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I too some time to explore inside the market area where there were a number of amusing statues depicting the gold miners as well as  my favorite, a pirates shop.  I just had to go in there and buy myself a couple of pirate souvenirs. 








Inside the little mall there were also a couple of restaurants and some other small shops.


I decided to go back that evening to have a feast of oysters at one of the sea-food restaurants at the Pier. I had been entranced on my first evening in Seattle by the brightly lit Big Wheel so it was fun explore the Miner's Landing by night.


I chose Elliot's Oyster House as the place to have my feed of fresh Pacific Coast oysters. It had a large selection of various kinds of oysters as well as other seafood. Raw oysters seemed to be the favorite choice, and there were dozens of varieties to choose from. 

The oysters are kept smothered in ice and are picked fresh every day.  The staff shucks the oysters at the counter and prepares the trays of customer's selections.





And a crisp warm bun made with basil served with fresh whipped butter.  And of course, a glass of white wine!  Mmmm, delicious! 

Elliott's Oyster House at Pier 56
www.elliottsoysterhouse.com

NEXT:  My Excellent Seattle Weekend Part III:  BEER & CLAMS AT PIKE'S BAR

Right in the heart of Vancouver's East End is a historic lake where the community can come together for family fun, a farmer's market, and sports events.  Trout Lake doesn't have any trout, and it's not that great for swimming, but for a splendid afternoon picnic or a quiet stroll it's the perfect place.


The name of the park is actually John Hendry Park named after John Hendry who owned the Hastings sawmill, one of Vancouver's first lumbering operations in the late 19th century.  The land was given to the Park Board in 1926 by Hendry's daughter who was married to the governor of the province, Eric Hamber.  She wanted the 27 hectare park named for her father, but it is most commonly known as "Trout Lake". 


The lake began as a natural peat bog and was an important water source for the mill.  The Hastings Sawmill was one of Vancouver's most important feature in the late 1800's.

The lake is edged with stands of yellow iris and willow trees. Ducks swim among the lily pads. Although there is no boating allowed, it always seemed to me the perfect place for a leisurely paddle and I have in the past actually swam there though the water is a bit murky.


The park is a favorite picnic area or a place to stroll or jog along the lake-side paths.  I loved riding my bike around the lake. There is a playground for the children, and the Trout Lake Community Centre provides lots of entertainment including a pottery studio, fitness centre, games room, sauna, gym, and ice rink.  The park hosts a Farmers Market every weekend with local products and crafts for sale. And it is a popular place for festivals such as the Illuminares lantern festival.  This week it was the gathering place for the National Aboriginal Week celebrations. And in August the Summer Dreams Literary Festival will be held in the park.

One popular feature of the park is the off-leash dog area at the north end of the lake. This is a perfect place to let your pooch run free and frolic with the other doggies. It's amusing to watch the social interaction between people's pets and of course the social interaction between the dog owners. The afternoon I was there several dogs were playing 'fetch the stick'. The 'alpha' dog had it but the others kept trying to get it away from him, in particular a tough little barky fellow who wouldn't give up the chase.

The original Grandview Community Gentre was constructed in 1963 and later renovated and renamed Trout Lake Community Centre. In 2010 the new ice rink and renovations to the community centre were completed in time for the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. It was used as the figure skater's training venue.

How to Get There:
By Transit from downtown, #7 Nanaimo (east then southbound), get off at East 17th and walk over to the park. Or take the #7 bus from the Nanaimo Skytrain north on Nanaimo St. and access the park from E. 17th Ave.

Central Park is a 90 hectare (222 acre) urban park in Burnaby, B.C.  The park was founded in 1891 and named to honour Mrs. David Oppenheimer, the wife of Vancouver's second mayor, who was born in New York City.

There's no nicer place close at hand to go for an afternoon stroll, and as I hadn't visited the park for some time, I decided to make that my Saturday afternoon destination this week.  The park is located on the border of Vancouver/Burnaby and it's easy to get to from where I live by bus and skytrain.

The park as many amenities besides the well-kept trails.  There is a running route (the Terry Fox route in honour of our beloved young cross-Canada runner who has inspired so many and in his name so much money has been raised for cancer research.  There are also fitness aids along the trails to help you stay fit.  And if all  you want to do is walk, there are many trails to explore.
Don't be alarmed if as y ou walk along you are greeted by the friendly black or grey squirrels or chipmunks.  They are so tame they'll come right up to you,  hoping you might have a little hand-out like some seeds or nuts.

The children's playground is full of exciting opportunities for adventure. 

And the day I was there, one of our last warm days of early Autumn, there were a lot of picnics.  The park is well equipped for group or individual picnics. There is also a pitch-and-putt, swimming pool, and lawn bowling facility in the park.


There's a small gazebo in the park. When I passed by later in the afternoon there was a wedding party there having their photos takens.


The first tinges of Autumn were being to show in the coloured leaves. Soon the park will be blazing with colour.  I meandered along the tree-lined pathways, not quite sure where I'd end up.  It's a bit of a maze in the woods but there were lots of people on the trails that day.


 The park's main attraction is the large proportion of  well-preserved temperate rainforest.  One of my favorite places in the park is the large duck pond.  Children enjoy feeding the ducks, but the signs around the park remind you not to feed the wildlife. So if you are inclined to do so make sure it's the appropriate kind of food for them.

I sat for awhile on a bench by the little 'lake' and meditated, wrote in my journal, and had a small picnic lunch.  Such a serene way to spend a Saturday afternoon!


If you go:
The main park entrance is off Kingsway near Patterson.  If you go by skytrain, get off at the Patterson station and walk into the park from there. You can also enter the park from Imperial Road to the south.