Rendezvous Summertime Picnic 2010

Rescheduled to August!

 

 This is your invitation

to the

Rendezvous

Summertime Picnic

 

Sunday, August 8th

@  5:00 pm

Hicks Lake Day-use Picnic Area

Travel through the town of Harrison Hot Springs and follow signs northeast on Rockwell Road for about 11 km to the Sasquatch Park entrance.

Continue another five km within the park on a well-maintained gravel road to Hicks Lake.

Please Bring:

Picnic food contribution for a potluck picnic.

Pop, coffee, etc.

 Lawn chairs, bocce, croquet, etc.

We will provide:

Eating & drinking utensils, table cloths, napkins and drinking water.

Hike the Hicks Lake Loop Trail…

If it happens to be a nice day, this would be a great opportunity to hike the loop trail around the lake earlier in the afternoon. 

It is about a 4 mile hike…a leisurely 90 minute walk…with lovely views.  

For more information call Judy @ 604-792-2322 or Lenora @ 604-792-7383

 Rendezvous is a Central social ministry targeting those in their 40’s, 50’s and 60’s…

but if you are beyond that and wish to join us…you are welcome!

Fraser River Paddlewheeler Cruise

The mighty Fraser River...as it is often called...flows through our valley and out to the ocean in Vancouver.

For the most part we look for bridges...in order to cross to the other side. Yesterday we decided to travel on the river...rather than over it! We filled an entire busload with Rendezvous'ers who were all ready to explore the river...

...buttonholed Frank into driving the bus...ordered up some sunshine and blue skies especially for the day...and drove out to the pier in New Westminster. There we boarded a paddlewheeler riverboat...and began our excursion.

There's nothing like a narrated river tour to learn a little (a lot) about the river we cross over so often. The Fraser River begins as a clear stream some nine hundred miles from here...near Mt. Robson. It is still known as the number one salmon river in the world...though we know salmon stock have been dwindling in recent years. We saw fish jumping...and even a harbour seal as we cruised the river.

Yesterday we passed beneath the bridges. It was a whole new perspective!

Some even opened up as we approached!

Though the river was not exactly a hub of activity yesterday...we saw freighters being unloaded...

...and lumber being towed upstream.

And off on the side channels...we passed by entire villages of houseboats.

Some came with appropriate names...like 'The White House' pictured above.

Canneries...
freighters...

...and men riding logs...all part of our Fraser River experience.

And for those who might be interested in real estate on the banks of the river...a row of quaint homes had some appeal.

We had a lot of laughs...

...and took a lot of photos.  It was all good!

Several hours later we were back in New Westminster...after a most enjoyable afternoon on a paddle wheeler riverboat...and with a much better idea of what actually happens on the Fraser.

From our vantage point midstream...we also noticed a bike path along the shore. Maybe we'll check that out one day.

Soon we were back at the pier...

...and bidding farewell to Frank...our trusty tour guide from Paddlewheeler Riverboat Cruises.

Oh...and our trusty bus driver was also a Frank. Frankly...it was a good Sunday outing. I'd recommend it!

 Be sure to board the bus next time!

Paddlewheeler Riverboat Cruise

Join Rendezvous on a

Paddlewheeler

Riverboat Cruise

on the

Fraser River

on Sunday, April 25^th.

^{Travel with us by carpool to} 

^{New Westminster Quay}

^{…where we will begin our cruise.}

^{Departure: 1 pm (from Central)}

^{Return: 7:30 pm}

^{Tickets: $35 each…}

^{will be available in the foyer on April 11 & 18.}

^{* * *}

^{For info call Judy 604-792-2322 or Lenora 604-792-7383}

Vancouver 2010 Opening Ceremonies Party

The games are on! And we had a little Rendezvous celebration to get them started.  It's always more fun watching a big event surrounded by friends...and so we planned an 'opening ceremonies' party for Friday night. Our hosts for the eveing...really got into the spirit...and fabricated a set of Olympic rings to decorate their home. The International Olympic Committee has not yet come calling to have them removed...and they are quite a hit in their neighbourhood!

Since the opening ceremony started at 6 o'clock...which is about the time some people arrive home from work...the party was planned for a little later. The opening ceremonies were all recorded on PVR and so we just watched them slightly delayed. A great system...failproof...especially since it is easy to fast-forward through any or all commercials.

There were some thirty of us gathered around the big screen...making frequent trips to the buffet table...and enjoying the fabulous show taking place in Vancouver. The big question for some time has been...'who will be the final torch bearer?' It was top secret...and so we waited for the grand finale. How thrilled we all were to see Rick Hansen...the Man in Motion...bringing the flame into the stadium. And how special to involve some of Canada's finest Olympic athletes in joining together to light the torch. We watched as the four of them approached centre stage...and then we waited...and suddenly it seemed like something must not be going according to plan. Steve Nash looked uncomfortable...Nancy Green Rain waved at the crowd...and the CTV announcer informed us that there seemed to be a problem with the Olympic cauldron's hydraulic system. Now we were all getting a little anxious...as the seconds ticked by.

And at that very moment...our pre-recorded PVR program ended. The recorder had been set to record the scheduled program...but the opening ceremonies went overtime. NO! So there were were...all wondering if the Olympic torch actually got lit...and who had the honours.

After all that build-up...the last chapter was missing! We quickly resorted to the internet to determine that the flame was indeed lit...and that Wayne Gretzky had the honour of carrying it the final leg of the journey. Good choice...don't you think?

What a memorable evening it was. Good food...good friends...and a celebration that had no ending! Sorry if you weren't able to join us...as the Vancouver 2010 Opening Ceremonies will never happen again.  But be sure to watch for our next event. 

Vancouver 2010 Opening Ceremonies Party

Rendezvous

Vancouver 2010

Opening Ceremonies Party

February 12

@ 7:30 pm

Join us for an Olympic celebration

at the home of

Dave & Janet Ratzlaff

Watch the opening ceremonies on the big screen…

enjoy fun, food & friends.

Please bring an appetizer plate or munchies to share. 

For further information contact Judy (604-792-2322)  or Lenora (604-792-7383)

Rendezvous at Rendzvous

Rendezvous

at

Rendezvous Restaurant

9360 Young Rd. North

 Sunday, November 29^th @ 6 pm

Start the holiday season with a dinner party…

with others from the Central church family who are beyond Family Connections but not ready to join the Seniors.

Group menu features complete meals for about $15…

nine options all include salad and bread. 

Good food…good fellowship & good prizes. 

Reservations are necessary…

so sign up at the info center or contact 

Judy Wiebe 604-792-2322 

or 

Lenora Esau 604-792-7383

Our Canada Line Adventure...

We get around in this day and age...usually by road or air...but travel by rail is not so common in our part of the world.  Passenger trains are all but a memory on Canadian tracks...with a few wonderful exceptions.  In the city of Vancouver, we happen to have the world's longest automated light rapid transit sytsem...

...known as Sky Train.   Built for the Expo 86 World's Fair, it uses motor-driven trains that are similar to those of the JFK AirTrain in New York.  For these past twenty-plus years SkyTrain has moved passengers quickly across the region along 49.5 kilometres through 33 stations.  One month ago...the new Canada Line rail was completed and now links downtown Vancouver with Richmond...and the Vancouver International Airport...adding an additional 19 kilometers and sixteen more stations.

For those of us who live out in the country...it is a novelty to ride the rails.  Yesterday our Rendezvous group did just that.  We car-pooled to the nearest Sky Train station...bought an all day transit fare for nine dollars...and began our adventure on the rails.

We country folk are not always so savvy when it comes to ticketing machines...but the kind man from BC Transit was ever so willing to help out.  Soon we were on our way!

We had us a fine time...cruising from Surrey through to the waterfront in Vancouver on mostly elevated rails.  It is a most relaxing way to get downtown...no traffic or parking woes!  The Waterfront Station was built by the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1910, and was the Pacific terminus for the CPR's transcontinental passenger trains to Montreal and Toronto until circa 1979. 

It is a lovely old building...and is now the hub of all transportation in the city. It connects Sky Train, Canada Line, Sea Bus, West Coast Express and many commuter buses. Our all-day pass allowed us to pick and choose any of the above options...but we were here to check out the brand new Canada Line...which has been in operation for only one month.

There was a train leaving every four minutes...and in no time we were on our way to the airport.  Where before we were riding high above the city...the Canada Line is mostly underground...18 meters underground at Yaletown. 

This was the view in the tunnel...but inside the train it was bright and cheery.  The cars are modern...ride smoothly and quietly and have room for luggage and wheelchairs. 

 Once out of the tunnel...the views were amazing on a warm September afternoon.

Canada Line crosses two bridges...with the highest point on the line being the two sixty-meter towers in the middle of the North Arm Bridge. This bridge is also open to pedestrians and cyclists...we'll leave that for our next adventure.

Twenty-five minutes after departing the waterfront...we arrived at YVR.  It looks rather different from this entry point...and would be a most convenient way to travel to the airport when leaving on a flight.  As for us...we were just here to explore.  Who would ever have thought of the airport as a destination for people who are not airline passengers? 

The airport has undergone big expansions in the recent past as well...and features a wonderful new observation deck.  We spent some time there...watching planes coming and going...and making use of the telescopes set up there for the convenience of children and adults.  It is quite a lovely spot...and couples are actually booking this area for wedding ceremonies. 

YVR has always been one of my favorite airports...and there is so much more there now.  If you appreciate art...you will find some wonderful pieces at the airport as well.  The owl in flight shown in the mosaic...is made from an old growth cedar stump...and arrived at the airport as part of the new Canada Line. 

And food...there are lots of options.  We chose to visit Milestones and enjoyed a lovely dinner before beginning our return trip.

We rode the rails as the day was ending....

...thoroughly enjoying the sights of the city and the riding experience itself.

And so the sun set on the last Sunday of summer 2009. 

 

Our adventure ended where it began...at King George Station in Surrey.  We rode the rails just for fun...and so can you.  It's a great way to see the city.