Happy New Year, Cruisers!
On New Year’s Day there was plenty of Cruiser activity! It started out at 9 a.m. at Burnaby Lake parking lot where Edie, her friend Judy, Susan, Larry, Ivan and Alex walked/ran around the trails at Deer Lake. It was a wonderful sunny morning. Alex and Ivan ran 9.7 km, doing extra laps around Deer Lake, while the others walked, their distance about 7.5 km in a time of just over an hour. Deer Lake had expanded quite significantly with all the water from the previous day’s monsoon rain. There was water under all of the boardwalks – the lake had expanded so much we were looking to see if the tide was in. Afterwards, most of the group went to Starbucks at Kensington Plaza (as the Fortius Centre was closed for the holiday) for coffee and refreshments. It was the best weather, best route and best turnout of the year (Har har!). But that was only the start of the “fun” for the day…Hi Cruisers 
Alex did the 100th Vancouver Polar Bear Swim from 3:09pm to 3:24pm. Swam about 200 metres. Water was very mild at 7 degrees. While in the morning Ivan and Alex did 9.7 km around Deer Lake. A good start for 2020. When I wanted to collect the souvenir button, I was told all buttons were given out. The button (picture attached) was awarded to me by another Polar Bear swimmer. They are so nice to give up one of the buttons they got.
Reported by Cruiser AlexBurnaby,BC,Canada
Len, Miriam and friends also did the Polar Bear Swim. Flora also did the Penguin Plunge at Rocky Point in Port Moody – she’s the one wearing the mask. Here is the link for their photos: Congratulations to the Cruisers who braved the water in the Polar Bear Swim and Penguin Plunge!! You are more courageous than many. Thanks to Alex and Len for their reports!
Saturday January 4 2020:
On a no rain nor snow Saturday morning Jan. 04, Flora, Laura and Eoin, Larry, Kevin, Alex, Rick Davidson, Rod and Bobtoc met at the Centre and walked to Joe’s Trail to North Road and return; time 1:42 to 1:47, distance 7.2 km.
Monday January 6 2020:
Five Cruiser “retirees”, Edie, Laura, Eoin, Kevin and Rod did the usual Lake City Run. Weather at the start was dry and damp but a hint of rain in the air at the end. Time and distance as usual.
Rod wore track pants, due to a malfunction in “senior management” whereby running shorts were not transferred from the washing machine to the dryer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Next run Wednesday weather permitting. Looks like some cold stuff coming up in the next week or so.
Wednesday January 8 2020:
On Wednesday evening Eoin and Laura, Brenda and Glenn,, Susan, Alex, Larry, Rod and Bobtoc walked from the Centre on a cold but no rain or snow evening to Underhill and return via Eastlake. Distance 5 km and time varying from 1.05 to 1.10.
Saturday January 11 2020:
On Saturday Rod, Flora, Larry, Miriam and Len, Alex. Ivor and Bobtoc, albeit Bobtoc was late arriving, hence walked alone, walked from the Centre on a cool but dry morning to Joe’s trail. Ivor and Len continued their walk to Moody Park before rejoining the others. Bobtoc did not go as far as North Road from Joe’s trail, but joined the others on their return to the Centre. Time and distance for most, 1hr 35 minutes for 7 km; for Ivor and Len, close to 2 hours; and for Bobtoc, 1hr 9 minutes for a lesser distance, say 5 km..
Coquitlam Cruisers:
Jennel and Heather have been running using the Coquitlam Crunch.
Monday January 20 2020:
5 cruisers, Brenda, Glenn, Kevin, Alex and Rod went out on Monday night and did the usual Lake City route on a dry and warmer than late evening. Conditions not bad, some ice in places, but disappearing fast.
Time out 1h 01.
Wednesday January 22 2020:
On Wednesday on a very rainy but relatively mild evening, Rod, Brenda and Glenn, Larry, Susan, Kevin,and Bobtoc, all equipped with umbrellas, met at the Centre and walked the usual route to Eastlake to Underhill and return to the Centre. No ice or snow was apparent on the route. Distance 5 km, time ranged from 58 minutes to 65 minutes.
Coquitlam Cruisers:
Jennel was dropped off at Heather’s this morning (Jan 22), then the two gals ran to Waves Coffee,
then back towards Heather’s, but Jennel left a little sooner and ran back home. 14 km for Jennel, haven’t got Heather’s report yet, but somewhere between 8 and 10 km for her. NB: a repeat report.
Saturday January 25 2020:
Len and Miriam together with granddog Jax, Larry, Alex, Kevin, Flora and Bobtoc , complete with umbrellas to combat the steady rain, met at the Centre and chose to walk to the Spit at Burnaby Lake to view the birds then return to the Centre on a rainy but not chilly, morning. The rain moderated near the end of the time on the route. The group split into two subgroups; the time to complete for the first group was 58 minutes, and for the second, l hour and 15 minutes
Alright, Heather & Jennel deserve a reward!?! Friday, Jan 24, the two of them met at Town Centre, in the sprinkling rain. Ran 1.5 laps of the Park, then the skys opened up and it POURED RAIN, Lightening & Thunder happened too! Holy Moly! We dashed under the Evergreen Cultural Centre Building and the nice ladies inside let us in. Our phones were beeping and dinging from our loved ones making sure we were safe! We contemplated just going out for coffee or lunch, but shortly after the rain had passed and the lightening & thunder stopped, so we both sprinted home! That was a devoted run! 8.5km for Heather & 10.78km for Jennel. “Good work Men” as Bob would say!!!=
Monday January 27 2020:
Kevin, Eoin and Laura, Edie and Bobtoc turned up Monday evening at the Centre under rain. Bobtoc decided not to walk, having been out for parts of the day and had his fill of the stuff, so went home. The others did the usual walk on the Eastlake route to Underhill and returned, time 43 minutes per Edie.
Coquitlam Cruisers:
Monday evening Jennel went out for a quick run, up Parkway Blvd, past Westwood Plateau Golf Course; 7.10 km. Forgot the name of the street I ran to, because I got a text from my cousin in Chilliwack…They are proud new parents of a healthy baby boy! So,I forgot the name of the street. It was at the top of the mountain I think… BIG HILL! Weather was beautiful…NO rain at all!! I think I picked the best day of the week to run, looking at the upcoming forecast:.
Wednesday January 29 2020:
Alex, Edie, Larry, Brenda and Glenn, Susan, Kevin and Bobtoc met at the Centre Wednesday on a no rain,evening with the moon and a star showing, and walked the Eastlake route to Underhill and return. Time to complete ranged from 58 minutes to 68 minutes; all in all a welcome change from rain.
