John Harvey Photo

September 2021

Go to Slide Show Smaller Images Trying to keep that Social Distance


Riding the Stanley Park Railway

For Claira's birthday this year we rented the shelter close to the Stanely Park Railway and the kids rode the rails!  You can buy 10 kids rides at discount and we had two kids rides unused after the birthday.  The passes ended at the end of the season (just before school started) so to get our $4.40 worth, we went down to use up our last two passes.

Moths On TreeLoaded On Train


The kids like to sit near the rear of the train which gives some nice views as the train goes around curves.  The ride itself is something like 12 minutes and even though the kids rode in April, the certainly enjoyed their time on the train.

Stanley Park Train Over PondTwo Totem Poles In Background


The math doesn't really work out.  We saved $4.40 on the kids passes, but I needed an adult ride ($4) and we needed to park ($4 and change).  Either way, it was a fun little ride.

Claira Happy At End Of Ride

Light Up Chinatown

There have been a few great "Light Up" events in Vancouver like "Lumiere (2018, 2019, 2020)" or Illuminate Yaletown (2009, 2012, 2020).  Chinatown announced a new event and being outdoors we thought we would give it a try.  Sadly, there were no actual lights, but lots of lanterns and Chinatown is generally awesome!  We had dinner at our favorite Hong Kong style diner and the hit the streets.

Claira With Last BalloonIce CreamLanterns Over Columbia Street

They had live music and some venues were super busy, but other than the balloons, not a lot for kids.  We circled back and picked up an ice cream cone before heading home.

Crowd Outside Of Jade DynastySai Woo Fancy Sign

Walking Along West Dyke Trail

  Flowers Not Yet Bloomed
Beautiful days in September are precious - you really feel the need to make the most of them.  Wanting to fill in red dots on the map, I decided we should take walk along the West Dyke Trail in Richmond.

Stamens
You can follow this trail all the way down to Steveston - about 5km.  Claira didn't want to walk anything like that kind of distance so we decided to go with about a 3km round trip - out to a nice view point and back.

 
Slow CricketCar Carrier Sailing Past Jetty

Walking Along West Dyke Trail
The kids are good at keeping themselves entertained.  They found Dandelions were plentiful so every few steps they picked a new head and started blowing.  I think it helped them pass the time.

Claira Blowing Dandelion Long ExposureNaras More Erratic Flying Seeds
 

Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival 2021

The Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival has been a "Go To" event for us for years - I have photos from (2013, 2015, 2017, 2018 ).  This year Claira and I worked on making her her own lantern - butterfly wings with built in lights.  Over the course of a week we used reed to make a frame, put in LED lights and then covered the frame with tissue paper.  I sewed together some straps and she was ready for a lantern festival!

Claira With Her WingsWalking Down Lantern Lined Trail

Unfortunately, as we drove over to Renfrew, the rain started and got stronger by the minute.  By the time we arrived it was pouring and there was little we could about it.  We didn't want to stand around in the rain waiting for the dark so we went in at twilight.

Boat Shaped LanternsLanterns Next To StairsFinishing Lights On Stump

Frog Lantern With Eggs And TadpolesGolden Pig LanternFish Shaped Lanterns In Trees
 
Lanterns From SticksHummingbird Lights

The lanterns are a mix of new and old - some lanterns like the fish or the golden pig I've seen in previous years while quite a few were new this year.   Many of the little displays had tents or plastic over them so the lanterns wouldn't turn to mush before the night was out.  I quite enjoyed the central display of large crystal like lanterns hanging from a tree.  There seemed to be quite a few mobiles this year - lanterns slowly rotating in the wind.

Standing Under Shard TreeLarge Stick MobileOcean Themed Display

There are musicians or live performers spread around the park.  You don't have to go far to see something new.

Playing Clarinet With Forest AnimalsLive PerformanceHeron Shaped Lantern

Finding a good photo spot is always a bit of a challenge.  Being dark, you want a place where the lanterns throw some light on peoples faces, but not so much that the mood is ruined.  You don't want to over-expose so that the lantern light is blown out, but you also need the exposure to be short enough that the motion blur is in control.

Sun Shaped Lantern In TreeTiny Detailed LanternKids Under Geometrics Lanterns

As the night went on, my camera go wetter which gives a bit of a fog look.  Eventually you just have to put it away.

Claira And HelenClaira Showing Wings Under Geometrics LanternsNara Looking In Lantern

I know it's a challenge to run a festival like this in COVID times.  I'm really glad they did run it because it was great to get outside and see something amazing!


 
 


Sai Woo Fancy Sign
Altitude: 7m (22 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: sign, Vancouver Chinatown
Stanley Park Train Over Pond
Altitude: 38m (124 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Stanley Park Miniature Train
Stamens
Location: Go To...
Tags: invasive
Walking Down Lantern Lined Trail
Tags: lantern, Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival
Ocean Themed Display
Tags: lantern, Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival
Claira With Her Wings
Person: Claira
Tags: lantern, Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival
Flowers Not Yet Bloomed
Altitude: 1m (3 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: invasive
Loaded On Train
Person: Claira, Nara
Altitude: 21m (68 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Stanley Park Miniature Train
Nara Looking In Lantern
Frog Lantern With Eggs And Tadpoles
Lanterns Next To Stairs
Tags: lantern, stairs
Boat Shaped Lanterns
Tags: boat, lantern, stairs
Claira And Helen
Person: Claira, Helen
Moths On Tree
Live Performance
Tags: performance, Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival
Slow Cricket
Altitude: 6m (19 feet)
Location: Go To...
Claira Blowing Dandelion Long Exposure
Altitude: 4m (13 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: dandelion, motion blur, rim light
Walking Along West Dyke Trail
Person: Claira, Helen, Nara
Altitude: 4m (13 feet)
Location: Go To...
Playing Clarinet With Forest Animals
Crowd Outside Of Jade Dynasty
Altitude: 7m (22 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: building, Vancouver Chinatown
Finishing Lights On Stump
Tags: lights, stump
Two Totem Poles In Background
Altitude: 30m (98 feet)
Location: Go To...
Standing Under Shard Tree
Lanterns From Sticks
Tags: lantern, Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival, stick
Lanterns Over Columbia Street
Tags: food truck, Vancouver Chinatown
Tiny Detailed Lantern
Tags: lantern, Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival
Claira Happy At End Of Ride
Altitude: 17m (55 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: Stanley Park Miniature Train
Golden Pig Lantern
Hummingbird Lights
Ice Cream
Person: Claira, Nara
Altitude: 5m (16 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: balloon, ice cream, Vancouver Chinatown
Heron Shaped Lantern
Sun Shaped Lantern In Tree
Tags: lantern, Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival
Large Stick Mobile
Tags: lights, mobile, Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival, stick
Car Carrier Sailing Past Jetty
Altitude: 1m (3 feet)
Location: Go To...
Claira With Last Balloon
Altitude: 22m (72 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: balloon, Vancouver Chinatown
Naras More Erratic Flying Seeds
Altitude: 5m (16 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: dandelion, motion blur, rim light
Kids Under Geometrics Lanterns
Claira Showing Wings Under Geometrics Lanterns
Person: Claira, Nara
Tags: lantern, Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival
Fish Shaped Lanterns In Trees
Tags: fish, lantern, Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival
Tags: Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival(10), lantern(10), Vancouver Chinatown(5), Stanley Park Miniature Train(3), invasive(2), stairs(2)
People: Claira(6), Nara(4), Helen(2)
From: John Harvey Photo > Blogs for 2023 to 2005 > September 2021

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