When you walk around downtown Vancouver, there is a different atmosphere than most large cities that I have been in. What I mean by this is by the people that are all around you. Cars wait for you in the crosswalk. People strive to keep the flow of foot traffic efficient by dodging you at the last second when you think that a collision is imminent. Notice I’m not talking about the more touristy spots such as Robson St. That’s a whole other issue entirely. Even compared to Iowa City, the whole hustle and bustle of it all is just more fluid and friendly. Perhaps it’s the difference between the cultures of our two nations. I’m just trying to convey the things that I notice.
My routes on my runs have been taking me a little more deeper into Stanley Park. The more I venture into the woods, which tend to always bring this thought to my mind of the forest of Endor, the more I become comfortable with the area. What’s even better are those rainy days which pretty much implies that there will be hardly anyone on the trail, if anyone at all. This time of year, nearly everyday is a rainy day. As soon as your clothes get muddy from what your shoes kick up onto you, the rain seems to wash away. On the final stretch home, run through the puddles to get your shoes clean. It’s a system that I’ve recently discovered. It’s pretty fun too.
I came across an owner and his dog on a trail the other day. This dog has issues. Social anxiety if I have ever seen it before. We learned about these types of conditions in animals in my psych classes, but I had yet to experience it. The dog saw me come around the turn and froze, looking up at its owner while the man did its best to console the little thing. For me, who has been attacked by a dog while running before but never since my days here, it was so strange. You could see the look of disgust on the man’s face, so this behavior is not only common, but annoying.
On my route today, I came up on a man with a bag in his hand, just standing in the middle of the path. This is not an uncommon occurrence as people often stop and check out the scenery. As I got closer, I figured out what was going on. Three or four squirrels running around as he threw them something they were stuffing their cheeks with. Totally against the law, and I should have been a good Vancouverite and said something. I didn’t. He looked at me with that I’m-not-doing-anything-wrong look on his face. I can’t blame him. I have this undying urge to do the same thing, but the squirrels in the park are HUGE because of this reason. Fat little critters that are over fed and possibly have rabies. It’s the only thing that stops me. Oh yeah, plus the whole against the law thing, too.