General Chat

Hi

thanks for thinking of us, Margee

we are fine, but the storm was something else again!!

A lot of damage was done ..... trees down etc etc. It is thought that the long drought contributed to it .......... very dry soils and possibly roots more brittle because of it.

Over 400,000 people were without power in the Metro area ...... still at least 100,000 without this morning.

Loads of traffic accidents because of traffic lights not working.

One local fire department had its 150th call out in 14 hours at about 4:30 am this morning when a child lit a candle to see ...... that was occupants of 16 units in an apartment block out on the street. Luckily only the child's apartment was seriously damaged. Most of their other call outs were for power lines down, accidents at normally controlled intersections, etc :-(

The wind storm was then followed by a deluge in the early evening ........... literally bouncing up from the roadway, and a stream running down the centre of the street at the side of the house.


It was very funny to see the guy responsible for the lawns around the church across from us out with his leaf blower trying to clear all the leaves and twigs ........... in the pouring rain :-0 :-D


It is all calm now (ca 10:00 am), cloudy with sunny periods ....... we're waiting for the next rain storm to arrive. OH was out early this morning clearing the catchment basin outside our house and across the street ........... both full of leaves, twigs and other debris. At least the water will now be able to flow down into the drains

Oh dear, I hope Sylvia is OK this morning. Terrible wind storm in BC last night uprooting trees and bringing down power lines. Said to be the worst storm since 2006.

uh oh

Hmmmmm well we can only hope :-| but the clouds have broken up and it is blue sky now :-| :-P

the afternoon was dry with sunny periods












5:00 pm, and the next wave of rain has arrived.


RMS ....... you must get some of this lot :-D

Malcolm .............


that's close to where I live.


Stanley Park

UBC Museum of Anthropology if you like museums, and you want to understand the West Coast First Nations.


I actually suggest that you take a tour on the hop on hop off Vancouver Trolley bus .......... it's about a 2-3 hour trip if you stay on the whole time, but you can get off at various places, then pick up the next bus, and occupy the whole day. Their main pick up is in Gastown, but they do pick up at some hotels. Do keep an eye on the time if you hop on hop off so you don't miss the last bus ............. in fact aim for the next to last bus just in case there are still lots of tourists filling the seats.

check them out here ..........

http://www.vancouvertrolley.com/

I had a great time some years ago when a friend and I spent the day going round, and I prefer them to other companies offering similar tours, .


If you're staying downtown and are good walkers, you can walk to Stanley Park along the seawall or west along Robson ............... or you can take public transit. No. 19 bus will take you along Pender to the entrance to Stanley Park. Cost ..... $2.50 each

Gastown is where Vancouver began, it dates back to 1886, as most buildings built before then were burnt down in the Great Fire of 1886. Its an interesting fun place to see, loads of kitschy tourist shops, but also neat buildings and a very neat Steam Clock.

It's also a good place to find meals.


Queen Elizabeth Park is a beautiful garden built in an old quarry, and has gorgeous views over downtown and the harbour to the north shore mountains. No 15 Cambie Street bus from downtown.


We love going to Granville Island, even taking the little "putt putt" ferry across False Creek.


The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art, 639 Hornby Street, is interesting ....... Bill Reid made the most wonderful gold jewellery, and you'll see one of his two Jade Canoes on the International Departures Level at Vancouver Airport. The other Jade Canoe is outside the Canadian Embassy in Washington DC



if you want any more information, pm me :-D

I shall be in Vancouver for two days, can anybody tell me the best places to vist or not to vist. Many thanks.

RMS ............

glad you're getting some of the rain :-)

I was woken at 3 am, 6 am and disturbed at 7 am by the rain absolutely beating down on the bedroom skylight!

"they" said it would probably come in "waves"

It's dry now, but there is a very strong wind, and about 60,000 people are without power down here :-(

Everywhere is an absolute mess with all the branches, twigs and leaves blown off the trees


it's very much like the first fall storm that usually arrives in October or early November

HEY it is raining :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D just but the deck is getting wet !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

how are you doing re breathing?

Yup I agree its clouded over again, and the smoke is back and our hill out back has disappeared again. :-|

Grand Forks is in bad shape too, so is Oliver(they are leaving right now):-(, and Kelowna.

that first lot of rain stopped mid-morning

it was sunny and warm in the afternoon

the next lot from Alaska must be on its way ............... it's clouded over again

Malcolm ..


the hot weather is due to be back by Tuesday or Wednesday next week ..................


so ...........

sunscreen
sunhat
insect repellent
water repellent or resistant jacket with hood
fleecy


then you've got all the angles covered :-D

RMS ................

they have been saying that not much would get over the mountains between thee and me


BUT the smoke should clear.

I hear Christina Lake is in trouble :-(

OK WHERE IS THIS RAIN THAT YOU R TALKING about??????????????

All we have is smoke, and it is not even ours! :-(

I would suggest that you bring your own boat, Malcolm.

I shall be in Vancouver in 10 days time for a holiday, do i need to bring my own water?

Someone must have danced for too long :-D


It is raining hard now, but will be heavier later in the weekend

Today's storm is the tail end of a tropical storm that hit Hawaii a few days ago ........... so similar to the Pineapple Express that can bring 200mm or more in the winter.

The next storm, due some time tomorrow is coming down from Alaska


Someone has it in for us :-D


.......... and, yes, we do have fears of major floods, flash flooding and landslides because the ground is too bone dry and hard for the rain to be absorbed, so much of it will run off. That's dangerous in such a mountainous region

Oh dear, Sylvia, according to the news this morning you are really in for it. They're saying now, up to 160 mm.with fears of major flooding.

What happened? Did you do a rain dance that lasted too long?

A Special Weather Warning for our area was issued about 4 pm this afternoon (Thursday)

........... 120 mm rain expected to fall between early Friday morning and Monday morning .................. that's about 4½"

I know we are desperate for rain, BUT .................. :-0