July 2007

When you pull into Stanley Park (on the English Bay side) you come under a Great Blue Heron colony.  It's quite noisy, a bit smelly and no where near where you want to park, but cool to see.  It also means there are lots of great blue herons around getting lunch.  They are quite used to people (living in a tourist attraction) but do try to be respectful.

We made it to the somewhat muddy (but very flat) rocks on the west side.   The sea wall was still closed from last winters wind storm so there was no way to get around to under the bridge.  I kind of wonder if there wildlife is enjoying a holliday from the regular stress of the tourists and locals using the wall.

Canada day fireworks have been canceled in Vancouver for at least three years.  Vancouver seems to like to riot/fight with little provocation so the last few years were canceled because of the oneros cost of security.  Someone figured out how to make money with fireworks and this year they are back on.  In an added twist, they are on in more than one location - one near Canada Place (the opposite side of Vancouver from my house), the other set in West Vancouver near Ambleside.  From my deck I could see both and they stayed mostly in sync the whole night.

 
 
Canada day is one of the longer days of the year so the fireworks didn't start until late and even then it wasn't really dark.  I had a bunch of people over for drinks and a view - a good time had by all.