Archive
Ballroom Dancing in Manhattan
On a dansé le tango, la rumba, la salsa, et on a valsé.
Who would have thought
V has been blogging since October 2006, and has posted a lot of content since then. The entire family is happy about this. Go V!
Cleveland Dam, BC
The Cleveland Dam controls the flow of the Capilano River, which separates North and West Vancouver. We stopped off on our scenic drive up to Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver.
North Vancouver : Photos du Lac Capilano et du Cleveland Dam, qui maitrise le flux du Capilano River, reliant le Nord et l’Ouest Vancouver. La rivière et le lac approvisionnent la ville de Vancouver en eau potable.
Acrophobic Thrills: Treetop Adventures and the Capilano Suspension Bridge
A 46-ton tree landed on the Capilano Suspension Bridge in November of 2006. But even this impressive trivia wasn’t enough to calm my nerves when a group of teenagers started shaking the swingy footbridge to make it sway even more. What’s more, foot traffic on the bridge was dense. I slipped slightly, and as I held on to the side to steady myself, a staff member reminded patrons not to jump or try to shake the bridge. I’d say I have a healthy fear of heights but I am not acrophobic. Seeing the bridge swagger like a pendulum, however, unnerved me. I started entertaining visions of being flipped over the side into the ravine below, or the hemp ropes and cardboard planks (the bridge is actually held up by steel cables) snapping and the streams of people falling some 230 feet (70 m) into the Capilano River.
The first walk across the bridge was a moderately scary, but thrilling. It didn’t hinder my appreciation of the stroll across a passage strung high over a deep ravine. I stopped in the center to watch a bald eagle swoop down across the canyon, while D., crossing in front of me, struggled to keep Tiggy entertained until we got across. Once on the other side of the park, we climbed up to the Treetop Adventures, which is a series of elevated suspension bridges, some 100 feet high (30 m) linking Douglas firs, and providing visitors with awe-inspiring views of the temperate rain forest and the river below. On our way back across the Capilano Suspension Bridge, however, the crowds had tripled and we had to contend with the teenagers seeking a little more adventure by putting extra swing in their step.
Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park. La traversée du pont suspendu de 137 m de long et 70 m au-dessus du Capilano River.
Greetings from Orange County, NY
Tales from the Mouret Crypt
British Columbia
We returned to Vancouver, BC this weekend to soak up even more of the Pacific Northwest’s rugged splendor. We just can’t get enough of it. And what’s not to like? Next year, we’ll no doubt return for even more vistas of snowcapped peaks, oases of evergreens, and the Vancouver skyline, with its majestic bridges and cityscape, dominated by steel and glass masterpieces.
On our first visit, in the fall of 2005, we remained within Vancouver proper, staying at the Robson Suites on Bidwell Street (free parking but no pets). We were happy just to saunter along Robson Street in the evening, with Tiggy in his baby carrier, and savor crepes from local vendors. On our second visit, we stayed at the Delta (which accepts pets), opted for valet parking and dined at Lumiere on West Broadway. We got to appreciate the cityscape under the rain. This time, we ventured farther afield, staying in Langley and making scenic excursions from Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver to Harrison Hot Springs. Admission prices to the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain are steep. And to add insult to injury, our admission tickets to both attractions included expired coupons for reductions on entrance to the other attraction. Lake Harrison, however, was a serendipitious discovery.
The next time, we will head north on the Whistler Mountaineer. We were also considering taking the car fery from Port Angeles to Victoria.
La Colombie Britannique: de la mer au ciel
Pour le weekend de Memorial Day, nous sommes allés en vadrouille dans la région de Vancouver, qui se situe au sud-ouest de la Colombie-Britannique, juste au dessous de l’état de Washington. La région est superlative, avec ses villages pittoresques, les chutes d’eau spéculaires, la nature sauvage de Stanley Park juxtaposé contre l’architecture moderne de Vancouver, avec des grands tours de verre et d’acier.
La première fois que nous avons visité Vancouver, nous avons séjourné au Robson Suites, et nous étions contents de faire des allées venues dans le quartier et de déguster les crêpes dans la rue. La deuxième fois, nous sommes restés au Delta Vancouver (avec Arthur) et nous avons dînés dans un bon restaurant Relais-Château. Tiggy était exceptionnellement sage.
Ce weekend, nous avons choisi la municipalité de Langley en tant que notre base des opérations. Notre parcours nous a menés vers des lacs magnifiques alimentés par des glaciers, les chaines de montagne aux contours déchiquetés, des ponts suspendus, et finalement vers la grande ville. Le vista panoramique sur la région depuis Burnaby Mountain Park est sublime.
La prochaine fois, nous visiterons Whistler, soit par la route 99, appelé le « Sea to Sky », soit par le Whistler Mountaineer. On visitera aussi l’ile de Vancouver, en principe Victoria, la capitale.
Harrison Lake, British Columbia
Quotes
Je dois partager ces mots du Président Bush, lors d’une discussion sur les sources alternatives d’énergie :
« Vous devez reconnaitre qu’il y a des limites en ce qui concerne la quantité de maïs utilisable pour la production d’éthanol. Après tout, il faut aussi qu’on en mange. »
V, A, A, T and D family blog 