Yes we are alive and well..in Vancouver!!

2013!!!Already. What happened with the time? I think we must have had too much fun when the months have passed so quickly.

Last time I wrote it was all about our cycle touring trip, which we in fact commenced that trip over a year ago. At the end of March 2012 we arrived to a very sunny Vancouver. Our thought that this is maybe how lovely the Vancouver weather always is was quickly crushed as everyone told us that it was the first sunshine they had seen in 6 months. Welcome to Vancouver!

We had two weeks to settle in and find a place to live before work and normal life started again for both of us. After 2 days we found a perfect place to live: Upper Lynn Valley in North Vancouver. We are renting the upper floor of a house which is nestled in between Mt Fromme, Lynn Peak and Mt Seymour. From our door step we have probably hundreds of world-class biking trails, scenic walking trails and for more serious tramps (I mean hikes...we better start calling it hiking when as we are in Canada. There are several 1000 m high mountains within 10 km from our house.   



After arriving with only cycle panniers the moving-in-business was fairly easy

Some people seem to think that Lynn Valley is too isolated, dark and rainy. We can probably agree that it is often pretty dark and rainy, but we also think that it is a perfect spot: 5 min walk to get a coffee, 20 min walking to the nearest shops, 40 min with one bus from our street to downtown Vancouver, a quick 20 min drive to work and an hours' cycle to work away from cars most of the time. It is also a place that attracts lots of nice people and also furry creatures...

Our friendly neighbour - Mrs Racoon




Mr Bear - another good neighbour

After 10 months here I feel like we have got to know the place pretty well. From only knowing a couple of people upon arrival, we have managed to find many new good friends: Canadians, a few extra Kiwis, a token Swede, South Africans and a few Irish. Vancouver is truly a hot pot of people from everywhere. Almost no one you meet is born and bred here in Van.

After numerous trips (big and small) we have got to know BC..at least a little bit. Here are some pics to show our new home:

Hiking up Black Mountain with views towards Vancouver

Kayaking in Tofino on the rugged west coast of Vancouver Island.
It reminded us of New Zealand's West Coast. 

Paul Cannin enjoys the  views after we had biked a few hours along the 7 summit trail in Rossland. It was a true scorcher!

More gorgeous biking along splendid single tracks in Chilcotin (5 hrs north of Van).

Pretty unusual look to see Charlie being shuttled to the top of the hill. Maybe a sign of old age? This bike shuttle offered quick access to some great trails above Paul Lake, Kamloops. The icing on the cake was the refreshing swim that followed.

Cycle touring along a forest road on the Sunshine Coast (trying to avoid the highway)

So this is why the trail was closed to biking!! A river crossing spiced up the last section home  to Lynn Valley.

Exploring Downtown Vancouver by bike 

 

Could be anywhere in BC..there is lots of forest here.

Stranded boats drowning in autumn leaves in Egmont, Sunshine Coast





The nagging ramped up after he got to try his dream bike in Cumberland's bike shop: -I want a moon lander!!!



Very noisy sea lions spotted during our cycle tour on Vancouver Island

 

Charlie's parents, Kris and John, were incredibly lucky with the weather when they visited in October. We had glorious sun in Banff National Park.

Charlie's mum wanted to see the Butchart Gardens in Victoria. The autumn colours were stunning and I was impressed.

The time was ticking for me to get my ACL fixed (korsbandet). I managed to enjoy the snow at least once before the operation. This was  in early November in Duffy Lake with Colleen, Sam and Tui (and Charlie of course)

 

Sam showing off in the powder

 So I finally got my ACL reconstructed. In a non-spectacular crash in September 2011 I managed to hyper extend my left knee and cause a rupture to the infamous ACL. I tried to live without getting it repaired but even after cycling >3,500 km in three months my knee just wasn't strong enough to take the impact if (when is more accurate) I came off my mtb. Yet, I managed to enjoy the summer in BC by having a brace to protect my knee. However it was clear that it wasn't a long term solution.

Charlie has spent 15 days on the snow so far and it's not even the end of January. I am not at all jealous when he shows me pictures of his blue bird days in waist high powder! I have been coping through the winter by watching movies, going for walks, doing lots of prescribed exercises, stitching'n bitching with great company and recently I have taken up pottery. In other words I am coping. 

The recovery is so far going very well, but of course it is too slow for my liking. :-)