A sunny Saturday after my birthday - I felt the same quiet vibe I did on New Year's Day, and I was almost inclined to make new year's resolutions if I were ever inclined to such things.
Perhaps it was an effect of the land - on the To Do list of daytrip destinations was Barnston Island. A remote island community in the Fraser River that doesn't seem to be maintained by any city municipality and is only accessible by a small shuttling ferry service (it's free!). No public parking, no shops or services, just agricultural land and a tiny tip of park. The land time forgot (we have a few places like that around Vancouver if you know where to look). Parking the car and taking the foldable bikes over on the ferry, it was an easy ride along the flat dyke road, though varying pavement quality kept us alert and in the present moment. Very little traffic. I noticed there was surprisingly little birdsong in the fringe of forest surrounding the island, perhaps partially attributed to eagles in the taller trees. Private residences were characterized by lazy dogs in the driveway who barely stirred as we passed, and we saw a few houses with smashed windows engulfed by blackberry bushes that I suspect were abandoned when the native land lease expired, a common building-killer in our area. 
Rest stop #1 found us on the southeast point, a sandy beach perfect for a picnic. Despite being on the busy Fraser shipping channel with freight and logs being shuttled around it was very peaceful. The cars on the distant Golden Ears bridge milled on like tiny ants. The point was big enough to support several groups of visitors while allowing us our privacy. Kids were happy playing at the waters edge while parents urged them not to get muddy. ATV parked on the beach with a low beachfire. We watched planes coming and going from Pitt Meadows airport. Life is good.
Back on the road saw small yet well maintained farms, a cranberry field, cows, horses, sheep, some mules and llamas. Visitors congregated at the park at the northwest tip, smaller and thus less private than the first rest stop but more developed with fences, park benches and trash cans. A short jaunt down the road completed our circuit back at the ferry dock. That was several hours leisurely well spent, good simple fun and exercise. I recommend this to anyone looking for an accessible sunny day escape from the city.