The Road to 65, Mile 187: Vancouver, Part 2- Stanley Park

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June 3, 2015, Vancouver-  The western seaside of this fascinating city is, for many, the peak of their Vancouver experience.  So it was for me, over a two-hour walkabout.

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                   The Royal Vancouver Yacht Club borders the eastern approach to Stanley Park.

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                                             As elsewhere in Vancouver, side gardens abound here.

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                                              Even dead trees make their presence known!

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                                                            Pisa has nothing on Stanley Park.

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                                                       People the world over are welcomed.

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                                               Horses work hard in the park, but are treated well.

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                                                     The Pavilion is a premier venue for gatherings.

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                                   One of my favourite aspects of the Northwest is the rain forest.  This is the first time I’ve seen a black squirrel, though.

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                                                 Ferns grow almost to Jurassic levels.

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                            This is the Brockton Oval, home of many rugby matches.

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                                 This lady knows how to prance for the audience!

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                           The Girl in the Wetsuit is a tribute to Vancouver’s relationship with the sea.

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                          The dragon’s head is supposed to protect sea-going vessels.

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                               This cormorant played hide and seek with me, for ten minutes.

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                          Brockton Point Light House has been crucial to maritime safety for over 150 years.

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                            The Memorial Totem Pole, seen above, honours one of the most influential First Nations elders of 20th Century Vancouver.  Squamish people lived for centuries, near what is now Stanley Park.  I will post a complete view of the Memorial Totems of the park, in a few days, when I get to Wrangell, AK.

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“Shore to Shore” commemorates the story of a Portuguese emigre and his Salish wife.

The last corner of Stanley Park I visited was the Cricket Grounds, where two teams were hard at play.

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Finally, an osprey was visible, in the reeds, as I was leaving Stanley Park.

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This was easily well worth the hour’s drive from Blaine, and the refresher course in border crossing.  It seems I have had quite a few refresher courses in life, over the past ten months.

My next few posts will be up, as WiFi connections allow, while on the Inland Passage.