What’s Happening in & near Vancouver, BC in August?

July 29, 2010

I think summer is one of the best times to visit British Columbia. The sun consistently shines but it’s rarely stinking hot. In August there plenty of activities to keep people of all ages and interests engaged and happy. Here are some ideas to consider.

Vancouver

  • Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival Plays are offered nightly and take place in Vanier Park. This year Falstaff, Henry V, Antony and Cleopatra and Much Ado About Nothing are offered.
  • Abbotsford Air Show The air show takes place August 13,14 and 15th. Prices are $30 per adult and $12 for kids aged 6-12.

3860761962 734ef55840 Whats Happening in & near Vancouver, BC in August?

  • Theatre Under the Stars This year Singin’ in the Rain and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat alternate evenings in Stanley Park until August 21st. Ticket prices start at $19.
  • Try Sewell’s Sea Safari two hour tour out of Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver. Explore caves, check out harbour seals, enjoy views of the Vancouver skyline and look for bald eagles. Prices are $73 per adult and $43 for kids.

Victoria

  • 2010 Canada Dry Dragon Boat Festival From August 13-15th Victoria’s inner harbour is the site of dragon boat races. Lots of multicultural performances complement the exciting races. Free admission.

Vancouver Island

  • Hike for one day or backpack for up to four days on the Juan de Fuca Trail – a shorter, easier and less expensive version of the West Coast Trail.

Tofino

4163667539 25071dff89 Whats Happening in & near Vancouver, BC in August?

Whistler Area

Whistler zipline 141 Whats Happening in & near Vancouver, BC in August?

On the Whistler Zipline

  • Hike to the Black Tusk - a long – 29 km -but very rewarding day hike though you can backpack to Taylor Meadows and finish the hike the next day.
IMG 0736 Whats Happening in & near Vancouver, BC in August?

View of the Black Tusk from Panorama Ridge

  • Discover the Stein Valley River. It’s about a three hour drive from Vancouver and offers spectacular peaks, glaciers, meadows, lakes and lots of wildlife including black and grizzly bears.

Sunshine Coast

  • Take a boat tour of spectacular Princess Louisa Inlet. It’s a long fjord with world class mountain scenery and numerous waterfalls including the famous Chatterbox Falls.
  • Hike to the Skookumchuck Rapids – the second largest saltwater rapids in the world. Check the tide schedules before you go so you catch the action of the kayakers in some of the bigger waves. It’s an easy 5 mile return hike to get to the rapids.

222677282 3d5632239a Whats Happening in & near Vancouver, BC in August?

Posted by Hike Bike Travel | Filed Under Adventure Travel, British Columbia, Canada, Hiking, backpacking, walking | Leave a Comment 

Highlights on the Cumbria & West Highland Ways

July 29, 2010

Just a few weeks ago I finished hiking the Cumbria Way through England’s Lake District and the West Highland Way in western Scotland.

Here are my highlights and favourite sections on the Cumbria Way

  • Around Beacon Tarn on  the way to Coniston
  • The climb to Stake Pass and the walk down the valley towards Rosthwaite
  • The entire day from Keswick to Caldbeck
  • Hospitality and friendliness of the locals
  • Lovely, pastoral scenery
Cumbria Way 126 Highlights on the Cumbria & West Highland Ways

Day 2 Scenery on the Cumbria Way

Favourite B&B’s on the Cumbria Way

Candlewyck Farm B&B Set on 7 acres of land within walking distance of the start of the Cumbria Way.
Claremont House in Ambleside. It’s not fancy but Dave the host was truly outstanding. He is a former member of the Mountain Rescue Team and is a wealth of information on hiking in the Lake District. He very generously went out of his way on several occasions to pick us up and drop us off at trailheads.
Edwardene Hotel in Keswick. Lovely rooms, nice breakfast and our hosts without asking washed and dried our stinky clothes. Amazing hospitality!

Best Restaurant on the Cumbria Way

Zeffirellis Compston Road, Ambleside Ph: 015394 33845.  Excellent, inventive italian inspired vegetarian menu – even for people who may not usually eat vegetarian!!

Favourite Sections & Highlights on the West Highland Way

West Highland Way 242 Highlights on the Cumbria & West Highland Ways

View from the top of the Devil's Staircase, West Highland Way

  • Lovely section of walking with views of Dumgoyach on Day 1
  • The Conic Hill area on Day 2 is beautiful. Stunning views of Loch Lomond and the islands along the West Highland Fault greet you.
  • Some but not all sections of walking along Loch Lomond
  • Views of the hills, water and islands are excellent from the Bridge of Orchy to Inveroran
  • The remote feeling of Rannoch Moor
  • This may sound weird but loved watching the British military jets flying through the mountains – sometimes below me!
  • The Devils Staircase and the first few miles past it towards Kinlochleven
  • Hiking the Old military road out of Kinlochleven
  • Catching a sheep roundup complete with 4 farmers and 12 dogs
  • ‘Oreo cookie’ cows

Best Accommodation on the West Highland Way

Anchorage Cottage An eight minute drive from Rowardennan at the end of day 2 and just across the street from Loch Lomond. Get picked up from Rowardennan and delivered to a very clean and comfortable B&B. There’s also a pleasant sitting room complete with computer and free WiFi. Hosts were very accommodating and friendly.
Ewich Guest House This place is about 3 miles from Tyndrum and about a 10 minute drive from the Drovers Inn. Car pickups are easily arranged. Stay here for 2 nights while you hike from Inverarnan to Tyndrum. It had the best breakfasts by far on the West Highland Way. Nicely appointed single and double rooms are both available at very reasonable prices. Great bird watching and a farm like setting with chickens and llamas.  Also enjoy a lovely sitting area with a fireplace. Dinners available too any month but July.

Best Restaurant on the West Highland Way

The Lime Tree Enjoy inventive cuisine at this restaurant that has been awarded One Michellin Star.

Best Birdbook for England, Scotland (& Europe)

Birds of Great Britain and Europe (RSPB) by Rob Hume. Published by Dorling Kinderslry. ISBN# 0-7513-1234-7.

Most Useful Article of Clothing

Arm warmers. Temperatures varied over the day, body heat varied and they were a cinch to take off and put on.

How do they do it?

Most B&B’s offer blood pudding (sometimes fried) along with streaky bacon, sausages and eggs, tomatoes and beans for breakfast. It’s the same breakfast all over Great Britain. Wait a few weeks after you get home to get your cholesterol checked.

Wierdest Pizza Topping

  • Haggis

Incredible but True

  • The number of outdoor-climbing shops in the town of Ambleside in the Lake District is 34.
  • Keswick, another town 17 miles north, has 38 outdoor-climbing type shops.

Don’t Forget

  • A sunhat that stays on in the wind
  • A heavier raincoat.
  • Various sizes of Compeed – a blister remedy available all over Great Britain

More posts on hiking the Cumbria and West Highland Way you might enjoy:

Leigh McAdam

HikeBikeTravel

Posted by Hike Bike Travel | Filed Under Adventure Travel, Europe, Hiking, backpacking, walking | 1 Comment 

How to Pick an Energy Bar

July 28, 2010

I maintain an interest in nutrition from my years spent as a Registered Professional Dietitian. Picking an energy bar based on flavour is one thing but I wanted to get a better handle on what else they delivered. I reviewed total calories, % protein, grams of fiber and milligrams of sodium of some of the commonly available brands. Price is obviously a big factor and is listed where possible. You pay for protein!

Broad recommendations for healthy populations are as follows:

  • Total calories for the day should consist of 10-20% protein, 30% fat and 50-60% carbohydrate. (1 g of protein and carbohydrate =4 calories, 1 g of fat = 9 calories)
  • 20-30g fiber/day
  • 2300 mg/day (maximum) of sodium  (1 tsp of salt contains about 2000 mg of sodium)
Packing for long distance walks 013 How to Pick an Energy Bar

Energy Bars

Clif Bars

Canada has a more limited selection of Clif Bar products ( Clif Mojo, Clif Kid, Clif C and Clif Crunch are not available in Canada) and many flavours are only found in the US.

  • Clif bars
    Clif Bars weigh 68 g and deliver between 230 -260 calories.  Look for 9-10 g of protein, 4-5 g fiber but sodium varies from 100mg (Cranberry Apple Cherry flavour) to 230mg (Crunchy Peanut Butter flavour). About $Cdn 1.40.
  • Luna Bars
    Luna Bars weigh 48g and deliver 170-190 calories. You’ll find 8-10 g of protein, 3-5 g fiber (chocolate raspberry has the highest fiber) and 95 -210 mg sodium (Chai Tea has the least whereas Vanilla Almond and White Chocolate Macadamia but have the most). About $Cdn1.40
  • Clif Builder’s Bar
    Clif Builder’s bars weigh 68g and deliver 270 calories. All bars contain 20 g protein. Fiber varies from 1g (Lemon) to 4g and sodium varies from 230 mg-310 mg (Peanut Butter flavour). About $Cdn1.80.

Lara Bars

Lara bars are gluten, dairy and soy free, vegan, kosher and non GMO. Bar size varies from 45 g to 51 g and each one delivers between 180 -220 calories, 3-6 g of protein, 3-5 g of fiber and from 0-85 mg sodium. Most of the bars have less than 10 mg of sodium. About $Cdn1.80.

PowerBars®

  • Powerbar® Sport Bar
    The Powerbar® Sport Bar weighs 63 g and delivers 230-250 calories, 8-10 g protein, 2 – 3.5 g fiber and 190-200 mg sodium.
  • Powerbar® Harvest Bar
    The Powerbar® Harvest bar weighs 58g and delivers 216 calories, 10 g protein, 4 g fiber and 80-120 mg sodium. About $Cdn 2.10.
  • Powerbar® Proteinplus® Bar
    Each of the Powerbar® Proteinplus® bars weighs 78g, delivers 300 calories, 24 g protein, 1 g fiber and 170-210 mg sodium. About $Cdn 3.40.
  • Powerbar® Triple Threat® Bar
    Each Powerbar® Triple Threat® Bar weighs 53g, delivers 225 calories, 10 g protein, 3.5 g fiber and 137-170 mg sodium. About $Cdn 2.10.

Honey Stinger

  • Honey Stinger Protein Bar
    Each Honey Stinger 20 Gram Protein bar weighs 86 g, offers 350-390 calories, 20 g protein, 2-3 g fiber and 55 -160 mg sodium. The 10 gram Protein bar weighs 42g, offers 190-200 calories, 10 g protein, 1-2 g fiber and 26-83 mg sodium. About $Cdn 2.90.
  • Honey Stinger Energy Bar
    Each Honey Stinger Energy bar weighs 50 g, offers 180-190 calories, 10 g protein, 1-2 g fiber and 140-170 mg sodium.

Probar

  • Probars are meant as meal replacements. None are gluten free. They weighs 85g, offers 380 calories, 9-11 g protein, 7 g fiber and 50 mg sodium. About $Cdn 3.75.
  • Fruition Bars
    Fruition bars weigh 48g, offer 160 cal, 3 g protein, 4 g fiber and 10-20 mg sodium. About $Cdn 2.40.

Nature’s Path Organic Optimum Energy Bars

Nature’s Path Energy Bars weigh 56g, offer 190-230 calories, 4-10 g protein (banana nut, matcha & flax is the 10g bar), 4-5 g fiber and 100-200 mg sodium. About $Cdn1.60.

In summary:

  • If you’re looking for calories choose a Clif Builder bar, a Probar, a Honey Sting Protein bar or a Powerbar® Proteinplus® bar.
  • Choose any Lara bar for a gluten free snack.
  • If you’re watching sodium avoid the peanut butter flavoured Cliff Builder bar.

Leigh McAdam

HikeBikeTravel

Posted by Hike Bike Travel | Filed Under Hiking, backpacking, walking | 2 Comments 

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