About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Thursday, June 05, 2008

Destination - Horseshoe Bay

Although it wasn't the best of days weather-wise and poor Josie was suffering from a cold, we took a leisurely drive through the UBC endowment lands and Stanley Park with stops at Dundarave Beach and Whytecliff Park before ending up in Horseshoe Bay at the Boathouse for dinner.
Our drive took us from the Kitsilano area of Vancouver along the water, passing Kitsilano Beach, Jericho Beach, Locarno Beach, and Spanish Banks where we stopped to view the city from that vantage point.

From there we wound our way up the hill to the University of British Columbia (my alma mater) and passed the famous Nitobe Gardens (below), Totem Park (where I lived in residence for four years), Thunderbird Stadium, and odds and sods of research buildings. We drove along Marine Drive to the great lookout point where you can look across the water at Vancouver Island.
















We stopped for a bite of lunch before heading over the Burrard Street Bridge to wind our way through the downtown area to get to Stanley Park. We took the park drive past Prospect Point where you can see the totem poles.........

and past Brockton Oval ,where men play cricket in the summer, and the famous statue of a girl in a wetsuit. This life-sized statue is posed gracefully on a big boulder with a mask pushed up over head but she has no tank. When the tide is high it looks like she is floating on top of the water. The statue was a gift to Vancouver Park Board by sculptor Elek Imredy and represents Vancouver's dependence on the sea.

We passed Lumberman's Arch,

















where we had a fine view of the Lion's Gate Bridge that would take us over to West Vancouver and its beautiful beaches.

We stopped at the Beach House for a drink (well, not me 'cuz I was the D.D.) before continuing along the lower Marine Drive to show off lots of marinas sheltered in little bays along the way. Josie and I were so disappointed that it wasn't a sunny day, but I think the views are still majestic anyway. We went past Horseshoe Bay to Whytecliff Park where I took Geewits up to the lookout. From there you can see across to some of the Gulf islands - this is where the cruise ships travel on their way up to Alaska. I took the following photo last summer on my way up to Whistler.

Our final destination was The Boathouse Restaurant at Horseshoe Bay...

where we dined on seafood, salad, dessert, and accompanying beverages. The view was, as always, magnificent, and as we dined we watched the ferries arriving and departing. A stroll along the pier helped to settle our dinner before we headed home, all three of us weary but full of images of our day together.

22 comments:

RiverPoet said...

*gasp* Leslie - did you take those photos?? They are GORGEOUS!

I need to come up for a visit now. Vancouver is beautiful!

Peace - D

Leslie: said...

Oh NO! I didn't take all those photos! I did mention that the weather wasn't good so it was almost impossible to take any good shots. But I took the one of the sailboat from Whytecliff Park.

Regardless, Vancouver really IS a beautiful city and every time I go away, I come back wondering why I left, if only for a short time.

Leslie: said...

Oh! I also took the one of the Boathouse Restaurant.

jmb said...

What a wonderful trip you took Geewits on Leslie. I'm sorry the weather wasn't better and that Josie had such a bad cold.
I love the Boathouse, it's such a great location.

meggie said...

Wonderful post! It all looks so beautiful.

Sienna said...

Gorgeous city, gorgeous country.

Especially love the hills and views, the Boathouse, statue of the girl on the rock, just the elegance I think.

Thanks for putting these up.

Pam

Michele said...

What a wonderful post!! I went to Horseshoe Bay when I was a little girl and I sort of remember bits and pieces but I loved it. I want to go back and visit one day.

PS-I got the job. Details on the Owl Light.

Daryl said...

What fun ... almost felt like I was there ..

:-Daryl

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

A fantastic day was had by all then, photos are great, and what a wonderful way to end a day with a meal over looking the waters!! :-)

Ellee Seymour said...

I would love to join one of your excursions. I love the gardens best of all.
Have a lovely weekend Leslie.

Jo said...

Leslie, isn't it fun to play tourist in your own town? I loved the drive through Stanley Park. I don't get to do that often enough. And dinner was wonderful, wasn't it? You and I should go back sometime, on a hot summer day.

Leslie: said...

And the day Geewits leaves, the sun comes out! What a shame!

Russell said...

Looks like a great trip and a nice group! That is a really good picture of all of you at the restaurant!

I really like the totem poles. Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated by them - but I have never seen one!! If I get to the Great Northwest, I will definitely want to see them!!

Take care and thanks for such nice pictures and information!

nancygrayce said...

What a beautiful place! What fun!

geewits said...

I want to thank you again for everything. I had a great time and it was SO nice to meet you!

Nabeel said...

nice and crisp pictures. Summer is always a fun time for photography. In the last picture, I don't see any tea cups :(

Max-e said...

Vancouver is certainly a beautiful looking city

Leslie: said...

nabeel Thx for dropping by - teacups? Not that day! lol

Ruth L.~ said...

What a nice photo. Looks like a fun time you all had.

mrsnesbitt said...

I thought that was Josie, before I read your post! LOL!

Liz Hinds said...

Ah, I've just seen your comment. I was going to say 'if that's not a sunny day, I can't wait to see one that is!'

What a great trip you took Geewits on. It's all very beautiful.

Brent and Anne said...

Looks like a beautiful place to visit! I'm going there in a couple weeks!