Vancouver, August 2021
Aug. 22nd, 2021 12:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jamesqI’ve been looking forward to a vacation for a long time. Last time I went anywhere was eleven months ago, and that was just two nights in Banff. I wanted to wait until there were no travel restrictions, and I had both my vaccination shots at least a month in the past. All that was accomplished in July, so plans were put into motion. It was surprisingly hard since a lot of my travel mojo had atrophied.
Sunday, after giving an ultimatum, I drove to Kamloops. It was uneventful and enjoyable.
I checked into one of the cluster of hotels at the top of the hill near Aberdeen mall. Then I called Noah and he came and picked me up. We went back to his place, where I then had supper with Trista and Logan. This was followed by some board games.
Being parents, they’re early to bed and early to rise. I had Noah drop me off at Bright Eye Brewing, and I had a quick flight of so-so beer. I rushed it a bit because I was going to take a bus back to the hotel, and this was the last one, being Kamloops on a Sunday night. One bit of good news related to that. Normally it’s two buses from the brewery to the hotel, but since it was the last bus of the night, it changed from one route to the other without me having to leave. Front door to front door.
The next morning, I was asked, “How’s the smoke?” - there wasn’t any. There was a ton a few days earlier, but I managed to mostly avoid forest fire smoke this whole trip. Anyway, I drove into Port Moody and hung out with the Port Wood folks.
Tuesday, Gareth and I hiked around Mundy lake. We probably did about three Kms. It was a nice walk. And I got an education on comparative religions of an iconoclastic bent. Later that evening, I met up with Ken and Athena at Havana restaurant. So nice to reconnect with both of them after several years.
Being a weekday, everyone was busy on Wednesday, so I decided to perform an experiment that I’d been wanting to do for awhile - see if a folding bike was something I’d want for travelling. Rad Power bikes makes one, so I figured I’d go down there. It was a few blocks from Clubhouse Sushi, so I walked by there first, only to confirm that they are indeed closed permanently. Alas.
Rad Power Bikes staff is attentive and also funny. They fit me out with a bike and a fifteen minute time frame. I was hoping for much longer (like, long enough to bike 20 Kms or so). That was not to be, and was also completely unnecessary. It only took a few minutes to realize this bike was literally not a good fit for me. My legs were too long, and my feet too big for the pedals, and the ergonomics had me leaning in ways that would be uncomfortable to sustain.
Thursday I attempted a run and bonked due to Port Moody’s hills and the fact that it was stinking hot. I was hoping for 5K, but only managed 3. Later, Gareth and I caught The Suicide Squad, which I rather enjoyed. First time in a theatre in sixteen months.
On Friday, I took a bag and checked into a hotel downtown, since I wanted to have a space I didn’t feel I was invading, at least for a few days. Three nights in Le Soliel. Nice joint. That evening, Rosie and I went to Dageraad Brewing, which immediately became my favourite Vancouver brewery. The specialize in Belgians, and do a fine job of it. This was helped by the fact that Rosie and I got there fairly close to closing, so we pounded them back pretty fast. Next trip, the same amount of booze, but double the time I think. Given it’s proximity to Lou’s place, I’ll definitely invite him next time.
Saturday was a day of fine food (Gabe and Jules baked goods), thrifting, fine beer, and not so fine spirits. In researching new places to try, we discovered Rocky Point distilling. It had an intriguing and disturbing spirit called “vodquilla”. Basically an agave-flavoured vodka. It was… not good. Rosie described it as “like a vodka that’s being kind of racist”.
Sunday I explored downtown Vancouver a bit and rented a regular bike to go around Stanely Park. I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to pedal it, since I usually have pedal assist, but it turns out that my legs are pretty strong. Also the path around Stanley Park is mostly flat and this bike weighed about a quarter of what mine does. The ride was a pleasant hour diversion. If I were to do it again, it would be a weekday though. Since it was Sunday, everyone was there with me on the path. I’m not fond of crowded bike paths.
After that, I met up with the Port Wood folks for high tea at Palate kitchen. Unfortunately, one of us came down with heat stroke, and couldn’t keep any of it down. I’m calling a mulligan on that outing.
After tea, Rosie and I did some shopping, including getting some of the awesome tea we had, and also stopping off at Dank Mart! A snack store for stoners. It was wonderful, and I hope they open a franchise in Calgary.
That evening I met up with Ryan and we had drinks at Callister, and dinner at Earls (after failing to find a spot in Storm Crow Alehouse. I walked back to my hotel via Granville Island.
Monday I checked out of my suite, returned to Port Wood, and decided to cancel my plans in Kelowna since it was on fire. Sadly this meant not meeting friends who had moved there. But it did give me an additional day in Vancouver since I still had reservations in Nelson.
Tuesday I met up with Lou and we had lunch at a Japanese place called Kokoro Tokyo. They serve Mazesoba, which is Japanese cuisine I hadn’t tried before. Delicious. Later we all watched Academy Award winner Nicholas Cage in Willy’s Wonderland. A movie that asks “What if Chucky Cheese was possessed by demons”. It was entertaining in that what-the-hell-am-I-watching way.
Wednesday, otherwise being the day ‘d have left, was spent exploring Granville Island, seeing Free Guy with Gareth, having the best tacos of my life. And it all ended with a contemplative evening on the Port Wood patio enjoying a nightcap while listening to a neighbour sing along to some Persian pop music. He was pretty good, too.
I was very worried about driving to Nelson. It’s on the very end of the amount of time I like to drive. Plus there was a risk of forest fires. I was fortunate that neither fire nor smoke interfered with me. I got to Nelson, checked into the Hume Hotel, and had drinks with Kelly at Backroads brewing. Super was pizza in my hotel room.
Friday morning, I treated Kelly, Judy and Janette to breakfast. Got a tour of Kelly’s studio and bought a painting. They were all busy for the rest of the day, so I explored. That evening, I met up with Fergus for beers and programmer shop talk. Later, I went to the Library Lounge for creme brûlée and a nightcap.
The next morning I checked out, discovered that it was raining. It rained the whole way home. Don’t mind because, again, BC was on fire so it was desperately needed. The only disappointing thing was that I forgot the leftover pizza in my room. It was going to be my lunch on the way home. I got him in the evening, happy over a vacation well spent, and melancholy that it was over.
Sunday, after giving an ultimatum, I drove to Kamloops. It was uneventful and enjoyable.
I checked into one of the cluster of hotels at the top of the hill near Aberdeen mall. Then I called Noah and he came and picked me up. We went back to his place, where I then had supper with Trista and Logan. This was followed by some board games.
Being parents, they’re early to bed and early to rise. I had Noah drop me off at Bright Eye Brewing, and I had a quick flight of so-so beer. I rushed it a bit because I was going to take a bus back to the hotel, and this was the last one, being Kamloops on a Sunday night. One bit of good news related to that. Normally it’s two buses from the brewery to the hotel, but since it was the last bus of the night, it changed from one route to the other without me having to leave. Front door to front door.
The next morning, I was asked, “How’s the smoke?” - there wasn’t any. There was a ton a few days earlier, but I managed to mostly avoid forest fire smoke this whole trip. Anyway, I drove into Port Moody and hung out with the Port Wood folks.
Tuesday, Gareth and I hiked around Mundy lake. We probably did about three Kms. It was a nice walk. And I got an education on comparative religions of an iconoclastic bent. Later that evening, I met up with Ken and Athena at Havana restaurant. So nice to reconnect with both of them after several years.
Being a weekday, everyone was busy on Wednesday, so I decided to perform an experiment that I’d been wanting to do for awhile - see if a folding bike was something I’d want for travelling. Rad Power bikes makes one, so I figured I’d go down there. It was a few blocks from Clubhouse Sushi, so I walked by there first, only to confirm that they are indeed closed permanently. Alas.
Rad Power Bikes staff is attentive and also funny. They fit me out with a bike and a fifteen minute time frame. I was hoping for much longer (like, long enough to bike 20 Kms or so). That was not to be, and was also completely unnecessary. It only took a few minutes to realize this bike was literally not a good fit for me. My legs were too long, and my feet too big for the pedals, and the ergonomics had me leaning in ways that would be uncomfortable to sustain.
Thursday I attempted a run and bonked due to Port Moody’s hills and the fact that it was stinking hot. I was hoping for 5K, but only managed 3. Later, Gareth and I caught The Suicide Squad, which I rather enjoyed. First time in a theatre in sixteen months.
On Friday, I took a bag and checked into a hotel downtown, since I wanted to have a space I didn’t feel I was invading, at least for a few days. Three nights in Le Soliel. Nice joint. That evening, Rosie and I went to Dageraad Brewing, which immediately became my favourite Vancouver brewery. The specialize in Belgians, and do a fine job of it. This was helped by the fact that Rosie and I got there fairly close to closing, so we pounded them back pretty fast. Next trip, the same amount of booze, but double the time I think. Given it’s proximity to Lou’s place, I’ll definitely invite him next time.
Saturday was a day of fine food (Gabe and Jules baked goods), thrifting, fine beer, and not so fine spirits. In researching new places to try, we discovered Rocky Point distilling. It had an intriguing and disturbing spirit called “vodquilla”. Basically an agave-flavoured vodka. It was… not good. Rosie described it as “like a vodka that’s being kind of racist”.
Sunday I explored downtown Vancouver a bit and rented a regular bike to go around Stanely Park. I was a little worried that I wouldn’t be able to pedal it, since I usually have pedal assist, but it turns out that my legs are pretty strong. Also the path around Stanley Park is mostly flat and this bike weighed about a quarter of what mine does. The ride was a pleasant hour diversion. If I were to do it again, it would be a weekday though. Since it was Sunday, everyone was there with me on the path. I’m not fond of crowded bike paths.
After that, I met up with the Port Wood folks for high tea at Palate kitchen. Unfortunately, one of us came down with heat stroke, and couldn’t keep any of it down. I’m calling a mulligan on that outing.
After tea, Rosie and I did some shopping, including getting some of the awesome tea we had, and also stopping off at Dank Mart! A snack store for stoners. It was wonderful, and I hope they open a franchise in Calgary.
That evening I met up with Ryan and we had drinks at Callister, and dinner at Earls (after failing to find a spot in Storm Crow Alehouse. I walked back to my hotel via Granville Island.
Monday I checked out of my suite, returned to Port Wood, and decided to cancel my plans in Kelowna since it was on fire. Sadly this meant not meeting friends who had moved there. But it did give me an additional day in Vancouver since I still had reservations in Nelson.
Tuesday I met up with Lou and we had lunch at a Japanese place called Kokoro Tokyo. They serve Mazesoba, which is Japanese cuisine I hadn’t tried before. Delicious. Later we all watched Academy Award winner Nicholas Cage in Willy’s Wonderland. A movie that asks “What if Chucky Cheese was possessed by demons”. It was entertaining in that what-the-hell-am-I-watching way.
Wednesday, otherwise being the day ‘d have left, was spent exploring Granville Island, seeing Free Guy with Gareth, having the best tacos of my life. And it all ended with a contemplative evening on the Port Wood patio enjoying a nightcap while listening to a neighbour sing along to some Persian pop music. He was pretty good, too.
I was very worried about driving to Nelson. It’s on the very end of the amount of time I like to drive. Plus there was a risk of forest fires. I was fortunate that neither fire nor smoke interfered with me. I got to Nelson, checked into the Hume Hotel, and had drinks with Kelly at Backroads brewing. Super was pizza in my hotel room.
Friday morning, I treated Kelly, Judy and Janette to breakfast. Got a tour of Kelly’s studio and bought a painting. They were all busy for the rest of the day, so I explored. That evening, I met up with Fergus for beers and programmer shop talk. Later, I went to the Library Lounge for creme brûlée and a nightcap.
The next morning I checked out, discovered that it was raining. It rained the whole way home. Don’t mind because, again, BC was on fire so it was desperately needed. The only disappointing thing was that I forgot the leftover pizza in my room. It was going to be my lunch on the way home. I got him in the evening, happy over a vacation well spent, and melancholy that it was over.
