Dammed if you do, damned if you don't.

A little while ago we had a peek at supernatural Vancouver, British Columbia.  This time around let's have a gander at Super, Natural British Columbia® (brand. ... Please note:Super, Natural British Columbia is a registered trademark of the Province of ...)  

er...

This is our local beach on Sunday morning.  St Patrick's day was cold, bright and windy, and after a really tough week, I couldn't wait to get out, climb some hills, and set my heart at ease.

We headed straight for the Cleaveland Dam. 

 Mmm...you've gotta love the word Cleaveland. No. I'll probably never grow up. I do try to pretend I'm mature and responsible, but it's never very convincing.

The Lions after which the bridge is named. photo by panorimo

That's what it looks like in the summer. Mmmm summmmmer...  there's a lot more white in the picture this week, but you'll have to imagine that bit, since I didn't get a photo.  I did take another picture of my bike, though, because it has shiny gold wheels, and I love shiny things.

And if you look across the side my bike is leaning on, you'll see something like this, all shrouded in mist from the water plummeting to the ground hundreds of feet below:

It's much more impressive if you actually lean over and look down the steep incline, but my body has it's own opinion of heights, and so you'll also have to imagine that dizzying drop for yourself.

Down the road a little

 you'll find the fish hatchery.  Not a lot of salmon around this time of year, but sometimes, it's literally hopping with fish.

so pretty...

... oh, and the scenery is alright, too.

We rode through Stanley Park on the way home, and saw Great Heron nesting by the dozens.

Here's one of those great, big, noisy, prehistoric beasts landing as gracefully as you could wish:

Nearly home, on the way over the Burrard St Bridge, we saw one of the Kit's Point eagles by the nest in its tree.

We were on the road for just two hours, give or take, with numerous stops for my inept photography, and yet we were witness to more wilderness than most people see in a month, and as a result I ended my ride in a much better place than I began.  Where else on Earth can you ride out from the very heart of the city and yet find wilderness at every turn?

There's trouble brewing here in beautiful British Columbia, no small thanks to our Canadian legacy of less-than-transparent, less-than-trustworthy government, but it's always a good idea to take stock of your blessings, and in this city we are well and truly blessed with our access to super, natural beauty, to wild places and gorgeous outdoor spaces. You'd be a damned fool not to make the most of it.