I like to think that I am this park's local. It's only a few blocks from my house, and I've been going there as often as possible ever since I discovered it about a year ago. It took me so long to find it because the way there looks like this:
It looks an awful lot like someone's driveway, and it is someone's driveway, but it's also the way to Garrow Bay Park.
After a set of stairs through a tunnel of rose bushes, the park opens up to a grassy area. In the spring, there's two geese who live there. They've got an adorable life partner vibe going on, and they return every year to walk around slowly and eat things.
The actual bay part of Garrow Bay is pretty nice. After going down the stairs, you can get there by turning left.
The rocks are an awkward size and shape for walking or sitting on. Besides, they're usually underwater; I visited Garrow Bay at a very low tide. But the sharp rocks are good for catching logs and keeping them in place. As you can see in the picture, there's several rows of logs to walk and sit on.
If you can find a good pair of water shoes to protect your feet, Garrow Bay would be a good place for swimming, although the beach is a little lame and the depth drops quickly (I wouldn't recommend this spot for anyone who isn't a strong swimmer). That's because there's a diving raft!
There aren't many diving rafts in West Vancouver. In fact, Garrow Bay Park is the only park in the municipality with one. Even though the beach is hard on the feet, it's worth it. Diving rafts are a lot of fun if you do them right.
That stuff is great, but my favorite part of the park is the other half.
That bench is probably my favorite bench in the entire world. It's got a nice quote on it, but I once spent half an hour disagreeing with it one time that I went there alone.
Cole disagrees with my disagreement, but I think that if you define yourself as a hunter or a sailor, then your home is the hills or the sea.
But that's not why I like this bench. I like this bench because it has one of the most interesting, beautiful and dynamic views on all of the North Shore.
While sitting on this bench over the past year, I've seen all sorts of boats pass by: everything from kayaks to sailboats to ferries. It faces west, so it's perfect for watching sunsets. And then there's the islands... Bowen Island (the big one), Passage Island (the small one), Bird Islet (the really small one with the red light on it), and Whyte Islet (the main attraction).
If you've ever been to Whytecliff Park, you're probably familiar with Whyte Islet. It's that awesome rock that's accessible during low tide and super fun to explore. My favorite bench at Garrow Bay Park provides the perfect side view of it. I've always thought the islet looked like a giant sea turtle. On sunny afternoons, you can usually see people climbing on the turtle's back. Unfortunately, there weren't any people the day I took pictures. That's probably because I took the pictures on a dreary Wednesday morning in October.
PPR
Good: diving raft, view, bench, resident geese
Bad: rocky beach, at the bottom of a steep hill
8.5/10
That is a private raft and so is the driveway. Unbelievable you could post something like this without the facts.
ReplyDeleteDid you notice when the comment was made? Oct 5/2012 Have we really been listening to you roar at the people on the raft since 2012?
ReplyDeleteIs this mooring allowable?
ReplyDeletePerhaps it is time to ask the District.
Here's something interesting :
ReplyDeleteIs there a public right to install a mooring buoy?
And, if there is, does the owner of the buoy have an exclusive right to use his or her buoy, or must it be shared with other boaters?
Canadian law has not yet identified a specific right to moor. However, there is a common law right to navigation on navigable waters, and that right to navigation includes a right to anchor. However, that right to anchor is only for a reasonable time and for a reasonable purpose. That was established in 2015 when BC’s highest court adopted the wording of a lower court decision regarding anchoring:
There is a common law right to navigation which includes the incidental right to anchor… This is not a right to anchor or moor permanently but it must be exercised reasonably as determined by the circumstances at the time of anchoring such as the weather, loading or unloading of the vessel, or the need for repairs to the vessel. The right to anchor therefore contemplates the right to do so for a reasonable time, for a reasonable purpose.
The provincial court decision also noted that both the right to navigation and the included right to anchor must be exercised without interfering with the equal rights of others.