Burnaby Lake, August 2011

A tour of Burnaby Lake, the largest urban lake in Metro Vancouver. From August 18 2011.

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Private residence on right, this path leads down to the dam.

Jeff crossing the dam. The first of many joggers.

Fish ladder under construction. It was completed in October 2011.

View of the fish ladder from atop the dam. It's not exactly the Grand Coulee.

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The first of many NO FUN signs.

Turtles! Cute! I have seen one turtle at the lake.

The trail begins proper. I have never seen a bear at the lake and pray I never do.

The first of many small bridges. The trail is built on marsh land.

A reminder in the sky that civilization is never far off.

A built-up part of the trail to keep the marsh at bay. At bay -- that's a water joke.

Into the dark and spooky forest we go!

This is part of a very long and mostly straight section that runs for over 2 km.

A marauding horde of joggers approach! Jeff wisely moves to the side.

The northern part of the trail follows train tracks for part of its length.

The bridge at Still Creek marks the approximate halfway point.

A closer shot of the bridge with yet another jogger.

View from the bridge. The water is appropriately calm here.

Decision time! My first run I got confused and went right through the parking lot.

Approaching the athletic fields.

This part of the trail floods when there is a lot of rain. It's also very buggy.

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This part of the trail is very cool and refreshing in the summer.

The only blacktop on the run. This is the parking lot for the rowing centre.

The trail resumes along the southern side of the lake.

NO FUN. NO FUN. NO FUN. NO FUN. BEARS.

Black slugs are ubiquitous in the summer. In the winter they are replaced by geese.

The Deer Lake Brook bridge on the south side, another bug habitat.

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The first of two walkways built over the marsh.

Skunk cabbage. When the wind and temperature is right, it lives up to the name.

Boggy area. This is why the walkways are needed.

I call this The Arch for obvious reasons. High winds means there are other trees like this now.

The second walkway and another jogger.

The second walkway is long and zig-zags a bit.

Turn to the left and you're on the last leg of the trip.

The trail ends with a long stretch that is mostly straight. Horses are allowed here.

When you see these lights you know you're almost done. The parking lot is just beyond them.

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