A walk on the Fraser River

This is a favorite Local walk in Kanaka Park along the Fraser River.

It is low and wet, with wonderful moss,

ferns

and lichen

growing on the huge cottonwoods.

A few cedars grow on the higher land.

The water was high today, flooding the skeleton remainder of the logging railway bed.

Late afternoon ... light is fading and we head home.

Hope

Two hours inland from Vancouver is the little laid-back town of Hope.

It is a great place to stop for breakfast if you are heading north ... or anytime for a visit. Hope is nestled in the mountains at the entry to the Fraser River Canyon. In the 1800's, gold was found above hope and now lumber is the main occupation.

www.hopebc.ca/ Fishing, hunting and rafting on the river bring tourists.

You may have heard about a massive rock slide in 1965. Part of the mountain on one side of the valley slid over to the other side of the valley. The #3 hwy was covered and there are still some cars with victims buried there. It is the largest landslide in BC history.

The town has more than a dozen large wood carvings - some natural wildlife and some 'character' humans.

Vancouver City - ready for the Olympics

Welcome to Vancouver ... the Olympic buzz is on ...This is traditional Vancouver: older buildings, new buildings and looking down to Stanley Park and over the Burrard Inlet to the North Vancouver mountains.Fiberglass eagles are painted by artists ... this one with a First Nations design.Banners add colour ...Buildings are wrapped with huge posters to support our athletes.Commercial sponsors wrapped entire buildings.This sign is seen too often ... lanes and entire roads are reserved for Olympic traffic.Our old courthouse is now the Vancouver Art Gallery and has become a meeting place for people who want to make a statement. The front ...Back ...And on the steps a lively dancing group with a strange message about the end of the world. Vancouver is known for its excellent cuisine and international foods.We have food for everyone, even those who only eat raw food.We have been called a glass city. We do love to see our views of ocean and mountains!You see old buildings - the stately Marine Building mixed with the new and laced with trolley lines and the ever present cranes. Skies darken showing how our weather can change.In the 1800's the first buildings were mostly sawmills in 'Gastown' on the inlet. Vancouver had a major fire in the 1880's and war rebuilt as the population flowed in. Vancouver has continued to grow.This steam clock dates to the turn of the century.In the West End of Vancouver, high rises dominate and a few heritage houses are tucked away.Some old buildings have been restored from run down hotels to a tourist spot.Canada place where the opening was staged.Some historic building fronts have been saved and a new building built around it.This is the Olympic Village where the athletes stay. There was a great controversy about this large Australian flag - the IOC wanted it taken down and eventually allowed it (after great public outcry).The dome houses our Science World and was built for Expo.It is in a horseshoe shaped area called False Creek - it was originally a drainage wet land, then industrial before being reclaimed for '86 Expo.
Crows have been pushed out of the city and now meet to discuss where they will sleep for the night. Groups congregate and then fly to the suburbs. They are not graceful fliers - not built for long distances. But, like people, they seem to like city life.To the west is beautiful Stanley Park, located on a peninsula. The photo above looks back to downtown Vancouver with the 'Five Sails' and Canada Place.
Vancouver is truly an international city with one of the most beautiful harbors in the world.

Vancouver City Panorama

Take a 'helicopter' ride around Vancouver.
Check this out ... it takes a minute/two to load:
http://www.aerialphotoimage.com/panoramas/GreaterVancouver/OlympicVillageVancouver.html

a favorite walk ... Kanaka Creek Regional Park

On the wet coast, we have mist along the river and moss along the bank.In the dampness, ferns grow out of the crooks of trees.

The Kanaka creek winds through wetlands to join the Fraser River.In the early 1900s there was a narrow guage railroad operated by the Abernathy & Lougheed Logging Co. It brought logs to where the Kanaka Creek.enters the Fraser River. Remenants of the piles remain. The light on the river was low on the horizon as we headed home.

Historical note: The Kanaka Creek was named after the Hawaiians who were brought by the Hudson's Bay Comapny to work at Fort Langley in the 1800's. They were not allowed to live at the Fort, so they paddled across the Fraser and lived with the Native Indians. Many families proudly trace their lineage to the Kanakas.

Another favorite walk ... the Pitt Meadows dikes

Our winter occurred at the end of November and lasted three days.These are the Golden Ears Mountains, dusted with snow. With the Olympics a week away, snow level is about 1500 ft. Whistler Mountain is excellent - that is where most racing events are held. Our local Cypress mountain hosts the Snowboarding events and is struggling. They are trucking snow in.We are walking on dikes in an ancient flood area that is now laced by the Alouette Rivers and framed by the Coastal Mountains. A little autumn colour survives! Red stems on some of the bushes add a touch of colour.We don't have a lot of willows, but here are the first pussy willows.It is afternoon nap time for the ducks.

This lady struts her stuff. An enterprising farmer has a 'chicken candy' dispenser where big and little kids can get a handful of corn to feed the plump hens. This area is protective for wildlife. Dogs are welcome on leash. This little Yorky was as 'cute as a button'. Huge cottonwood trees dot the landscape, some with herons nests. As we look south, Mount Baker sits on the horizon. Hope you enjoyed your walk!