Picture: Ted, Cida and Van on the top deck of the Vancouver Rowing Club building.

After researching yacht clubs in the area, we decided to take our chances at the Vancouver Rowing Club, which was founded in 1886. To our delight, they had room for us! We were allowed to stay for two days at $5 per day for power usage because of the reciprocal arrangement they have with our yacht club in Shelton, Washington. What a bargain! The rowing club had a yacht marina but its main function is to facilitate sculling activities. Club members of all ages come to row sculling boats of all sizes from single person units to long, multi-rower, boats. Members learn the techniques of rowing and engage in physical exercises as well as participation in team building. In addition to rowing and scheduled sculling races, the club has a gym, a rugby team and a field hockey team. To top it all, it is in a dream location, right next to the famous Stanley Park in British Columbia! The present clubhouse, a beautiful heritage building, and was opened in 1911. If Ted and I were living in Vancouver, we would definitely join the club. The bar/restaurant is a popular watering hole during the late afternoon and evening every day for young and old alike.

Ted and I were able to circumnavigate Stanley Park on our bikes while Van and Cida sauntered in the park. Scores of tourists and locals were doing exactly what we were doing - biking, roller blading and walking. The city Park and Recreation Department has separate lanes for bikers and roller bladders and walkers, allowing people to safely engage in their preferred activities. Some cyclists were exceptionally fast but thankfully most people obey the rules of passing and so forth. When one cyclist overtakes another, he or she says in a loud voice, “On your left” or right, as the case may be. It is a beautiful park right in the center of the city with numerous marinas. It is wonderful to see the locals and tourists take pleasure in such a beautiful natural resource.