Point Roberts Loop: A Few Hours on the Other Side
Back in February, three days before Neil was born, Gili cycled around Point Roberts. He came back with an excellent impression and I was a bit sad that I couldn’t join. He promised that we’ll be back there riding as a family of three sooner rather than later. Then as we are getting ready for our trip to South Korea and Japan Gili ordered bicycle tires to be picked up from Point Roberts. Now that the opportunity presented itself we had to go back, so Neil and I could enjoy the ride as well. So we drove to Tsawwassen and parked the car at Diefenbaker Park, where Neil had his…
Kids on Wheels Rolls into East Van Daycares
In July, Kids on Wheels, the BC Cycling Coalition’s exciting new program, had two fabulous sessions in Eaglets and Grandview Terrace daycares in East Vancouver. In both daycares we found an enthusiastic group of children who were more than ready to jump on the balance bikes and start exploring. The teachers were very supportive and with the guidance of our wonderful instructors everyone had a great time. The children’s riding abilities varied and it was inspiring to see how in one week the children who were less confident on Monday gained confidence and mastered their balance abilities. The children rode in a basketball field connected to their daycare and we started with…
- British Columbia (and nearby), Hiking & Scrambling, Rockies & Kootenays, Trip Reports, Trips with Kids
The Rockies: Happy Campers in the ‘Orange House’
Some people thought we were brave, others thought we were stupid or just plain crazy. At times I felt like all of the above. Making the long drive from Vancouver to the Rockies with a five month old baby wasn’t easy, but it was so worth it. We left on Friday afternoon after literally packing the whole house into our ’99 Subaru Legacy. Neil fell asleep before we even drove two blocks and slept until around Merritt, three hours away, while I tried to remember all the things that we might have forgotten. Eventually Gili got so tired from the drive that we had to stop at a rest area…
- British Columbia (and nearby), Hiking & Scrambling, Metro Vancouver & North Shore, Trip Reports, Trips with Kids
Mt. Seymour: In Search for a Missing (Teddy) Bear
A few weekends ago we headed to Mt. Seymour. I think it’s the classic hike if you want to get the full outdoor experience but still stay close to the city. We just bought a new hiking carrier for Neil and we wanted to try it out before our big trip to the Rockies the weekend after. It had been sunny for a long time, but the rain decided to come back that weekend. We still decided to go out and when it looked like it was clearing we got into the car for the short drive, making yet another great alpine start at 2pm. The moment we put Neil…
Olympic Peninsula: Savour the Moment (South Coast Hike)
This trip was long overdue. During our first summer in Canada back in 2007 we crossed the border to the US on Canada Day long weekend. Inexperienced and naive, we didn’t know what it means to cross the border on long weekends. We were stuck at the border for over three hours and by the time we were on the other side we realized that with the long drive ahead we wouldn’t have time to actually complete the hike. So we changed our plans and always kept this hike in mind. Now, eight years + one baby later it was finally time to hike along the coast of the Olympic…
- British Columbia (and nearby), Hiking & Scrambling, Metro Vancouver & North Shore, Trip Reports, Trips with Kids
Black Mountain: Tummy Time on Top
If you are looking for a hike close to Vancouver, relatively easy and short but still rewarding with good views, then Black Mountain just up from the Cypress ski area is a good option. As you can see it’s also a great place for babies to take naps while doing their tummy time… We started not early on Saturday afternoon, somehow when you have a baby the days just fly by, and before we noticed it was already noon, so we started hiking around 2pm… The trail up is in excellent condition and is well maintained. We hiked up Black Mountain in the winter when I was about six months…
Vancouver Island: The Quiet After the ‘Storm’
On Easter long weekend we headed to Vancouver Island again. The last time we headed in that direction was on New Year’s and it was our last getaway before our son Neil was born in late February. Incidentally (or not) this was also our first getaway with him five weeks after he was born. Our dear friends Jan & Warrick invited us to spend the long weekend with them and it seemed like the perfect opportunity to get out of the city for a bit. Last time we visited they were in Australia (and we stayed at their place), but this time they were around, and it was great to…
- British Columbia (and nearby), Hiking & Scrambling, Metro Vancouver & North Shore, Trip Reports, Trips with Kids
Dog Mountain: Back to Hiking in Baby Steps
When our new baby boy Neil was just over a month old, we decided that it was time to get back into outdoor activities. We heard about Dog Mountain a while ago, and it was always on our list when a short and not too strenuous hike was in order, but we never got around to going there. This seemed like the perfect opportunity. We drove to Mt. Seymour ski area not too early (i.e. 2pm). The sight was a bit sad. Like the rest of the local ski hills, Mt. Seymour has been closed for most of this season due to a lack of snow. Is this the future…
Vancouver Island: The Quiet Before the Storm
Another year was about to start, and this time we didn’t have plans to travel too far. We are excited about this upcoming year since in less than two months we are expecting a new addition to our little family. At the same time we are aware that life is going to change and quiet times may be a bit more difficult to have, at least for awhile. Our good friends from Vancouver Island, Jan and Warrick, were away for the holidays and generously offered us the use of their house. It was perfect, since they live in a rural area, by the river and it’s always quiet there. We…
Vernon and Kamloops: Winter Wonderland of the Interior
Finding somewhere to go over the Christmas break is always a challenge. Everyone is on vacation at the same time and therefore flights and everything related to traveling is more expensive. Things get even more complicated in the third trimester of a pregnancy since we wanted to avoid flights, long drives and downhill skiing is out of the picture for now. So we decided to stay ‘close to home’ this time. Then Tal, Gili’s brother, said he was coming for a visit, which is always nice. Since Tal was keen on doing some skiing, an activity he doesn’t get to do often due to living in Israel, and the local…
