A wee spot of culture

Even though Vancouver is still in the grips of Olympic fever, there are still other events happening in and around the city. Last weekend there was a free performance by the Aeriosa Dance Society at the public library. They were performing in and outside the building. I sadly did not get to see the indoor part of the show, as only 400 people were allowed inside but I did see the outdoor part. It was an amazing show, basically they dance to music on ropes whilst hanging off a building. They made dancing on the side of the library look effortless and beautiful. My photos do not really do them any justice but gives you the idea. The next time I am rappelling down a cliff face I must try and do it with a bit more elegance and grace.

My next hit of culture was hockey. Very, very Canadian. It took place in GM Place the home of the Vancouver Canucks. They were playing against the Anaheim Ducks from California. The previous night the Canucks had a terrible game and lost away to the Edmonton Oilers, who apparently are not good. So it was a big question as to how they would play the next night at home to the Ducks. I am not that well versed in what constitutes a good game but a 4 - 1 win seemed to appease the Canucks fans. Of course some of the best parts of the game were the fights, and there were at least 3 good ones. Those boys go at it big style when they get angry! One player, George Parros, from the Ducks, who looked like a cross between Magnum PI or possibly a member of The Village People, spent more time in the sin bin than he did actually on the ice. I was not really too bothered about the result but it was a great nights entertainment.

National anthem time. A quiet Star Spangled but rousing Oh Canada.

Practice. I did not get on the big screen thankfully.

Comfort zone.

A terrible photo of me with my eyes closed, but thought I would post it just to show that I am still alive.

Today was the day that I had decided to leave West Vancouver and head to Squamish so as not over stay my welcome with my lovely hosts in West Vancouver, and I did leave, but now I am back...... Why? Well I shall tell you.

As some of you may be aware I had tried to stay in the US a little longer as the climbing season here in British Columbia has not quite started yet, March is one of the wettest months, but alas the States would not let me stay. So here I am as you all know in Canada.

I drove to Squamish, it actually only takes about half an hour or so and had the full intention of camping etc, but when I got there it was snowing and because it is still "off season" the park where I intended to stay did not have any of its' facilities working, blah blah, excuses excuses. Anyway, before I had left West Van my hosts had made it clear that I was very welcome to come back and stay longer if necessary and that it would be cold and possibly quite wet still in Squamish at this time of year. So whilst sitting having a coffee and watching some very large black clouds gather on the horizon, I weighed up my options. I could either stay in a very lonely National park with no one else there and hope for sunny dry weather or I could go back to West Van and sleep in a nice warm bed and just go to Squamish on day trips when it was dry. Guess which one won my vote?

So here I am back in the comfort of a house for a wee while longer. My current plan is to stay here for a few more weeks go train at the local indoor gym, try to do some CV training as I feel incredibly unfit, do some day trips to Squamish and other places and help my host Harriet out with some things she needs done. Excellent plan, even if I do say so myself.

I realised today that I have very few photographs of me actually climbing, which is kind of a shame but inevitable I suppose. You will all just have to believe me when I tell you what I have climbed!

I will post a few photos from my weekend trip to Gabriola Island soon.