Deep Cove, Vancouver

Summer is trying its best to get established-but the locals are complaining that it isn't here yet.
Last weekend the sun shone all day Saturday and it was a beautiful Vancouver day. We finally ventured further than the city. On the advice of a colleague from Perth (there are 4 Perthites at DD), we went to Deep Cove- about 1 hour by bus out of Vancouver city.

Public transport being as efficient as it is, we were able to navigate to our destination by transit bus to Waterfront Station,then on the Seabus across the harbour to Lonsdale Quay (15 mins) in North Vancouver.
Then one bus to Phibbs exchange and boarded straight away on to another bus for Deep Cove. All this on our 1 day travel pass for $9 each.

On the way we were wondering where Woody's colleague was sending us- deep into the northern suburbs of Vancouver. Then we arrived at Deep Cove -a huge expanse of fir and cypress tree forest right up to the mountains surrounding a peaceful inlet-breathtaking.
The cove is part of the Indian Arm inlet and a perfectly protected place to Kayak. Still water and dramatic hills and mountain views.
Deep Cove town centre is one street- a little village really. Quaint and peaceful, not too many tourists.
The "Honey Donut" was the recommended place for lunch-big fat deep fried and honey soaked donuts are what they are famous for-YUM. But to make up for that they make very healthy sandwiches with potato bread and fresh and generous fillings.
Panorama Park is right at the waterfront and this is where they hire kayaks.
We decided to leave that venture for another trip, and to take the Baden Powell trail up to a large viewing rock, about 2km into the forest.
It is not dissimilar to Palm Beach in Sydney and the forest was very rain forest like with filtered light and towering trees. really beutiful. However most of the trail was UP, so we certainly got our exercise.

Reaching the large viewing rock high above Indian Arm was our reward for the hefty trek-breathtaking views right back to the city and up to the mountains.
Many photos later we decided to go back down to the Cove- the trail is actually a rugged 41km hike and we were not intending on killing ourselves in one day...or any other day for that matter.

Back at Panorama Park a most amusing sight-kids tobogganing down a steep hill on large square blocks of ice. They were having a ball. Reminded us of Gerard & Chris's 3 kids, with the Canadian accents and screams and giggles.

It was a lovely way to spend the day out and about in the nature and we decided to return for a kayaking outing next weekend.

Our apartment has a gym, 25m indoor swimming pool and heated spa. After months of hard work packing and moving and neglecting our fitness, we have started back into a routine of exercise making good use of these facilities. The spa is great for tried muscles after a workout. To date we have had the pool and spa to ourselves in the evening.

Woody is home at a civilised 6.30/7pm so we have time for this and then a walk/bike ride along the seawall to English Bay to watch the sunset. Daylight savings and late sunsets mean we don't get dark before 9-9.30pm.

Seals quite often join us as we walky and there is plenty of boating, kayaking, cycling, blading, jogging activity along the walk. Vancouver has many stunning outdoor sculptures positioned in and around the parks and seawall edge. There is one sculpture by a Chinese artist that is a long,large, undulating ribbon of steel-it seems to float above the ground and catches all the light-really striking. In fact the public artwork here is the most impressive we have seen outside of Goodwood Park in Chichester, UK.

There are plenty of interesting eating spots along the harbour-one I am keen to try is the Pirate Pub. It has lots of fishing stuff decorating the ceiling and a cosy atmosphere. Most people sit outside with their big bowls of mussels, fish and chips and pizza-albeit with rugs provided by the restaurant wrapped aound their legs. This is only 5 minutes away from our apartment and I am really keen to try the mussels-maybe this Friday!!

Woody's contribution

Woody has been flat out at work and has not had time to respond to his friends and colleagues emails.

This is his contribution...

Vancouver;

Land of the Looney, Beaver, Moose , Grisly Bear, raccoons, bagels, cheesy flavored everythings and the Inukshuk! The people here are so nice and say “your welcome” soooo much you feel scared. What do they want? What are they on? It is the land of the free dope smoking, mmmmm.

Even the bus drivers are extremely helpful. They welcome you on the bus and wish you a good day getting off!, every day! Hey am I paying too much?

Then there are the ferry boats that take you across and up and down the river. I get one each day as its part of my ride to work. Now these boats are kind of funny.

Imagine a 6 year old boy with his toy boat in the bath. Now slightly enlarge that. Bit more. That’s it. Yes a cork with a motor. The driver sits up in the middle looking out a hole in the top like a half submarine. He has to look out the window in the top because he is filling the entire space. I pay 2 looney (2 $CAD) to cross the harbour ; which is about what you would pay for the boat at the 1 dollar shop. Still the “captain” of the toy boat tells stories , “the saying , look a gift horse in the mouth, this came from the old days; when if you were given a horse it would be very rude to start pulling back its lips and checking if the teeth where any good”. Very useful information should I be given a horse.

The harbor has seals in it at the moment which look like really cute puppy dogs. The followed us on the sea walk the other day. There was also a whale in the harbour just before we arrived. Now picture me in the toy boat and now picture the largest mammal in the world coming up to say hi!

The mountains surround the back of the city and have snow on the top which is very cool to see from your bedroom window if you’re from Australia. The weather around these mountains is constantly changing so the skies, mist and clouds and sunsets are just incredible. Weather is wet, sunny, warm, cold, chilly, this morning.

Everyone is out on the seawall walk at the end of the day catching the sun which looks like 3.pm to me when its about 9.30 pm.

Long days are really good. I can come home from work, go to the gym, have a swim and spa – all of which comes with the apartment, and walk up and watch the mid afternoon sun!

People are playing cement hockey on the basketball courts, weird hippy people are playing various instruments at various levels of skills, one very crappy hip hop rap singer who is shit! Wish someone would lop him like a fir tree.

Stanley park is a great big island park which we have ridden around- about 11 Km and walked though a bit on the weekends is fantastic. That’s where we have seen beaver and raccoons. It’s only about a 20 min ride from home. I have not seen a Moose there …only a goose. You can only ride around the park in one direction, which is very funny watching the summer tourist try to ride against the flow. This is the one time when the shiney pearly white smile of the Vancouverite, on his or her power ride, rollerblade, or run around the park becomes a nasty snarl. Very funny to see. Yes we did try to ride the wrong way.

We are hoping to get out and see the surrounding environment over the coming weeks. It looks fantastic to see and explore.

Digital Domain.

I sit in a dark room with two monitors two computers a set of draws, nearby a kitchen and toilet , also nearby are nice offices with sunlight and a great view that have producers and co-coordinators in them. Around me are many geeks……yes all the film effects houses look the same.

Actually work has also been very friendly and the work has been great to date. I have no complaints and have been made very welcome.

I have mainly been doing concept frames for THOR to date. Sup here seems very good.TRON looks very good. I think it will be very well received.

The company here is 88 staff going to 155 ish. LA crew is 600 + and key staff are up and down between the studios so that keeps it all in the mix well. They have some incredible films on the books starting soon, which is also very good to see in the current film industry climate.

PS: bonus giver away, write to me and I will send a beaver postcard!

Woody

First 2 weeks in Vancouver

This weekend has been bright and sunny 18- 22 degrees- Vancouverites think its hot.

English Bay was packed with locals and tourists enjoying the sun. On Saturday we rode our bikes along the seawall to Stanley park and then all around the 11km seawall ride back to English Bay.

So green and beautiful. Bikes jostle with bladers and tourists who don't see there is a path for them and a path for bikes. They stand in the middle of the bike path taking photos as cyclists swerve around them.

We had a relaxing lunch on the 'patio' of the Boathouse restaurant at English Bay - great fish and chips and local BC wine. Our view was accross the Bay to the Mountains in the North West- they still have snow on the peaks.

Today we took the 5 minute ferry ride accross to Granville Island markets. There is a main public market with fresh produce and cafes, then a big expanse of renovated sheds with arts and crafts studios, groovy paper shops, clothing, more restaurants and cafes. Found an authentic french boulangerie with great baguettes, pastries and daily baked breads.....mmmm.

Daylight savings means it is light until at least 9pm, so plenty of time to enjoy the weekend and take things at a slower pace than we have over the last 6 months.

The Vancouver Blog commences

I have started this blog as a kind of journal for our stay in Vancouver, Canada. It's a way of reminding us of what we have seen and done and to share the experiences with our friends and family.

I have some catching up to do today to bring this up to date (today being Wednesday 9 June).

Vancouver is a beautiful city, albeit a wet one so far. The bright sunny days do exist but have only had 3 or so in 14 days. However the drizzly days are not bad for venturing out anyway.

And everyone does get out-very big here on exercise and outdoors adventuring.

The first 2 weeks were spent in very nice, contemporary, serviced accommodation Downtown provided by Digital Domain. I spent the time apartment hunting while Woody got right into work at DD.

DD is located in Kitsalano south of Downtown, but its only a 10 minute bus/bike and walk from door to door-easy.

Navigating around Vancouver is simple-the mountains are North! And what spectacular mountains they are. On a clear day they look awesome and the caps are still showing snow.

We have been pretty tired after the previous months of packing, moving and travelling, so we are waiting until we feel energetic enought to tackle a mountain visit.

Last Saturday we moved into our furnished apartment in Downtown Vancouver. This will be home for the next 6 months.

It is a new building right on the waterfront -Opposite the Granville island markets.

It is 61m2, so small for us, but stylish and a lovely location. It is right on George Wainborn Park, a lovely lansdcaped park popular with the cities dog lovers, personal trainers and exercisers.

We are located near the seawall - this goes right around the city and up to Stanley Park- hectares of natural parkland with massive trees. We just bought two bikes to cycle to work and around the seawall. Vancouver is extremely bike friendly and mostly flat.

English Bay is just up the way from our apartment -the views out to the mountains and the ocean skies are pretty spectacular. The local ferries run every 5 minutes between our park and the other side. Its a good alternative to taking the traffic bridges.

Woody has been working on some cool concepts for Thor. Under pressure being the "new kid on the block", but they are pleased with his work so far and very appreciative of the extra work he has put in. That is a rewarding change for him.

Observations about the city so far-

• Canadians are extremely friendly
• public transit system is superior and buses are electric
• very envrionmentally concious-puts Sydney to shame really
• bus drivers so so helpful and friendly
• parks and gardens everywhere, even in the commercial centres
• glad we bought our really warm winter jackets and boots
• have seen raccoons,beavers,squirrels, canadian geese so far-can't wait to see a grizzly bear