A December Trio of Outings. The Petting Zoo is No More | Christms Lights in Tipperary Park | River Rd on Christmas Day

Three of the last of the Drive-and-a-Coffee outings for 2025.

Firstly we checked out the once popular Queen's Park attraction before stupid Covid took over the world; The summer Petting Zoo. The echoes and shadows there are just sad and lonely now. 

We made a rare Outing-after-Dark on Christmas Eve evening to see how the City of New Westminster had dolled up Tipperary Park. Well done City workers, well done! [these hand-held shots don't do the display justice. It was beautiful out there!]

And a traditional Christmas Morning Drive was had, to enjoy the wonderful absence of traffic and to find an open coffee shop. Success on both counts. And the weather was like an unexpected Christmas present. One of the beautiful-est days since winter arrived.
[Despite how long I've lived out here, I'm still learning to love the snow covered mountains instead of snow covered streets, no matter how melancholy bare pavement is for me this time of year].

Here's to 2026.

The Cariboo Dam 'Fishway' is ready and waiting for the Salmon

Wow! I can't believe how long it's been since I made a post.

It was such a delight it was to go the Cariboo Dam Fish Ladder (refered to now as a 'fishway') in Burnaby even if there were no salmon spawning just yet.

Also, today had to have been one of the busiest dog spotting day I've had in ages.

I didn't get any fish traffic making its way up the redesigned 'fishway', but I did get a few other photos, including an assortment of dogs walking their humans. And it was a beautiful day to be walked.

Photos:

Should he be worried about a tan line?

Stll a blush of autumn.

I haven't a clue what they were, but they're so cute.

It's almost over.

Bigger than my feet.

Becoming a nursery for new plants.

The old guard.

The winding river.

Reflections in dark water.

The redesigned 'Fishway'.

This year's spawners will use this to get home.

Keep a look out!

Mother nature will take hold anywhere.

So it's blurry, he's enjoying the head scritch.

Golden veins.

An interesting senescence pattern.

A Pitty mix? He's waiting for his DNA results.

Snow came early this year.

Park closes at dusk year round.

I really want to go back a few more times to see if we can catch the salmon coming home. The dam platform was pretty crowded today - I can imagine what it will be like when the fish are running. It might prove a challenge to spot any. But I'll do my best to get in there to capture the annual event.