Today was Stanley Park day. I set off in the morning with the intention of thoroughly exploring the park, and I think I accomplished my goal.

The original plan was to grab a sweet roll or donut or something to eat while walking through the city on the way to the park, then a sandwich to take with me and eat somewhere in the park. Like all my detailed plans so far, this one was quickly abandoned. I saw a restaurant with a breakfast menu that included Four Berry French Toast, and I was sold. What's not to like about that? So I had a real breakfast, and since I found the park before a likely looking sandwich shop, the second part of the plan went out the window too.

My first stop was the Vancouver Aquarium. I think I was planning on actually going in, but when I got there, it just felt a little too touristy for me. More Sea World than Birch Aquarium, so I took a pass. Besides, I was having fun walking in the trees. I headed east to find the Brockton Oval, mostly because there were a lot of signs for it, and I had no idea what it could be to deserve that attention. Turns out its the "Home of Vancouver Rugby". Learn something new every day. Basically its a football (er, rugby) field with a track around it. Less than exciting, so I pressed on.

I walked along the seawall at the eastern edge of the park for awhile, then turned back west looking for Beaver Lake. This is where I somehow got completely turned around. I was following along on my little map, thinking I knew where I was going. At one point there was a sign pointing to the lake, but then nothing at the next sign post, so I turned in the direction that it obviously was. Wrong! I ended up making a big circle around the aquarium, thinking I was going in a completely different direction. I couldn't believe it when I popped out of some trees to find the aquarium parking lot again. Oh well, at least it was a pleasant stroll.

So I started all over again trying to find Beaver Lake, and this time I tuned in the direction that it obviously wasn't. And of course I found it that way. After I found the Lake, I had no navigational troubles, so my working hypothesis is that there's some kind of strange space-time warping going on around the Vancouver Aquarium. Now I'm really glad I didn't go inside, who knows where I would have ended up?

I walked around Beaver Lake taking several pictures, and finally started heading back toward town, because my feet were getting pretty tired. The way back was very nice and tree filled, and I also got to walk around most of Lost Lagoon.

When I hit city streets, I really started to feel it in my legs. I'd been walking for about 3-3.5 hours at this point, and my feet and legs weren't very happy about it. I made it back to the hotel though, and took about a 40 minute nap.

My late lunch/early dinner was at the Yaletown Brewing Company. Got to sample the local beer :) . Verdict - pretty good.

And that takes me to the present, sitting in my room, recuperating from walking and watching Monday Night Football. I'll be leaving for the Death Cab for Cutie concert in a few minutes. The venue is supposed to be very small and intimate, so it should be a great show.

I want to thank Richard and Mathew for leaving comments directing me to the VIFF theaters and a Japanese restaurant that's now at the top of my list of places to try. I have no idea how people are finding this blog (except the people I emailed about it of course), but it just shows how cool the internet is that two people have not only found it, but took the time to leave helpful comments. Also, somehow I have WordPress set so that I have to approve comments before they're posted. I tried changing that, but I don't think what I did worked. So if you post a comment and it doesn't show up right away, that's why, sorry about that, I'm working on it. Its tough when I have to balance my laptop on the TV to reach a wireless network.

Ok, got to upload this and some pictures before I have to leave for the concert.