Homeless in Vancouver: It got a bit 'torrent' today

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      Today was my day to sleep in, so I joined a Sunday already well in progress.

      It was early afternoon when I finally bestirred myself to get out of bed and go get my first coffee. I really don’t think it had been raining before that. I only felt the first drops of water a block from my parkade sleeping spot. Two blocks later the rain was steady.

      It was the best kind of rain too—big fat drops of warm water—the fast-developing puddles were room temperature (I checked). If they had been large enough I might have been tempted  go all “Labrador Retriever” and roll around in one.

      Don’t think I’m kidding.

      After I was in McDonald’s—just after—the real rain storm arrived; a glorious tropical monsoon.

      A bit of good clean fun

      Bye-bye fresh water! A storm drain earns its pay.
      Stanley Q. Woodvine

      I was right back outside trying to catch a nice “rain shot”. I stood in traffic, dipped both myself and my camera in the rushing gutter runoff, and crouched to get a good fantail of water as the traffic rushed by.

      Wow! I got soaked for this? Eastbound traffic on West Broadway.
      Stanley Q. Woodvie

      And yes, I did manage to get one or two good fantails of water, I just didn’t get any good photos of any.

      The storm was a real “Pineapple Express”—here and gone in less than half an hour—a whole day’s rain over a coffee break, neat!

      The storm left clean, glistening surfaces in its wake; streets, cars, buildings—everything looked so much better for the dousing.

      So thanks, we needed that.

      Minutes after the storm passed. You couldn’t pay for that kind of cleaning job!
      Stanley Q. Woodvine
      Stanley Q. Woodvine is a homeless resident of Vancouver who has worked in the past as an illustrator, graphic designer, and writer.

      Comments

      3 Comments

      Alan Layton

      Jun 29, 2014 at 9:15pm

      There's nothing like shooting in the rain.

      Susan

      Jun 30, 2014 at 6:16am

      Great job Stanley. nice perspective!

      cathy

      Jun 30, 2014 at 10:20am

      Hey Stanley-got caught in the deluge driving thru Van. yesterday.
      There was a flash flood at 5th and Burrard.
      My car was stopped for the light at 16th and Burrard and i swear it was raining harder at the front than the back of the car.
      The wipers at top speed could not clear the windshield

      Got onto Granville and back to Ladner-sunshine-no rain at all-phew!
      Gonna tell the locals at coffee today 'bout my big city adventure....