February 1st:  Monday evening, besides Edie and April, only Harvey showed up.  He thought cars might not see him since he is invisible so declined to walk or run.  Edie and April walked around their own neighbourhood after Edie changed the pictures on the board.

Rod went out from home Monday morning and did the Forest Grove loop. Time out 59 .20, distance 7!km. Stopped on the way to talk to Adele in her “office”. Miss Adele.

Coquitlam Cruisers have been busy:
Heather & Jennel both got in a 6km for their Tuesday run.  Heather, her husband James & dog Burrows went for a 6km walk and Jennel ran up & down Parkway Blvd, walked girls to and from school, along with some speedy vacuuming to get in her milage!!!  LOL 
    Jennel drove to Heathers this morning at David & Shaugnessey and from there the two of them ran straight down Shaugnessey to the Maryhill Bypass and back on a clear crisp Monday morning….total 16km:)  Then it started to rain!!!  

Reminder to register for the Coldest Night Walk February 20th for the Cliff Avenue Cruisers Team if you haven’t done so.  Toques are on the way.
https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/TeamResults.aspx?EventID=173036&LangPref=en-CA&RegistrationID=3195728

RA Edie for Bobwhoswanderingaroundinthetropics.  Larry finally found a place where he can legitimately wear shorts in the winter!News from Kihei, Maui:

The Cruisers here in Paradise so far have run or walked  over 40 km plus the km’s run in the half marathon by Larry and the full 10 km run by Libby and Edie.   The 40 plus consisted of a run /walk and back from Kamaole Sands to Mekena Road, not very far from Mekena Beach, a run from the Sands to Mekena Beach, then ferried back by car, and a first run along the beach from the Sands onto the beachfront walks between the hotels in Wailea and the ocean. 
Lots of Tail in Maui!

Yesterday the Cruisers and athletic supporters, including Daphne, Libby’s sister from Canada’s White North took a Pacific Whale Foundation whale-watching cruise. The party was favoured within minutes of leaving Maalea Harbour with displays of Mom whales and their babes cavorting in the ocean showing tails big-time.  The voyage takes about 2 hours; we were favoured with more time than that due to the incredible display offered to us.  The  whales did not seem as numerous to us as in previous years, however there was no suggestion by the PWF crew that lesser numbers were seen this season.  A great display to be sure.
Great weather, great sunsets. Aloha,  Bobtoc
February 3rd:Wednesday Update for Cold Weather Cruisers or Dripping Wet Cruisers
Rod and Eoin did the 7 km Forest Grove loop in 1h28. No ice cream, no palm trees, no red wine, but just as much water as there is in Kihei.
Won’t be out Saturday as I Have an early game. Will probably run Friday.
Flurries forecast for Sunday.
Rod
Rod is in his 59th year of field hockey!
Kihei Cruiser Update
On Monday, the Kihei Cruisers went on a training run to get acclimatized and to show Libby the sights of the shoreline and beaches.  We ran about 12 km in a time of just over 2 hours, not running constantly due to stops to show the beach scenery.  Then various Cruisers went to the beach.  On Tuesday morning, Libby and “guest” Larry attended the Kihei Canoe Club outrigger session, which was fabulous because we got sun and calm waters, and saw a mother humpback whale and her calf on the near or at the surface of the water for about 15 minutes.  What a sight to see!  Various tour activity and beach attendance followed.  Got to watch our sun exposure so as not to drain our energy before Saturday’s half marathon and 10 K, which is of course the only reason we are here….
Aloha everyone,
Larry    
Coquitlam Cruiser Updates
Thursday:  Jennel was a solo Coquitlam Cruiser today.  She ran the usual route down David to Town Centre, 1 lap, then back home.  8km
February 3rd:  Wednesday:  Today, the “Coquitlam Cruisers”…(aka, Heather & Jennel) met at Town Centre Park.  Heather had been their earlier and had already ran 1 lap, then Jennel joined her and ran the next lap with her….we ran into Jin’s wife, Reginia and she ran a couple laps too!  Total for everyone was: Heather 11.5km, Jennel 13km and not sure of Reginia’s (she had to dash off to work)….so that was a fun morning….the best morning yet, as Bob would say!!!

February 6th:
Saturday Feb 5th Report;
Nine Cruisers met at Cameron and once they found parking spaces elsewhere, due to a Trampoline meet, they set off on a lovely 3 degree morning with, wait for it……NO RAIN!
Miriam and Len biked from home so they were able to park at the centre.  They must have had ESP.
Ivan, Len, Laura, Rachel and Flora (Rod asked, and no, she hadn’t moved away) ran the IGA route while Miriam, Rod, Eoin, Edie and April walked the Forest Grove Loop for a change.  Flora appeared out of nowhere on Underhill to continue with the walkers instead of the runners but kept a fast pace. Time and distance for runners was 9.9k in 1:22 and walkers 6.53k in 1:16.
Alex was at Income Tax School. Debra was teaching spin class.
Report from the Coquitlam Cruisers….

Heather & Jennel met near the corner of Pinetree & David, from there, they ran around Town Centre once, then Jennel ran back to Heather’s house to make up mileage, then ran back home.  Weather was mild & DRY!   Heather ran 6km today, 6km Thursday total for the week 46km
Jennel ran 12.77 today, only 2 km Thursday…total for the week 46km….”we’re getting there!!!”

I enjoyed my virtual run in Paradise for 3 reasons:

  1. It was in Paradise
  2. It wasn’t pelting rain
  3. I ran 10k for the first time in AGES and nothing hurt after!  Edie
Monday February 
Wednesday Evening:  Four Cruisers waded from Cameron Centre to the corner of Eastlake and Underhill before returning to Cameron.    Rachel and Edie walked on and in water while Alex and Rod ran and walked in and on water.  Did I mention that it was pelting rain??  Time out about an hour for 4.85k.  Thinking about purchasing flippers.  The idea of going to Tim’s was brought up and dismissed as the four bravely faced the weather conditions.
Rachel had on the right shoes as she had only slightly damp feet while the rest of our feet were squishing in water.  So there, you Kihei Cruisers – we were wading in water, too.
Friday:  Rod went out from home this morning, along Noel Drive to Beaverbrook and then the usual way to Shellmont, up Shellmont and back home through Forest Grove.

Time out 1h17, distance exactly 9 km.

Heather & Jennel met at the corner of David & Pinetree…from their, both of them ran around Town Centre Park two times, then headed back to their own homes.  Heather ran a little farther to make up her run to be 10km, and Jennel stopped at Starbucks when she hit the 10km mark, then walked the rest of the way home!
Good run for each….weather was mild, no precipitation…..we were both dressed in our BRIGHT blue (Heather) & GREEN (Jennel) running jackets!  So ALL could see us! (we mean the CARS!!!) 

Saturday February 6th:
Monday am Statutory Family Day Feb. 8th activities, courtesy of Rod.  (NB.  A day retirees do not get)  But not bitter…
8 ½ Cruisers:  Edie (and April), Eoin and Laura, Len, Rick, Flora, Rachel and Rod, all having read their e-mails correctly, turned out on Family Day for an 8:30 am run/walk in glorious weather for the first week of February.  Quite a difference from the few days ago when we were emulating passages from the Good Book (ie: walking on water).  Laura and Len did the IGA run, then up Shellmont and back through Forest Grove.  The rest did the Forest Grove loop, some walking, some jogging.  Time out anywhere from 1:17 to 1:25, distance 7 km to 10.35 km.  We hope the Kihei Cruisers can acclimatize as quickly and join us Wednesday.
From Coquitlam:    Heather & Jennel both walked today,Tuesday, separately….Heather, with her husband & dog….6.34 around Lafarge Lake and Jennel, with her husband & kids…..6.23km around our area where we live.  * we’re going for a BIG 19km tomorrow morning
Wednesday Feb. 10th:  At Cameron Centre eight and ½ Cruisers met Wednesday on a balmy and rainless evening; some stars and the moon shone between gaps in the cloud cover.  The group : Cheryl, Edie with canine April, Eoin and Laura, Libby, Rod and Bobtoc ran, rogged, (new word coined in Maui)  jogged or walked the familiar Forest Grove route frontwards, times ranging between 1:12 and 1:17 to complete, distance 6.8 km.  The group enjoyed the best night of the year thus far, and celebrated the familiar way by leaning on the rustic fence outside the Centre and doing insufficient stretching, but did debrief.  Cruisers are good at debriefing…
Cruisers in Coquitlam:
Under unrelenting  rain Wednesday morning Heather and Jennel ran from Sandstone Crescent in Westwood Plateau, down Panorama,  turned right onto Parkway  Blvd then turned right again down Johnson, then left on David.  Ran straight on David, turning right on Shaughnessy, then left onto Prairie Avenue., then a right on Coast Meridian to Riverwood Gate. Turned around and used the same route back, going uphill on most of the route, so we got in a few HILLS!   (Ed. Note; Hills are our friend, according to Larry).  Total kilometres 19.  Time 2:22.  PHEW!

Saturday February 13th:  RA Edie with canine April, Alex, Flora, Len and Miriam who cycled from their home on Kincaid St in Burnaby 16km, Rod, Larry and Bobtoc met at Rocky Point on a showery morning Saturday.   The eight ran, rogged, jogged or walked the usual route using Alderside Road, some returning to Rocky Point before reaching April Road.  Rod and Larry went as far as the “pearly gates” (the Ioco gates) before their return to Rocky Point.  Times ranged from 1:35 to 1::46, distances ranged from 8 km. to 11.2 for Rod and Larry.  The rain ceased during the time the Cruisers completed their journeys.  Len and Miriam then cycled back to their home; 32 km for their cycling to and from home.
Cruisers in Coquitlam:
Jennel wonders:  What is it with the RAIN when Heather & Jennel run?  We only had a short 6km of hills to do according to our running schedule, but the rain was PELTING down in sheets!  Unbelievable amounts of rain Friday morning!  Jennel had her glasses on and thought she may need some windshield wipers and defrosters on them!  WOW!  The girls met at the corner of Pinetree & David, then ran 4 reps of hills up Pinetree just like Libby had taught Jennel when with the Cameron Cruisers.  Worked well; Jennel ran 7km & Heather 5km.  Total for the week for each of us….44km.  Monday morning we’re to run 23km in one shot!  Good grief…lets hope the rain holds off for that long run,  Jennel.
Sunday February 14th:  Alex, Angela, Edie and Laurie volunteered for the 1st Half on guess what?  – Another rainy day!  Good thing rain gear was invented.  Another well organized event in beautiful Vancouver.  Laurie and I were at the Finish Line to welcome Rick and Shirley in.  
 Monday February 15th:  
 Bob, Edie, Laura and Eoin showed up but decided to return to the warmth and DRYNESS of their respective homes instead of venturing out into the monsoon.  

Wednesday February 17th:RA Edie with Cruisette April,  Larry and Bobtoc met at the Centre Wednesday on a mild +9C, no precip evening; best night of the year.  Destination for Edie and friend was the corner of Eastlake and Underhill before returning.  Larry and Bobtoc continued on to the usual FGD route, with Bobtoc rogging and Larry running, looking forward to the April Fools Half.  Bobtoc’s distance, the 6.8 km return route; for Larry, closer to 9 km due to 2x on  Underhill and three or so bobturns on the Forest Grove street portion.

Cruisers in Coquitlam:
Heather & Jennel ran again today/Friday morning, in the RAIN!!!  Or should we say swam today in the rain!?!  Hill training today, met at the corner of David & Pinetree and ran 5 reps of Pinetree.  Total for today Heather 6km, Jennel 7km…total for the week…..ready…..49km!  On  Monday,  we are to be running another “half marathon ”……26km – let’s hope the rain holds off for at least ONE day!  That would be nice!  We’re becoming drowned rats!  

Saturday February 20th:  On Saturday morning Larry ran from Cameron Centre along Beaverbrook, crossed the Gaglardi overpass, up Forest Grove hill, down Shellmont, Arden, Broadway, Underhill, Eastlake, past Bby Mtn school, the sidewalk and overpass below Cameron, up the Cameron hill and back to the Centre.  Time 56 min, about 9 km.

On Saturday afternoon RA Edie, Christina and John, , Jane, Nancy, Bobtoc, Len and Miriam, Alex and Andrea, by motor and transit attended at the First United Church and joined  197 other walkers to walk the Coldest Night of the Year Walk.  The Cliff Avenue Cruisers team chose the 5 km walk to do.  All walkers were pleased to experience NO RAIN and a comfortable temperature.  The walkers were able to have a simple meal after the walk at First United after which most the team continued on to the Cambrian Hall at Main and 17th to enjoy the  Pig ‘n Whistle pub night of the Men’s Orpheus Choir.  Kudos BIG TIME to Edie who suggested that a team be formed to participate in the Coldest Night walk in support of First United Church.  Kudos to her for agreeing to captain the team, and her stellar work in organizing,

encouraging, managing the team eventually put together.   My heartfelt thanks to her for not only this venture but the organizing she has done over the years for such things as the out-of-town trips for, eg. runs in the USA and Penticton.  What would we do without her?

Cliff Avenue United Church members and adherents so far have or will have raised some $886 for the Walk.  Donations through the team members hopefully will be calculated soon.
Not to be outdone, in Coquitlam Thursday Heather & Jennel met at the corner of Pinetree & David, from there they ran together 2 laps of Town Centre Park, then Heather ran home making her distance 8.25 and Jennel ran 3 laps, then home making her distance 14km.  Heather also ran on Tuesday 6km and Jennel missed her run yesterday, so made up for it today.  Jennel did walk her girls to and from school which adds another 2.5km on, but that “technically” doesn’t count.   Best part of Heather & Jennel’s run, it DIDN’T rain!  Total distance for the week, 49+ kms.

Widgeon Nest Box Cleaning – Christina participated in this and shared a photo of the beautiful area we are so lucky to live in.

Monday February 22nd:RA Edie with Cruisette canine April,  Alex and Bobtoc from the Centre did the familiar FGD route frontwards Monday on a full  moonlit, mild evening, walking for the most part to the crest of the Forest Grove Drive hill going west, then finished the route by running.  Time and distance,  1:18,  6.8 km respectively.

In Coquitlam:
From Heather’s house at Shaughnessy and David, on Monday am Jennel and Heather ran up Shaughnessy, left onto Prairie Road, then right onto Coast Meridian, left onto Dominion which led to the Coquitlam Dyke path along the Fraser River, then down the dyke along the river on the MOST BEAUTIFUL DAY so far.  Gorgeous! It was dry, the sun was out, saw lots of walkers and runners along our route.  Turned around after we reached our amount of km and ran the exact route back to Heather’s.  Beautiful day, great run; 26 km,  more than a half marathon.


Len and Miriam:  We had a great cross country ski and snowshoe to the Elfin Shelter in the Diamond Head area above Squamish with Paul Dylla. It is 5 km to Red Heather warming hut and another 6 km to the Elfin Shelter that sleeps 33 people. We were expecting the Shelter to be mostly empty mid week

but it is often used by school groups. There was a group of 21 students (mostly teenage girls) and teachers from Crofton House taking up most of the Shelter when we got there. Here is a link to our pictures.

Greetings from Phnom Penh where we arrived about three hours ago after a 13 hour flight to Hong Kong, then a 2 hour layover before coming on here. Cathay Pacific Airlines very good.
Weather here is lovely and warm and humid but very brown and dry.

 Pic of us at Angkor Wat, going for a ride on a water buffalo powered cart and a chatty water buffalo.
Rod

 We are in Cambodia for the first part of the trip.
Pnomh Penh very third world. Traffic is crazy. Millions of little motor bikes and scooters and not much respect for traffic rules. Crossing the road is a challenge. We have a free day today as we deliberately arrived a day or so before the tour started . The four of us are going on the Mekong River to a silk factory. Beer here is good. Temperature today should be 32 degrees.
Take care, hi to to all the Cruisers.

Wednesday February 24th:RA Edie with Cruisette canine April,  Alex, Larry, Libby and  Bobtoc ran, rogged and walked from the Centre to do the FGD route frontwards Wednesday on yet another moonlit and mild evening.id the familiar FGD route Monday on a full  moonlit, mild evening.  Alex, Larry and Bobtoc ran or rogged the route, with Alex and Larry doing Underhill 2x as well as some bobturning to maximize the length of their runs.  Edie and Libby walked the route albeit at a good clip.  Distance for Alex and Larry about 8.5 km, for the others, the usual 6.8 km, and time for all about 1:15.

In Coquitlam, Jennel and Heather were active Tuesday, Wednesday AND Thursday:
On Tuesday Heather walked 6 km with her husband and dog in Kits, and Jennel, 2.5 km.  On Wednesday the two met at the corner of Pinetree and David,  ran 2 laps together than parted;   Heather ran 8 km and Jennel, 13 km plus another 2.5 m walk.  Goal for the week, 53 km.  On Thursday the two again met at Pinetree  and David for hillwork, being 6 x of the Pinetree hill,  then Heather ran 7 km and Jennel, 9km. on that  beautiful day, both achieving their goal of 53 km for the week.
From Rod Monday:
Hi Larry and Bob
Arrived here (Phnom Penh) about midday yesterday after a 13 hour flight to Hong Kong, a 2 hour layover then a 2 hour flight here. Cathay Pacific very good to fly with. If only Air Canada could learn from these guys.
Went out today on the Mekong River to a place called Silk Island. It’s very warm here 32degrees and there are lots of palm trees!!!!!!! Traffic is nuts with millions of little motorcycles. It’s a real challenge crossing the street.
Cambodia very much third world but the people, beer and ice cream are all good. It’s also very dry here, they could do with some of our excess rain.  Doing a city tour here tomorrow and then flying to Siem Reap in the afternoon (50 minutes). It’s easier this way as I believe the roads are not that great
Will keep in touch
Rod and Pat
On Saturday morning, Eoin and Laura, back from their Hawaii getaway, Larry, Len, Miriam, Ivan, Alex, Edie and canine April ran or walked the Joe’s trail route by proceeding as a group through the trail area between Eastlake and Government (where there was a sign with a sketch of the suspect involved in the sexual assault on that trail a week ago), along to Joe’s trail, where Larry, Ivan, Laura and Len took the lead and extended their run into Hume Park and up to the sports fields, then heading back, seeing the others on Joe’s trail, with Larry and Ivan sprinting up Cameron towards the Centre, their time 1h 10m, distance 9.7 km, with Len and Laura following closely at 1h 24m, same distance, and Alex, who ran up Larry’s hill then returned, his time about 1h 24m, distance 9.2 km.  Eoin, Miriam, Edie and April walked to the end of Joe’s trail and returned to Cameron Centre, their distance 7.8 km, time 1h 25m.  It was a cloudy but mild day for February with signs of spring. 
From Rod and Pat: Currently in Hoi An on the coast near Da Nang. It’s a bit cooler but a lovely little village. Trip going very well. Gradually moving to the North towards Hanoi.

     

February 29th:  Four Cruisers:  RA Edie with canine April, Laura, Eoin and Bobtoc walked from the Centre to Eastlake and Underhill and return to the Centre on a  mild with no rain evening on Monday.  Not enough light however to gauge the Hawaiian tan on Laura and Eoin.   Time and distance, 1:15 and 3.67 km respectively.
In Coquitlam:
On Monday Heather, Jennel and friend Jin, who is a Dad of Jennel;s daughter’s friend, met at Heather’s home and from there ran down Shaughnessy, left on Prairie, right on Coast Meridian, left on Dominion to the dyke and then ran a few km’s along the Fraser River, then retraced our steps using the same route out, back to Heather;s home.  19 km for all.