Late last month reporter Andy Prest went on a Twitter binge documenting the amusing and amazing sights along his walk home on the North Vancouver waterfront. We've collected those tweets here for your enjoyment.
This week was one that made me realize how incredibly lucky I am to live in this beautiful place. I biked, jogged and walked home from work, and I couldn’t stop taking pictures of all the cool, kooky, amazing sights along the way. Let me show you. #NorthVan pic.twitter.com/goFrVRaVKS
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Just to situate things a bit, this is literally one block from my work. And I work in a neighbourhood that is most definitely NOT regarded as a nice part of town. pic.twitter.com/CJ1JGTF0mD
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
On with the walk. The nifty bridge on the right is a great place to eat lunch and watch the trains go by, and the creek and woods on the left are always full of birds. Lots of eagles around here. pic.twitter.com/dUN3cZfCgt
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
@mybodwell school added a pretty dope mural this summer. pic.twitter.com/pp3h89c9Tr
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
That crane on the right is used to build a icebreakers and navy supply ships and cool crap like that. A nine-year-old won a naming contest for the crane with "Hiyí Skwáyel," which is Squamish for Big Blue. Fair enough – it can lift 300 tonnes and stands 80 metres tall. pic.twitter.com/FCM2f2q7cx
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Earlier in the week there was a VERY fit athlete training here, just straight smashing hit after hit. Sorry, no photos of that. Not a bad place for some Super Spike V’Ball though. pic.twitter.com/nyZVb1VTqO
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Hey NBD, just a big-ol’ gang of seals hanging out in the Vancouver skyline. Apparently they like Burrard Inlet because the orcas don’t want to mess with all the shipping traffic. What up, seals?! pic.twitter.com/yzMJkbPe1a
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
I didn’t take this video, but here’s an orca punting a seal 80 feet in the air. Orcas are badass.https://t.co/1tMu8OXdEx
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Right in front of me this seagull just face-smashed straight into the water and came up with a starfish in its mouth. I was impressed. pic.twitter.com/m0r8lNGs8Q
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
This is the start of the newly completed Mosquito Creek connector on the Spirit Trail along the North Shore waterfront. This little zig and zag cost SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS! These red hands denote the start of the connector. They’re like, “High five! You found the connector.” pic.twitter.com/lpZNlsoKsb
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Wut. I love carvings and all, and yes it is called “Mosquito Creek,” but no one ever anywhere should spend any time or money celebrating the world’s worst animal. And we don’t get many mosquitos here at all! It's another reason everyone in the Rest Of Canada hates us. pic.twitter.com/tJWRaCRMtE
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
On the side of the mosquito carving is this cool martian-looking guy. Is he supposed to be there? Is he a vandal’s doodle? *Shoulder shrug emoji* I don’t know. I do know I like him a billion times more than a mosquito. pic.twitter.com/AoAcYs00Wl
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Here’s the connector. It’s a walled tunnel/corridor thing that sneaks under a bit of ocean and that crane thingy. $7 million. Seems like a lot, but the connector makes a huge difference for navigating the waterfront by foot or bike. It’s the reason I can now take this route home. pic.twitter.com/a9nb1eZMPT
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
This mirror allows you to spot oncoming bikes/perverts in the little tunnel. pic.twitter.com/rQj42CApAI
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Out the other side of the connector! Taking this route allows you to skip a terrible walk/bike, the death trap/smog factory of 3rd Street heading towards that weird five-point intersection and kooky car wash. Anyway, this hula monkey welcomes you to Mosquito Creek Marina. pic.twitter.com/jaJyNbpfee
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
This church was first constructed in 1864. Word. pic.twitter.com/PRkDQcM84k
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
The new route has allowed me to enjoy a lot of new sights, and I always get a kick out of these floating houses. I guess if you live in a floating house though, you have to be prepared to go Slanty Shanty every once in a while. pic.twitter.com/vfaVpU7fWB
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Anyway, seems like a pretty cool place to live. pic.twitter.com/DfT5xlAfhb
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
How about a war canoe just rolling in. Sure! pic.twitter.com/7cDWFOKTHT
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Ahoy! pic.twitter.com/oLbJTz5gUY
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them. pic.twitter.com/KN0w86r9pH
Waterfront Park is full of cool stuff. Plants shaped like an anchor! ⚓️ pic.twitter.com/N1qpeaQYM8
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
I always think of this as “the spider.” It’s actually called “Cathedral” and is supposed to conjure the mountains. OK, I guess ️ pic.twitter.com/EZU1KfXCgC
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
A gift from Korea. Thanks Korea! pic.twitter.com/2opdAjCo2U
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
An ocean thingy! #NorthVan #oceanthingy pic.twitter.com/igAfR0X49Z
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Yeah, we have palm trees. pic.twitter.com/CsPpcAr9NE
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Even our complimentary bike hiders have cool designs on them. My kids had a blast one day playing in these things. (Or, if my wife is reading this, no they didn’t). pic.twitter.com/806nX9fvdg
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
This is the worst part of the walk. It sucks that the first thing people see upon arriving in #NorthVan on the wonderful SeaBus is this bus dungeon. #busdungeon pic.twitter.com/vLwCC1skm9
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Here’s brewery No. 1 on my walk home. pic.twitter.com/iv1WbmUX0m
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Hey look, there's my back!https://t.co/mA0g1oOsA0 @greenleafbrew
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
The big Q stands for Quay. Or, as it’s pronounced by my friends from the Prairies who read the word before hearing it spoken, the "Kway." pic.twitter.com/Uqy9OV5cwh
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Look at this bigass yacht. I could barely fit it in the frame. Attessa IV, often docked here, is owned by billionaire Dennis Washington. Forbes yacht porn says the 332-footer “may not be the biggest but it is one of the most exquisite.” Same. pic.twitter.com/oIXLDGw7T2
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Here’s the brilliant new Polygon Gallery, which specializes in photo exhibits and is also a great place to have a party. Nice cameo from Tap and Barrel here too. Note that none of this stuff was here when I moved here in 2009. pic.twitter.com/j0gHGThz08
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
This is an upside-down flag pole. Makes you think, doesn’t it. Some local birds thought about it, and decided it was a great place to knock in some holes and make a nest. pic.twitter.com/x615YOBVGA
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Too bad this was turned off. Even when it's off, though, it still looks great. And when it’s on, this new oceanfront water feature between the gallery and Tap and Barrel is basically the greatest place on earth. pic.twitter.com/YBxWfkLh68
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
That’s a big yacht. pic.twitter.com/ID1DWji5YB
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Megabench. It’s a big bench. pic.twitter.com/nHmY12A2gD
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
This stage has seen a lot of good music. Adam Woodall himself has played here more than 8,000 times. Approximately.
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
The big hook comes down and grabs acts that are really bad (Never happened to Adam). #northvan pic.twitter.com/EFv84a7pCz
More uplifting stuff. pic.twitter.com/kWTkJJh9cp
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Just a giant anchor hanging out. Oh, and can you also spot the huge propeller? pic.twitter.com/w1r5MxLGw0
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
A taste of the Prairies. Shout out to my farm buddies! This is where a lot of your grain goes. pic.twitter.com/7Bnmy4gSMD
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Brewery No. 2 on my walk home. The guy who founded the brewery is named Matt Beere. It was destiny! They’re new-ish, but they make some goooood stuff. @BeereBrewingCo pic.twitter.com/zL2Tlg6RkT
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Hey there's the talented @mikalefenton with the @NorthVanCityLib's very cool Book Bike! No relation to @drakefenton or @Drake. pic.twitter.com/q5BwbFVp8u
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
And don’t sleep on Rack Stop either. Those folks know their way around a rack.
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Hi @griffinsboxing! pic.twitter.com/1EcL0j2lR3
Spinny things on poles. ♂️ pic.twitter.com/6Ys7mjExyc
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Love this part of the Spirit Trail. Great for biking – my youngest kid basically learned to ride here. pic.twitter.com/cNpsicUw2z
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Free food! pic.twitter.com/ui5t6QaBj2
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Fun twisty trail. Like a race track for toddlers. Vroom! pic.twitter.com/VgjZeDLVKy
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
The Moodyville wasteland that will soon be full of condos and townhouses and Subarus. A little creepy here now though – good thing this army truck is here keeping an eye on things. pic.twitter.com/UlUGTqZ7bv
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
Almost home. This is just one of the many gigantic trees in my neighbourhood. Look how much taller it is than the houses and power pole. pic.twitter.com/YQrVjNfPk9
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
This monkey puzzle tree is bananas.
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
It is also really, REALLY sharp. pic.twitter.com/sC7DFax5F4
Home! And look-I got a sixer of Red Racer tall boys for $10. It was a top-3 pilsner in at the national beer awards! What a price! Good thing, because it’s about the only thing I can afford in this town. But dang, weeks like this make me think it might just be worth it. Bye! pic.twitter.com/b3YWLxa0vk
— Andy Prest (@Sports_Andy) September 1, 2018
