MikeLin.ca » Activities

Jericho Disc Golf Course

Mike Lin — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 22:16:08 +0000

This is really just an excuse to mess around with google maps, but I thought I’d show you where the disc golf course is near UBC. It’s near Jericho beach, and is accessible from 4th ave. You start at the bottom of a big hill, and work your way to the top, criss crossing as you go. Once you reach the top there’s a nice view of the bay, and juicy blackberries as your reward.

Then from there, it’s not a far walk from slurpees at the gas station at 10th and Discovery!

Click here to load the map

Ghost House

Mike Lin — Sat, 19 Aug 2006 19:07:21 +0000

Ghost House

One of the things I hadn’t managed to do in Van until last week was go shopping for comics and CDs on 4th. The comic shop on 4th and … Yew(?) is stocked! Then across the street is Zulu records, where me and JonF spent a good time with their 25 disc changers. The changer I was listening to was titled “Canadian and Local” which contained another band I like, You Say Party!, and stuff. In the end I got one called Ghost House, which I thought was pretty fun.

They’re right down my alley, being high energy and fun. Furthermore the lyrics were pretty much describing the time I was having with lines like ‘Fly by night on bicycles’ and ‘Midnight adventures in a drunken state.’

And it turns out this is one of these bands that lets you download the entire album online! which is good because I got the last copy at Zulu. Check it out. I think my favourite track is ‘Your Big Day.’

Smash to Pass

Mike Lin — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 07:38:12 +0000

Had great holiday weekend in the VIC. I did a bunch of fun things that had been on my activity list for a while. This includes attending “Smash to Pass” at Western Speedway with my new friends Emily, Nelly, and Keel. I’d heard ads for Western Speedway throughout my childhood on 100.3 the Q, but this was my first time dropping in to support the cause.

Before I share my observations, first note that I know nothing about car racing.

They do this thing called the mini figure-8 race. They put two big tires on opposite ends of one side of the raceway. Something like 15 cars were involed which have to run figure-8s around the two tires. Naturally this leads to some mishaps at the point where two paths meet. Also, as the cars slow down to go around the tire, they are frequently rammed from behind. Here, see for yourself:

As a break from the action, at one point they brought out 5 year olds to race around on tricycles, similar to what they do at hockey games. Only 2/4 managed to start the race due to, presumably, their range from mommy.

Finally, at the end, there were some draws and some give aways, the most notable of which was the ‘Bread Toss’, sponsored by Island Bakery, where two guys wind up, and toss loaves of sliced whole wheat into the crowd! Who doesn’t like free bread! Especially when it arrives as a projectile!

Wow. What an experience. I could probably go on a lot longer about it, but I’ll stop here for now. In conclusion, I can not believe I have gone 24 years without ever going to Smash to Pass.