#76 Spend a Day In Stanley Park (Complete)

A date with Stanley on a bike built for two

 Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
~ Albert Einstein 

Let me start by saying, what BC born person has not already been to Stanley Park, it is our God given right as BC citizens to spend as much time as we please in Stanley Park; so I think it goes without saying that my recent trip to Stanley was not my first. 

I love going to Stanley Park it has such a comforting feeling to it, it reminds me of the countless family trips I use to take as a child, whenever we visited Vancouver. I feel that Stanley Park has so much to offer as far as  free and homely entertainment. You can stop at watch the East Indian cricket teams play at the English club house, you can relax with the locals at rec beach, you can watch the kids laugh and play at the aquarium or water park, you can get ice cream at the top of the lions gate bridge, you can take silly pictures in front of the totem pole, you can take a trek to beaver lake, or do the classic bike or jog around the board walk. It truly is a magical place where all "walks of people" can join together to appreciate a common love. So although it is congested like most of Vancouver, I strongly feel it is one of BC finest Gems and we are incredibly fortunate to have it....I like to think of it as Canada's Central Park (knowing it is a poor comparison, but I am proud of it none the less).

So I guess the question is why put Stanley Park on the list? I think the better question is, why NOT put Stanley Park on the list? I have been many times, and each trip is memorable, each time you go you can have a totally unique experience, I contribute this to the endless possibilities of people watching, it is truly fascinating.

 So my most recent trip to Stanley Park was a result of having to move Jenelle back to school for her fourth and final year! We decided to end the summer with a jam packed weekend, Friday we went to a comedy show in New West for a friends birthday, we met up with a old friend of mine from Ottawa at Granville Island on Saturday, headed to the PNE on Sunday, and biked Stanley on Monday  For me, Stanley Park was my favorite day of the weekend....Jenelle would probably disagree and say seeing the Super Dogs at the PNE was the best, but anyways.

So Jenelle and I decided to rent a Tandem Bike for the day (surprisingly cheap!) I have to admit its as awkward as it looks when it comes to riding these beast, but its full of great laughs and you will get tons of stares! It took awhile to get use to and I don't think Jenelle every felt completely comfortable with my steering. We ended up biking the entire sea wall making stops at typical land marks along the way. Being a sunny Monday on the last long weekend of the summer there were tons of people to watch, making it a enjoyable afternoon. I really liked when we stopped at the Aquarium for a rest, and watch two kids zoom up and down a dirt path on there bikes (at that age, little did they know how out of control they really were). 

P.S it was also very nice joining the locals at Rec beach, catching some rays, while resting on a giant log and watching the ships come in.

So that's another post! and this is the Honey Badger, reminding you I actually do give a SHIT!