11th May Vancouver

People love to think they're different, individual with a unique outlook. Not one of a crowd. We're not of course and all end up doing much the same thing. So, I set off for a walk around downtown Vancouver & Stanley Park.This is a perfect setting. The park is the peninsula above downtown Vancouver & is the recreational hot spot for everyone and their dog. Said dog is typically a miniature, rat on a rope being dragged around the 5 mile circuit. At first, I considered cycling but dismissed it. Good move. The dedicated cycle lane was a hotchpotch of heavyweight tandems, families on daddy bear, mummy bear & baby bear bikes, bearded aficionados on stripped down fixed wheel statements & men on race bikes in lycra. A carnage of bell ringing & cries of "coming through on ya left" followed. The footpath was safer but also an eye opener. With the spectacular bay unfolding, the combination of elderly Japanese tourists, serious but baggy joggers, people taking endless "selfies" & smart, seemingly mainly gay, couples taking their Sunday constitutional provided a motorway of near misses.

Still the bird life proved more promising (a good indicator). Tame Herons, a family of what I assumed to be sea eagles & talk of black oyster catchers all got me in the mood. 

For a beer that is. I'm quietly impressed with the IPA actually. Beer, birds - all that's missing is a bike.