I was into day two of my grand loop of Lulu Island, aka
Richmond. I left the Golden Village and joined the riverside path. What a
transformation! This section of the path leading to the Richmond Oval, blessed
by federal funding for the 2010 Olympics, is magnificent with large sculptures
and playgrounds lining the paved path.
Arriving at the Oval, I was awe-struck for the building is
an architectural masterpiece, and of gargantuan proportions. The Oval contains
two hockey rinks. A training session for goaltenders had just finished and I
was surrounded by young men, who, encased in their goalie pads and masks,
looked like giant robots. The Oval also has six basketball courts, dozens of
ping pong tables, six badminton courts, a track, volleyball courts, towering
climbing walls, an endless row of exercise equipment and more. One of the
largest and most magnificent sports facilities in the country, the Oval is a wonderful
legacy from the Olympics.
I cycled on. At a viewpoint, I gazed across the river at a
small seaplane terminal, with noisy floatplanes landing and taking off on the
river. Behind it, enormous jetliners from the Vancouver International Airport
were constantly landing or soaring high into the sky.
I pedalled on, enjoying the fresh air and hot sun. As the
river widened into a broad delta I made a sweeping turn to the south. Here the
path is on the dyke that protects low-lying Richmond from high tides and storm
water. I passed picnic tables, wooden benches and other smiling cyclists and
then turned into Terra Nova Rural Park. The community gardens have 120
individual plots, each uniquely different, but all overflowing with an
abundance of roses, tall sunflowers, and vegetables.
I met Ian Lai, the driving force behind the Richmond
Schoolyard Society (KidsintheGarden.org). As he tended to several beehives, he
said, “We teach children to appreciate food and how it is grown. I also teach
them to slow down and to be mindful of all around them.” I nodded, feeling that
more of us should heed his philosophy.
Back in the saddle I headed south on the well-maintained
West Dyke Trail under a relentless hot sun. I waved to passing cyclists and
sipped frequently from my water bottle. The path ran beside an attractive
parkland of driftwood logs and greenery dotted by purple loose strife.
I made a short detour to visit Harold Steves, a long-time
Richmond councillor and a font of historic knowledge. He lives on the farm started
by his great grandfather, who arrived in Richmond in 1877, and after whom
Steveston is named. While showing me his heirloom seeds, he explained that Lulu
Island was named after a dance-hall girl. “This was one of the first farms in
BC,” he said. “The houses were on stilts because the dyke wasn’t built until
1908.”
Need to Know
Richmond Oval - www.richmondoval.ca
Terra Nova Park - www.richmond.ca/parks/parks/SigParks/parkinfo/park.aspx?ID=80
More Info - www.tourismrichmond.com
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