Once again I find myself having to catch up before leaving town for the next big adventure. I'll tell you about my
library quest first of all.
And because I scrolled backwards through my pictures to document this, we'll go backwards in time.
A couple of weeks ago I went to a foot nurse on Broadway (in my never-ending quest to have my feet not hurt) and then headed up to
Queen Elizabeth Park. I have a friend who lives nearby, and we met at the
library branch close to the park. I confess, I have no idea who Terry Salman is, and the street the library is on, Clancy Loranger Way, was also completely unknown to me.
The library branch is in a community centre, surrounded by sports fields and a stadium.
Inside it was nice, well equipped with chairs and computer terminals and hold shelves and all the good things.
Queen Elizabeth Park is on a hill, and we duly clambered up to the top and saw tons of different daffodils, cherries, rhododendrons and other spring flowers.
I bet that right now the tulips are going crazy up there. There is a dearth of cafes in the neighbourhood, but luckily I got a cup of tea at Monique's house. A thing I wish I had taken pictures of is the line of sequoias
down the middle of Cambie Street! It's a grand boulevard, and I am still astonished at how many sequoias we have in Vancouver. Funny how, as a teenager, I didn't know or care.
Our next stop could have come at any time in this series, as it is
my local branch where I go every week or so.
It is also in a community centre, with a skating rink and an active pottery group, among other things. The library is named after Joseph Seraphim Fortes, a lifeguard on Vancouver beaches, swimming teacher, immigrant and all-around good guy.
The library is surrounded by shops, cafes, apartment buildings and all the downtown liveliness.
In late March, I proposed a two-library trip to the western end of the city, including the little Dunbar branch, where both Stephen and I had our first library cards. We went on a Sunday, and the Dunbar branch was closed when we started off in the morning, so we walked to the West Point Grey branch, through the woods and Pacific Spirit Park.
Our friend Jennifer came along, with her book about the cherry trees of Vancouver. We saw a good one down a back lane and had to go and inspect it.
When we got to West 10th, we had a nice lunch down the street from the library. There is
an excellent knitting shop across the street, but some people were not keen to visit. Another time...
A pretty cool book drop, eh?
On our way back to the Dunbar library we passed what used to be the Convent of the Sacred Heart, a big old Catholic school and convent. Now it's part of a boys' school. I don't remember it being quite so visible from the road; I think there were hedges or at least lots more high plants.
Back to the Dunbar branch and memory lane. Both these branches are little single-storey buildings on local main drags. The Dunbar branch is tiny, really, but the check-out desk is just where it always was, kid books on the left, adult on the right. Last on our tour is the Kitsilano branch, early in March. I believe this was also connected to a visit to the foot nurse, so we have come full circle. This is another little stand-alone branch, serving the local community with story-time when I was there.
I have twelve more branches to go! I like doing the walk from one to another so I will try to make some interesting routes.
Right now, though, I am off to the UK for another walking trip! Stephen is joining me, my brother and his partner, and my friend Patricia, who went to Norfolk with me last year. We go tomorrow morning! You can always see what I am doing on Instagram, and of course I have every intention of blogging it all up when I get back.
