BC loop Part #1

The photographic highlights of a two week journey through BC, with side trips into Jasper, AB and Hyder, AK.




Contrast and brightness adjusted brought out the colour of Nicole's ski jacket.




Mt Fitzwilliam and the Yellowhead Highway.




Frozen Moose Lake (HDR image) alongside the Yellowhead Highway.




Maligne Lake, frozen, and sparkling in the bright sunshine.




"Scattered Showers" HDR image taken while snowshoeing on Hudson's Bay mountain near Smithers.


Check back soon for the second installment!

Bike ride out to Iona Island

For the first time in months, after reinflating my tyres, I jumped astride my bike and went for a ride. After spotting people walking around on the beach at the edge of the Vancouver airport, I figured it would be a good place to explore and ride around on (especially since it looked flat!). It also gave me the opportunity to cross the north arm of the Fraser River on the relatively new pedestrian and cycling bridge, which I am happy to report was a pleasure. Although I took a slightly roundabout route through Richmond to get to Iona Island, there were some interesting photographic subjects on the way.




Water #10 sculpture, part of the Vancouver Biennale




Fraser River




Industrial site that I can see from UBC




Massive log chained up alongside log rafts

Short Track Speed Skating

The only ticketed event that I made it to was the short track speed skating at the Pacific Coliseum. Despite being passed up by several full buses, we made it in time to the venue. After standing in the rain and then passing through the security checkpoint, we made it just in time to catch the only Australian skater, Tatiana Borodulina. She won her heat in the 1000 m event. Unfortunately, since I am still bereft of a telephoto lens, I couldn't get a good shot of her, but the following events, the men's 500 m heats and the women's 3000 m relay final, yielded some OK photos.

The funniest thing from the whole night was that the fries had to be called "savoury spuds", presumably not to interfere with a certain Olympic sponsor "family restaurant".




A false start by the Belorusian skater during the men's 500 m heat.




The chaos of the changeover during the women's 3000 m relay final.




The Canadian team celebrates with the crowd what they thought was a bronze.




The South Koreans despair after being disqualified after finishing in first place, while the Americans were jubilant after being promoted to bronze - despite finishing almost a whole lap behind the South Koreans.