Mayne Island getaway

A couple of weeks back we had the chance to escape for a long weekend to Mayne Island, a sweet little Gulf Island just one stop past much larger cousin Galiano Island. We found an old Victorian B&B to stay in (Fairview Farm B&B) situated on a cliff an on a private non-through road. It was just the ticket for great view of Mt. Baker, a small inlet of water just below, and great stargazing.

We got our kayak fix on our last day, as the weather was just glorious for late September. As we've discovered, much of the BC coastal islands are dotted with sandstone formations, and Mayne Island was no exception to the beautiful patterns created by the sea. Along the coast, I was lucky to spot a river otter heading into the water, as well as numerous harbour seals and Blue Herons. That morning, we took what we could consider a mini-Grouse Grind-like hike up to Halliday Ridge, with a beautiful view out to Salt Spring Island, as well as a good portion of Western Washington's coastal mountain ranges.

The island also formerly housed several Japanese families, who farmed and caught salmon at water's edge up until their forced evacuation during World War II. The Japanese Garden is quite beautiful and commemorative of their stay during those years, located on former Japanese-owned land.

The island is very accessible with a car, a bit less so with a bike, due to hilly conditions and hazardous blind spots on the roadways. We really needed to slow down around dusk, as deer are the main residents on the road, and we saw our fair share! Late into one night, we were up in our room looking out to make out the form of a deer right very close to our door! It was as surprised to find us as we were to see it, so quickly it ran off into the nearby nature.

Another bonus was all the different bird sounds we were treated to in the garden right outside our door. Frogs as well, in varying intervals during the early hours and again close to sundown.



View out to Salt Spring Island and Washington's coastal mountains in the distance.


Out on the water near Piggott Bay.






Mt. Baker at sunrise.



Sandstone formations, typical of the Gulf Islands on the BC Coast.



Fairview Farm B&B, near Campbell Bay.


A lazy sea star on a sunbathing expedition.


Many a jellyfish on shore, at the end of their life cycle.


Japanese Garden

New Home for Coast Mountain

Well, looks like Coast Mountain on 4th/Yew will be leaving in September and has recently acquired the former home of Canadian Tire on 1st and Burrard. When I asked at the store recently, the manager mentioned their 15 year lease having expired and the rent going up 300%! It was definitely time to find new digs, and the new location will be a Vancouver flagship store for Coast. Only question remains, what will fill the space at the prime location of 4th and Yew?

I haven't blogged too much lately on this space; as you can imagine, Facebook has all but sucked any free time I have these days! It is quite an addictive little pastime, one of the few online activities that I allow myself. Weather is too gorgeous and there are too many things pulling me away from my iMac these days. Oh yeah, I just won an electric scooter, I'll post my experiences with that one soon! Summer just keeps getting better!

Back From the Interior

Well, a lot can be said about British Columbia: its nature, wildlife, mountains, lakes and coastline. After having spent 10 days touring from Vancouver to Banff, Alberta, I can honestly say that there's no town quite like Vancouver that comes close in comparison. The Kootenay town of Nelson was lovely and compares a bit to Santa Cruz, California. Most towns, with the exception of Kamloops, are much smaller in size.

There were two advantages to travelling in early May: no crowds, and snow on the Rockies. The downside was finding many national parks close to the mountains still closed due to snow cover! Personal favourite was Revelstoke, with its tiny downtown core, wonderful café (Modern Bakeshop and Café) and proximity to some great skiing at Revelstoke Mountain!

I for one am happy to be in Vancouver, getting ready to enjoy the summer that a (small yet active) city of this size can offer…and am definitely going to explore the new False Creek bridge just open this week.

The Playoff Race

It just keeps getting tighter and tighter. After tonight's heavy 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks, it's anyone's guess as to whether or not the Canucks will make it in. Tomorrow there's another road game against Phoenix Coyotes, the team that beat the Ducks in overtime last night. Ooh, and then there's the Dallas Stars game to get through on Saturday. Makes you wonder if the Canucks are really wanting this playoff thing to happen. Fingers crossed all around for a stronger outcome tomorrow night at the Great One's arena.

Go 'nucks Go!

Video Store comes to West Kits!

Finally, the indy video store we've been waiting for in this neck of Kits, on the 2900 block of West 4th. Last week (on Valentine's Day to be precise), Grindhouse Video opened its doors in the same building that the ill-fated East-coast based automated video chain used to occupy.

They're in a at great time, what with Starbuck's about to open at the corner of 4th and Bayswater, and the spankin' new Kits apartments above it (Black Swan) nearing completion. Kind of like a baby brother to Videomatica, they've got the cult/foreign/horror/x/new releases sections pretty well-covered, given their boutique-size dwelling. Owners are very friendly and keen on getting to know their local customers. As well, just a stone's throw from the 84 express bus stop headed towards UBC. Hopefully these guys will stick around much longer and add to their ever-expanding titles. We've had too many video store misfits over the last little while here (Luna Video, next door to Jolly's Bistro, is now closed, and will not be reopening as another video store).

Anyway, props to a new shop that's not baby/nail salon/raw pet food-related, but good old-fashioned escapism!

Way to Go, Timmy's!

The most ironic Tim Horton's location has got to be the latest opening at Fir and Broadway, right below Fitness Essentials! Just like having an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other! Have the donut and THEN workout, or the other way around? Had a good laugh on this one!

Rent a Car to Chip vs. Leaving the Tree in the Alley

Ah, what to do, what do to! After having rented a CAN car to pick out a Christmas tree this year, we're now faced with either renting again to bring the tree down to Kits Beach for chipping, or leave it in the alleyway for someone to somehow remove. Too bad that the recycling 'green' box days won't accept it in the garbage anymore. Already I've seen a few trees in nearby alleyways starting to pile up against garages and large community rubbish bins. Then again, I suppose that those who can pick up the tree in the first place (with a vehicle) can also dispose of it down at the beach or other part of the city.

The environmental impact is about equal I would say. As you wait in line at the tree chipping place and let your car idle, in order to properly recycle the tree, how is that going to help matters? If the truck came around on a given day and took the trees in one go and had it recycled properly, wouldn't that mean a lot less cars on the road?

Happy New Year's, everyone! I see on the kitsilano.ca blog site that many new shops are ready to come to West 4th, and sadly, some shops have gone out of business (Hope Unlimited for one). In the less than three years we've lived in this neighbourhood, we've seen so many shops come and go on West 4th - what a turnaround!