Yes, you heard me right. The Vancouver Discovery Walk was actually a bike ride, and a walk, and even a swim. Those zany Vancouverites! Apparently, it’s mostly a walk, but I am happy that they choose to include a bike ride option; it gave me a perfect excuse to join with friends and hit the road.
Triguy was there, but El Cap could not make it. Unfortunately, my bride wasn’t able to share the joy. She’s recovering from bronchitis, and I don’t know about you, but I definitely recommend avoiding cycling while suffering from a lung illness. Â
According to the website, the ride is a 50K ride, but in reality, the map (and my cyclocomputer) shows that it’s really only 48K. I was okay with that because I already had an extra 4.7 mile pre-ride and a 5 mile post-ride.
I highly recommend doing the ride, whether you join in the Discovery Walk festivities or you simply want a scenic (albeit flat) ride. We started on 6th and something (near the Hilton) did a loop around the downtown area (I think just to add to the mileage). Unfortunately, I don’t remember the street names, but that part can be modified or skipped. It’s the second section that’s more interesting. We turned left onto Mill Plain Blvd, rode over the train tracks (saw some piratical-looking transients), and then turned onto Lowell River Rd. and took it to the Vancouver lake park.
We ate some cookies and apples at the stop at the park. The highlight was the overweight retriever that begged for food. The people working the stop had their dog with them, and the dog panted non-stop the entire time we were there (the poor dog’s heart must be working overtime). I gave it praise and affection, but not food.
From there, we backtracked to Lower River Rd. Yes, we took Lower River Rd to get to Lower River Rd.; that’s because a mile before the Vancouver Lake park, Lower River Rd. splits in half. Anyway, we turned right on Lower River Rd instead of continuing on Lower River Rd. We then took Lower River Rd. all the way to the end of the road, where a poor sign was shot so many times, that you almost could not read the sign any more.
The second Lower River Rd. was the best part because it followed alongside the Columbia River. It also passes Frenchman’s Bar Regional Park (no Frenchmen were to be found) and Caterpillar Island Recreational area. The interesting thing about that area is a dilapidated shack that’s perched precariously at the edge of a steep enbankment that drops down into the slough (one little push would probably send it plummeting down upon the poor boats below).Â
At the end of the road, we had our second and last stop (cookies once again, but no dog). We chatted then turned around and rode back.
The weather was perfect, the fellowship was grand, and the traffic was minimal. Fun was had by all.