Driving Uptown

It is only a bit more than a mile to uptown New Westminster, BC. We live downtown which sounds like it might be an easy stroll, except that we, most often, find ourselves driving up to the mall. You see, uptown here contains a capital UP. The hill has quite an incline.

I think we've driven up each day this week. There are always little errands to run. Jay started taking beta blocker medication and we like using the various blood pressure kiosks near the pharmacies in London Drugs and the Walmart Supercenter. I know we could buy a home blood pressure monitor for $40 but getting out and seeing the Christmas-shopping crowds has been fun.

I was thinking just how over-saturated our city is with grocery stores. Our tiny city has three major supermarkets uptown and two downtown. I'm not counting the other Walmart Supercenter over in Queensborough. There are several moderately sized stores which sell food items, such the department store across the street from our apartment. As well, there are small convenience shops at many corners. I contrast this to our friends in more rural places who must drive 20 kilometers to get their weekly groceries.


I can honestly say I don't think we've ever bought anything at Buy-Low Foods, although it'd be super convenient and is close to our doctor's clinic. Wait, maybe I picked up bananas there once. Actually, we don't buy groceries in New Westminster at all, as it has always been our habit to go to a Canadian Superstore in Coquitlam every Saturday morning.