Saturday was 20 km!
From Jennel: Hi Gang…Heather & Jennel Ran the Wine About It Half Marathon this Monday morning! From Heather’s home, down the Traboulay Trail, under the Red Bridge to the Maryhill Bypass & back! 21.25 km (a little extra, just to make sure we actually covered a Half). It was the BEST Run Ever! Beautiful weather, perfect company and Heather arranged a lovely plate of crumpets, goodies & a wee sip of wine outside on her balcony. It was lovely! Best Run of the Year!!! See photo below of the two gals with their medals.
Stay safe and strong everyone. Larrytheyounger.
March 8
Edie continues to walk every day, sometimes with Alex, on Friday walked with Bobtoc (see below) and today walked with Flora to Rocky Point where at least one double chocolate strawberry ice cream cone was enjoyed!
From Bobtoc: On Friday March 5, Edie and Bobtoc walked from his home with the goal to add mileage, or is it kilometreage, to our walk, west to Howard Ave., south to Halifax Street, east to Cliff Avenue, north to Curtis Street then into shorter streets and cul-de-sacs, and avenues such as Brooklyn which showed up then disappeared due to the streets running east and west; continued west to Fell Avenue, south to Kitchener, then south to Grant St, west to Howard Avenue and back home. Time and distance, 1h50 and 6.36 km. The twosome enjoyed another no rain morning.
I did a quick walk on Wednesday evening of 2 km around my neighbourhood, keeping limber while I undergo another round of treatments for the next couple of weeks, but I will be good to go back to running after that.
On Saturday morning, Larry, Edie, Kevin, and Alex walked from Cameron Centre along Stoney Creek trail to Chapman, to Robinson, along Miller Ave. and into Miller Park, where we walked along trails which I did not know existed, being my first time through that park, then continued along Spence Ave., Kelvin St., Grover Ave. to Como Lake Park, then back via Spice, Porter, Winslow, Foster, Robinson to Ebert, briefly along North Road to Cameron, and back to the Centre, distance 10.5 km, time 2h40. Thanks to Alex and his GPS tracker which kept track of where we were going!
Rod and Pat continue to walk every day and say hi to all the Cruisers.
From Jennel: Friday morning Heather & Jennel met up and did an adventurous run. 1.5 laps around Town Centre, then en-route to the BCLD to pick up a couple of bottles for our “Congratulations Wine” for our Half marathon! “Hey, we make it fun!” From there, they ran to Starbucks and grabbed a couple cups of coffee, then headed to Best Buy and did a little more shopping! With all the combinations of running and walking…..We clocked on a LOT of Km. Heather – 14 km and Jennel 18 km.
Sounds like they are having fun and that’s what it’s all about!
Happy International Women’s Day to all the gals!
Larrytheyounger
PS
Correction: Edited to include the fact that Kevin was with Edie, Alex and Larry on their Saturday trek to Como Lake and tour through the streets of Coquitlam. Apologies to Kevin!