October 2019

Deer Lake Park in all its Autumn Splendor

Wednesday October 2/19: On Wednesday on a no rain  evening, RA Edie with her sister Chris,, who was welcomed by the others, plus of course dog April,  Alex, Kevin and Bobtoc,  walked from the Centre to Eastlake.  Edie and Chris  continued  on Eastlake for 33 minutes before turning back.  The remaining three continued to Underhill, north to Forest Grove Drive, then east to the Gaglardi overpass, and continued back to the Centre;  time 1.35, distance, 6,7 km.  

Saturday October 5/19:  On Saturday morning, Larry, Susan, Kevin, Eoin and Laura met at Cameron Centre and walked along Joe’s trail to North Road, then returned the same way.  It was a beautiful morning (as it wasn’t raining) and we appreciated the colours nature brings as the leaves are starting to turn tan, brown and all shades of red.  Good conversations about the state of the world were had.  Distance about 9 km and time of 1h40.
From Jennel:  So, I’m a little late to get the report in (again)….but Saturday morning, I have walked, went bike riding and now off to swimming!  On the other days when I haven’t written…..got a 10 km run in 2 days after the 1/2 marathon, then hiked every day with my dog up the Coquitlam Crunch 5-10 km walking each day!  Heather’s been sick, so as soon as she’s better, we’ll be back on the road running!  Ciao for now!!!!  Off to 45min. of swimming  Good cross training!!!   (Editor’s note:  So great to hear Jennel is doing well and so into the training!  All the best to Heather for recovery!)   
Ride for Refuge: The annual Ride for Refuge, comprising 3 bicycle rides for 50, 25 and 10 km courses, plus a 5 k walk for walkers,  and a large number of volunteers to conduct the event, was held once again at the Richmond Christian School on Woodwards Street in Richmond on Saturday.  The ride is sponsored by a number of churches in the lower mainland, the connection for some Cruisers being with Len and Miriam of the Willingdon Church in Burnaby.  Cruisers involved are the Soets, plus volunteers Bob, Alex and Angela.  Len is involved big time in the organization and implementation of the day’s activity;   Bob helps with auto parking and directing folks to registration, his shift begins 6:30 a.m. to 10:30;  Alex and Angela whose shifts start later, help monitor the bicycle riders on the routes for the three distances;  Miriam rides in the 50 km course; along with  Leslie Zenger.   The stats for this year’s event include 1,026 cyclists, probably 100 or more walkers, and the money earned by the event is in the vicinity of $390,566!  The money raised is for legitimate charities formed to assist folks having many needs; none of the money is for churches.  The spirit of the event is high; those participating are earnest and happy, knowing that the result is money raised for genuine needs. 
Thank you wonderful sponsors for supporting us in the Ride for Refuge. Your donations will help provide refuge and hope for displaced vulnerable and exploited people. In particular, your donation will help provide housing, holistic settlement support and relational support for refugee families seeking protection through Journey Home Community.
We had a very nice day for our 10 km, 25 km and 50 km bike rides and 5 km walk. We had a few sprinkles of rain at the start of the 50 km ride but it was nice after that. I was busy assisting our route captain Bert Wiens  put up some rest stops. I was the route captain last year but Bert did a great job, taking over from me as we were away in Africa on Safaris and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in the month of September. Here is a link to some pictures. I could not do a bike ride during the event but we used our bikes and my trailer on most of the 25 km to put up signs on Wednesday and I again used my bike and trailer afterwards to take down signs, on the same route.
Our team was very successful raising over $8,000 and thanks to you, we were able to raise nearly $4,000.  Miriam and I became involved with the “Ride for Refuge” more than 10 years ago when

there were only about 70 riders.  On Saturday there were a total of 1026 riders and 101 volunteers just to put it all together. The ‘Ride’ has expanded to include over 26 charities which all support homeless, exploited, and displaced people in some way.  Today, the Vancouver ride raised $401,250 for the various charities. With many teams riding for the JHC, they reached their target goal of $130,000.  

Here are a selection of photos starting with putting up the signs a few days before and then focusing on our team of “Pedal Pushing” riders.
And here is a bigger album that shows many other riders: 
Thank you so much for your support,  Len 



Ok I’m writing this ASAP.  Just walked in the door, after a 10km run with Nellie around Lafarge Lake in the POURING rain Monday morning!  Will send pics to Edie.  Wow, it was a wet one…but Nellie & I ran down from Westwood Plateau, then around the Lake and back.  Nellie saw some ducks & squirrels and turned on her greyhound mode and bolted!  So I got some good speed intervals in this morning too.  Jennel.


October 7/19: Monday’s meeting:
From Alex:
Only Alex showed up on Monday evening. Cloudy and cool  but no rain. He ran westward along Eastlake Drive to Underhill Avenue. Then turned South on Underhill Avenue to Lougheed Hwy. Turned East on Lougheed to Bell Avenue, turned North on Bell Avenue then turned East on Cameron Street and back to the Centre. Total time 47 minutes ; total distance 5.9km
On Wednesday on a cold evening, the coldest encounter so far this autumn,  Alex, Brenda, Edie with April, Larry, Rod, Susan and Bobtoc gathered and walked from the Centre to the Stoney Creek trail, a few walking north to Chapman Avenue before returning and joining the others to walk south on North Road to Casewell Street, then turned west to Willoughby Avenue to continue south back to Cameron Street then the Centre.  Time  58:02, distance 5.8 k.  Rod was greeted by the others, having returned with Pat from Iceland, Ireland and England.  He described a fine tour plus visiting his son in Cambridge, also his experience at a football game in England.  Can’t wait to see his new team jersey.
Saturday October 12/19: On Saturday morning, 10 Cruisers plus 2 canines attended at Cameron Centre.  Rod, Larry, Eoin, Laura, Susan, Kevin, Alex, Len, Miriam (with Jax) and Edie (with April) walked, and some trotted/ran, along the Burnaby Lake trail to the nature house, watched the ducks at Piper spit, admired the overcast day and beautiful scenery at the lake, and returned.  Len and Alex ran most of the way back, their time 1h38 which counted the break time at the lakeside, so run/walk time was about 1h25.  The rest walked, their time 1h50 including break time, so walk time was about 1h37.  Distance for all was about 7.8 km.  We were fortunate it did not rain, as light rain started while we were leaving the parking lot after returning.       


Monday, October 14/19:  On Monday morning, 11 Cruisers plus 2 canines eventually showed up!  Rod, Larry, Susan, Alex, Len, Miriam (with Jax), Edie (with April) and Rick Davidson started out from the Central Valley East/Burnaby Lake parking lot and walked their way to Deer Lake, admiring the beautiful colours of the leaves (attached photo) along the way. We strolled along the park and trail to the Deer Lake shore, where the parking lot is, and lo and behold, saw two familiar-looking cars that indicated Flora, Eoin and Laura were somewhere nearby, confirmed when we continued walking along the lake trails and met the trio.  While Rick ran, the group completed their walk around the lake and cut back over the Highway 1 overpass and back to the Burnaby Lake parking lot, then reconvened at the Fortius Sport Centre at Starbucks for coffee, where pumpkin spice coffees were ordered by some of the group.  ‘Twas a good way to work off the Thanksgiving turkey that some of us had the previous evening, and some will be having tonight.  Distance 6.5 km, time 1h25.  Overcast but no rain, turning into sunshine later on.            

 Saturday October 19/19:  On Saturday morning Kevin, Rod, Susan and Bobtoc walked from the Centre along the Forest Grove Drive route, tackling the Gaglardi overpass first to Forest Grove Drive, west to Underhill, south to Eastlake then east back to the Centre.  The four enjoyed a no rain, relatively mild morning.  Distance and time,  7 km, and 1h30 time.  Thanks to Bobtoc for the report!

 
Also on Saturday morning, Edie (with April), Flora, Eoin, Laura and Larry attended the Walk for Veterans at Lafarge Lake Park in Coquitlam.  The group walked two and a half laps, while Flora and Larry walked four laps of a 1.3 km trail route around the lake, enjoying a rainless cloudy morning.  The overall turnout was kind of small, but it was a good reminder of the challenges, especially PTSD and related mental health issues, faced by our veterans upon returning from

combat situations, and our first responders dealing with the trauma they see on a daily basis.  Afterwards the Cruiser group had lunch at C Lovers Fish and Chips in Coquitlam.  

Rod played his first field hockey game of the new season on Saturday afternoon.    
Jennel and canine Nellie ran/hiked the Coquitlam Crunch Tuesday morning.  10 km total! 

Wednesday October 23/19: On Wednesday evening, Larry, Rod, Eoin, Laura, Kevin, Glenn, Brenda, and Edie with April, walked the Forest Grove route “backwards” by taking Beaverbrook past the Stoney Creek school, crossed the Gaglardi overpass and up and around Forest Grove, down Underhill and back along Eastlake etc.  Times ranged from 1h22 to 1h32 and distance for all, 7 km.  It was a beautiful autumn night, mild and no rain – it doesn’t get any better than that at this time of the year.  Reflects, lights, and gloves were worn.  Bobtoc was on official leave to watch MLS soccer playoffs.  Eoin and Laura enjoyed the Who concert on Monday night!  
Jennel ran to Heather’s on Wednesday morning…they both ran 1 lap of Town Centre, then Heather ran back with Jennel toward her house and back…..12 km for Jennel, 10 km for Heather!           

 Saturday October 26/19:
On Saturday morning Libby Covernton, who is on the mainland from Roberts Creek, joined Eoin and Laura, Kevin, Larry, Len and Miriam, Susan, Rod and Bobtoc, on their walk to Joe’s Trail and return to the Centre.   The ten enjoyed a no rain but chilly morning.  The ten saw a few spawning salmon in the Brunette River and adjoining creeks, plus of course the changing colours of the leaves as well as leaves on the trails.  Distance, 7.8 km, times varied between 1:40 and 1:46 for the return walk to North Road via Joe’s Trail.  The Centre was busy with Hallowe’en festivities for children and parents during the morning; the walkers enjoyed the costumes worn by many of the children.

Monday October 28/19:  On a cold evening Monday, Susan, Rod, Kevin and Bobtoc opted to walk due to the cold, from the Centre the Eastlake route to Underhill and return; time and distance respectively 1hr 8 minutes, distance 5 km.
Coquitlam Cruisers:
From Jennel: Jennel and Nellie ran 10km doing the Coquitam Crunch and a bit more Monday morning.  Tony and I are off to the Canucks game tonight!  I’m sure they’re going to win!!!  While on the Crunch, ran into my daughters’ field hockey coach.  She informed me that the MEN’S field hockey team just won and will now be in the Olympics!  Go Men’s Field Jockey team!  That’s great news!  The game was in West Vancouver playing against Ireland.  :”Google it” she says, it on CBC.  Amazing game!!!! News of the day!!!

Wednesday October 30/19:  On Wednesday evening, Larry, Rod, Eoin, Kevin, Glenn, Brenda and Susan walked the Forest Grove route “backwards” by taking Beaverbrook past the Stoney Creek school, crossed the Gaglardi overpass and up and around Forest Grove, down Underhill and you know the rest of the route back.  Time for all was around 1h22 and distance was 7 km.  It was a beautiful brisk night but no rain.  Susan wore seasonal skull lights while others wore reflects and lights too.