Yesterday we drove around the southernmost tip of Vancouver Island, surveying storm damage from the night before and witnessing towering waves crashing on shore and showering roads and pathways with debris. It was the first big storm of the season and being that we were on the Island, we were pretty concerned about our passage home. BC Ferries canceled their morning sailings but luckily my sister had reserved a spot on the 5pm a few days earlier, by that time they were running again and we were able to board on time.

One thing we did during our little drive around the area was visit Fort Rodd Hill and the Fisgard Lighthouse. The morning winds had calmed down somewhat so we ventured down a bumpy road, following the signs for a “National Historical Site”. The kids enjoyed seeing the four deer that were grazing in the middle of the field and I’m always a sucker for historical sites.

Fort Rodd Hill NHS commemorates the national significance of the Victoria-Esquimalt coast artillery fortress in the defence of Victoria and the naval base at Esquimalt harbour, as part of the larger defence strategy of the British Empire and Canada, 1878 to 1956.

Other important messages are the shift from British to Canadian responsibility for our national defence, and the evolution over time of the V-E Fortress in response to changing threats to Canada’s sovereignty. [Parks Canada]

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Fisgard Lighthouse NHS commemorates the national significance of the first lighthouse on Canada’s west coast. Fisgard has been an important symbol of sovereignty-British, Colonial and Canadian-since 1860.

Along with Race Rocks lighthouse, Fisgard provides a guide for mariners to Royal Roads anchorage, Esquimalt harbour and its naval base, and points the way to Victoria harbour. [Parks Canada]

As we walked across the man-made pathway between land and the Island on which the lighthouse stood, avoiding getting splashed by the sea that was still reeling from its outburst that morning, I turned around to take a photo of my sister and her family. Across the entire Eastern sky there was a complete rainbow, it was pretty beautiful even though one side of it did land in Esquimalt.

The whole place had kind of a Fort Langley feel to it, although the natural scenery was breathtaking. The lighthouse contained artifacts, an interpretive video, old lenses, wicks and fog horns. It was kinda creepy being in there and feeling the whole place grumble with the turn of the light – as it is still functioning today.

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

It was a nice find and I’d like to return some day as there were several buildings in the Fort that we didn’t head into, as well as about a dozen foot paths up and down the hillside that were just begging to be explored.

John and I are headed to the Island for a quick trip with my sister’s family. Since the Ghostly Walks in Victoria are only on Saturday nights, we may partake in our own creepy after-dark tour, finding the apparition of Robert Service above the “Seeing is Believing” store all by ourselves (oooohhhhhh!).

We’re leaving super early so I’ve timed this post, writing it on Saturday night. If you’re in town Sunday here’s a list of services around Metro Vancouver for Remembrance Day.

Source – News1130:

Photo credit: Darren Barefoot on Flickr

I also know it’s cliche, but for an occasion of solemn remembrance and reflection I feel I can’t express myself adequately enough, so here are some familiar words:

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
— John McCrae

This afternoon we grabbed some caffeinated beverages from a local coffee joint and headed to what is probably our favourite place in the city, Stanley Park. I couldn’t take in enough of the fresh autumn air.

I love this time of year because the park just seems alive, from squirrels rustling up some grub for the winter fattening to little streams and creeks popping up all over the place.

Trekking along the muddy Tatlow Walk, over to Rawlings, and down the Third Beach Trail, we had to check in on an old friend (“Sam“), a 800-1,000 year old tree that was toppled recently due to unstable soil.

I must give the Parks Board kudos (for once) since they have left him where he fell to become a nursery log and have routed the trail around all 130 feet of him.

At the bottom of Third Beach Trail we took a walk around the Sea Wall, which isn’t officially supposed to open until this coming Friday.

This was our first time on this part of the sea wall since it closed almost a year ago, and it was also the first time I had walked it in that direction (since you’re supposed to go East to West). The following are photos of the “forbidden” and still-closed side of the sea wall, which honestly doesn’t look very close to safely opening.

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

All photos for the walk today can be viewed in my Stanley Park Flickr Set.

Since the last two Miss604 Polls [1][2] were transit related, why not continue the theme.

In the news this morning is the subject of turnstiles at Skytrain stations. I don’t know about you but two things I always thought were pretty cool were a) the honor system on Skytrain and b) there’s no one driving the train.

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Sure, it sucks when you pay over $4 to go three zones and someone can just hop on without a ticket at their leisure and milk the system for free, but would the planned turnstiles be effective? I have many questions…

Apparently the Skytrain is a vehicle for crime, allowing all those hooligans from Surrey easy access to the pristine Vancouver stations, so would tougher enforcement of fare payment reduce this risk? Isn’t that why they shelled out all that money to get those Skytrain cops some guns?

Honestly, it wouldn’t bother me either way – to keep the fare-checking the same or to have fun little turnstiles that eat your ticket and spit it out the other side. I know I always pay, in many ways, for riding transit in the region so whatever, do what you gotta do Translink, but what about those that can’t?

Here are some reactions so far:

One Skytrain user says it’s about time already for these security measures. And another says he believes it would stop fare evaders.

Turnstiles will be in place at all stations before the 2010 Games and commuters will be able to pay with a smart card, which can be loaded online. [News1130]

Smart cards? NOW we’re talkin‘.

One might think most fare paying Skytrain riders would generally be supportive of the plan.

But while those getting off the train here this morning aren’t opposed to the move, they also aren’t optimistic about whether it will work.

“Do you think it will work? Cut down on fare evasion? — No, well you’ve got to think of the poor. They can’t afford anything.”

“If you look at other jurisdictions where they have turnstiles, they actually have as much or more fare evasion then we do.”

So what about safety? Will turnstiles make riders feel safer?

“No, well I don’t think it would make any difference to safety.” [CKNW]

It’s obvious that there are mixed reactions but is this what Translink should be spending their money on? Put in your two cents below.

As I alluded to yesterday with my MPFR3DOM post, John and I will also be given a Brother Printer to test drive, taste test, sample, and play with for a little while. Here’s how marketing guru Darren Barefoot approached us.

See other comics sent to Jordan, DaveO and Tanya. If you’re a blogger and would like to participate in the printer taste test, just contact Darren.