Alan and Julie

After driving through pouring rain we started at Centennial Beach in Delta, where it was not raining and there were even traces of blue sky.  

We walked along the Dyke Trail through the sand dunes of Boundary Bay Regional Park to Beach Grove Road. Then we walked along the quiet Beach Grove Road to its end, and joined the Dyke trail there.  We walked  a couple of kilometers further along the Dyke Trail,  watching and being watched by a variety of birds.  As we passed a tree at the side of the trail with a huge eagle’s nest, one of the eagles flew out right in front of us.

A short distance later, we turned around and retraced our steps.  Passing through Beach Grove, we stopped at the scenic and festive Beach Grove Café for coffee and a muffin.  Returning through the regional park, we took the Raptor Trail back to the parking lot and home.

Bruce and Janet

It was wonderful seeing everyone on Zoom. We are looking forward to when we can safely get back to some kind of normal.

Janet and I kept our walk close to home; walking to Cates Landing and following the shore through Cates & Little Cates to Strathcona Rd. and then up to Parkgate and down Roche Point Park to Home.

Carol and Sandy

We chased the sun today to Tsawwassen and ended up at Diefenbaker Park. It had it all: waterfall, nice trails, and duck pond (we ducked). We were 50 meters from Point Roberts (US) border and wondered about the other side. We also looked out over Boundary Bay where we later heard that Alan and Julie had walked.

Dave and Angela

We looked out of the window at the rain and figured Lynn Headwaters was called for today. Obviously we weren’t thinking of all those sunny places to the south!

Apparently we weren’t alone in choosing Headwaters, as both overflow parking lots were full and we had to park on the side of the road (near the spring, for those who know Headwaters).  Following Varley Trail to get to the main parking lot, we then headed up to the high trail, thinking the creek-side trail would be the busiest. Wonderful!  Verdant rainforest at its finest.  A late start made the decision that Lynn Loop was the trail for the day, so we dropped down at the appropriate point and headed back on the lower trail, returning to the car on Varley again.

Lots of people breaking free from lockdown — joggers, walkers, parents with kids strapped to their chests, dog owners (apparently Huskies are stubborn, stupid and hard to train — not our words!).  All in all, a fine North Vancouver day.

Then home to dry off and warm up, picking up a tree en route.

Gordon and Joanne

Joanne and I started our walk at 11^th & Yew. We followed the greenway to Fir Street, then followed Fir Street and others to Granville Island. We took the ferry to Hornby Street and then followed the path beside False Creek eastward. Our first photo has me in US. Not sure how we got there, but we ran back into Canada before they caught us. Then I ran into some old friends near Science World (second photo). Then west along  the other side of False Creek. The next two photos were taken on Habitat Island. The last photo is of a waterfall we found in the mountains on the way back. Total distance 14 km.

Jon and Liz

It was raining lightly as we left home but as we approached the Massey Tunnel the rain stopped and the weather improved throughout our walk, with the sun starting to appear as we finished.  We parked at the east end of Deas Island and did two loops.   One was to the west of the tunnel, which essentially cuts the island in half, and one to the east.  The west side is wilder, while the east side has meadows, picnic areas, and a few historic buildings.  During our walk we sighted several eagles and one heron and could hear other birds about. The park is a popular spot for dog-walkers although there were not a whole lot of people around while we were there.

As we drove home over the Oak Street Bridge, we found ourselves in the middle of a convoy protesting the troubles in India.  A positive effect was that the police were at various intersections waving the group through so we had a quick trip up to 57th & Granville where we parted ways.

Janet S

I just went for a short walk yesterday, around Kits point to Granville Island. It was so grey that I only took one photo!

Hopefully we can resume walking together next year. 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Karina

It was lovely to see all the Loopers during our Zoom call.  I walked on Saturday with my friend Elizabeth in the Serpentine Wildlife Management area along the Serpentine River.  It was a lovely afternoon for a walk, sunny and about 10 degrees.  It is a very peaceful area, even though there were several families walking with their dogs.  After a long work week, it’s always good to be outside on the weekend.  

Wishing all the Loopers a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  

Looking forward to walking together soon!

Larrie

I walked locally and in two parts. The first with Heather and friend to the marina at the end of Panorama Road and then coffee at Parkgate from which I walked down through Roche Point Park to Cates Park and around before heading home. About six km, I figure, short but sore anyway.

Maurice, Anne, and Carolyn

It was an overcast day Anne, Carolyn and I set out onto the Sandy Cove and Whippoorwill Trail just on the outskirts of Harrison. The trail was about 6-8 kms.

The initial part of the route required hauling ourselves up a steepish rock section from the trailhead situated on the shoreline of Harrison Lake. This route panned out onto a level section which snaked through a thick wooded area.

After roughly 2–3 kms we approached the banks of the Harrison River, which connects to the mighty Fraser (~ 6 kms). We followed as it veered north east towards the lake, walking for 3 kms, until our arrival at Sandy Cove. Then onwards to the hot springs where the water temperature was approaching a toasty 100c — hot! — and finally our start point.

Afterwards a glass of wine and appies courtesy of Carolyn. Quite an adventure…

Michael, Jean, Fred, and Joette

Fred and Joette met up with Jean and Michael in the parking lot of Gleneagles Community Centre, at the standard Looper start time of 10:30 am. It was cold and raining. Joette deployed her famous blue poncho; others preferred umbrellas. They walked, safely distanced, to the waterfront in Horseshoe Bay, starting point for the first leg of Charles Clapham’s “Horseshoe Bay to the USA” series of walks, which Loopers walked en masse in 2015. From here they walked uphill, up stairs, through dripping forests, over slippery rocks, to Whytecliff Park, and then — via Marine Drive and various back roads — to the Gleneagles Golf Course Clubhouse, adjacent to our parking lot: about 8 km all told. A safely distanced outdoor coffee break (with treats) at Temper Chocolate and Pastry in Dundarave concluded the outing.

Featured photos

An independent consultant was hired at great expense to select these photos, which captured the spirit of the day.

Water

People

December

Creatures (added category)

Post-hike

Several of us raised a glass on a Zoom call and traded seasonal wishes. Covid-19 restrictions will continue for at least our first walk of 2021, but Loopers will loop.