Calgary

 Chapter 1 - The Drive There

Calgary's skyline

 Twelve hours stuck in your car with a dog might seem awful, but in fact, it was great until the way back.
We drove through Hope, stopped in Kamloops, Golden, and then finally, a much needed walk within the city limits. Besides a close 'out of gas' call, we had a very smooth, sunny ride all the way through the Rocky Mountains.
No construction, not too much traffic, and a mostly 4 lane highway... yay!

 The first day was quite nice. We got in at around 7pm, which gave us plenty of time to get changed, stretch our legs, and enjoy some river water. We spent the night at my sister's place. Bikini was a little uneasy due to the two spying cats, but we both got some much needed rest.

 

Chapter 2 - The Stay

Grandma, and Auntie Linda 

I took a day to go Stampeding, but Bikini stayed at home.
It's quite a spectacle; between the drunken tourists with bent cowboy hats and flip flops, and the annual Stampeders slip sliding around in their barely-worn-in cowboy boots. But, the real cowboys, with their nice jeans, and cute smiles - that I can appreciate.
The next morning, we moved to my dad's apartment.
We traveled out to where I remember used to be the country to Grandma's place, but suburbia had taken over. There was little to no prairie left where there once was even five years ago. Instead, horribly designed suburban communities sprawl outwards from the city center in all directions. We had lunch and talked over tea... We managed to see sun only after a thunderstorm had passed.

Chapter 3 - The Ride Back

Windows down. Fully cloaked back seat. Brand new air fresheners. Nothing could stop the stench of a freshly skunked dog. Luckily, just passed Revelstoke, I managed to get a nose bleed. The paper towel stuck up my nose, did manage to curb the stench, slightly.

Traffic

Our travel to Calgary had been an amazingly enjoyable one. Tunes bumping, cherries to eat, and clear roads. The way back? Hot. Stinky. Slow... and dark.


We managed to come to a complete stop on the highway at least twice, for half an hour each. At this point, it was a good time to attempt to air out the car, and the dog... although, I really would have rather kept driving. We had the intention of camping somewhere along the way, but decided to just drive the whole way. The drive at dusk through Kamloops really was spectacular, but the dark, lonely highway through to Hope was stressful.
The conclusion: We made it home safe, and more road trips are in our future. :).

A Stop in Revelstoke

Bully Portraits

I don't think much needs to be said for this one.

A slow Walk Through Pacific Spirit

Pacific Spirit Park is a huge expanse of virtually untouched rainforest, spreading from Spanish Banks, up through UBC, and nearly to the Fraser River. The park is over 880 acres larger than that of it's more famous neighbour, Stanley Park. Once again Vancouver's city planners have sacrificed millions of dollars for the sake of natural wonder, part of what makes Vancouver such an amazing place to live. Trails wind through the flora, connecting at well marked trail markers. Joggers, dog walkers, and even horse back riders dot certain paths and keep the forest lively and safe.

We first entered the park through the trail located at Sasamat at 16th St.
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Where the sun breaks through the canopy, dense moss covers the dead fall like carpet. The rich, moist humus on the ground is soft to the touch, and allows new growth in this old forest. The density of trees is unlike many forests here in Vancouver. 

Once inside, the space is somewhat eery. Perhaps it's the lack of undergrowth, or the sheer amount of enormous trees that do not allow for a vantage point of more than 100 feet in. The eeriness was only broken by the occasional passer-by, or the song of a small bird. 

 

As we continued to walk, we passed by trails that seemed to disappear into the trees. Had it not been for the well marked trails, or occassional map, one could wander in the density for hours not knowing which way was North, luckily they make it hard to get lost.

 

As one wanders deeper into the woods, the sound of traffic is drowned by the brussel of branches high above in the wind. Timber creeks as the wind passes through, but down on the trail there's a simple stillness. There is near silence say for the gravel beneath my feet, and the occasional flutter of small wings. The silence was once broken by the calls of an owl. We searched the branches to no avail. Just another example of a pair of eyes watching us, that we would have been unaware of.

I've included a map of the area stretching from W16th all the way through the endowment lands, to the ocean. The park is broken up by the UBC campus, suburban neighbourhoods, and different roadways. This blog is only focussing on this stretch of trails and wood. The trails are well marked, and let you know what the individual leash laws are. Most trails are 'offleash optional' with the occassional 'on-leash only' one thrown in the mix, whether or not these are heavily enforced is questionable. You'll also find the occasional garbage can, and 'do not enter, ecologically sensitive area' signs. All trails are easy, providing great signage, well laid gravel, and even bridges to cross small creeks. Happy tails, er trails!

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After an extended Olympic Break, we Hit The Beach!

Although we've been walking, the posts haven't been written. So we apologize for the extended absence.

There has been some great Spring weather, and while that might not have been the best for Olympic fans, it's been great for dog walking. Shorts, flip flops, light sweaters and sun glasses have been the attire for the most part, and it was especially nice when we decided to hit the beach. If the wind had picked up, I might have questioned myself, but this day was a summer time tease.

About 30 minutes out of the city lies a bay. This bay's water is almost as warm as a bathtub in the summer time, and is a huge draw for locals and tourists alike. There are some well known spots along the bay, including Bellingham, White Rock, and Tsawwassen. Boundry Bay is an awesome place to come hang out, especially with dogs.
Today, we went to Centennial Beach, accessed through Tsawwassen. This is an awesome summer spot, but it was equally as fun in the Spring. There's a great little fish & chips place on the beach, and although the main beach is on-leash only, a short walk left or right down the beach promises privacy and more relaxed leash laws.
The main parking lot has access to the restaurant, public washrooms, kids park, many picnic areas & bbq pits, along with volley ball courts, trails through a bird sanctuary, and a great walking dike.

The beach is probably best known for it's sheer expansiveness. The beach is long, and the tides are far. On low tide, there's no issue reaching the mile marker, a large, concrete block a mile out on the sand bars, by foot with little to no wading required. Dungeness crabs and sand dollars dot the beaches, but the sand is pleasant with few rocks past the initial beach. As the tide rolls in over the hot sand, the water temperature rises to a luke warm which is just fantastic to swim in. Dogs and people play
 all day long; skim boarding, walking, playing ball, picnicking, bbqing (with the provided pits) and just hanging out are all likely activities to see while at Centennial Beach.

The 360 degree view, combined with the direct sun all day long makes for a spectacular time at the beach. It's a great spot for it's privacy since it's bit of a hidden gem. Dogs can be more like dogs here without having to worry about the crowds like at some beaches such as Kits or Jericho.

Below is a map of how to get here. Check out the tides from Satellite view... it's an amazing thing.

Hope to see you there!

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Just Passed Capilano, Across the Dam

As we drove closer towards Grouse's summit, the feathery clouds seemed to drift directly over us. The temperature dropped, similar to being in a cloud forest somewhere South. There were no rain droplets, but the humidity was very high; I could tell based on the curls that turned into frizz, and the nice dewy feel on my face. I'm so glad we live in a rainforest. It's walks like these that justify the months of rain.

To get to the trail we took, we drove up Capilano Road, passed the Capilano Bridge. About half a kilometer passed the bridge, on the left hand side is a parking lot labeled 'Capilano Regional Park'. There's only one way to go - over the Cleveland Dam. This is a great spot to check out the amazing sites of the canyon, the mountains, the water, and even the Grouse Mountain Gondola. Before you head over the bridge, there's a grassy mound that makes for a perfect photo op.

Jamie can be seen here with the two dogs. Just behind is the water reserve, and the dam to the left. You can see the clouds drift between mountains,
and over ravines seemingly effortlessly.
The grassy area is large enough to bring a frisbee or ball for a game of fetch, and off to the side they've included a few picnic areas for when the temperature rises.
We took a fairly easy route. Once over the dam, we took the trail furthest to the right - it immediately climbs a short ways up, and right around the bend there's a small trail that jets off to the left yet again. Once in the forest, you can tell this is an old one; the trees are absolutely huge, with a bunch of smaller undergrowth. I took a moment to let the little ones know they would soon (a hundred years or so) be as big as the rest. The trails as seen in this photo are moderate to easy. They're well marked, somewhat paved and only climb and descend small hills on the mountain sides. You can take steeper trails in towards the Canyon, but if you stick to the trail we did, it's an easy one for dogs and people alike. The trail takes you in a big loop, and it's hard to miss the exit. Simply keep following once you've taken the second left into this part of the trail pictured to the right. You will come across you first obstacle, but for those with stairs in their homes, this is no feat.

As we walked down the stairs, the forest seemed to lighten up a little. It became a lot less dense, but had a lot of water. There was lichen dripping off the trees, puddles on the ground, and of course, mud. Follow the water, and make sure to step on the stones as the mud is deeper than one would expect. Bikini took a moment to drink from the mini-flowing creek. It was so crystal clear, and obviously came directly from what little glacier we once had this season.

Bikini can be seen here doing her jumping exercises :P. We came across a few other hiking pooches, but for the most part, we were solo. All in all, I really enjoyed this walk. The wind dies down once inside the protection of the trees, and the dogs seemed to really enjoy this one as well. They took their time chasing squirrels up trees, climbing mountain sides, drinking from the water, and just enjoying the few rays of sun we stumbled upon.
Happy trail walking!

International Dog Walking... Right in Your Backyard

Sure, Point Roberts might be known best for it's cheap gas, cheese and beer, but it also has some great spots for dog walking. This small peninsula has fantastic natural wonder, but has suffered from major economic blunder. In it's glory days, Point Roberts was a booming fishing town, but once the fish were nearly gone, PBob had to switch it's major source of income from the fishing industry to 'tourism'. Throughout the 80s and 90s, Point Roberts hosted some of the best summer parties at it's few successful bars and campgrounds. After 9.11, Point Robert's economy took a downturn. Unfortunately, the tighter the security got at it's small border, the less Canadians were willing to risk a DUI - and so the influx of Canadian dollars dwindled to gas and cheese, supporting only the industries that supplied it. Not all is lost however. After a daring project to build a world class golf course brought some Canadians back, the lack of support from the community has kept its over-all success on hold. New projects within the Golf Course and within the community however, do offer a ray of hope in bringing back Point Robert's luster and this is promising.

Dining options are still available, and are worth the drive. If you end up making it to the beaches, trails, or to the golf course, make sure to check out the following businesses; Cafe Capana on Gulf Rd. & Marine Dr. offers great coffees, french cuisine, ocean views, and a deck off the back. Brewsters on Gulf is a great place for Sunday brunches, or mid-week dinners. It's romantic enough to bring a date, but not so formal you can't bring the family. The homemade desserts are to die for. Lastly, The Reef is a small pub on the water side - how many pubs can you enjoy a beer and watch whales swim by?

There are a few overnight options as well. One retreat that offers a dog-friendly environment for over night rentals is the Point Roberts Retreat. Well-behaved dogs are more than welcome to enjoy the ocean views, five acres, beautiful suites, and a nearly completed cottage out back. Private patios, garden fresh vegetables, private infrared sauna, and a rose garden are all accented by the horse fields next door. There are some great dog trails within walking distance to this overnight sanctuary - the two ladies that run the place are more than willing to show you the best spots as they are both dog savvy, and love our canine companions. Check them out here: http://www.pointrobertsretreat.com/

Well ecomony aside, the natural wonder here is incredible. Being as Point Roberts is a Peninsula cut off by Canada, it is surrounded by beaches on all other three sides. There is dense rain forest throughout, which for me, is a lot of fun - leave your compass or other supplies at home. Unlike hiking or walking on the trails of the North Shore, you can feel free to just get lost here. Being as PBob is only 5miles by 5miles, you'll pop out somewhere, and more likely than not, someone will offer you a ride if need be.

Lighthouse Park on the Western side of the Peninsula is home to a great boardwalk that hosts art festivals, barbeques and other fun during the summer. This is an amazing place to whale watch. There are campgrounds scattered throughout the park as well.

Maple Beach, on the Eastern side, next to the border offers close to a mile of sandy beach on low-tide. The water is nearly bathtub warm as the tide drifts back in over the hot sand. This is my favorite beach in the summer - Kits doesn't have anything on this.

Lily Point, the main trail of my blog today is located on the far South Eastern side of the Point, and has recently been made into a national reserve. There are well marked trails throughout the rain forest, but it's main draw is the eagle ridden bluff and sand dunes. You are guaranteed to spot at least three bald eagles on your walk here. The parking lot is located next to Point Robert's only cemetery. It's worth stopping to take a look at some of the history here.

Bikini, Roy and I took an immediate right, into the lichen laden forest. We walked a loop through the temperate jungle, that brought us back to the main trail eventually. The forest here is dark, alive, and absolutely stunning. Birds, including song birds, and raptors can be heard all around. The trails are easy so long as you stay above the bluff, which even then is only mildly difficult to trek back up. We walked through the forest to see leaves budding, eagles mating, and even blue skies. The lookout here has amazing views of Mount Baker on a clear day, but is stunning even with no view of the dormant volcano.

The cliff here is eroding, it's best to keep your dogs on leash, as it's rumored that a few have met their demise by running blindly off the cliff. If you do come to the view point, there's a fence to show the safe zones. It's recommended that you stay behind the fence, as the cliff hangs well over the rest of the bluff. Bikini and Roy enjoy the view from a safe distance here. The beach below is accessible by trail, and is a fun place for dogs and people alike. Don't expect to run into too many people down there - perhaps some herons, an eagle or two and possibly some starfish, but people are unlikely.

For other out-doorsy types, this is just one of the spots that mountain bikers have found. There are many trails within Point Roberts that offer pre-built ramps and other obstacles. Some other places to check out if you're into biking are behind the elementary school, in Lily Point and another trail that starts just up the road on Johnson, coming from Boundry Bay Road. Watch for this trail on the left hand side of the road. Some of the man-made obstacles have succumbed to the damp of the rainforest - it's recommended you do a once over to make sure of rotted wood.

On the whole, the Point is just a cool place to come and relax. Only a 40minute drive from the city, and it feels like a world apart. Don't forget to bring your passport, and make sure your canines have their rabies shots up to date. All the before mentioned trails and parks are off-leash friendly. Go support a dwindling community, and enjoy all it has to offer with you best buds, your doggies.

A Fenced Hangout For Canines & Humans Combined

I recently had a request to do a series on safe spots for deaf dogs. I thought about the parameters to what that really ment. It meant the area had to be safe, preferably fenced, and away from traffic. I then had the thought that these parameters could be applied to more than just deaf dogs. For people just getting to know their new hound, or in a puppy's case, these would all be important attributes of a safe off-leash experience.

Today Roy, Bikini and myself made it to Nelson Park. The entire park isn't off-leash friendly, but does have a lot to offer. People come here to read on the grass, or play their acoustic guitars. There's a gazebo to hang out in, and a play area for children. On the opposite side of the park, they've included a completely fenced area for dogs to do their thing, off-leash allowed.

Nelson Park is located between Nelson and Thurlow and continues to Bute Street. This means it's nearly in the heart of downtown, but has the serenity that the West End tends to offer. It's a short walk from the hustle and bustle of Burrard St, but has birds chirping and tweeting in every tree planted. There's a school right next to the dog park, and it's always fun to let the kids pet the doggies.

This park is about as social as it gets, for both dogs and their owners. I was here on a late, Monday morning, and it still managed to attract a crowd. This place is comparable to a local, doggy gathering spot. You have your regulars that come to chat over coffee as the dogs play, dig, or chase a ball. You also have the socialites that come in groups to simply chat at one of the picnic tables offered within the fenced, off-leash area. And of course, you have the occassional loner who sticks to their designated corner of the place.

This community inspired park is a fun place to take your dog, particularly if there isn't quite the trust needed to go to other un-fenced areas. The security is tight at this park. The fence doesn't have a single break in it, and there is a double gate to ensure your pet gets his leash on and off in a safe manor. Dogs can just be dogs without the worry of traffic, children, run aways, and other mishaps. If security is the issue, or has become a worry the gates that lead in and out of the off-leash area  are designed to keep dogs in, and keep them safe.

As I've said in other posts, I'm completely floored by the heat wave we've been having here in Western Canada. Cherry blossoms have been spotted already in bloom, and tulips are starting to make an appearaance, but today I actually found the first real sign of Spring. A single flower sat in an unkempt garden. Around the corner, there were five or six more stalks completely in bloom. I only hope we don't meet a cold snap that kills off all these early bloomers. *Sigh*, if only we could have our cake, er snow, and eat it to...