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& SURROUNDING AREA CAN OFFER TO OUR 55 plus.


Thursday, October 16, 2008

Walking club update for 10 Oct


Well, we finally got to go to Queen Elizabeth Park - Flora, Linda and I. We thought it would be a simple matter of catching the #20 Victoria Drive bus up to 33rd Avenue then walking to the park which, according to the map, looked like it might take a half hour. An hour later we arrived at Fraser Street, with Knight Street, Main Street and Cambie yet to come. So, being resourceful, we caught the #19 bus on Fraser, got off at Broadway and Cambie and transferred to the Cambie bus. It was nearly 1:00 o'clock. At 33rd, we walked up the rise to the park - about two hours from the time we left Britannia Centre!

PLEASE NOTE: if you plan a walk in QE Park, do not take the route we took! Much quicker to catch the #20 Victoria bus to Broadway and Commercial, transfer to the 99 B-Line heading west, get off at Cambie and take the Cambie bus to 33rd.

At the park, Flora took photos of us in front of the two remaining statues. If you recall, the third one was stolen, then recovered, but not yet replaced, leaving one statue with an empty outstretched arm. That was an invitation to fill the empty space; several visitors to the park were also taking photos with the statues. The view of the city was stunning in the hazy sunlight of the warm autumn day. Trees that once blocked the view had been removed, leaving a natural lookout of downtown Vancouver, the North Shore Mountains and North Vancouver, Burrard Inlet and East Vancouver.

While Flora and Linda made a pit stop at the local facilities provided, I noticed an old iron clock on a tall pedestal. The plates attached provided details of its origins: the clock was made by International Clocks in Vancouver; dedicated in April 1965 by the Lions Club of Chinatown to commemorate the twinning of Vancouver Chinatown with the Lions Club of Kowloon (Hong Kong) and to promote fellowship between the two cities and its citizens.

Our return walk was east out of the park to Main Street where we caught the bus to Broadway for the 99 B-Line back to the Drive.
I counted the number of buses we needed on the trip: six altogether. As we travelled down Main Street to Broadway, we decided that one Saturday would be spent browsing and taking lunch along a popular stretch of Main from 33rd north to 21st - a vibrant, upbeat area of sidewalk cafes and tiny shops, from cultural eateries to antique and clothing stores, sports shops and mini markets - something for every taste and interest.

Next Saturday, October 18, the Britannia van is taking seniors to UBC;the ultimate destination is a surprise. Adventure awaits! See you then!

Virginia

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