After a reasonably challenging ride yesterday, I managed to get out for a bit bigger one today (albeit flatter) to see off the Patullo bridge, whose decommissioning work begins in two days. A few friends were also interested so we met there, and apparently many others had the same idea – it was packed! They had a big line to get onto the bridge deck even, though that fell apart after a while (and I’ll admit I challenged it and ended up just cutting in). I think they vastly underestimated how many people would want to walk along a bridge deck in the sunshine on Sunday, knowing its imminent demise.
On the way there I took a bit of a meandering route so I could visit a few spots I haven’t been in a while. First was Kaymar Creek, pictured below. It’s a fairly short but sweet ravine, tucked away in a bit of a sneaky spot so few know about it – making it feel all the more special.
I also came across a flock of very friendly red-winged blackbirds, which for people out east is no big deal, but here they’re somewhat less common and I’d never managed to get up close to them before. Happy to check that off the list.
From there I wanted to check on a construction closure in Fraser Foreshore because it was a part of my Burnabop XL route but has been inaccessible for the past year and a bit. Turns out it’s going to be a while yet unfortunately.. large scale utility work going in. Guess I’ll need to plan the route accordingly – shame, this connection was rather wonderful.
A little while later we arrived at the bridge .. and I was floored by the crowds. I feel a little bit naïve that I was surprised – of course, on a sunny Sunday, the second-to-last day that it’s possible to walk the newly closed-to-cars bridge, it’s going to be popular. I guess word got out!
No photos of particular interest for the 25 kms from here to home, but once home I made a quick change to drive over to Burnaby Lake for a dog walk outing with my Mrs. Managed to fit in a ~60 min walk before it got too dark; an action-packed day for me.
Leave a Reply