Vancouver traffic is a challenge at the best of times.

The after-effects of last week’s wind storm are posing a new traffic issue – Log Gawkers.

You’d think that people living on the west coast wouldn’t give a downed tree a second thought, unless it was in the middle of their driveway or protruding from the end of their Prius.

If you thought that, you’d be underestimating the empathy Vancouverites have for trees – living, dead, or otherwise.Trying to drive anywhere this week has been a nightmare. Not because fallen trees are blocking the roads – it’s the drivers slowing down to look at the fallen trees along the roadside.

Take the case of Stanley Park, one of Vancouver’s real gems – bounded on 3 sides by salt chuck and smack in the middle of the city.

The causeway through the park (the main route to Vancouver’s North Shore) has been like a parking lot as Log Gawkers slow down to a crawl to look at – trees.

Hang on a minute.

While driving through a THOUSAND ACRE PARK of trees, people are slowing down to look at – trees ?

The last time my parents visited from Manitoba we saw a naked guy standing by the roadside in the park (waving) and no-one slowed down for a second – didn’t give it the least bit of their time.

Combine the Log Gawkers with the Christmas Shoppers, and you have Midtown Madness come to life on the streets of Vancouver.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s only a problem if you’re actually trying to get somewhere.