Bike to Work Day, Month: Affirmation in 3 Canadian Cities

Early start on pancakes before cycling hordes fill public square at Toronto’s city hall for Bike to Work morning event. 2013.

Cycling  to work, shopping or to school, is still a minority transportation choice in North American cities.

For me, as a long-time  bike commuter for the last 22 years, Bike to Work Day or Month (depending on the city),  is not only a public event to encourage bike commuting love. This Bike to Work event, also affirms the healthy lifestyle choice for often, the lonely daily bike commuter.  Especially when I have been and continue to be, 1-4% of all employees that bike to work in all organizations where I’ve worked.

I have worked for 8 different employers in Toronto, Vancouver BC and Calgary during my bike commuting years so far. For each work location, my daily bike rides have ranged from 8 km. to 32 km. for a round trip way between home and workplace. I have trundled along by bike in all seasons and weather.

It’s been part lucky happenstance and part,  personal reminder, I make a bike stopover to participate or even better, volunteer, in a local Bike to Work event nearly annually. Well, ok. Make that at least, last 15 years out of 22 years, I’ve experienced a Bike to Work event.

Notice to encourage readers for further cycling improvement discussions in Ward 32, East York-Beaches. Area where I used to live in Toronto. Photo by J. Becker 2013.

Toronto- Bike to Work Mid-1900’s and 2013
For the first few  years, in Toronto when I returned to cycling, I wasn’t even aware of the event.  Toronto did have the event as far back as 1989, but I couldn’t have participated anyway.  I worked in the near hinterland of mid-town Toronto.  Away from the central downtown Toronto Bike to Work event sites.   Usually these group rides or stop points for juice, energy bar or pancakes were synchronized in early morning hours to catch passing cyclists.

It wasn’t until I had a job in downtown Toronto where I cycled 16 km. from the suburb, Scarborough to catch an hr. of morning bike commuting revelery. That’s when I did see

Over 1,000 bike commuters flood into downtown Nathan Phillips Square for morning Bike to Work breakfast and information. City Hall, Toronto 2013. Photo by J. Becker

the now defunct, Song Cycles, a locally known choir on bikes.

The choir cycled into Nathan Phillips Square at Toronto City Hall while singing cycling parodies of common songs. Here are some of the choir’s cycling ditties  –including a parody of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy but ”Bicyclized” in lyrics.  We have a CD of their songs which I bought as a gift for Jack.  It appears the choir founder, Sue Zelinski moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan and started up a local U.S. version of that choir.

Spin forward to 2013 where just a month ago during a visit, we cycled over to City Hall to join over 1,000 other bike commuters from across Toronto for its annual Bike to Work Day.

Some Toronto cycling councillors read declaration of cycling for transportation for the audience. Bike to Work first day. Toronto 2013. Photo by J. Becker. Left is Mike Layton, a councillor and son of late federal cycling political leader, Jack Layton.

We’ve come full circle.  We returned to the city that laid the seed to our personal bike commuting  sagas.   A brilliant blue morning sky and sun beamed down on blue-T shirt clad cyclists who rode together from several different start points in Toronto.  Coffee and pancakes were served up and quickly consumed by cyclists.  There were enthusiastic podium speeches from event hosts, several local city cycling councillors and a high school troop of students with a teacher, who chose to bike to school daily.  Various cycling organizations and vendors dotted the public square for just 2 hrs. before everyone disbanded.

Vancouver, BC:  Cycling Participant and Event Feeder

Morning energy cycling information stop attracts parent with children. On rainy Bike to Work day. Spring 2010 Vancouver BC. Photo by J. Chong

Here, I’ve been both a bike commuter and a volunteer for its Bike to Work Week for different years. A few years ago Vancouver’s cycling advocacy group, The Hub (formerly the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition), expanded to 2 Bike to Work Week events, one in June and the other in November.

The event is on, rain or sun shine. By 2009, Vancouver expanded its cycling energy pit stops for cycling information, juice and snacks to 45 (yes) different locations across Metro Vancouver into the suburbs of Burnaby, New Westminister, Richmond, etc.  I have manned some energy pit stop

Manning a cycling energy and information stop by Stanley Park’s popular Seawall – Seaside path overlooking Burrard Inlet. Vancouver BC 2010. Photo by J. Chong

locations usually less than 5 km. away from home in downtown Vancouver.  Some locations served morning, pre-work cyclists while other stops served afternoon, homeward cyclists. I volunteered at pit stops, near bike routes with frequent bike commuters.

Sometimes  the ‘problem’ were non-stopping cyclists on a personal timeline before and after work.  Or cyclists that simply had to gear up to whizz up a minor road hill or avoid stopping in the rain on a red traffic light. Not every cyclist had time to celebrate Bike to Work Week/Day.

Fall Bike to Work with the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition. 2009.

When a cycling energy pit stop was by Stanley Park or at a location in Kitsalano residential neighbourhood, it was easier for parents to bring along their child tucked in a bike trailer,  biking on a tandem or with  their child cycling on the wee bike.  Whether or not it was really the parent on their way to drop the child off at daycare, school or just out to beat cabin fever, it was always just refreshing to see children get their fun bike stickers, granola bar and juice. It is even better, when the fledgling cyclists drop by in steady rain.

Volunteer providing info. to bike commuter on rainy morning. Spring 2010 Bike to Work. Vancouver BC. Photo by J.Chong

Like most Bike to Work events, sometimes there was free basic bike safety checks and pumping up tires. Usually my bike is pronounced quite dirty if it’s subjected to an inspection.

Calgary- Bike Commuting Celebration in Need of Expansion
I’ve dropped by the main Bike to Work Day event for the past 3 years for pancakes, sausage and some chat. It has been spearheaded by a local law firm where one of the lawyers is an ardent bike commuter who partners with other parties for some funding and volunteers.

Bike to Work Day at Eau Claire Plaza. Calgary 2013. Photo by J.Chong

It’s done well but now Calgary’s city boundaries have expanded very rapidly with no natural barriers of large water bodies, mountains and other adjacent large cities.  Calgary is further north than Vancouver and Toronto.  Spring warmth for gardening without killing seedlings starts over a month later than the other 2 cities. But for

Still chilly early May at Bike to Work Day. Calgary 2012. Photo by J. Chong

unknown reasons, Calgary’s Bike to Work Day has been within the first 2 weeks of May  –still a bit too cold to capture more wannabe cyclists.

Bike to Work participation at energy stops, is confined to downtown area. It is 1 work day, not 1 week which helps save time and energy but doesn’t kick up bike commuting

I see this cycling mother often downtown all seasons, including cycling in winter with 2 children –1 on tandem attachment and other child on her own bike. Calgary 2013.

love or awareness. 2013 is only the second year, June has been proclaimed Bike Month for Calgary by its mayor.  While its population growth has galloped along to now over 1 million, it’s hard to know if many suburban residents en masse, have ever experienced any bike commuting event, much less a ride to work, school or even to the grocery store.

On Calgarian Margins- Car-free, Cycling Lifestyle

Handing out hamburgers over the BBQ at MEC bike fest event. Vancouver 2010.

Just a few weeks before Bike to Work Day, I was featured on a corporate intranet news profile for my 30 year car-free lifestyle with cycling.  To proclaim  car-free for so long, is not something majority of Calgarians want to announce  –when our winters often dip to -25 to -30 degrees C.  Nevertheless, I received reactions from encouragement to surprise.

Bike to Work event,  is always very short in any Canadian city. Just barely a pedal crank turn in 365 days of cycle commuting love and encouragement.

Does your area have an annual bike to work event?

Bike lock up at Nathan Phillips Square before joining in for pancakes, speeches and cycling community chat. Toronto 2013. Photo by J. Becker

More Interesting Reading
Becker, J. Bike to Work Events: What are They For? In Third Wave Cycling Blog. May 8, 2011.

Chong J. Biking to Work- In More  Challenging and Isolated Areas.  In Third Wave Cycling Blog. May 22, 2010.

Chong, J. Children on Bikes: Cycling into the Future with Them. In Third Wave Cycling Blog. Sept. 24, 2010.

Cycling Greenways – Umbilical Cord to My Past Neighbourhoods: Prairies, West Coast and Ontario

A  long bike route near home, joins my memories like a green umbilical cord, to places where I’ve lived and biked in Canada for the past 22 years.  My green route curls and unwinds in Toronto, Vancouver and now, Calgary.  To know, and to memorize each twist, bump, hill and breathless plateau of a bike path at my doorstep, is akin to knowing a secret hummingbird pulse of a big, noisy city.

Jogging and cycling on Humber River bridge in Toronto’s west-end near Etobicoke. Along the Martin Goodman trail that is part of the bigger Waterfront Trail along Lake Ontario. Photo by J.Chong 2011.

I have been content and cosy in each chosen neighbourhood which has been oriented for cyclists and pedestrians in each of these cities across Canada. I know each entire city is still not completely this way, but I have made conscious choices to live in certain neighbourhoods that met my needs.

Waterloo, Ontario: Childhood Cycling Joy in Cycleable, Walkable Neighbourhood

King & William Streets. Downtown Waterloo, Ontario 2012. 1 block away from childhood street, was and still close to shops, school and transit. Photo by I.Yee

But I go back further to my first childhood bike route, a maple tree shaded street in Waterloo, Ontario. It was here, this lovely street with friendly neighbours, that seeded my bicycling dreams.  It was a one-way, one lane street off a busy downtown main street where I learned to bike at 11 years old, with younger siblings.My parents actively chose a home in Waterloo downtown’s core in the 1970′s –a walk 10 minutes  to transit and 15 minutes to a shopping area and school.  We didn’t have any car for a few years.

We took turns learning to bike,  by holding the saddle and handlebar for each other and wobbling up and down the sidewalk on a shared bike with no training wheels.  We could only afford 2 bikes for 6 children.

Under iron hand wrought roof art of the Music Pavilion within the Music Garden. Harbourfront. Overlooking Lake Ontario. Toronto 2012. Music Garden, a park inspired by TV music performance by classical cello player, Yo-Yo Ma of baroque composer, JW Bach’s Suite No.1 in G. Major. Painted piano, 1 of 41+ public pianos placed all over downtown Toronto for impromptu playing by anyone. Streetscaping art work for Pan American Games 2015. Photo by J. Chong

Later, I escaped joyfully  away  from babysitting duties, by twirling my bike  past lovely, nineteenth century homes with rambling, wrap-around porches and stained glass windows on our street.

Home during my lifetime include: apartments, houses and condos. Painting along Bow River bike-pedestrian path. Kensington neighbourhood, Calgary 2013. Photo by J. Chong

Neighbourhood Heritage and Progress Converge: Walking Tour, Iron Horse Bike Trail
Forty years later, I just discovered my childhood street has become a local historic street worthy of a walking tour and a web site.  Now just two blocks away, is a signed bike path, the Iron Horse Trail. But back then, my street was the best street to come home on bike.  In autumn, I rode dreamily under a gold-orange blazing canopy of mature trees and through crackling piles of raked leaves along the street. It was stuff that sparked a bout of poetry writing.

Then the bike was forgotten while I buckled under my university studies, then relocation to London and Toronto.

Bike rack sculpture. Kensington Market area. Toronto, ON 2012. Photo by J. Becker. Area historically known as highly ethnic area –Jewish, Italian, Portuguese and East Asian. Still retains these roots reflected in food shops, cafes but now more shops with bohemian artistic flair and some gentrification in residential streets.

Toronto: Bike Longing and Reigniting My Cycling Passion
Several years later, I resigned myself to a home in a highrise building near a subway station in Scarborough.  Except for the green tree canopy, my balcony view seemed furthest away from childhood sun-dappled shady streets.  By then, I was hankering to bicycle again.  But somehow, I had landed in a semi-suburban fringe of highrises and strip malls, north of Toronto’s Beaches area.

Cycling lower Don River bike path with Bloor St. Viaduct in distance. Bike route is embedded in Toronto’s ravine parks –under the Don Valley Expressway. Part of my daily 30 km. round trip bike commuting route between workplace, downtown Toronto and Scarborough home for over 14 yrs. Photo by J. Becker 2012

Striking Lucky: Living Near Toronto’s Bike Routes  
Later, I was thrilled to discover that I lived only a 5 –minute bike ride away from Toronto’s extensive Don River Valley and its well-connected bike network like a spider web, buried in its ravine parks. Only 8 km. south of home, was Toronto’s Beaches neighbourhood where the Waterfront bike-pedestrian route runs through along the lake.

Bici -Public bike share. Downtown University of Toronto campus area. Huron and Harbord Streets. Photo by J.Chong 2011

These wonderful cycling discoveries were revealed after meeting my new partner. With Jack, I jumped back onto a new bike and learned of another new hidden world of Toronto snaking under the Don Valley Parkway north to Sunnybrook Park and west through the Humber Valley.

Arresting outdoor art sculpture at Goderham Distillery district. East of St. Lawrence Market near Waterfront Trail. Toronto ON 2012. Photo by J.Chong. Heritage area of former distillery buildings now into shops, public square for pedestrians and light cycling.

Over months and years, I learned to join different bike routes between home and work, between home and pleasure. I cycled the Waterfront Bike Trail that edged Lake Ontario and wandered into the Beaches area, before cycling homeward.

After work, I pushed the pedals as far as Etobicoke and back home after work, on some summer evenings. On those evenings, it was a solo 53 km round trip.  I was addicted to my cycling route forays, the bike, and to freedom.

Bike Routes Near Home: Familiar Touchstone After Long Rides
Other times, a bike route near home, was a safe touchstone after cycling home on multi-day trips, from Kingston, Peterborough or just Kleinberg.

False Creek at sunrise. Looking out towards Science World, the geodesic building. Olympic Village on right. Vancouver BC. Photo by J. Chong. Seaside bike path winds along the edge of False Creek from Stanley Park to Granville Market.

My best Toronto bike path memories were suffused with paintbrush splashed autumn trees and glowing red sumac bushes.

I brought along those slow burning memories, when we moved later, to Vancouver.   We lived by the famed Seaside-Seawall bike path that threads through Stanley Park, Olympic Village and to Granville Island.

On our bikes, we inhaled  sea air tang.  As we turned our handlebars, the North Shore mountains rose  ahead.  Like other cities, I learned the best times to cycle, was in the stillness of early morning sunrise before hordes of walkers, roller bladers, dogs and cyclists.

Bike wheels transformed into garden screen for Mount Pleasant community garden. Along Ontario St. bike route. Vancouver 2012. Photo by J. Chong

Daily Cycling Bliss-Out: Vancouver BC
I went further, by cycling Stanley Park in the dark as part of my extended cycling to work route.  I needed to lengthen cycling gloriousness before arriving at work downtown.

We swept down paved, empty roads in the park with our tiny firefly bike lights flickering faintly in the wooded deep darkness. No one else was around when we cycled up to Prospect Point by Lion’s Gate Bridge.  This was my commuting bliss out every day for several years.  Rain mist became a veil to enrich the colours of flowers that were bigger and more brilliant here, than elsewhere in Canada.  Cyclists spun by in rain while café drinkers still hung out, chatting away under the awning.

Cycling along the Seaside path by False Creek. Downtown Vancouver

In the evening, on our highrise balcony, many ant-like cyclists crisscrossed the paths and bridges below.  Swarms filled the paths on a summer evening by False Creek where kayakers and dragon boaters ply the sea waters. It was urban west coast life at

Magnolia and cherry blossom trees along Seaside bike path. North False Creek, David Lam Park. Downtown Vancouver BC. Photo by J. Chong 2013

its best.  I still linger over this view whenever I visit and marvel the magnolia and cherry trees popping their blushing blooms in spring time.

Swept Along or Fighting Chinook Winds: Calgary, Alberta
Now, it’s still cyclists trundling on another path, –along the Bow and Elbow Rivers.  Here the gentle, grassy prairie hills rise in green-gold and yellow dry layers, from the blue-green waters swirling downstream  from the Rockies  into Calgary.  I ride through the

Bow River bike-pedestrian path. Calgary 2012. Photo by J.Chong

teeth of the chinook headwind any season and face-numbing winter cold at -25 degrees C.  The dry air is sunlit and loose.  It’s not the red cardinal that flits across my path but a brilliant blue black magpie bird that hops heavily along the verges.    Tiny rodent prairie dogs play tumble on top of one another, while long legged pale jack rabbits leap away from the path in the heart of the city.  There are less bushes and trees to screen creatures and oncoming cyclists.

Fall. Edgeworthy Park, western end of Bow River bike route. Calgary AB 2012. Photo by J.Chong

I ride with poignant memories, dreams and gladness for these neighbourhoods in the Canadian cities where I have lived,  explored their intimate corners and have celebrated on bike.  When I close my eyes, each familiar bike route calls out to me to return home again and again. And I do.

By “Raindrop”, a permanent outdoor art work . Coal Harbour along Seaside-Seawall bike-pedestrian path. Vancouver, BC 2012

Big wild rabbits sometimes hop about in East Village near Riverwalk bike-pedestrian path. Downtown Calgary. 2012.

Further Reading:
Harbourfront Centre. The Music Garden. More about this unique City of Toronto park. Aerial view of the park reveals gardens and walkways designed in the shape of a musical note. Garden designs are inspired by each music movement: prelude, allemande, courante, etc.

Street Pianos. 41 uniquely painted pianos in Toronto’s public spaces for 41 countries, that will be competing in the Pan-American Games in Toronto.

Waterloo Public Library. Waterloo Historical Walking Tours: Mary-Allen Neighbourhood. Sample houses on childhood street of George St.  It was socio-economically mixed neighbourhood with blend of low income residents (like our family), middle class to upper middle class.

Adult tricycle near St. Lawrence Community Centre. Downtown Toronto. Along The Esplanade, a block from St. Lawrence Market. Photo by J.Chong 2011.

It’s Dog-Gone Love: Trinkets, Fashion and Urban Infrastructure for Dogs

Dog taxi and valet services for transporting them to kennel for temporary dog care. Husky dog peeps through window on a rainy day.Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong

A few months ago, I noticed within a 1 km radius from home, there were  4 dog-focused stores in our neighbourhood that ply canine wares and services to dog-lovers. After all, it’s human beings that purchase these goods and services, not dogs.

Rise of Bling for Dog Fashionistas
I’m certain that the propensity of dogs as household pets and family members hasn’t changed since my childhood.  What has increased now, is the amount of overt consumer behaviour manifested through canine object d’arts, trinkets, dogwear and even urban infrastructure to accommodate dogs in some cities.

Deck your dog in festive Christmas canine wear with frills and cosy red. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong

As I mentioned in my last blog post, dog-leash free parks are helpful by allowing everyone to enjoy other parks free of running dogs while dogs can scamper happily in dog-designated parks with their owners smiling benignly from afar.

Paved Roundabout: Luxury Park Traffic Management for Dogs
But it almost seems wierdly luxurious for a municipality to design…a paved roundabout built expressly for dog-pedestrian-cycling traffic management in a dog free leash park corral.  Both sides of the bike-pedestrian path, are fenced and separated from the park.

Bike-pedestrian path with roundabout splits a fenced dog leash-free park. Dogs and owners do use it but path traffic never congested at this intersection. Fish Creek Park, Calgary AB 2012. Photo by J.Chong

Meanwhile for cyclists in Calgary, the cycling infrastructure for a sprawling and growing city is inadequate on  road for safe cycling. Anyway, I digress.  As long as dog owners leash their dogs on a shorter leash, when they trot along a bike-pedestrian path, I’m fine.

Dogs in Gortex Vests and Flashing Jewellery
Back to apparel and bling for dog fashionistas and dog spa goodies.

Since I’ve never had a dog, one wonders if dogs need to be kitted out in woolly sweaters or mini-parkas during Vancouver’s balmy winters which are usually around -5 to -10 degrees C.  Snow on the mainland, in Vancouver is rare –where everyone lives

Dog catching a ride in bike basket. Seoul, South Korea 2011. Photo by J. Becker

with their dogs.  Not in the mountains.  Do dogs sweat if they wear light water resistant Gortex vests and jackets?  Mind you, if it’s reflective neon colours, it’s most helpful for pedestrians, cars and cyclists at night.

Chandelier-lit dog spa store. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong. Fit for princely and queenly dogs.

Instead of  bejewelled dog collars, dogs are better off with funky blinking light jewellery

Twin doggies happy in the rear bike basket. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Becker

so that everyone gets to see doggie and the flashing jewels at night. This type of dog-bling would be money better spent while also bedecking the dog almost like a Christmas tree or an emergency vehicle for safety’s sake.

Dog Hotel and Valet Services
With an increasingly mobile society where one moves away from a circle of family and trusted friends, kennels and dog “hotels” are a boon for owners who need to leave town for a few days or weeks but don’t bring along their dog.  I’m sure such services existed for a long time,

Dog hotel (aka deluxe kennel) for dog stayovers and dog vacations while owner is away. Portland, Oregon 2012. Photo by J. Becker

but  for the first time, we caught glimpse of a dog taxi service.  Great idea for people with a sick dog where there is no car and may live in areas where dogs are not allowed on buses or transit.

No doubt there are other dog services and accoutrements which I haven’t seen  yet. For now, we’ll just observe the world of dogs where some cyclists ride with their puppy in their backpack, rear pannier or in their front handlebar basket.

Seatside view of the world. Seawall bike path, Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Becker

Hotel mascot dog has its own cushion dias near front door at high end hotel. Chateau Lake Louise in Canadian Rockies, Alberta 2012. Photo by J. Chong

Backpacking the dog for bike ride. Calgary, AB 2012. Photo by J. Chong

 More Reading and Photos:
Chong, J.  Spa Pampering in a Dog’s Life: Bakeries, Bike Trailers and More. In Cycle Write Blog, Feb. 16, 2012.

Drama at Construction Sites : Things I Never Knew

I never dreamed that mud piles, cranes and caterpillar machines at a large construction site, could be a stage for human drama of love, tragedy, perseverance, danger, achievement and comedy.  The whole shebang.

Golden Ears Bridge. South Approach, Langley BC 2008. Daily view walking to work office site.

Well, make that 6 construction sites for 1 huge construction project.  For 3 years of my life, I worked for a $800 million construction project in the suburbs of Greater Vancouver.  We built a 1 km.-6 lane road bridge over the salmon rich Fraser River with 5 highway approaches from 4 municipalities.

So let’s  leap to love.

Bridge opening celebration 2009. A 90 km round bike trip between site and home.

Foreign Employees- Finding Love Globally
While I was not aware of personal love affairs between employees, there were several married couples and unmarried couples, as employees, who joined our project.  What struck me as unusual, were several interracial marriages between ex-pat, non-Canadian employees (German, U.K.) and Asians (Chinese, Filipino).

I worked for a multinational German engineering firm which had construction projects worldwide. Maybe it was just coincidence that several interracial marriages were among management and engineering staff who just finished a multi-year project in Asia. During that time, these men found their partners from that area.

The coincidence that my partner still retained his German name legally, was useful for establishing rapport with German ex-pat employees: I did drop the word that clearly I was not clueless about some German names, simple words, cuisine and cultural mannerisms.

Main construction project office site. My office window was to right of cyclist. Prime location to see construction of bike-pedestrian spiral ramp. 2009

Trapped for Safety
Previously I wrote about  my long work commute that blended cycling, transit and walking between home and office work trailer where I hunkered down with other staff at the main construction site.  All around us, excavating machines gouged huge holes, towering cranes swung tonnes of steel girders while  convoys of concrete and gravel trucks clogged local traffic.

Even office staff, were never far from the clang and dangerous drone of machinery and materials. For several months, only 10 metres from my office trailer window, a spiral concrete bike ramp slowly arose 4 levels up from the muddy hole to join up with the

Completed spiral bike-pedestrian ramp on opening day of bridge. Normally not this many people on ramp. Ramp was constructed less than 10 metres away from my office window.

road bridge. As a cyclist, I took small comfort that eventually this mess of rebar and concrete would become yet another needed connection for a safe bike route in the suburbs.There were days, employees were trapped at the work site, unable to even drive out to get a lunch hamburger.  No wonder why the lunch truck with submarine sandwiches and chips was a welcome site. Thankfully, at the office there was always a convenient pot of free coffee for employees beavering away at any hour of the day.

During a windstorm that resulted in a power outage and dead traffic lights for hours, there was an 8 metre square of sheet metal that flew in the air around our building. It was several hours before we left the work site.

From the bridge deck before bridge cables were installed. Peaceful scene belies construction drama when work resumes.

 Fire Danger, Substance Abuse and Tragedy
Another time, a fire plume arose quickly at one of our  nearby construction sites and prompted the scream of firefighting trucks. It was caused by welding.

While there is real danger because of human error, even more troubling, was substance abuse by some construction workers – workers under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs.

I didn’t know of this widespread problem in the heavy construction industry, across North America and probably in some other countries, until I hitched a ride after work, with 2 employees which included a safety officer.

Road bridge with bike-pedestrian lane runs over the Fraser River. Salmon and endangered sturgeon fish ply these waters.

For the next hour, I was regaled with story after story, on dangerous shenanigans involving operation of equipment and safety-conscious employees who stomped to the safety manager and Human Resources with demands not to work with drunk employees, etc.

At another construction project, while operating a high-rise construction crane, an operator had passed out from drugs at the crane controls. Only the fire department had a high aerial truck with a cherry picker bucket, to reach the air-borne crane operator.

Shortly thereafter, a drug testing program was administered for such employees working for our project.

However, tragedy struck later. But the cause was not substance abuse related at all.

An ex-pat contracts officer died when he was pulled under a dump of gravel that was pouring out from a truck. For unclear reasons, this office worker shouldn’t have been on-site, in an active construction zone, in the first place. He was chattering on his cellphone, when this incident happened.

Bridge construction site view from Pitts Meadows, British Columbia with Mount Baker, Washington state in background.

Tough Enough for Outdoor Construction
Vancouver has milder weather than many other areas of the world. There were some freak snowfalls during our construction project. However snowfall and temperatures are not as dangerously cold in more northernly zones, not as humid as Asian jungles nor as hot as the desert in Dubai.  One woman told me that temperatures soared to 50 degrees C when she was working in Dubai.

We had temporary labourers from Thailand who puzzled some Canadian employees.

One of several commemorative signs on the bridge. Golden eagles can be found in bridge location by the Coast Mountains and Fraser River. Near bridge is the Golden Ears Mountain in a provincial park.

On  fine summer sunshine days, they covered their face with cotton balaclavas.  It was to protect their skin from the sun.  The darker tanned skin was still, ironically associated with labourers, lower class and peasants in various parts of Asia.

Golden eagle sculpture mounted high up on a pillar at each end of the bridge.

Much has been made about more women breaking into construction work. However even some men, just get tired of days with mud, endless rain, bone-chilling cold and the mess of lousy weather conditions.  Sometimes it was stamina and perseverance just to finish each work day.

Comedy, Stress-Relievers and Befuddlement
Our first annual Christmas staff party was truly cross-cultural and probably bewildering.  The party featured several home-made stage drama skits. “Bewildering” was a matter of the audience member’s perspective and their cultural background.  Canadian and American employees concocted a “Twelve Days of Christmas” song parody that highlighted our rare Northwest Pacific coast animal species that had to be protected by law (red salamanders, water shrews), weather challenges, fickle equipment and their handlers.

The German-led performances parlayed mythological references to operatic Wagner ship and land battles. Or maybe it was the engineering imagination gone wild:  they saw themselves as heroes in infrastructure wars.

Bridge opening day crowds swelled up to 20,00 people. Only time this car bridge road will be filled with this many people. June 2009.

Annual summer barbecues were fun. Bratwurst sausage, not wieners, were de rigour as well as sauerkraut. Mustard had to be, at minimum, on the table.  And the European craze over the World  IFA soccer games.  There was a large TV screen provided for employees at the barbecue and hooked up during lunch hour in meeting room for several weeks, to check on the latest match.

More happens at a construction site that’s not obvious to pedestrians.

Sturm and Drang of Achievement
Like the literary term that translates from German, “storm and urge” or extreme emotions,  the construction drama of that time in my working life, has forever changed me:  I no longer assume anything normal and staid behind that construction fence as I walk by any site.

More Interesting Reading:
Chong, J. Biking to Work in More Challenging or Isolated Work Areas. In Third Wave Cycling Blog.  May 22, 2010.

Gray, Jeff.  Oil Sands Drug Testing Battle Reaches Critical Stage. In Globe and Mail.  Jan. 2, 2013.  Example of substance abuse issues at other construction-industrial work sites.

Hike, Bike, Ferry, Rail and by Car: Crossing the Canada-U.S. Border

It’s amazing how national borders between two countries can foster different speaking accents, histories and cultures. Even for two countries like Canada and the U.S., that appear to be the same –English-speaking dominant, occupation by invading aboriginal lands and multiracial in its peoples for over a century, the international border can cut a psychological cleavage.

Obelisk markers and on my left behind me, up the treed mountain side across the lake, a clear-cut swath through forest wilderness that marks the Canada-U.S. international border. I am standing on the border, at Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta and Glacier National Park, Montana 2005. Photo by J. Becker

Cutting a Cultural, Maybe Psychological Cleavage
Some of the major differences are psychological, systemic and constitutional. Health care and guns will surely reveal striking differences in attitude and perceptions between Canadians and Americans. But onto lighter observations, when I’ve peered across the border and skipped about the U.S. as a visitor.

So far, I have lived at any time, between 250 to 40 km. north of the Canada-U.S. border or colloquially known as the “49th parallel”. Most of Canada’s population is sprinkled

Joining other cyclists at international border crossing for ferry boat crossing. Sidney, Vancouver Island. British Columbia 2008. Photo by J. Chong

near the international border. It’s been a historic development because major waterways for transportation, then later rail, as well as roads tend to naturally lead to towns and cities popping up nearby. The terrain and climate in southern Canada is just simply more amenable to human settlement.

Border Crossings: Ditch the Car for Another Experience
I’ve crossed the 49th parallel by bike, ferry, bus, car and on foot. Since North America is still a car-dominant society, many people may associate crossing the Canada-U.S. border as a stoic waiting exercise in car line-ups. True. But depending where you cross the border, the border checkpoint may appear to be a simple office building (with surveillance 

Approaching by bike, the international border crossing office at Carway, Alberta. 2012. Photo by J. Becker

cameras) in the middle of the prairies, such as Carway, Alberta, south of Cardston and east of Waterton National Park. Or at the Chief Mountain border crossing by car or bike right at the national parks juncture for Waterton Lakes, AB and Glacier National, MT.

Strolling into the U.S.
One year, we hiked a 14 km. round trip from Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta on a popular trail into Glacier National Park, Montana. Here, we saw the border literally as a clear-cut swath through forest. An obelisk marker in park wilderness announces 

Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park at Chief Mountain Road border crossing checkpoint 2012 Overlooking Alberta. Behind us, would be Montana. Photo by J.Chong

the border. There is an International Peace Park in the area. The phrase that it is the world’s longest undefended border is a bit of a misnomer: make no mistake, you must bring and show your passport when crossing the border from either country. It would be a mistake to assume otherwise.

I’m not sure how many International Peace Parks there are along the Canada-U.S. border. There is another one, at the border crossing for White Rock, British Columbia – Bellingham, Washington state. This is only 40 km. south of Vancouver. Cyclists do pass through the checkpoints as I did, after a wonderful bike trip from Seattle to Vancouver. I have also crossed this checkpoint by bus several times, which bus passenger check stopovers seems to add almost another hour to the whole trip to Seattle.

Amtrak Cascadia train heading towards Seattle makes mandatory border checkpoint stop at White Rock, British Columbia 2012. Photo by J.Chong

On the Amtrak train between Vancouver, BC and Seattle, WA, the train pauses at White Rock for the U.S. border guards drop by on board. On one occasion, a police dog was brought on board to sniff around.

On two different occasions we have had to pass through the checkpoint in Sidney, British Columbia on Vancouver Island in order to board the ferry with our bikes, to the San Juan Islands, Washington state. The border office ambiance is simpler and friendlier. Maybe a seaside towns just have this laid-back aura.

Next Door Differences: What Canucks Notice

“Small” size gelato in Seattle -equivalent to a medium size gelato in Vancouver, BC at same price. 2012

Maybe it’s differences magnified or exaggerated in our travelling brains, but we’ve been in enough restaurants in Washington and Oregon where the food proportions just are bigger. This year, I had a “small”, two-scoop gelato at an artisanal gelateri in downtown Seattle, that was equivalent to a medium size gelato in Vancouver or Toronto.

The day before, for the first time, I could not finish all the freshly cooked seafood in my large seafood soup. I’ve never wasted restaurant seafood before.

While Canadians are inundated by U.S. tv channels, it is less true for the U.S. border states to have any Canadian tv shows. It’s just a pleasant surprise to see occasional Canadian show reruns or the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. channel (CBC) not because we want to be fed home news while in the U.S., but it’s just simply another way for Americans, if curious, to learn more about their neighbours.

Returning to Canada from Blaine, Washington. At international border crossing in bike lane. Ahead white arches and flags for Canada and U.S. mark the border. 2010

But I really wonder. After all, when we travel in the U.S. and watch local tv news, most of the time we have no clue what is happening back in Canada anywhere, even when we’re in towns, just a dancer’s leap away from border.

Internet No Substitute for Real Foreign Experiences
More than ever before, the Internet can fill in gaps of knowledge –up to a certain point. You really need to experience stepping from one country into another where within a few minutes a Canadian will inevitably hear an American counterpart speak with a slight twang, not necessarily Southern state, but just that identifiable northern American twang on certain words. Or occasional vehicle bumper stickers proclaiming U.S. army

Travel collectibles -trinkets, while some are highly valued.

support, lawn campaign signs for electing judges (which definitely is not part of Canadian judicial appointment system) and billboard advertisements for private health insurance companies.  International borders –just marking a threshold into perhaps different expectations, perceptions and beliefs that are defined by trajectory of historical events, politics and shared experiences over on the other side of the fence.

More Interesting Reading:
Chong, J. Supersized Meals Along Cycling Trips: Gulping Surprises. In Cycle Write Blog, May 23, 2011.

Christmas Haiku Meditations

Winter nightfall. Peace Bridge, Calgary AB 2012. Photo by J. Chong

A lonely bike light-
Flickering snow firefly
Flits over fresh snow.

Live doves in their gilded cage 2012. Photo by J. Chong

Turtledoves wander
Listless, mute in gilded cage:
Gold becomes their sun.

Frozen branch 2012. Calgary AB. Photo by J. Chong

Icing sugar dusts
Green leaf medallions,
Fragile garlands droop.

Holiday riding. 2011 Photo by J. Chong

Christmas chill frosts breath
Of life, a halo warms face,
Memories blurr vision.

Festive mini cake.

Snowman cake warms me.
Tummy smiles, sated dreams
Melted with coffee.

After snowfall. Bow River, Calgary AB 2012. Photo by J. Chong

Turquoise glacial
Waters surge life and break–
Ice still sprays its chill.

Christmas carol buskers. 2011. Photo by J. Chong

Draw festive tunes through
Air-dancing violin bow,
And dip into trance.

Twilight winter joggers and cyclists. River Walk path. Eau Claire area, Calgary AB 2012. Photo by J. Chong

Walk the night with me
Marvel snow muffled magic,
Be there for morning.

–All haiku by Jean Chong ©2012

Easily Drunk on Cycle-Touring in Wine Regions

Blasted Church Winery.Okanagan Valley. Near Oliver, BC. 2005. Tasting room is housed in an old church that was carefully dynamited in the 1920′s in order to relocate it at that time. Photo by J. Chong

It’s annoying to have my  health problem whenever we go cycle-touring in the wine regions of Canada, U.S. and Europe: I get easily drunk on alcohol.
 
You could say I am afflicted by a common problem that isn’t just confined to some Asians (although there is that stereotyping). My ears become quite red: fast like a supremely over-exerted cyclist after  less than 6-8 sips of wine.
 
Either Red Ears or Tone Down Wine Sips
By drinking more wine, just to “harden” my sensitivities to the fermented grape, is not a solution. Not when already, I’m into my fifth decade in life.  I still want a liver and control over calorie intake. Drinking wine often means drinking in more calories too.

My seafood salad lunch. Muse Winery Bistro, Saanich. Vancouver Island, BC 2011. Photo by J. Chong. Local fresh seafood is common on an island winery bistro menu. Food sometimes is just as good as the wine from their barrels.

Nevertheless, we have sallied forth by bike into the wine regions of  Niagara-on-the-Lake region, Ontario; Okanagan Valley in interior British Columbia and on Vancouver Island.  We have yet to taste the recent wines from eastern Ontario in Prince Edward County or south on Pelee Island. These areas developed their vineyards after we moved to British Columbia.

Spring time at Saltspring Winery. Saltspring Island, BC 2010. Photo by J. Chong

 Wine Regions- A Heady Bouquet of Memories
We have touched down on some great routes and wineries with  creative tasting rooms, good wines, restaurants and ambience that sometimes tie together the local experience into a lovely bouquet of memories.

At a winery in Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island 2003.

 My jumpstart into wineries, was over 16 years ago with our 120 km. cycling day trip from Toronto to Niagara-on-the-Lake wine region.  Since then, we’ve done this trip several times different ways which included  a ferry across Lake Ontario that ran only a scant 2 summers.  We have also biked around the lake, as a hot humid bike trip in summer from downtown Toronto. Now, wine-thirsty cyclists can choose to roll on their bikes onto the popular  summer weekend Bike Train service passengers from Toronto.

The 50 km. 1-way bike route from Port Dalhousie to Fort Erie, past the roaring Niagara Falls and Butterfly Gardens, is easy, if not also crazy-busy during peak tourist season.  A more pleasant visit is early fall, with the blaze of autumn-kissed trees along the bike path. 

Local art work may be featured at various tasting rooms or outdoors at the site. Nk’Mip Cellars, an aboriginal winery run by the Osoyoos Indian Band. Near Oliver, B.C.2005. Photo by J. Chong. Not typically European in artistry but wine-making is embedded in European techniques.

 During various different trips across Canada, we’ve stopped to pull out our bikes and puff away on short steep hills in the Okanagan Valley, Canada’s near desert-like wine region in British Columbia.

Favourite Wineries Blend Spirits, Scenery, Food and Artistry
One of my favourite wineries for wine, great food and valley views, is Quail’s Gate in West Kelowna which overlooks gentle grapevine slopes dipping down to Okanagan Lake.   The winery’s location shows off the area’s sparkling waters, bright clear skies, undulating hills and winding roads.
 

View overlooking vineyards, mountains to Okanagan Lake, from Quail’s Gate Wines’ restaurant patio. West Kelowna, BC 2008. Photo by J. Chong

At Summerhill Wines, past its signature upended wine bottle sculpture, is a restaurant that offers relaxation for a lovely meal and shade from the sunny dry heat  –that is, if you can avoid the crowds during peak seasons. They once produced a white wine packaged in a blue glass violin shaped bottle which I’ve kept, after savouring its contents.
 
Though we have not yet travelled by bike to the following two Okanagan Valley wineries mentioned below, I can’t resist just mentioning them because of their unusual ambiance and effective marketing.

Antique wooden grape press by a French vineyard. Provence, France 2012. Photo by J. Becker

Blasted Church Wines are arresting just for its wine labels and its story of a carefully dynamited church in 1929 that was moved from Okanagan Falls to its present location that now houses the tasting room.

For innovative surroundings and something unEuropean, but deeply embedded in British Columbian identity, is Nk’Mip Wine Cellars which features aboriginal iconography and artwork in its restaurant, tasting room and grounds. The winery has been developed by savvy local aboriginal entrepreneurs from the Osoyoos Indian Band.

Mermaid in rubber boots is logo for Saltspring Island Wines. Saltspring Island, BC 2005. Photo by J. Chong. Winery as well as Cherrypoint Wines each produces blackberry wine.

Can’t Resist Local Seafood  and Blackberry Wine
What distinguishes British Columbia in vineyard visits and tastings, are also  local salmon and other fresh large local seafood featured on winery restaurant menus at reasonable prices for high quality.

Whenever I visit Vancouver Island wineries, like Cherry Point Wines, I savour the seafood entrees just as much as the accompanying wine from their barrels nearby.  Large scallops, spotted shrimp (unique to Pacific Northwest coast), various clam varieties and mussels, are often drawn from the Pacific waters.  This level of freshness and quality most definitely, is not featured much in Germany at winery restaurants.

Cycle-touring by Rhine River along the “Wine Route” in his birthplace area with vineyards, picturesque old towns and castle ruins. Black Forest Region, southern Germany, 2008.

Ideal frost-snow conditions in British Columbia and Niagara-on-the-Lake wine regions, also allow pressing of ice wine more easily than Spain, Italy or France.

For locals or visitors,  I cannot stop reminding people that Vancouver Island, is home of port-like blackberry wine varietals. Blackberry bushes bust out all over the land, if left unpruned, since they thrive in Pacific Northwest coastal balmy weather and rain –much to the curse of dedicated gardeners.

Wandering and Wine-Tasting Overseas
Further abroad, we have cycle-ventured  into the Napa-Sonoma wine region in California (though more him, than me), bike-touched the wine regions in Washington and Oregon. 

Since Jack’s family roots are based in the Black Forest region in the famed wine region by the Rhine River in southern Germany, we have cycled there for wine, food, and 

Chatting with farming couple at farmers’ market who grew cherries plus make and sell their own kirschausseur, “cherry wine”. Freiburg, Germany 2010. Photo by J. Chong. Wines were sold 4-5 euros per bottle. It is common that some German farmers in the wine-growing regions will make small batches of their own wine for sale. Not far from this market, was a retail store, showcasing and selling local, lesser known wines in this region.

picturesque villages while on our way to visit relatives.  His extended family still has a vineyard and hotel inn with restaurant since the 1700’s.  It is a region that other Europeans flock, whose home country lack wineries due to inadequate climatic conditions for grape-growing –ie. from Scandanavia, United Kingdom, etc.

Cycling by vineyards and winery in Aix-le-Provence, France 2012. Photo by J. Becker

I haven’t yet cycled France enough, to visit its wine regions.  However, last spring Jack rolled through the Burgundy wine region but was unable to stock up on wine due to his heavy packed bike panniers. He really wondered if he would be able to meet his 80-100 km. daily cycling goals if he stopped for a swig of red wine glory. So, he blissfully spun unaware through some French winery areas that produced famed red wines that cost over $120.00 per bottle in North America.

Vineyards surround centuries old town, Weingarten, Germany 2010. Area near where Jack was born and family members are still there. Photo by J. Chong. Approximately 15 km. southwest of the French border. Weingarten translates from German as “Wein” for wine and “agarten” for garden.

So touring wine regions by bike offers many gorgeous vistas, an outdoor Nature experience married with cultural refinement –even if you can’t pack in much wine in your tummy or in your bike panniers, from your favourite winery stops.

Cycling through picturesque old French towns in Champagne, France 2009. Photo by J. Becker. The region that certifies only certain vineyards for producing the real champagne.

 Reading to Entice You:
Tourism British Columbia. Includes information on its wine regions, map and winery links.

Chong, J. Cycling for Spargel, Kirsch and Blue Painted Bikes in Black Forest Region, Germany.  In Cycle Write Blog. Jun. 3, 2010.

Chong, J. Freiburg, Germany: Cycling Among Medieval and Renaissance Restoration. In Cycle Write Blog. Jul. 10, 2010.

Chong, J. An Idyllic Summer Escape to Vancouver Island for Maidei. In Cycle Write Blog. Jul. 3, 2011. 

Homemade focaccia-pizza with a Okanagan Valley merlot from Stag’s Hollow winery in B.C. Photo by J. Chong

Summerhill Wines’ patio wine bottle sculpture. Overlooking Okanagan Lake, Kelowna B.C. Photo by J. Chong

A Fitness Match Made in Heaven: Your Personality And Your Favourite Sport

For a long time, I’ve always believed that you need to find the right sport or physical activity that matches your personality to feed your motivation forever.  This wonderful personality-sport fusion, will keep you cycling, jogging, hiking, walking, golfing or

Cycling feeds another passion: travel and time to savour sights. Cascade Mountain, part of Canadian Rockies. On Banff Legacy bike path north from Canmore, AB 2012. Photo by J. Chong

lawn-bowling for many years.
 
Having Different Habits and Social Needs: Finding the Right Fit, Passion
I used to extoll the virtues of cycling to anyone that was willing to listen. No more.  Not everyone is suited for cycling, rollerblading or swimming.  We are creatures of habits

2010 Olympic women’s hockey semi-final game: Switzerland vs. Russia. Vancouver, BC. Photo by J. Chong

with different patterns and socialization needs with others.  Or not socializing with others…which is why some of us revel in the solitary walk or bike ride at times.

Team Sports Not For Everyone
When I was a child, I enjoyed playing softball  daily under the hot summer with other girls before and after school. Our school had segregated sex playgrounds. Our softball diamonds for both guys and girls, were asphalt pavement. Our school playgrounds did not have grass. But no matter, kids played softball, soccer on the playground in the late 1960’s to 1970’s at our school.

Practicing capoeria, a dance-like Brazilian form of martial arts. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong

But gradually, I started to withdraw from team sports.  I didn’t like the reminder, that really, I wasn’t as athletically inclined as some other girls in volleyball and basketball.  Team sports forced me to compare my performance against other players.
 
I  also didn’t like the dependency of my role as a team player for  the team’s overall winning or losing stance.  I tried field hockey for a few weeks, but dropped out.  I can’t even remember the reason. Field hockey was clashing at the same time, with my rising passion in art and poetry writing –both solitary activities.

Hiking in canyon area near Sante Fe, New Mexico 2005. Photo by J. Becker

Physical Activities- Going Solo But with Choices for Companionship
In the background of my maturing body and angst of teenage years, I was still biking occasionally around my neighbourhood on a  one-speed bike that I shared with 3 other sisters. (A fourth sister was still too young to bike.) 

I didn’t go very far, but I loved cycling because there was no team to please nor need to conform within the game rules.  I could bike at my own pace.  Besides, as the eldest child, it was a temporary escape from looking after younger siblings.

Kayaking to see more wonderous sights. Doubtful Sound, South Island. New Zealand 2002. Photo by J. Becker. Part of a solo 6-month cycling trip for Becker.

My return to cycling at 32 yrs. after abandoning cycling when I was 20, was partially fuelled by these happy childhood and teen memories. 

Cycling suits my natural introverted tendencies.  But  cycling also fits my occasional need to socialize and share cycling passion with others if I want:  by riding non-competitively in small groups or in large mega charity cycling events.  Or riding often with Jack or a good friend.

Sport as Springboard for Advocacy, Travel
Cycling also has been a springboard for me in  advocacy work by encouraging cycling for health and transportation and supporting improved cycling infrastructure through the efforts of local cycling organizations, in cities where I’ve lived. 

Cycling by Bow Valley Provincial Park, Alberta 2012. Photo by J. Becker

 Cycling, like hiking, kayaking, rowing, snowshoeing or cross country skiing, have provided me opportunities to travel and enjoy local corners and far-flung foreign scenery from a completely unique perspective that cars cannot sometimes reach.

So all above motivators have kept me on the bike saddle, year after year, for the past 21 years.

Highland dancers at a bike festival who impressed bystanders in summer heat. Calgary AB 2012. Photo by J. Chong

Lifelong Dancing with Your Physical Activity Muse 
I wonder whenever I hear of those who try all sorts of different sports and diets to lose weight and improve their fitness, but are failing in their efforts long term.  Have they found the magic physical fitness bullet that fills both their personal physical and mental soul?

Have they found the sport that matches their personality?  Or are they wasting unhappy energy latching onto a sport that is the current rage that everyone is practicing?Is it a team sport that a person can easily meld their social needs and schedules to play with others?  Or is it a solo based performance sport that appeals to their introverted or solo-motivated tendencies? Is it a sport that has flexibility for a person to practice it happily solo or in groups?

Snowshoeing Tram Line. Lake Louise, AB 2012. Photo by J. Chong

By landing on a sport that you enjoy practicing, it becomes naturally integrated into the rhythms of your day, week and onward, for many years.  Your choice of regular physical activity then, becomes not a chore, but a welcome break and necessary, like brushing your teeth.
 
Whether it’s gardening, lacrosse, Highland dancing or yoga, may you discover a physical activity, that lights the fuse of your motivation, inspiration and leads you to more related passions, friends and good health for life.

Fun photo for possible sport choices for a cycling family. MEC Bikefest 2012. Calgary, AB. Even baby in mother’s backpack carrier is part of the fun. (Sorry: Wiring and lightbulb runs through the photo booth.)

Further Reading:
Chong, Jean. Blogging and Cycling: It’s Like a Drug. In One Cool Blogging Tips Blog. Nov. 11, 2011.

A Google search under keywords, sport and personality, will yield a plethora of scholarly journal articles on the relationship between choice of sport and personality.

Cycling-Themed Eateries: Attracting Everyone Plus Cyclists Too

Last weekend, I thought I’ll bike a pleasant flat bike route from home and check out a popular local eatery before a large bike store opened near by.  After all, I vaguely wondered if proximity to the bike store, had inspired the restaurant owner to call his café,  Cadence Café.

Mural print celebrates fun car culture — a contrast to restaurant name, “Cadence Cafe. Calgary, AB 2012. Photo by J. Chong

Cadence Café, Calgary- Shedding Cycling Images for More Customers
My partner reminded me there were other dictionary definitions of cadence –a musical pitch, etc.  In the bicycling world, cadence refers to a  cyclist’s consistent pedal-spinning speed: the

Mountain themed print mural. Cadence Cafe, Calgary AB 2012. Photo by J.Chong. Cafe attracted both non-cyclists and cyclists, anyone.

number of revolutions per minute.  The real test of cadence is sustaining an even, fast cadence when spinning up steep or long hills and mountain sides.

It was easy to see why this cafe was a  popular place, even on an early Sunday spring morning.  It was retrofitted cleanly and smartly in warm, retro 1950’s diner colours of black-white tiled floors and red cushioned seating and accents.  The menu was also diverse enough with some reliable muffin flavours as well as some ever-changing breakfast and sandwich selections.

Paintings (or prints) hung around the humming café with two large print murals at each end. One of them was a fun, casual animated scene of cars and comical drivers.  A rather jarring contrast to the café’s namesake.   As I seated myself, I spotted to the far left, and nearly hidden beside a Canada Dry pop cooler, an old rusted bike handlebar set on top of its stem and wheel fork.

Community gardens at back of large bike store, 1 block away from cafe. Calgary AB 2012. Photo by J. Chong

There were other clues of past attempts to decorate the premises with cycling memorbilia. In the women’s washroom, on the wall, there was a 15-20 year old print of a cycling peleton with (male) cyclists a la Tour de France style.  Honest, they should have thrown the print away.

Although the café drew cyclists,  there were also convivial crowds of families, children and retirees lining up for their food and kibbutzing around the tables. Cadence Café found the right formula by disregarding its homage to cycling, by appealing to people from all walks of life.

Musette Café, Vancouver BC-  Decorated with Cycling Passion
In contrast, the recently opened Musette Café in downtown Vancouver, trumpets its cycling

Musette Cafe. Downtown Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong

affection to the world.  Its  name is derived from “musette”, a sac of portable food to refuel competing cyclists in a long race.

Musette Café became a local news media darling when it first opened by an alley near Burrard St., not far from the Burrard Bridge. The cycling community welcomed a local business that overtly courted cyclists.

In contrast, there were prolonged public protests in Vancouver and debate between cycling community and other downtown  businesses and retailers located along the recently installed separated bike lanes on Burrard Bridge, Dunsmuir and Hornby Streets.  The protesting and debates peppered the news for months.  Several businesses claimed they would lose customers because valuable side parking spots would be lost. Months later, after all the sturm and drang, the local Board of Trade has quietly offered that they would help find more appropriate businesses near the separated bike lanes.

Musette Cafe adorned with cycling memorbilia. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J.Chong

I decided to check out Musette Café for myself.  Indeed, the café’s brainchild must be a compeitive road cycling aficionado. The small café is adorned with enough cycling memorabilia and knick-knacks. It is a wonderful place just to see a personal collection of memorabilia.  Clearly any experienced cyclist who loved bicycles could relate to some of the cycling collectibles.

However, most of the adornment pointed to the cycling racing world, not to the general bicycling folks who may cycle in walking shorts, a skirt or sneakers.

Bicycling memorbilia and collectibles at Musette Cafe. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong

When I dropped by,  there were cyclists relaxing with their coffee and muffins in their cycling gear. Outside there were a few expensive bikes, meaning brand models.

I am not certain if this café is drawing regular streams of customers, or if most of their customers are cyclists. Let’s hope that  cyclists with their fixie bikes, swirly skirts and bike baskets are also  dropping by often enough.

Theme Eateries Might Have to Offer More than Just Cycling Passion

Popular bakery with locals and tourists. Cowichan Bay, Vancouver Island 2006. Photo by J. Chong. Located in the core of this seaside town along a harbour.

But more to the point, do non-cyclists come back  to this café with its overt cycling theme in its decor?

Perhaps, look at it this way:  there a few bars in downtown Toronto and elsewhere that have a strong hockey theme.  Hockey is a Canadian obsession but it’s not the only sport that consumes some folks.  Would I go to a hockey pub and enjoy it?  Well, other than the fact I don’t drink beer (but I drink wine), I would drop by, at least for curiosity and with some friends.

But would I as a non-hockey player and non-hockey spectator go to the same pub again and again?  (As a teenager, I used to watch the games on Hockey Night in Canada regularily.)  Not unless there was another

Inside bakery, a quote on cycling love. Cowichan Bay, Vancouver Island 2012. Photo by J. Chong

reason –a suggestion by another friend or the pub offered some unique or fantastic pub food dishes. Normally,  I’d rather sit in a restaurant for a lovely meal and nurse my own glass of wine without an overhead television blaring away.

Bike decoration just part of ambience for an Italian cuisine restaurant. Victoria, BC 2009. Photo by J. Chong. A suggestion of the Giro d’Italia bike racing culture.

Cycling enthusiasts can know of different cycling subcultures that can exist –skinny tire roadies, fixie bike hipsters, bike commuters, recumbent cyclists and the whole mishmash of all cyclists at major public cycling events.  However just because a person is a bicyclist, it doesn’t mean they feel instant camaderie with  competitive cyclists or other cycling folk from other cycling subcultures.

New cycling jersey style for sale, with the bakery’s name, is the only clue to the baker-owner’s cycling passion. Thomas Haas Bakery. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong

Cycling enthusiasts might consider particular bikes as a work of art.  But honest, bikes without any other adornment, are utilitarian to many non-cyclists. It’s a vehicle that becomes animated with a cyclist and bike accessory bling.

So Musette Café might be a  rare visit for even a regular cyclist who shuns the image of cycling jersey, helmet, cycling shoes and clipless pedals.  But I hope not, or at least may be Musette might transform itself for everyone, despite its cycling personae.

St. George Rainway: Painting a Bygone Salmon Stream

Part of the “St. George Rainway”, a road mural painting dedicated to a bygone salmon stream on St. George Street between 7th and 8th Ave East. Vancouver, BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong. Foreground is a laneway.

On a misty grey summer morning, we hotfooted by bike to see a brand-new road painting that memorializes a bygone salmon stream that ran through the Mount Pleasant Vancouver neighbourhood. That’s right –a somewhat bumpy road surface was graced overnight with a blue-green swirly art stream of salmon, frogs, trees and sea life in a quiet residential area. The road community art work was the St. George Rainway.

We arrived there at the right time –colours were still pure, bright and unblemished from the previous evening’s painting party.  Road traffic was quiet since rush hour peak activity if such a street experienced it, had died down.

Well, it’s doubtful that this artwork was conceived so quickly. There was public consultation with the community, some artists created and presented the design, the False Creek Watershed Society helped promote the public painting party evening

St.George Rainway painting begins at a traffic calming circle filled with a community garden. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong.

weeks in advance, City placed some temporary traffic barriers and more volunteers were secured to paint and complete the 50 metre long painting within 5 hours on June 28, 2012.

It is remarkable what can be achieved by throwing down a well-designed painting on public road space if there is artistic vision, orchestrated effort of enthusiastic volunteers and some leadership.

St. George Street runs alongside a public school that has its fence already decorated with children’s salmon placard art – a common iconic sight at various Vancouver

St. George Rainway winds its artful way the full length of a street block. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong. Painted with community volunteers under artistic direction.

elementary public schools. The painted stream or “rainway” starts from a garden festooned traffic calming circle to nearly the end of the first block.

Painting imagery depicts seven stages of salmon, frogs, flora and fauna with multiple word translations of “water”.

While we were there, a few cyclists cruised along and various drivers drove hesitantly down the rainway. While it might have been the sight of us, 2 cyclists wandering around with their cameras , it was obvious some drivers were seeing the road painting for the first time also. Some cars inched slowly down the side of the road, not down the centre of the

“Shui” means water in Chinese. St. George Rainway painting. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong

road. Either a driver wanted to see more of the painting or allow us to continue photo-shooting. We weren’t sure. But at least, the fanciful stream painting, slowed down the drivers for a short residential street.

Rainway Painting Captures a Fleeting Image, Memory
The St. George Rainway is a touchstone that nudges pedestrians, cyclists and drivers to look, ponder, ask questions (What is this painting all about?) and contemplate the winding story of a lost stream and sea life prior to urbanization. We should welcome more inspiring permanent motifs that pull us outside and remind us what has been lost and what needs to be cherished for the future.

Salmon and other sea life swirl across St. George Street. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong

This painting too, shall fade in brilliance after the beating of rain, traffic, sunlight and snow. Catch and enjoy its ephemeral dream memory while you can.

Further Reading
Mount Pleasant Community Association. Mount Pleasant Watershed Society Blog.

Chong, Jean. Mosaic Park: A Creative Stream of Community Consciousness and Dreams. In Cycle Write Blog, Aug. 24, 2010.  For something a bit different: another public outdoor art installation with over 200 different mosaic designs that depicts a community’s wish for a water stream in their neighbourhood park.

2010 Olympic Birthmarks in Neighbourhoods: Vancouver, BC

“Canoe”, a pedestrian bridge in Olympic Village. Vancouver BC 2012. Heading towards Creekside Community Centre on far right. Photo by J.Chong

For locals,  the 2010 Winter Olympics legacy for some Vancouver buildings and artwork becomes paradoxically like a familiar face that we may longer notice its unique birthmarks over time.

I haven’t spent any time researching, analyzing  nor comparing long lasting transformation of buildings, art and infrastructure in Vancouver and other Olympic cities worldwide.  So just take my observations, as a casual jumble of blasé, amazed and sometimes, surprised thoughts as I bike around.

Olympic Athletes’ Village
It is still a wonderful area to cycle or walk around through on its paths, seating areas,

Part of a whimsical bicycle-powered world image in an art print. Front lobby at Creekside Community Centre. Olympic Village, Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong

“Canoe”, a pedestrian steel bridge, giant sparrow sculptures and its mini decorative amphitheatre that leads down into False Creek. The Village is a mix of multi-family, low

Cycling paths in Olympic Village are well-travelled most days at all hours. Background is city skyline and North shore mountains. Vancouver, BC 2012. Photo by J.Chong

and mid-rise housing designs. The new Terra Bread bakery café in the Village, is just rocking popular most of the time. When you are hanging out here with your coffee, you certainly see cyclists spinning by every few minutes from downtown or presumably from Granville Market.  No doubt, this bakery location is benefitting immensely from drop-in cyclists and pedestrians, since the Village is designed to severely limit car traffic.

In the Village, is the new Creekside Community Centre, which offers views of mountains, city skyline and False Creek from its ceiling to floor glassed rooms and atrium. During the Olympics, the Centre was one of the nerve centres for the world media and security command centre for the athletes.

Today,  inside there are banners from other previous Winter Olympics worldwide. Some of the

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 banner design style is iconic for that Olympic era —such as the 1920-1940’s.   An instant history teaching moment and reminder of Vancouver’s contemporary entry into the panthenon of Olympic host cities.

Permanent sidewalk mosaic with fireworks over Burrard Bridge, Vancouver BC 2010. Artist: Bruce Walther. Photo by J. Chong. Part of Downtown Vancouver Business Association’s Improvement Program. Funded by 2010 Cultural 2010 Olympiad which created and showcased art during the Winter Olympics.

Hillcrest Community Centre
Later we dropped by the new Hillcrest Community Centre which includes a library branch. Hillcrest was the former Olympic curling venue.  Something must have been wrong with the ventilation system in the women’s washroom on the day I was there.  It wasn’t working and very hot on an early cool spring day.  Hopefully it was only a a temporary breakdown.

Dunsmuir Separated Bike Lane
No, I am not confusing Winter Olympic lore with Vancouver cycling infrastructure expansion.

Urban life mosaics adorn a concrete city planter by the Dunsmuir separated bike lanes. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J.Chong

This lane was originally created with concrete barriers, to encourage more cycling traffic after the Olympics.  During the Olympics  the city had an aggressive goal of reducing incoming car traffic by 30% during the Olympics.  There were cyclists, more pedestrians and enthusiastic use of transit but this bike lane was not used during the Games.  Afterwards, the city made the barriers permanent and thrusted the lane further into downtown core with planters and bike rack corrals as barriers enroute to protect cyclists from cars.

Canada Line- Art at the End of Line
So much has been written in the transit world about the Canada Line that was built to move hundreds of thousands of people daily during the Olympics.

Aboriginal permanent art sculpture by local artist, Susan Pointe greets visitors at Canada Line light rail station. Vancouver International Airport, 2010. Photo by J. Chong

After the Olympics, daily use of the Canada Line, has exceeded TransLink’s original estimates.  People travelling to and from the airport, love it for its convenience. Translink met its original projected 3-year Canada line use of up to 100,000 Canada Line users daily within first 3 months after the Olympics.

What I love, as result of Olympic art legacies, is the permanent public art work in the new wing at the Vancouver International Airport attached to the Canada Line station. Contemporary aboriginal pieces that add to already the airport’s stunning collection to greet global visitors.

Olympic Logos Plastered Trucks, Ferry: Official Suppliers
Vancouverites travelling to and from Vancouver Island, most likely may have seen at least one B.C. Ferry with Olympic logo markings.

A few months ago, I also saw another vehicle sporting the Olympic logo:  a truck transporting beds and mattresses.  Sleep Country was the official supplier for beds ..probably for the Olympic athlete’s village.

Company truck still proudly displays its 2010 Olympic supplier logo. They were official suppliers of “Sleep” or mattresses for the Athlete’s Village areas. Vancouver, BC 2012. Photo by J.Chong

I’m not sure if this logo shout-out will become worn-out. But the vendors probably  had to work hard to provide their services and products in marathon flat-out delivery.

Going Beyond Sports: Permanent Footprint for A Dynamic Urbanscape

Sparrows, at Olympic Village flank a public square. To immediate right of sculpture is now a busy bakery cafe. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong

The 2010 Olympics confirmed for locals and to the urban planning community, how possible it was transform a city to live more often by foot, with more transit use and cycling. With additional larger scale public art, mid-rise multiple unit housing, more parkland and some attractive streetscaping, all these amenities can have long lasting use and value for communities.

Through my casual, slightly jaundiced eyes, the Olympics like all others, was a temporary

Dragonboat teams by dock at bottom of Creekside Community Centre. Kayaking, long-boating and dragonboating are popular year-round during the day, in False Creek which runs by Olympic Village in downtown Vancouver. 2010. Photo by J. Chong

money-generator for the local economy. However, there is already a cornucopia of art, architecture and changed view of Vancouver’s possibilities as a city that became more than just a place to greet the world before escaping to Whistler, Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands or the U.S.

What you see is a permanent imprint embedded into Vancouver’s urban landscape now and for a long time for all of us to enjoy.

How to Celebrate Bike-Pedestrian Bridges: Let Me Count Thy Ways

A shiny new bridge,  is a local cause célèbre in many ways, for expected and totally unexpected reasons. Sometimes it’s just a lovely architectural backdrop to frame not only cyclists and strollers, but also graduation parties, post-wedding photos, seminal reunions of family and friends.

Gaggle of high school grads in party wear have fun taking photos before jumping back into the rented limousines. Peace Bridge, Calgary, AB May 2012. Photo by J. Chong

Peace Bridge, Calgary: Frames Grad, Wedding and Family Celebrations
We were cycling homeward on the new helical Peace Bridge in Calgary by Spanish architect, Santiago Calvatore.  Ahead at the south bridge entrance, was a gaggle of excited student graduates bedecked in their long prom gowns and suits  swapping  group poses for photos. The student party-goers caused a minor bubble of congestion among  bemused cyclists, walkers and dogs along the bridge.

Traffic jam for bemused cyclists, pedestrians and their dogs. Peace Bridge, Calgary AB. May 2012. Photo by J.Chong

Why would chiffon swathed women and their nattily suited guys even want photos on this red bridge?  My guess was either typical garden shots were boring:   well just spoke too much of “weddings” or it was still too early this spring for a more glorious bloom of Nature.

After these photos were taken, for next few weeks, we have seen several different long-gowned and two- piece suited convoys of fresh faced graduates preening and prancing happily before cameras on the Peace Bridge.  The bridge literally has become a Calgarian symbol for one of life’s rite of passage.

Peace Bridge, Calgary AB 2012. Designed by Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava. Photo by J.Chong

Over the years, I’ve cycled to several opening day festivities for just completed bike-pedestrian bridges.  After months and months of public anticipation, and local news charting the barometer of public debate over a bridge’s price tag, it can be special moment when it’s time to walk, bike across the bridge.

On Golden Ears Bridge. Langley, BC. Information plaque mentions golden eagle that is indigenous to area. Ahead gold light poles against the rise of mountains which there is the Golden Ears Provincial Park. Metal fence has salmon shapes inserted in between vertical rails slats. Photo by J.Chong 2010

At the Peace Bridge celebration this year, they even arranged a helicopter to fly over the bridge several times from a nearby, barely-used helipad.  A Chinese lion dance wove along while stilt-walkers perched precariously and entertained from their lofty height to  crowds below.

Golden Ears Bridge, Metro Vancouver:   Highlighting Local Nature, Culture  
In 2009, the Golden Ears Bridge opening in the suburbs of Metro Vancouver, had special meaning for me. I was the Document Control Manager during the design and construction project phases. More about that work experience later in a different blog post.

Member of Sto:lo First Nations who lives near Fraser River where Golden Bridge spans. On opening day for aboriginal blessing and ceremony. Langley, BC 2009. I learned from him about a few sturgeon fish, now an endangered species exist in the waters. Fraser River can have annually up to a million salmon fish swim in from Pacific Ocean.

Approximately up to 20,000 people from all over Metro Vancouver, attended the bridge opening celebrations on a hot June day.  The Golden Ears Bridge is a 1 km. four lane road bridge  topped with iconic gold metal eagle sculptures,  gold coloured light poles and salmon shaped metal fences that line the bridge contours. Construction of this bridge over the Fraser River, also included building 5 highway approaches from the municipalities of Surrey, Langley, Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge.  Along both sides of the bridge, there are protected bike and pedestrian lanes. Bridge opening festivities included an ignaural 5 km. run of joggers and a bridge blessing by the local Sto-Lo aboriginal group, who also showcased their traditional longboat.

Cycling on Golden Ears Bridge 2010. A 100 km round trip between home in downtown Vancouver and bridge in the suburbs. Photo by HJEH Becker

On that day, Jack and I cycled a 100 km. round trip between home in downtown Vancouver and this bridge. I then, realized my own personal sacrifice for my job:  a daily lengthy work commute for nearly three years on the job.  Each day, my commute blended cycling, light rapid train, then parking my bike in a locker, stepping onto a bus and finally, walking 15 minutes to the construction site.  I wrote about this convoluted bike to work trip in an earlier blog post. I was relieved to have moved beyond this infrastructure project onto other things in life.  But when I saw the completed bridge, I nursed a smidgen of pride to have been on the project team that was responsible for this  local landmark.

Since then, we’ve enjoyed this day round trip several times to the bridge, with a stop at our favourite Italian bakery café and gelatari in Port Moody.

“Stream of Dreams”, showcases local children’s art of salmon fish. Park grass seems to simulate underwater seaweed. Photo by J. Chong. Background is Sperling bike-pedestrian overpass bridge connecting Sperling Skytrain station in Burnaby BC, to the Central Valley Greenway.

Central Valley Greenway & Sperling Station Bridge: Marking Connections Among Communities
For the celebration day on the opening of the Central Valley Greenway, a long awaited 30-km. bikeway and greenway, Jack and I were on local tv news.  Global tv station filmed a small group of  us cycling over the new white Sperling Station bike-pedestrian bridge that connects between  the TransLink Skytrain station and the Central Valley Greenway  in Burnaby.

This whole bike route is particularily known for its gentler grades and was Metro Vancouver’s first longest, east-west route for cyclists and walkers by joining the municipalities of New Westminister, Burnaby and Vancouver. It is a boon for bike commuters who want a less stressful bike route away from car traffic.

Opening day celebrations for 30 km. bike-pedestrian Central Valley Greenway by new bike-pedestrian bridge at Skytrain Sperling transit station. Burnaby, BC 2009. Photo by J. Chong

A whimsical simple feature along the way, are children’s handmade salmon art that grace the fence by Sperling station underneath the bridge in the park.  You will see this type of children’s local artwork when cycling by some of the elementary schools in Metro Vancouver  –wonderful, colourful  art that is participatory, permanent and iconic that reflects salmon that swim into some local rivers from the Pacific Ocean.

I’ve been fortunate to witness and join the crowds in celebrating new bridge links several times since I’ve returned to cycling.  Often the event is more than just welcoming a new, often better way to travel by bike, walking or  jogging. Each bridge becomes a memorable marker, an icon in the local landscape, history and lore that will spawn more stories into the future.

Cycling towards Sperling Station bike-pedestrian bridge.Burnaby BC 2009. Photo by HJEH Becker. North Vancouver mountains in background.

Further Reading:
Chong, Jean.  Biking to Work in More Challenging or Isolated Work Areas.  In Third Wave Cycling Blog. May 22, 2010.

Chong, Jean.  Golden Ears Bridge: A Nod to Nature and Aboriginal Heritage.  In Inside Vancouver Blog.  May 26, 2011.  More details on local history and culture of the Fraser River where the bridge is located.

Cycle-Adventuring for Fun, Low-Cost Food at Ethnic Grocery Stores and Supermarkets

Large variety of freshly made sushi packs. Fujiya Japanese Supermarket. Vancouver, BC

Yes, I know: in major to medium sized cities, you can drop by big, non-ethnic supermarket chains and load up on fresh ginger, pita bread or curry paste. Heck, even a deal on bitter melon is even possible these days.

No Need for Food Coupons
I have not used any food coupons over the past 3 decades. Instead, I’ve relied on low-cost food discoveries in ethnic grocery stores, farmers’ markets and only 1-2 national mainstream supermarkets.

By the sushi, sashimi and miso soup counter. Fujiya’s, Vancouver BC.

I happily patronized 1-3 different ethnic grocery stores and supermarket stores when I have lived in Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary. It takes time to find them. But cycling does encourage me to explore, in search of food deals at a few select places that are kind to the food budget yet interesting places just to browse briefly.

Japanese Supermarket for Fresh, Cheaper Sushi
In Vancouver, we occasionally cycled over to the Japanese local supermarket chain, Fujiya near the Adanac bike route. If you want competitively priced, freshly made but packaged sushi and sashimi combinations, this is the place. Along with a tray or two of sushi, is their bowl of miso soup for a simple, cheap lunch at their little eating area inside, at the front of the store. Fujiya has some outlets in Metro Vancouver. Not surprisingly, the multi-generational local Japanese-Canadians go there and everyone else.

Chinese gunpowder green tea –with trilingual packaging from a Middle Eastern store.

At minimum, I usually end up buying a big pack of green tea or buckwheat noodles. But there is a diverse selection of Japanese teas, miso pastes and dried seaweeds. I don’t buy much from this suite of Japanese staples, but it still is interesting just to look at the differences in Japanese teas versus the Chinese teas.

A slice of historic Chinatown. Vancouver, BC. 2010. Mural reflects some aboriginal imagery, indigenous to northwest coast cultural history.Photo by J. Chong

  More Rice Diversity at Chinese One-Stop Supermarket
Maybe I’m not remembering correctly, but Fujiya doesn’t offer the same diversity of rice in sacks compared to some Chinese grocery stores. I do shop at the Chinese mega-chain (at least for North American Chinese supermarkets) at T & T’s — more for convenience instead of continuously great deals. Some of their prices are higher than independent Chinese grocery stores. Annoyingly, sometimes large bunches of Chinese greens are bundled  in plastic and sold by  weight. Not practical when buying for only 1-2 people.

At Byblos wholesale bakery outlet and a bike ride stop: Middle Eastern phyllo pastry made of custard-like cream, sprinkled with pistachios.

But still, it’s just easier to manoeuvre around in wider shopping aisles.  The shelves are filled with a mind-boggling variety of foods that either I’ve never tried (and some I never will, since it’s processed and packaged junk food a la Asian-style) or my decision-making is challenged on which brand to try.  It used to be rice. But since I don’t eat much rice anymore, it’s Chinese noodles now –certain types of noodles. T & T has spread its supermarket empire across Canada. There are some differences between Vancouver stores and the single Calgary store. Vancouver locations offer a lot more fresh seafood and wider range of locally made fresh Chinese noodles.  I haven’t visited Calgary store often enough to see if they’ve gone as far as to introduce bison or venison to their customers. But it’s only a matter of time when they do.

Stacks of large couscous sacks and different types at Middle Eastern shops. Calgary, AB

 Piles of Middle Eastern Couscous Sacks
For Middle Eastern groceries, we have the easy convenience near a bike route to access Byblos, a Middle Eastern wholesale bakery outlet in Calgary which also supplies Western Canada. It’s typical to see customers sail out of the store with over 10-20 packs of pita bread for their families or more likely, their own restaurants.

After packing away pita bread, some phyllo pastries with pistachios, hazelnuts and thankfully, less syrupy than Greek versions and freshly made hummus, we settle down for a sumach spiced flatbread, a pastry and drink before climbing back on the bikes.

East Indian tea brands with British colonial branding. Basha Foods International, Calgary AB.

Just a block away is Basha Foods International, a large Middle Eastern supermarket that has instead, sacks of rice varieties with Middle East or Indian brands as well as whole aisles devoted to diverse selection and large volumes of beans, millet, couscous and barley.

Colonial Tea Branding in South Asian Teas, Not East Asian Brands
Packaged tea has Middle Eastern script with branding that reflects British colonial past — totally different from Chinese tea branding which retains more often, Chinese imagery and logos with no reference to British connections. But then except for Hong Kong and Macau, China was never colonized. Same for Japanese teas and their branding.

Giant moon cakes for Chinese mid-Autumn festival –enough to feed a whole party for dessert. T & T’s supermarket. Calgary, AB

Someone mentioned to me that it would be cheaper and more satisfying that I made my own hummus. Sure, but there are limits how far I will go the homemade route. I shop at these favourite food stores in lieu of visiting many different mainstream supermarkets for good prices and fun while browsing different foodstuffs.

Oh yes, I forgot: they are fun cycling destinations while I also get a great work out to haul the goodies homeward.

Nurturing Life: In Praise of Gardeners, Keepers of the Earth

Quirky ceramic sign for garden says it all. 2012 Photo by HJEH Becker. Note: Butterfly was a battery operated garden bling.

 As a non-gardener, I couldn’t help giggling at a tiny stand of flower pots for sale when we stopped by the University of British Columbia’s Botanical Garden Shop, during a bike ride last month. One of the pots had a garden ceramic sign emblazoned:  Grow, damn it!  Do expert gardeners lose their patience too?
 
Respect for Gardeners’ Sweat Equity
I admire gardeners who risk hours of sweat equity to seed  with great hopes of bountiful gardens with bright flowers, greenery or edible veggies and fruits.  Previously, I have written several blog posts on community gardens.  It’s a fantastic use of local vacant land.

Magnolia tree blossom spotted along a bike ride. Pacific Spirit Regional Park. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong

I couldn’t garden happily:  I need do-it-yourself hobbies that produce long lasting results –a tailored garment or a little oil painting.  Even a calligraphic poster.  Yes, even a blog.

Recycled bike serves as garden seat in Cypress St. community garden. By Arbutus bike-pedestrian rail path. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong

My gardening efforts were often absent-minded failures. My only plant, a sturdy basil died last month simply because I forgot to water it generously before going on vacation.

Gardening: No Longer For Just the Elderly, It’s Chic Dirt Digging
If it weren’t for the local food movement, or cycling while surrounded by Mother Nature, I would have blasted by cleverly crafted gardens and the disheveled wilderness.

Probably like many people, I used to associate gardening with doddering,  elderly people pruning, watering or talking to their plants while they had their cup of tea and scones.

Now, gardening or digging your hands in dirt and compost, is becoming chic –a refreshing attitude for gardeners and farmers.  After all, what person wouldn’t want fresh fruits, veggies and grains?

Wild alpine meadow flowers on mountain hike. Mount Revelstoke National Park, BC 2002. Photo by HJEH Becker

 Appreciating Plant Life from Ontario to British Columbia
My appreciation of gardens, particularily botanical and artistic in design,  was a slow osmosis of feeding my need for visual play of colours, shapes and textures in well-tended gardens during some of our cycling trips and vacation spots.  As a kid, I only casually noticed the tulips, crocuses, hyacinths,  snowdrops and forget-me-not flowers, growing around the house.  After all, most of these plants were already planted before my non-gardening parents bought the house.

Nature’s own garden among old growth Douglas fir trees and ferns. Lighthouse Park, West Vancouver BC 2005. Photo by J. Chong. A temperate rainforest in the city.

 Spring time to me in southern Ontario, was while cycling,  marked by these annual flowers as well as the purple  bunches and smell of lilacs and yellow brilliance of forsythia bushes.  Once we cycled a 120 km. trip between Toronto and Hamilton’s Royal Botanical Gardens, where there was a large demonstration area of a wide variety of lilacs.

Rich Year-Round Plant Diversity on West Coast
Then when I  moved out to Vancouver, I became far more aware of plant species unique to the northwest Pacific coast, as well as up in the alpine mountain areas and in  year round moist green temperate rainforests.  Here was an area in Canada, where there was greater diversity of thriving floral species, bigger and brighter flower heads, thicker leaf  undergrowth, plus the bonus of sea life thriving by the shoreline and in the Pacific tidal pools. It really is a Canadian gardener’s paradise.

Wonderous succulent tropical flower with buds. Botanical garden, Big Hawai’i Island 2002. Photo by HJEH Becker

In Hawaii, I was blown over by astonishing brilliance and fecundity of tropical flowers both cultivated and wild – wild ginger, birds-of-paradise and orchids, just to name a few.  I returned to Vancouver’s florist shops and noticed the same cut, sometimes potted flowers, but at a price.

Painting by Cypress Community Gardens entrance. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J.Chong

 Cycling Awakens Respect for Mother Nature
As a long time cyclist, one must bow to the power and occasional weather fickleness of Mother Nature.  I am not a mountain biker, spin jumping among forests and hills. But inevitably, there is a noticeable difference between cycling surrounded  by only cars and buildings versus on paths with nearby  forest, mountains, fields and bush in sight.  Even cultivated garden plots here and there along the way, count for visual relief.

The hardest part during our casual, Nature fandom bike rides, is stopping too often to snap photos of a flowering tree or a cunning bunch of bleeding heart flowers. Spring comes every year for a short spell. So, we revel in  budding gardens, quirky art work and wake-up blossoms of bushes and trees.

*This  post is in faithful memory of a sister who passed away in fall 2010.

Azaela flowering bush. Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong

More Interesting Reading and Photos:
Chong, Jean. City Hall’s Community Gardens and Citizen Outdoor Mandala Art. In Inside Vancouver Blog, Jun. 11, 2011.

Chong, Jean. People’s Oases: Community Gardens. In Cycle Write Blog, Apr. 9, 2010.

Cherry Blossom Ballet in Vancouver: Nature and New Mural Art

I had been wanting to highlight this new outdoor public mural that featured cherry blossoms against the backdrop of West Coast Japanese-Canadian and aboriginal history.

St. James Community Services Society mural reflects Japanese-Canadian and aboriginal history, culture along with west coast sea life. By Joey Mallet & Rita Buchwitz 2011. Commissioned for Vancouver’s 125th anniversary. Photo by J. Chong.

The St. James Community Service Society mural was commissioned in 2011 by the City of Vancouver, as part of their new public art works in celebration of the city’s 125th anniversary. The mural is also a dedication to the work of the Society for 50 years in the downtown Eastside for providing emergency shelter services, hospice care, support to seniors and those with mental illness.

Cherry blossoms. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong

This new mural is located at the corner of Powell and Gore Streets, in the area that was Japantown, adjacent to Chinatown. The mural includes a watery image of herring, cedar tree fronds, other sea life and a totem pole.

In this neighbourhood, there are several outdoor art installations within 1 block in all directions, that are touchstones to also aboriginal culture and Chinese- Canadian history.

Former Japanese-Canadian internment camp during WW II in mountainous interior region of British Columbia. New Denver, BC 2005. Photo by HJEH Becker

Fragile Blossoms Frame Grey Shadows in Japanese-Canadian History
Delicate arching branches of pale pink blossoms contrast against the grey flotilla of Japanese-Canadian fishing boats in the mural. During the latter part of the 19th century and up to World War II, the Japanese immigrants were formative in sustaining the fishing and canning industries along the southern coast of British Columbia. However, the dark spot in history was the confiscation of their fishing boats and their possessions by the Canadian government in 1939 and thereafter, with the Japanese Allied bombing of Pearl Harbour in Hawaii.

All Japanese-Canadians during World War II, were deemed suspect by the Canadian government as a threat to Canada, even though many of these Canadians had never been to Japan or their family were already settled in Canada for several generations. There was 

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 corralling of Japanese-Canadians and relocation of them by train, into camps located in the mountain interior areas of British Columbia. It was a clear racist target against a group of Canadians who were innocent and not responsible for Pearl Harbour attack. Parallel action was also taken by the U.S. against the Japanese-Americans.

The businesses in Japantown never fully recovered after WWII. Many of the families lost their possessions, businesses and were nominally compensated by the Canadian government 50 years later in the 1980’s,  for a token amount of money.

Cherry blossoms. Stanley Park, Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong

The mural is also an ethereal bow to the profusion of cherry trees bursting forth every spring, all over Vancouver. Previously I had written a blog post on this wonderful pink herald of spring which began as a gift of cherry trees from the Japanese government.

Cherry Trees Inspire Landscape Design for New Developments
Nowadays, it’s refreshing to see that both the City of Vancouver and some private developers have incorporated new cherry tree plantings into the landscaping and streetscape designs. You can see young trees blooming around the perimeter of a playing field in David Lam Park, by new condominium developments while bicycling from Stanley Park and along streets in Kitsalano and Shaugnessey neighbourhoods, where there are more mature cherry trees.

Queen Elizabeth Park in spring time. Vancouver BC 2012. Photo by J. Chong

Pink Blossoms Dance Like Ballet Tutus
Unlike the famed cherry blossoms in Washington DC, or even in Japan, on the northwest British Columbia coast,  sometimes delicate cherry trees are thriving beside soaring old growth trees that have stood for several hundred years. Boughs of tissue-thin, cherry blossom branches dance ballet-like in the wind, against rough, mossy wide girth of Douglas firs.

The cherry blossom sprays are like a profusion of many pink ballet tutus shifting, jumping and floating in the spring breeze. It is a happy dance of memory and hope for us when we face the rain showers and sun in the months ahead.

More Interesting Reading (and Photos)
Chong, Jean. Cycling Under Cherry Pink Flowering Bowers. In Cycle Write Blog, Apr. 18, 2010.