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 Coffee swillin', wine lovin', Owl fearin' Andie McDowell stunt double, who sports retro gear
Vancouver, BC
5014 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2006 : 8:19 PM
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Today I thought I'd take a little bike trip to survey the damage in Stanley Park after last night's storm. I was completely ignorant of the fact the park was closed. Sure there was yellow tape everywhere but I thought it was just to block specific areas, and I meandered around trying to find a way in.
Here is my first indication that this is going to be an obstacle course. No, I'm not bushwacking through the forest...this is the paved bike path over the concrete bridge near Lost Lagoon:
I get to the other side and see that there's more:
I'm trying my darndest to get to the seawall, and reach the western side in time for a nice sunset.
I know it's just mother nature, but I'm still quite sad to see this:
Bike path's a disaster, better use the road. It's only now that I realize....there are no cars here! They must've closed Stanley Park to cars. It's kind of nice, for a change.
The obstacle course continues...
 
Still, I perservere, until.....shoot!! A locked gate! And I just know I'm missing a nice sunset on the other side.
 
I bushwacked back up to the road, giving directions en route to a couple of concerned Seattle tourists who, like me, had thought they'd be able to go for a nice scenic stroll all the way around the seawall and catch the sunset on the other side. Up, up the hill....until another cyclist comes the other way and informs me that "you can't go this way...they turned me back."
LarryL, are you listening? It's Name That Tune time...
"The man in the mac said, you've got to go back, you know they didn't even give us a chance, Christ, you know it ain't easy..."
OK, backtrack through the zoo. It's getting dark. I'm missing my sunset!
 
Coming back, I notice for the first time that this little bridge has been crushed
What remains of my sunset after all the obstacles, detours, and delays
The big tree in English Bay with its lights...I'm glad THAT one didn't fall down!
When I got home and watched the 6 o'clock news I found out that the park had been closed all day and they were telling even pedestrians not to go in until it was safe! |
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Hope, BC
Canada
5256 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2006 : 8:29 PM
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Very interesting story and pics!
I too have seen this type of destruction, 100yr old trees thrown around yanked out roots... Incredible power mother nature has!
Great for you to share this! |
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Ladner
Canada
585 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2006 : 8:37 PM
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That was a nice tree 
I'm just glad the trees in front of my house didn't blow over. |
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Hope, BC
Canada
5256 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2006 : 8:38 PM
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| If they had announced "Free Firewood" that would of gotten cleaned up quicker likely... |
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Langley, BC
Canada
1299 Posts |
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Back busted, pumpkin carvin, toyota drivin, wacky hair canvas painter that likes a cold Beer on a subzero day
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
1077 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2006 : 12:06 AM
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Fowl photographin, animal lovin, thread trollin, dry bag humpin, canoe canoodler
Vancouver, BC
Canada
2980 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2006 : 12:16 AM
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I'm with WCP.. that is an extremely nice shot! Now as for those other pics.. have you considered sending any of those into the local papers? The one of you portaging your bike over the blow down is a beautiful image of West Coast life in December...
specially for easterners  |
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Richmond, BC
Canada
1791 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2006 : 12:28 AM
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Your coverage of the park destruction was far better than globaltv today Wildy.... our CT reporter on the ground
It's strange, the news keeps saying that these are the worst winds ever experienced in Vancouver....they really don't remember 1962. In terms of hectares lost I don't think the damage compares to what happen back then; although development and change in the general lanscape could lead to alot more individual trees becoming more vulnerable to wind destruction and more noticeable with respect to the impact on urban environment...oui/non? |
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Coquitlam, British Columbia
Canada
1727 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2006 : 09:25 AM
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| Ouch...that looks bad...i saw the park on the news from the air, looks as if two out of every five trees is either snapped off or has fallen. The park looks selectively logged! |
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North Vancouver, BC
Canada
984 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2006 : 09:51 AM
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| Well, when they expand the aquarium they won't have to tear down as many trees. |
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 | Dru
Mountain Grammar Police
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Sardonic sandbagging scoundrel, Cascade Climbers lobotomized spraymeister, space blanket flyer, new millennium vulgarian betaboy and friend to all squids
Climbing, a mountain
Canada
∞ Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2006 : 10:09 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Bavarian Raven
Ouch...that looks bad...i saw the park on the news from the air, looks as if two out of every five trees is either snapped off or has fallen. The park looks selectively logged!
The park was already clearcut in the 1800's, this is just a much needed thinning. |
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45 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2006 : 10:12 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Monster
The one of you portaging your bike over the blow down is a beautiful image of West Coast life in December...
specially for easterners
Toronto will be plus 13 tomorrow... not quite sure what you mean? ;) |
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Mysterious, pop can stove stashin', gps totin', overnighter virgin, wannabe tentmaker and foul weather wuss who rides a thumper to the trailhead with wonderdog Max to hike the Chilliwack Valley
'wackville, BC
Canada
3864 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2006 : 11:19 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by wilderness_seeker
LarryL, are you listening? It's Name That Tune time...
"The man in the mac said, you've got to go back, you know they didn't even give us a chance, Christ, you know it ain't easy..."
The Ballad of John and Yoko...
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Manitoba's misadventurin' bushwhackin', dog sloggin', dehydratin', beer drinkin' biggie - who's eager to peak bag Mt Currie in a dress
Squamish
4700 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2006 : 12:34 PM
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| Nice shots, WS! Thanks for the report, interesting stuff. |
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Vancouver, BC
651 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2006 : 2:41 PM
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Figured I'd add my photos to the mix, all from the Lost Lagoon area..
At first I was in the area near the stone/wooden bridges close to second beach:
 The local waterfowl aren't pleased
 Navigation ain't easy under the wooden bridge
 Bike trail near the stone bridge
 Looking to the east from the stone bridge
 Some locals don't appear to mind
I then crossed the stone bridge and assorted crap covering it, and headed up to Lost Lagoon Drive, where the real extent of the damage is more apparent.
  Lost Lagoon Drive
 No S**t!
The following shot is just to the west of Lost Lagoon Drive, and it doesn't even get close to capturing the level of damage - the forest looks completely trashed. I couldn't get a better angle, and I didn't want to go in any further as there were "leaners" around and I didn't feel like getting conked.
In spite of all the damage, life goes on:
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Edited by - BeerSnob on 12/16/2006 2:42 PM |
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Coffee swillin', wine lovin', Owl fearin' Andie McDowell stunt double, who sports retro gear
Vancouver, BC
5014 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2006 : 3:05 PM
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Great addition, Beersnob!! Looks like I was following in your footsteps, or you in mine (I didn't get there till late afternoon after they'd done some significant clean-up already). Didn't go to Lost Lagoon Drive either as I was on a mission to get to the seawall. Which apparently they are telling people to stay off.
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Vancouver, BC
651 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2006 : 3:20 PM
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I was out this morning, so I guess I was following you Nobody seemed to mind me being on Lost Lagoon Drive, but there was an army of parks people backfilled by VPD trying to keep people out of the heart of the park..
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Trail running, bike hucking, fast packing, beer drinking collector of pine cones on a day pass
AKA
Dances with Trees
Forest Gnome Cabin
Canada
11093 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2006 : 4:51 PM
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| Holy smoke ! Shades of Hurricane/Typhoon Frieda in 1962, when the park was closed for many weeks. At one time the park posessed one of the greatest forests of all time, tough to see so much damage but it will live on |
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ass wigglin, cheese lovin, 4x4 drivin, apostrophe hatin, hiking chick who loves camping on snow
spaceship..
Canada
7142 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2006 : 5:10 PM
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quote:
The big tree in English Bay with its lights...I'm glad THAT one didn't fall down!
Actually that light display is made up of four trees, not just one.
Im glad that one wasn't damaged too, it makes me think of my late hubby, as we often drove by it after finding somewhere to watch the Carol Ships at this time of year
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Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
LOGAN LAKE, B.C.
Canada
8878 Posts |
Posted - 12/16/2006 : 10:21 PM
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Stellar report Tracy, it sure shows a ton of damage, as Mike wrote it reminds me of the 1962 damage. It saddens me deeply to see so many fine trees destroyed..
Regards, |
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| Q
Senior Member
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chocolate lovin, Bailey's slurpin, cold feet hatin', veggie eatin', true Cancerian water lovin', CT smilin', boulder dodgin', nosummitosis survivor
1578 Posts |
Posted - 12/18/2006 : 10:58 AM
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Wow!!!
How sad is that?!!?
Just incredible. So interesting to see the average persons photos of the destruction.
Just crazy.
WS. I like the late sunset shot better than if you had captured it!
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After the Storm
