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Bicycling Around Vancouver

Today we bicycled for miles along Vancouver’s excellent waterfront trails.

First, we had to travel from the city outskirts on the “Sky Train”—not really designed for bikes, but thank goodness the rail cars weren’t crowded.

Genevieve:

On the train with us was a man wearing a cardboard box head:

We would see him again.

Sebastian, Ben and Genevieve, starting off along the waterway called False Creek:

The bike trails were wide and well marked, and most of the time there was a separate path for pedestrians.

We passed by the city’s sports stadium, with tall construction cranes rising above its spikey walls:

A large sign announced that the Dragon Boat Festival was happening today.

We watched as the long skinny boats set up to begin their race:

Each boat had a dragon head (and tail) and a person who counted out the stroke with the help of a big drum:

We couldn’t see who won in the distance, but that didn’t stop us from rooting for our favorites:

Pedaling onward, we came upon a tall mobile sculpture called “Khenko” (Great Blue Heron) by artist Douglas Taylor:

The artwork was created in 2006 to celebrate the return of the herons to False Creek after an environmental rejuvenation of the area.

Across the way, little water taxis chugged along in front of a row of floating homes:

Further down the shore was a grey granite monument called “Inukshuk,” in the shape of an ancient symbol of the Inuit culture that was used as a landmark and navigational aid, and also represents northern hospitality and friendship:

While admiring the Inukshuk, we saw the man with the blue cardboard box head walking by:

That’s when we noticed the sign on the back of his head, reading, “How did you change the world today?”

Hmmmmm . . . .

Continuing on, we reached Stanley Park, a sprawling oasis of greenery covering the entire tip of the peninsula where Vancouver sits. Here is a map:

We bicycled the perimeter of the park, which had one-way bike trails flowing counter-clockwise. 

Near the entrance to the park, Genevieve and Sebastian spied a playground with a large fire truck, climbing structures, and saucer swings. Of course, we seized the moment:

We stopped again to study the artistry in an exhibit of carved totem poles representing the different First Nations communities (called “Native Americans” in the U.S.) that have lived in this area for hundreds of years.

Totem poles are unique to the First Nations along the western coast of Canada and lower Alaska. Traditionally, carved poles would hold up the huge roof beams of their houses, and sometimes poles would be placed outside of a home or on a gravesite. The carvings on the pole were symbolic, like a family’s “coat of arms," representing a family’s lineage.

Each detailed figure or shape, and the order presented, was part of a family’s story:

From the totem pole area, we could see across Burrard Inlet to the skyscrapers of downtown Vancouver:

We rounded the corner at Brookton Point and rode under a small lighthouse:

Here are Ben and the kids crossing under Lion’s Gate Bridge, which leads to North Vancouver:

Along the northwestern shore of Stanley Park, we paused before reaching a tall finger of land known as “Siwash Rock”:

At Third Beach, we renewed our energy at the Teahouse Restaurant. I was a bit wary, expecting a “touristy” place with mediocre, overpriced food. However, the restaurant was a complete surprise, providing excellent food and service in a relaxing (and classy) atmosphere. Our sunny table had a fabulous view:

Back among the high-rise apartments and small parks that lined False Creek, we discovered an incredible figurative sculpture made of letters from different alphabets.  Here is Genevieve with the artwork:

The sculpture was created in 2008 by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa to celebrate Vancouver’s linguistic and cultural diversity.

A detail of the letters:

And so our bicycle ride ended on a high note, exhilarating from beginning to end.

While on the Sky Train back, Sebastian couldn't stop smiling.  He said, “On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate today a 25.”  Wow, that’s a crazy-good score, Sebastian! And, you know what? I would rate today exactly the same.

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