All photos taken on December 6, 2023.
Like most parts of Canada in December, sunrise and sunset occurred here, during our waking hours (just after 8 AM and around 4:30 PM), so there was never any difficulty being out in the city, during hours of twilight and darkness. Combine this with twice weekly training sessions for Benji, the Wonder Dog and my evening photo ops were plentiful.
Tonight’s session on Granville Island was not too far away and would give us a chance to see the city lights from a new vantage point. B rode a bike down, but Pat and I, accompanied by BtWD, drove and easily found free parking (naturally, parking is free when all the shops are closed).
Below is our driving map showing the route as well as one additional unplanned stop after the training.
Here is our 2 km. ( 1 1/4 mile) walk around the “island”, really, a peninsula.
The cloud cover did lighten up the dark skies somewhat, as we explored.
City view from Alder Bay Dock
View from Ron Basford Park
Boats and houseboats in Pelican Bay Marina.
Vancouver downtown across False Creek
Granville Bridge and city skyline
At times, our waterfront walk was interrupted by warehouses converted into shops, industrial or school uses. This would often mean we would have to double back and go further inland to get around these obstacles.
Vancouver Dragon Boat Race boat storage
The ambiance on the island is basic industrial dockyard
There are still art schools on the island, even though long time Emily Carr University of Art & Design (established in 1925 and currently ranked #24 in the world) relocated away from the island in 2017.
What do you do to make ugly cement silos look pretty? Paint them up to look like cartoon characters…
…and paint the transit mixers as well.
Whimsical Christmas decoration
Former halibut fishing boat “RELIEF” as an eye catcher for the Sandbar Seafood Restaurant, Granville Island, Vancouver – The Relief was built in 1929 by McLean’s Shipyard in Seal Cove, Prince Rupert, as a 50-foot halibut fishing boat for Captain Merrill Sollows. After a stint as a rum runner, she was a very productive troller. But like many other wooden ships, Relief ended up needing too much work to make her seaworthy. The Sandbar Restaurant bought and mounted her outside to enhance the view for diners. Today, she sits proudly in front of the concrete footing of the Granville Street Bridge adding that extra “little something” to your waterfront dining experience!
(Source: Shipspotting.com)
The city’s evening glow
under the Granville Bridge
No crowds left at the Granville Island Public Market.
The Granville Bridge on one side…
…and the Burrard Bridge on the other. All manner of boats at the marinas.
This glowing tree was set up in the plaza outside the Bread Affair bakery.
Window shopping
Walking opposite the Public Fish Market by the Simply Sailing Dock.
Our island circumnavigation nearly over, it was time to head back to the car.
PHOTODROP8 
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