Hola amigo

This is the first written post for quite some time, been on a bit of a rather extended hiatus. Below you can see a selection of photos, the first photographic posts an age too.

Will probably make a lot more frequent posts from now on. In all likelihood this blog will become more of a fotoblog, share some images from here and there.

Totem pole in Victoria, BC

Seattle space needle

Don Cherry and Gilbert Brule

Me and Stanley

Subterranean Montreal

SUSHI!!!

Forgot to rotate this, oops, sunlight over lake Okanagen

Canadiens vs Maple Leafs

Industial building outside Halifax, NS

Moody sky in Abbotsford before the skydive

A fond view from the old neighbourhood

I'm being photographed... curious

Decent picnic spot?

Emerald lake with the Moose crew

Looking the other way

Rogers Pass, entry into the Rocky adventures

Last (sad) look at the Vancouver skyline before leaving the next day

Skytrain looking back towards Main street

Vancouver skyline from west Van as seen on Carribbean days.

Have a guess...

Kits beach from "Flip-Flop eye view"

Fantastic early evening light

Toronto, in the brewing district

Toronto skyline from the viewing deck of the CN tower

Fall leaves

Ottawa, Fairmont hotel

PICTURES NOW ELSEWHERE...

From my point of view it's been hard to access a computer regularly to update this site as i'd like, furthermore i know from feedback that the page takes an age to load on some connections due to the pictures embedded. I've tried to change the format, alas, to no avail.

So............. i'm putting my pictures on another blog. The address is www.spaces.msn.com/members/sbutler66 but still check here in the meantime for intermittant updates!!

SUN RUN 2005

Sunday April 17th, a bright but very overcast day. Race Day.

As forecast the day starting at 7am ish was overcast and threatening to rain. Luckily the rain didn't decide to drop until shortly before the race when all 48,000+ runners were huddled wating on Georgia for the start. It was pretty cramped under the Marriot awning I was sharing with fellow shivering runners.

There wasn't really that much room for stretching, or any kind of warm up run. So body heat had to suffice for the moment.

Teh Elite runner wave and the Yellow wave of runners were let out of the gate first. You can see on the picture that there were balloon arches marking out where respective bib colours had to line up according to anticipated finishing time.

The Bands had already been playing an hour to lift spirits and provide a beat for everyone to run to. Then the Greens were let loose...

The first 2km down georgia nad around the edge of Stanley park were mainly downhill, and assisted by wind and cooling rain most people went out pretty fast. There were a few sharp turns leading up to Beach Avenue, and the fresh precipitation made it a little slippery underfoot. Turning into beach avenue, close to the first water station a guy lost his footing on either a manhole cover or discarded soggy cup and crashed into me mid stride on his way down, taking me with him.

Nothing felt bad enough to stop so I carried on. The troublesome ankle took a bask and was a little swollen, as was my thigh and elbow. So the pace had to slow. Before the race i had set a realistic goal of 40-45mins. I knew that i would come in slower than that. The Burrard bridge was difficult due to the gradient, but once over the hump in more ways than one I tried to push on fo rthe final 5Km.

Having turned onto 2nd and eventually 6th Avenue, the road was straight and flat. Ended up passing a fair whack of people. Didn't have a clue where Sarah was at this point having lost sight with the little mishap.

Turning onto Cambie was myself and a wall of humanity so i hopped onto the footpath- this was a fair and legal move, so I was then able to make a bi tof a sprint finish and salvage a bit of time. My final time was 53: 43min. Not bad but would have liked better. Sarah beat her goal of 1 hour and ended up with a time of 52:02.

The highest point in Beacon Hill Park, the tip of Victoria. From here on a clear day it is possible to see the Olympis mountain range in Washington State, USA. Guess which mountain range you can see in the background. In the foreground is the Brass viewpoint disc marking distances to various peaks and points of interest. From memory i think Vanouver was 75 Km?

Whilst in Victoria the sun was out each day. So far the Island city has experienced twice as many sunlight hours than previous year's averages. As a result the blossoms on trees and flowers are out relatively early.

Taken in Vicotria on Vancouver Island, this is the Dominant hotel on the water front. Can you tell i was stalling hoping that the name would pop back in there. It didn't- so i'll have to come back and change this later...

GRanville Island Public Market and the Big Bridges Pub, Bistro Restaurant as seen from Granville Street Bridge. Behind is the Burrard Bridge and Mount Seymour.

Well, lo and behold i've found time to get in a written post. It's not been through lack of material, just a lack of time to get down the things I want to say.

I'm at the Central Library, Friday night, just finished week 2 at my new office job, and it's payday!! I have bit of time to spare tonight since I have a house party with some dudes from AE and I didn't want to bus home to get changed then have to come immediately back. So I took the lazy option and went smart casual to work. See you get to read all the fascinating details once more!!

Teh new job is with IG MicroMed Environmental Inc. They are a Micro Biology lab based in Richmond who analyse a multitude of environmental samples ranging from water to soil smaples. Furthermore they play a large role in the accreditation for the food industry locally, nationally and Internationally. The operation is easily the largest in Western Canada and have a truck load of accreditations to prove it.
My role is partly lab based, but is at the moment 99% administrative. I have to write up teh reports and results ready to fax to clients. But due to confidentiality agreements that's as far as I can go. I know- a shame eh?! The nice part is that the ole BSc is helpful and remains refreshed. the whole staff is very friendly and helpful, the only downer is the 3 bus, 60-90 minute commute each way. I would still prefer a downtown job, but we'll see what happens.

Tut, library is closing early tonight!! Other news will follow shortly.....

Another picture from Yaletown, this is the Marina area.

Gilbert and the living legend, Don Cherry! He's a beaut!

Gilbert Brule of the hometown Vancouver Giants, MVP of the game thanks to a three goal performance on the night.

Wee little mascots line the entrance to the ice wearing jerseys from the player's regular CHL team.

The two teams line up at the blue lines for the ceremonial face-off and National anthems

Me peering at a certain Stanley Cup!

Team Black = Team Cherry

The CHL prospects game skills competition at the PNE Collesium.

Why is it Black and White pics always look better?

The pink Yaletown banner

From Jericho beach at sunset whilst on a snowy walk around Kits.

Who's that?!

From Jericho beach looking over the Burrard inlet to the Coast mountains

Jericho Beach in Kits looking towards English bay.

Snowy day from the balcony, approx 7inches fell over a couple of days.

Behind the Vancouver art Gallery downtown just as the snow starts to fall

I've had a few requests for a pic from the outside. This is the view from the 10th Avenue bus-stop. The penthouse is on the top right corner at the back