February 2018
Kits Beach in Winter
February 3rd:On Saturday morning, it was a great morning weather-wise because it wasn’t raining for once and it was mild (9 C) for this time of year. 11 Cruisers took advantage of the day, 12 counting Bobtoc who came to say hello and that he would be taking it easy for awhile. Some of us actually ran for a change! We all ran or walked the Joe’s trail route, with René and Len (with Jax) running through to Hume Park, up Larry’s hill and around the top of the playing fields and returning for a distance of 10 km and time of 1h20 for René who went back for more distance and to run Len in, Len’s time 1h30. Alex and Flora mostly ran along the trail and along North Road, their time 1h30 and distance 9 km. Susan, Laura, Leslie and Miriam walked to the end of Joe’s trail and returned, their distance 7 km and time 1hr22. Susan and Laura met Rod, Larry and Edie (with April) at about 80% of the way along the trail and they returned, the latter three’s distance slightly less than 7 km.
February 5th:On Monday, Alex, Mary, Rod, Edie and April met at Cameron to do the Forest Grove loop. It was not raining so the group was
somewhat disoriented but managed the walk of just under 7k in 1:29. Milder night chilling a bit towards the end. April got stuck in some brambles briefly but no other casualties befell the group.
February 10th: Nine Cruisers were out to take advantage of the beautiful weather on Saturday morning (by beautiful we mean no rain, but truly a pleasant day as it was also sunny! and about 0 C) and walked or ran the Burnaby Lake trail, starting from Cameron Centre and down through the trail between Eastlake and Government St., along Government to Cariboo Road, along the Burnaby Lake trail past the nature house to the Central Valley parking lot, and on to the Fortius
Jennel & Heather ran with the Running Room Saturday morning….”LOVE 2 RUN”…….a group of us ran to Fox Park and back to the Running Room. Heather & Jennel both ran from Heather’s house to the Running Room, with the group and back making our run 14 km!!!=
Alex was in fine form after completing the First Half Marathon on Sunday in 2:41. Well done, Alex! A perfect day for a run in beautiful Vancouver with Angela waiting to hand him his medal at the finish line, having volunteered for the event.
On Saturday morning, eight Cruisers and a canine made it out to Rocky Point in a messy early morning snow dump. It turned into a sleet/rain mix, so most of us walked along the upper trails. Larry walked to the entrance to Alderside, then returned, distance about 5 km and time about 1h25. Rod and Bob started out with Larry, then Rod walked along Alderside with Len (and Jax), and Bob with Miriam and Susan, and the fivesome walked on Alderside to April Road and returned, their distance about 10 km and time about 2h or just over that. Flora and Alex arrived a bit late and jogged along the lower trails, then Alderside to April Road, then along Ioco to the pearly gates and return, their distance 12 km, time about 1h 40. We all enjoyed coffee or ice cream after at the ice cream shop.
My thanks to Edie for her handling so capably the Coldest Night of the Year! Bobtoc
The Coquitlam Cruisers were out on Monday: Heather & Jennel joined the Running Room 4 week run clinic, held on Monday evenings. Had our first night tonight on a beautiful, clear & crisp evening. Lesley, the manager of running Room gave a short introduction and talk on “The Right Shoes” and their importance. Then the 5 of us ladies went on a 5km run…..nice pace, beautiful evening, nice company…..”It doesn’t get any better than this!!!”
On Wednesday night, Rod, Larry and Edie with April walked, starting at Cameron to Beaverbrook, down to Eastlake to Underhill and returned using the Forest Grove loop. April got tired so Edie had to turn back before we got to Underhill, so Rod and Larry carried on, distance 7 km, time 1h22. Again we were lucky there was no rain – we will take every dry day there is!!
February 10th: Nine Cruisers were out to take advantage of the beautiful weather on Saturday morning (by beautiful we mean no rain, but truly a pleasant day as it was also sunny! and about 0 C) and walked or ran the Burnaby Lake trail, starting from Cameron Centre and down through the trail between Eastlake and Government St., along Government to Cariboo Road, along the Burnaby Lake trail past the nature house to the Central Valley parking lot, and on to the Fortius 
Sport Centre. Rod, Larry, Miriam, Bobtoc and Leslie walked while Edie, Flora, Ivan and Joe, a relative of Leslie’s from New Zealand, ran. The four runners stopped along the way to view the dam, the turtle area and may have spotted a beaver, and also viewed the ducks by the nature house. Once everyone got to the Fortius Sport Centre, we took slightly different methods to return to Cameron Centre, with Ivan and Joe running back the same way, their distance 14 km, time 1h42, Larry, Rod, Flora and Edie walking, their distance about 13.5 km, time 2h30. Miriam walked home, and Bobtoc was picked up by Leslie with her car, as Leslie had returned to Cameron Centre earlier.
Jennel & Heather ran with the Running Room Saturday morning….”LOVE 2 RUN”…….a group of us ran to Fox Park and back to the Running Room. Heather & Jennel both ran from Heather’s house to the Running Room, with the group and back making our run 14 km!!!=
Family Day February 12th:
Miriam, Len, Jax, Judy, Sherian, Flora, Rod, Christina, John, Alex, Eoin, Edie and April met in the Burnaby Lake parking lot on a cloudless, -2 morning.
Christina and John bird watched along the way to the duck pier and returned along with Eoin. The others walked around the lake in assorted groups and varying speeds with lots of picture stops to create memories of the glorious sunshine and scenery. We met back in the parking lot, except Len and Jax who continued home.
Christina and John bird watched along the way to the duck pier and returned along with Eoin. The others walked around the lake in assorted groups and varying speeds with lots of picture stops to create memories of the glorious sunshine and scenery. We met back in the parking lot, except Len and Jax who continued home.
Eoin, Rod, Edie, Judy, Alex, Flora and Miriam enjoyed coffee at Starbucks before going our separate ways.
Alex was in fine form after completing the First Half Marathon on Sunday in 2:40:54. Well done, Alex! A perfect day for a run in beautiful Vancouver with Angela waiting to hand him his medal at the finish line, having volunteered for the event.
Great way to spend Family Day with our running/walking family of Cruisers. Sadly, some of us had to work or rest so couldn’t join us. 
Nine Cruisers were out to take advantage of the beautiful weather on Saturday morning (by beautiful we mean no rain, but truly a pleasant day as it was also sunny! and about 0 C) and walked or ran the Burnaby Lake trail, starting from Cameron Centre and down through the trail between Eastlake and Government St., along Government to Cariboo Road, along the Burnaby Lake trail past the nature house to the Central Valley parking lot, and on to the Fortius Sport Centre. Rod, Larry, Miriam, Bobtoc and Leslie walked while Edie, Flora, Ivan and Joe, a relative of Leslie’s from New Zealand, ran. The four runners stopped along the way to view the dam, the turtle area and may have spotted a beaver, and also viewed the ducks by the nature house. Once everyone got to the Fortius Sport Centre, we took slightly different methods to return to Cameron Centre, with Ivan and Joe running back the same way, their distance 14 km, time 1h42, Larry, Rod, Flora and Edie walking, their distance about 13.5 km, time 2h30. Miriam walked home, and Bobtoc was picked up by Leslie with her car, as Leslie had returned to Cameron Centre earlier.
Jennel & Heather ran with the Running Room Saturday morning….”LOVE 2 RUN”…….a group of us ran to Fox Park and back to the Running Room. Heather & Jennel both ran from Heather’s house to the Running Room, with the group and back making our run 14 km!!!=
Today Alex ran the First Half Half Marathon in a time of 2h40:54. Congratulations Alex!!
Monday morning a gaggle of Cruisers turned out at Burnaby Lake to walk and enjoy the fine weather. Edie (and Rod) report:
Miriam, Len, Jax, Judy, Sherian, Flora, Rod, Christina, John, Alex, Eoin, Edie and April met in the Burnaby Lake parking lot on a cloudless, -2 morning. Christina and John bird watched along the way to the duck pier and returned along with Eoin. The others walked around the lake in assorted groups and varying speeds with lots of picture stops to create memories of the glorious sunshine and scenery. We met back in the parking lot, except Len and Jax who continued home.
Eoin, Rod, Edie, Judy, Alex, Flora and Miriam enjoyed coffee at Starbucks before going our separate ways. Sherian, Flora and Rod did the walk in a time of about 1h40. Distance around the lake was about 12 km so a good walk by all.
Alex was in fine form after completing the First Half Marathon on Sunday in 2:41. Well done, Alex! A perfect day for a run in beautiful Vancouver with Angela waiting to hand him his medal at the finish line, having volunteered for the event.Great way to spend Family Day with our running/walking family of Cruisers. Sadly, some of us had to work or rest so couldn’t join us.
Edie (with some help from Rod).
Coquitlam Cruisers activity today: Heather & Jennel met at Pinetree & David….ran down Pinetree toward Running Room, stopped in a few stores to do some shopping, chatted along the route…good run….total 12.77 km. Fun, productive run – cold & crisp 🙂
February 17th:
On Saturday morning, eight Cruisers and a canine made it out to Rocky Point in a messy early morning snow dump. It turned into a sleet/rain mix, so most of us walked along the upper trails. Larry walked to the entrance to Alderside, then returned, distance about 5 km and time about 1h25. Rod and Bob started out with Larry, then Rod walked along Alderside with Len (and Jax), and Bob with Miriam and Susan, and the fivesome walked on Alderside to April Road and returned, their distance about 10 km and time about 2h or just over that. Flora and Alex arrived a bit late and jogged along the lower trails, then Alderside to April Road, then along Ioco to the pearly gates and return, their distance 12 km, time about 1h 40. We all enjoyed coffee or ice cream after at the ice cream shop. od reports:
February 19th: On Monday evening two Cruisers, namely Bob and Rod, were at Cameron at 6:30. Bob opted to return home after Flora showed up, being unhappy with conditions underfoot. (what a wimp, says Bobtoc). Flora, on her way home from work, dropped in to say hello and aloha. She then went home to look for her Visa cards, clean and pack them flor a trip to Maui (overnighting in Bellingham on Tuesday and flying to Maui very early Wed. morning). Sadly Hilo Hatties is no longer in operation, but being the experienced Visa person that she is, Flora will manage. Rod power-walked/jogged and slithered up into Lake City Way and then turned back due to the conditions: the sidewalk from Beaverbrook to Stoney Creek School was good and clear so that was repeated a few times to give a total of 5 km in about an hour. Hopefully conditions will improve by Wednesday. Pat even had to turn back this morning on the Stoney Creek trail, which she said was very icy. Weather forecast for Friday/Saturday morning doesn’t look good but they have been wrong before. We live in hope.
Coquitlam Cruisers:
Jennel went out for a SLOW Monday morning run. Run Club at the RR is still on tonight, but Heather is unable to go and Id rather run the day when I can see the black ice than at night. So, I ran down Panorama, down Johnson to David, then back along David to Landsdown and up to Panorama to Sandstone Crescent (where I ice) then around the cul -de- sacs (Limestone & Granite) a couple of times to get at 7 km. Roads and sidewalks were clear or salted for the most port.
Jennel hiked the Coquitlam Crunch Tuesday morning with another Mama from the school. ( I knew I’d get her out). I’ ve been trying to get her to take the Crunch for five years! Good thing the Crunch was free of snow, so it was a good experience for her. The snpw is all around, but the stairs are clear from Panorama down to Barnet. So, if anyone is wanting to hike it, as of today, apparently more snow is in the future, so walk breaks where there will be snow. Sunday, I did some cross training and shovelled the driveway and sidewalk, and our neighbours too. 7.54 km.
Wednesday February 21st: On Wednesday night, despite the light snowfall, conditions were not all that bad, as Rod and Larry walked the Forest Grove route, going along Beaverbrook, across Gaglardi overpass and you know the rest of the way, distance 7 km, time 1h17. On Wednesday morning, Rod ran/walked the Forest Grove route plus, doing 8 km in 1h15, with better conditions as the snow started later on.
Coquitlam Cruisers: Heather & Jennel met at the corner of David & Pinetree on a COLD, crisp Wednesday morning. No snow…YET!!! They ran 2.5 laps around the park and snow began to fall. Heather headed back home, making her run approx 10/11 km and Jennel proceeded to run down Guildford, down Lansdowne, cutting across to the Coquitlam Crunch then running slowly up the Crunch (and the snow started to get thicker & fall faster)……..Jennel ran exactly15 km with 455 stairs in the mix!!!
Saturday February 24th: On Saturday pm Christina and John Saremba, Miriam and Len Soet, Larry and Bobtoc, led by Captain Edie for the Cliff Avenue Cruisers Coldest Night of the Year Walk fund raiser for the downtown First United Church in east Vancouver. Skytrained to the stadium station and walked to the Roundhouse for registration then the commencement of the fund raiser walk. The seven enjoyed no precip, and warmer temperatures than the days previous in Vancouver. The group walked a reasonable distance (about 5 km), followed by a debriefing and dinner at the Dubh Linn Gate Pub Inn. The seven enjoyed good fellowship, plus good food.
Total $$$ raised by the team tba later.
My thanks to Edie for her handling so capably the Coldest Night of the Year! BobtocCoquitlam Cruisers:
Thursday morning..Heather walked 6 km. Jennel walked 2.5 in the morning, then heard snow was coming again…so ran another 2.5 around her street & cul de sacs in the evening. Total for the week = 34.5 km. Heather & Jennel have “future plans” of running a MEC Half Marathon April 29th…..so training in progress…..=
Monday February 26th: Extra, Extra! Here it is! Read all about the walk on Monday evening, also Tuesday in the p.m:
Rene’, Rod and Bobtoc met at the Centre Monday evening and chose to walk the oh so familiar Forest Grove Drive route frontwards. The trio enjoyed good weather albeit a bit cool. Distance, 7 km, time 1:34. It was great to see Rene’ after a long absence.
Rod went out from home Tuesday afternoon and did the Forest Grove loop. Time out 1h09, distance just under 8 km. Still slippery in places but walkable. Rene’ caught up with me at Beaverbrook on the way back, having been out for a run/walk himself. Not sure where or how far.
On Wednesday evening under sodden clouds dispensing lots of rain Alex, Larry, Rod and Bobtoc, all equipped with umbrellas, decided to walk to Underhill and return, via Eastlake. The four encountered lots of rain, endured temperature of +2C, plus on the return gusts of wind from the east. Distance, approx. 5 km, time for Larry and Rod about one hour, for Alex and Bobtoc, 1:10.
Coquitlam Cruisers:
Heather and Jennel met at the corner of David & Pinetree on a cold but dry Wednesday morning, ran 1 lap of Town Centre, then ran toward Coquitlam Town Centre and back to our homes. Good run; did 15.58 km.