Summer Vacation: September 2006

Stanley Park

On our first day out, we went for a walk with Dad around Stanley Park's 6 mile seawall.

Burrard Street Bridge

Granville Island Market

Siwash Rock

Lion's Gate Bridge

The area with the horse-drawn carriages and totem poles is, no big surprise, the tourist centre of the park.

Fraser River Cruise

This is my sister Ruth and her boyfriend Greg. Greg took us for a river cruise on his father's boat. We stopped on the riverbank for a picnic lunch; I cleverly ascertained that the first place we stopped was a touch too muddy.

Grouse Grind

The Grouse Grind is an athletic hike up Grouse Mountain. The path is unnecessarily steep to make it a tougher workout. It's nicknamed "Nature's Stairmaster". Shortly after I returned to the UK, the trail was shut down due to the number of bear sightings. It's been quite a year for wildlife; there are even bears in the park right near our house in the suburbs.

This is the shot that made carrying the camera and tripod up the hill worthwhile.

These wimps took the gondola to the top rather than hike.

It's necessary to take the gondola back down, as hiking down the Grouse Grind is prohibited.

Capilano Suspension Bridge

The Capilano Suspension Bridge, not far from Grouse Mountain. We visited the same day. It's 230 feet from the bridge to the valley floor. It seems like a lot more when you're on the swinging rope bridge!

The tree canopy walk at the other side of the bridge. We were walking between the tops of the trees. Although we were 80 feet up, we didn't notice the height because we were surrounded by foliage.

Squamish Chief

Shannon Falls, a stop on the way to Squamish.

The Squamish Chief. The intrepid climb straight up its face; more cautious souls like Candis and I hike up the back way.

Granville Island Marina

Hike to Base Camp

This was our big camping trip. We went on a hike in the mountains, and the trek was far enough that we had to take it in two stages. On the first day we hiked up from the highway to the campsite at Garibaldi Lake.

This is a geological feature called the Barrier. It's a great place to stop for lunch and enjoy the wildlife.

The chipmunks were tame and friendly.

They ate out of our hands.

They weren't so happy to see the bag of treats being put away. That's when this one stopped being friendly and gave Candis a little bite on the finger.