Saturday walk Jan 24th
Flora and I decided to take Marissa (temporarily here from Ontario) to Granville Island by way of the south walkway along False Creek ... we hopped the sky train at Broadway and Commercial and rode to the Main Street Station at Science World ... The day was cold and sunny but pleasant as there was no breeze to chill us ... Marissa took photos of Science World's 'golf ball', as well as panoramic shots of downtown Vancouver, Edgewater Casino, BC Place Stadium, GM Place ... one of Vancouver's famous Aqua bus Ferries graced the foreground ... We passed the skeletons of the Olympic Village which lost its main financier before Christmas and for which, fortunately, the City has received provincial support to finance completion in time for the 2010Winter Olympics ... just past the athlete's village is a tiny island representing the ecological makeup of BC coast, with tree snags for nesting birds, shrubs, plants and rocks set up as a sanctuary and point of interest to locals and visitors ... Marissa saw an otter playing near an anchored yacht at one of the boat marinas that cluster the edges of False Creek ... beyond the construction zone is a beautiful park (Charleson Park) with a small lake surrounded by shrubs and trees ... While Marissa and I read the sign map, Flora found a spot to meditate beside a birch tree ... when we joined her, she pointed out a strange lump under a willow tree at the west end of the lake ... I went to investigate and called them over to view the lump ... it was a small beaver house covered with the giant leaves of tropical plants that grow in the wild garden surrounding the lake ... another photo opportunity for Marissa to take back to Ontario ... Past the park we crossed the boardwalk of Monks Restaurant which includes a large dining deck built out over the water on stilts ... up and down several short flights of stairs we crossed over a ramp leading to a boat launch dock ... We passed under the Cambie Bridge and arrived in the condominium housing developments that nestle near the meandering south shore of of False Creek ... the walkway is wide and accommodates joggers, dogs,bicycles, skateboards, strollers, wheelchairs, scooters, and roller blades ... a variety of materials was used in building the walkway: some sections are done in flagstone, others in wood planks,and yet others in scored aggregate or interlocking cement blocks,adding interest to the beautiful causeway ... The parkland's flanking the walkway are beautiful in summer with huge rhododendron shrubs bursting with many colored blooms, as well as lawns, benches and a stunning view of the downtown ... We arrived at last at Granville Island located under the towering Granville Street Bridge ... live music wafted from the outdoor eating and entertainment deck ... this large open air deck is a favourite spot to eat, visit and enjoy the passing boats and downtown towers ...False Creek opens up just east of the Burrard Bridge where the narrow inlet feeds in from the Pacific Ocean ... appetites whetted by our 3km walk, we made a bee-line for the food concessions and enjoyed Delicious lunch in the company of a woman who told us stories of her life living in the area ... At 12:30 pm, an hour and a half after we left Britannia Seniors Centre, we walked up the hill to Broadway and caught the 99 B-Line express bus to Broadway and Commercial ... Marissa took the #20 bus up Commercial Drive to meet her daughter who has a homeopathic clinic ...Flora and I were met at Safeway by my daughter Diana who was driving us to Costco downtown for a major shopping trip ... It was a satisfying day with warm sun, clear skies and the welcoming bustle of city life ...
Contributor Virginia
No comments:
Post a Comment