John Harvey Photo

Granite Falls

Go to Slide Show Smaller Images Welcome to my stag



This Will Fit Right
The traditional stag event generally involved bar hopping and drinking.  Lot of fun until stomach contents are dropped off somewhere.  I wasn't so into that scene so my best man (and friends) generously organized a camping trip instead.  That said, it wasn't exactly booze free.

The Booze Comes Marching InThe Zoo At Deep Cove

We rented from Deep Cove Kayak center.  Deep cove is at the far end of North Vancouver and sits at the bottom of Indian Arm - a large body of ocean that heads roughly north towards the Indian river.  The kayak center rents kayaks for 24+ hours and after reviewing the tides, we went with a noon until noon package.  While I've been on a number of kayaking trips, the rest of the group has less experience, so we knew this trip would be a new experience.

And We Are OffPaddling Out Of Deep Cove

Silver Falls And Jeremy
We were a little worried about the time (the kayaking web site suggested the trip up would be between 3 hours and 6 hours) and we wanted to get to the camp site to ensure we got a good spot.  We cruised by silver falls and had to turn around just to take a rest for a few minutes.  It's a nice little waterfall.

Silver Falls Wide
 
 
David Hanging Out
I bought a good chart before we went so we had a pretty good idea where we were at all times.  By the time we came up to Croker Island, we knew we good for time so we could hang out a little on our approach. 

Eric And Mark Paddling Into ViewSean In A Kayak


Paddling To Granite Falls
Granite Falls (our destination) really stood out on the shoreline.  So did all of the small boats moored close by.  At this point I got worried again about camp site space (I know people with small boats often camp half their part on shore) but at this point there was little we could do about the time.  We kayaked across the channel as a group (trying to be more visible) and found the nice beach to land.  The beach was crowded but the camp site was only half occupied and we had no problem finding nice spots to set up tents.


How To Keep Your Beer Cold
So we attended to our most urgent issue - how do we get our beer cold?  Turns out there is a handy waterfall right next door to the camp site and with all that snow fed water running by, it cools down a keg pretty quick.  Crisis of warm beer avoided - thank you!

Mark Next To Falls
We setup tents and Jeremy was the maestro of cooking.  We realized no one brought cards but we were all a little worn out from our day of paddling.  We tried to use the booze to warm our bodies but that beer cooler next door turned out to also cool the air around us. 
 
Setting Up TentsMaking Up DinnerEvening Tea

Moon Lit Bay
The camp site has a view south down Indian Arm and while you can see the glow of the city, because the arm is bent you can't actually see any of the city lights directly (like SFU).  The next morning the sun rose to light the far side of the arm, but it was a long time before the sun rose high enough to light the bottom. 

Indian Arm Mirror At Sunrise

Preparing Kayaks In Morning
We had a long way to kayak back and the tide and wind weren't going to be in our favor for the entire time.  Because our reservation ended at Noon we had to get going fairly early, which was especailly rough for Mark who was still feeling the night before. 


Eric Showes How Its DoneJeremy Takes ABite

I don't know who's idea it was exactly, but with our reduced beer suply, it was decied that a morning "hair of the dog that bit you" was needed before we started paddling.  Nothing is better than a bit of warm beer before you get into a damp kayak for a long paddle in the sun.  Good thinking!

John Takes ABite
 
  The water was calm and the views beautiful.  Being early on a Sunday morning, the boat traffic was light as was the wind.

Starting Out In MorningRounded Croker Island
 
  David And Sean With Morning Haze

We kayaked on the eastern side of the channel to avoid the sun for as long as we could (on the water, sun seems to count twice).  As we turned the corner in the arm we were exposed to the wind and our progress slowed.

Paddling By In Morning Fog
 
 
  On the way up the arm we noticed the power generation buildings.  On the way back we paddled by closer to take a better look.  There was a big stone title "Vancouver Power Co LTD" on the front of the building.

  Vancouver Power Company

These two power houses we built in 1903 and 1914 and apparently one of the buildings is still in use generating power.  It's amazing to me how beautiful these buildings are when compared to the utilitarian (windowless boxes) they build now.

  Coming Around Power PlantOld Power Plant
 
We got back on time, unpacked the kayaks and fell into the honey donut place.  Those were some of the best deserved donuts I've ever eaten.

Thanks everyone for the trip - a great send off to married life!
 


Paddling By In Morning Fog
Tags: flare, kayaking
The Booze Comes Marching In
Person: Eric, Jeremy, Mark
Altitude: 3m (9 feet)
Location: Go To...
David And Sean With Morning Haze
Tags: flare, fog, kayaking
Starting Out In Morning
Altitude: 3m (9 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: kayaking, vista
Old Power Plant
Altitude: 1m (3 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: building, coast
And We Are Off
Tags: Deep Cove, kayaking
Evening Tea
Tags: cooking, long exposure
Sean In A Kayak
Person: Sean
Altitude: 5m (16 feet)
Location: Go To...
Vancouver Power Company
Tags: building, coast
David Hanging Out
Person: David
Preparing Kayaks In Morning
Tags: kayak
Rounded Croker Island
Person: David, Mark, Sean
This Will Fit Right
Coming Around Power Plant
Tags: building, coast, kayaking
Paddling To Granite Falls
Tags: kayaking
The Zoo At Deep Cove
Altitude: 3m (9 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Deep Cove, packing gear
Eric And Mark Paddling Into View
Person: Eric, Mark
Paddling Out Of Deep Cove
Person: David, Mark, Sean
Eric Showes How Its Done
Person: Eric
Silver Falls And Jeremy
Person: Jeremy
Location: Go To...
Mark Next To Falls
Tags: waterfall
Setting Up Tents
Person: Eric, Sean
Altitude: 15m (49 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: camping, tent
Making Up Dinner
Tags: cooking
How To Keep Your Beer Cold
Tags: waterfall
Jeremy Takes ABite
Person: Jeremy
John Takes ABite
Person: John
Moon Lit Bay
Tags: moon
Indian Arm Mirror At Sunrise
Tags: reflection, sunrise
Silver Falls Wide
Altitude: 12m (39 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: kayaking, waterfall
Tags: Do Not Tag(11), kayaking(7), building(3), coast(3), waterfall(3), flare(2)
People: Eric(4), Mark(4), Sean(4), David(3), Jeremy(3), John(1)
From: John Harvey Photo > John Harvey Photo - Camping > Granite Falls
From: John Harvey Photo > Blogs for 2024 to 2005 > Granite Falls
From: John Harvey Photo > Photos of Vancouver > False Creek > Granite Falls
From: John Harvey Photo > Granite Falls

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Last Modified Saturday, January 21st, 2023 at 23:46:33 Edit
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