April 17, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Pemberton, Hot Springs
View a larger image on flickr.com
Soaking in hot springs is one my favourite ways to relax. I’ve been to a few developed hot springs in BC (Ainsworth, Halcyon, Fairmont and Radium), and decided it was time to step my soaking up a notch with an undeveloped hot spring.
Armed with internet research and the book, “Hot Springs of Western Canada: a Complete Guide”, a crew of three of us headed out in our truck along dusty logging roads in search of natural hot springs.
One flat tire and a few wrong turns later, we’d reached our destination: rock lined pools set next to steamy, fern-draped cliffs and a rushing river. The water temperature varied, with a too-hot-to-touch waterfall on one end the scale and a chilly river on the other.
We spent hours lounging around, shaded from the summer sun by leafy trees, and chatted with friendly locals who showed us the best place to dip in the river for an invigorating cold plunge (a little too invigorating for my liking).
The pièce de résistance? Natural floating coasters a former hot spring visitor had thoughtfully left behind (as shown in the photo). Perfect for holding candles and beverages.
If you like hot water and road less travelled, pick up the hot springs book to find your own slice of soaking nirvana. Also recommended: a good backroad mapbook and a spare tire.
April 8, 2009 | Tips from Travellers > Vancouver, Surfing
View a larger image on flickr.com
Tofino is the first location that comes to mind when you hear about surfing in BC. But what about surfing in the big city? Vancouver’s known as the place where you can sail, golf and ski in the same day… and if the conditions are
just right, you can add “surf” to that list.
In late March, spring winds were whipping across the trees and beaches of Stanley Park, which created conditions for a Vancouver surf attempt. Surfer, wetsuit, surfboard and camera-handler (me) all went into the truck to reach Third Beach in Stanley Park before the winds died down.
Bundled up seawall joggers did a double-take when they saw a wetsuit-clad figure carrying a surfboard down to the water at Third Beach. No pretty point breaks here! Any strategy for riding the waves was reduced to “avoid mussel-encrusted rocks”.
Twenty-minutes of battling washing machine style waves (for the surfer) and huddling next to wind blown cliffs wishing I had brought another layer of clothes (for me) resulted in a neat shot of surfing in Vancouver. Big city surfing – who knew?