142. Edmonds Community Centre, Burnaby

On an unseasonably warm afternoon, Charlotte and I set out to find "Edmonds Evergreens".  We found the cache and we also found a very awesome playground a few steps away.  It was a big one and a challenging one - there was a climbing mountain that Charlotte wasn't completely confident on at first - and it's been a long time since she asked for help with a climbing mountain. The playground was packed with kids, which is usually a great thing, but in this case, there was a pretty unfriendly vibe.  Charlotte came running back to me in tears to tell me that one of the other girls had told her that she couldn't play there and though I tried to talk her through how to handle it, she wasn't into it.  We went to another part of the playground where Charlotte crossed the rope bridge with some trepidation, only to be unable to get off when a boy at the other end of it blocked her way and refused to let her go past.  I'm not a fan of parents intervening in playground squabbles, but I had to step in in this case.  The helicopters were going beserk in their condemnation of the parents who were completely ignoring their kids' bad behaviour.  Strangely enough, we were talking to our friends who had been there too and they had a similarly bad experience.  It's so disappointing as the playground itself is amazing and not too far from our place.  We will give it another try and hopefully get a better mix of people next time.  The playground is located at N 49.12.916 W 122.55.976 and is point no. 142 on the map at the bottom of home page.

141. Central Park, Merritt

On our way home from visiting Uncle Andrew and Auntie Lannie in Edson, we stopped in Merritt for some lunch and a chance for Charlotte to run around and stretch her legs.  Although the park had a traditional playground, Charlotte was much more taken with the giant tires, which were big enough that she could hide in them.  They were so huge that when she crawled back inside them, she was completely hidden from view.  Owlie was also able to hide very effectively, but we found him eventually!  Even though we were there in late September, it was still hot like summer in Merritt.  It was a great place for a play before we began the last leg of our journey home.  The playground is located at N 50.07.146 W 120.46.966 and is point no. 141 on the map at the bottom of home page.

140. Galaxyland, West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, Alberta

In Alberta, not all playgrounds are outside - it gets pretty cold in the winter!  We took a drive out to Edmonton to check out the way-OTT West Edmonton Mall.  If we lived here, I imagine we would spend many a winter afternoon in Galaxyland, though I bet it's crazy busy on the weekends.  It was pretty busy even on a Tuesday afternoon during the school year.  The playground here is several storeys high (!) and I just don't know how any small child could ever get bored here!  The mall is located at N 53.31.279 W 113.37.214 and is point no. 140 on the map at the bottom of home page.

139. Kinsmen Park, Edson, Alberta

Lucky Uncle Andrew lives just around the corner from an awesome playground!  We walked over shortly after arriving in Edson to check it out.  Not only is there a playground, there's also a spray park and a fitness circuit for adults that differs from the usual outdoor fitness equipment in that it's actually in good shape (no pun intended) and quite fun to use!  So while Charlotte was playing, we were also having fun playing too.  Charlotte loved after Uncle Andrew push her on the swings; I guess it was a change from mum and dad!  The playground is located at N 53.35.279 W 116.25.700 and is point no. 139 on the map at the bottom of home page.

138. Mt. Robson Visitor Centre

Heading a little further north and east, we came to the visitor centre at Mount Robson.  We found a playground here too, one to get future mountain climbers in the mood!  Pete had fun climbing on it, though it was a bit big for Charlotte.  Still, she had fun making a house for herself underneath it!  I was disappointed that there were no geocaches very close by - we didn't have much time to go for a walk to find the one further along the trail.  The playground is located at N 53.02.143 W 119.13.765 and is point no 138 on the map at the bottom of home page.

137. Valemount and Area Museum, Valemount

On our way up to Edson to visit Andrew and Lannie, we stopped in Valemount to see the caboose outside the local museum.  I had stopped here on my way to Edson with Charlotte when she was just six-months-old to find a geocache - I had remembered the caboose and wanted to show it to Charlotte again, now that she's old enough to be into such things.  What I hadn't remembered was the small playground here - Charlotte wasn't into them yet back then!  There was quite a chilly wind blowing, but that didn't stop Charlotte from having a fun time, ringing bells and riding the rails, while Owlie hung on behind her, riding in her hood.  The geocache was still there: "I'll take the train".  The playground is located at N 52.50.172 W 119.15.728 and is point no. 137 on the map at the bottom of home page.

136. Rotary Park, Merritt

For the last half of the Labour Day long weekend, Charlotte, Theo and I headed up to do a little camping at Lundbom Lake near Merritt.  After caching and splashing our way up the Coquihalla, we stopped at the Rotary Park in Merritt for a little playground time.  Charlotte made another friend there - a little boy who was also from Vancouver and in town to see the rodeo.  They rode the car together and chased each other all over the grassy field.  We skipped out on getting any nearby geocaches as we had already found quite a few - and I didn't want to push my luck with Charlotte!  The playground is located at N 50.07.025 W 120.47.334 and is point no. 136 on the map at the bottom of home page.