spending...

...spree!

Since I'm currently staying in one of the rain-iest film centres in the world, I've been asking everyone i meet the following question; "who makes the best rain jacket, and where can you buy one?" More often than not, the answer comes back - "Arc'teryx. and they have a factory seconds store in north Vancouver"...

I've also been asking people where they think the best place to live is. Allot of people are saying North Vancouver; so today was all about the northern side of the burrard inlet.

started with a trip to the outlet store.

Sadly, as with most 2nds stores, the range and quality (no warranty, no returns) can be a little on the 'lower' side of useful. I couldn't find a suitable "rain" jacket (the only dark-coloured,lightweight, gore-tex one was WAY too big).

On the upside, I found an awesome ski-jacket for 60% RRP. I also picked up a nice mid-layer for the cold-cold ski-resort i head to in 7 days.

with that part kinda-sorted; I traveled west, in search of coffee, and to scout out potential suburbs that everyone would love to live in.

I found a Starbucks, and had a 1/2hr sit to thumb through the B.C. road rules (I picked up a student driver manual on my first day, when the local 'rules' were sending me batty).

FYI - in B.C. you can turn right on a red light as long as "you come to a complete stop, and check that it's safe to do so"... and there isn't a sign that says you can't. ok, so that sorts that one out. The flashing green lights - these designate an intersection which is controlled by the pedestrian signals (seriously), and you should only proceed through once you've ensured that a person isn't going to jump out and say 'boo' (obviously I'm paraphrasing here)

As for those damn 4-way stop intersections; it's first come first served, unless you arrive at the same time as an aggressive driver - then all bets are off... (and that's pretty much how they describe it in the manual!)

with a firm understanding of the local road rules (well kind-of), I headed north and wound my way round the local areas, soaking it all in - it truly is a nice change of pace from the lower mainland - i could easily see myself living here.

Stopped in at the base of the road which leads to grouse mountain (I'll re-do the hike another day), and took in some sight seeing at the dam.

photos...


"face-space" photo at the aforementioned Cleveland dam in capilano - named after some hydro-dude (public servant).



macro moss



fantastic mist/layered-rain-stuff


heading south, my plan was to continue along a windy coastal road which would eventually lead to horseshoe bay.

it did; even if it took a little longer than I'd anticipated. (for some reason my sense of scale is all out of whack - what I'm guessing should only take a 1/2 hr based on the map-distance, is frequently taking twice as long...)

as the road got narrower, wind-i-er, and rain-i-er; I managed to suck it up and improve my driving skills (maybe its just what i needed).

eventually I arrived at a little area on the southern tip of horseshoe bay called whytecliff point.

photos.


at the base of the point



view west - into the howe sound/strait of georgia


cool tree at the point.

by now the rain had settled in, it was at the tail end of the day, and i was craving another caffeine hit.

jumping back on the highway, and heading east, i set off for the local mega-mall (seriously - it's either a corner shop, or a mega-centre behemoth over here).

bought another lightweight jacket (2010 Olympics = yay) and 2 more cheap pull-overs for the skiing.

it was now time to battle the night-time-rain-traffic heading back into town...

Thankfully I made it back unscathed. Even if every other car was trying to do 20 above the speed limit in pretty wet conditions.

a little dinner, then photo-downloading, and this.

all in all - a pretty successful day.

P.S.
yesterday was a complete write-off; spent the entire day in bed, sleeping - man i hope this is the last of the jet-lag...


here's a bonus shot of whytecliff point.