Similkameen Spirit Trail National Historic Site of Canada a.k.a. Old Hedley Road

This site illustrates the challenges Canada faces in commemorating aboriginal heritage with national historic site designations. My feeling is that the Canadian government is unwilling to give the First Nations the financial and managerial support to protect, promote, and "monetize" heritage sites(throw up a few buildings, bring in costumed interpreters in the summer tourist season and charge admission, typical Parks Canada stuff), yet it still reaps the politically correct rewards of being able to say these sites are on the books as National Historic Sites of Canada. Parts of this site aren't even accessible to the public and local tourists information offices are instructed not to tell tourists where the pictographs are located.

Don and Lion Islands, Fraser River

Lion Island was home to the Ewen Salmon Cannery from 1885 to 1930 and Don Island was used as a Japanese fishing camp from 1901 to 1930. There is a sunken houseboat in the channel near the north side of Don Island.



On the south side of the islands lots of container ships and massive ro-ro ships (carrying cars) pass by on their way to and from ports in Surrey and Delta



The now uninhabited islands are overgrown with lush almost tropical vegetation



I'm guessing this Ganesha statute was left by one of the SFU archaeology students who conducted a field school here in 2013

Ellie Goulding concert

Surrey Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan

The largest Nagar Kirtan in the world outside of India, the Surrey Vaisakhi parade is usually attended by over 100,000 people.

B.C. premier Christy Clark puts in her usual (very political) appearance, wearing the same Punjabi Saree that she wore last year.



This Nagar Kirtan is quite fun.

Canadian Forces has their usual recruitment set up, but it makes it look like we really are in India and not Canada!

Poplar Island, Fraser River

Poplar Island is an island in the Fraser River that is adjacent to the city of New Westminster. It was used as a large shipyard during WWI and is now uninhabited, but traces of the old ship building works can be seen at low tide. I did a short paddle circumnavigating the island and did a little exploring on the island itself, but it's pretty thick with vegetation.

Vancouver Vaisakhi Nagar Kirtan

Bastille Day

Bastille is my favorite new band. Their double album All this Bad Blood is probably the best album I've heard since Depeche Mode's Violator. So the timing of this trip was partially based on a chance to see them and meet Dan. First they did a free radio station show.

Then the concert at the Commodore Ballroom. The show did not disappoint, which was really good because I hadn't been to a real concert in almost 8 years because I think the whole concert going experience kinda sucks.

I think Dan wears the hoodie so girls don't try to touch his hair!