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.

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

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.

Canadian Reindeer Look-Alikes: Elk, Caribou and Mule Deer

A few weeks ago, Ava, a Filipino blog reader wondered what elk was after I mentioned we were going to have elk for our Christmas meal.

So after plumbing into our well of digital photo archives, I resurfaced with some wonderful photos:  I just could not write a blog post that featured a dish of meat against these magnificent animals. 

Male mule deer as distinguished by its rack of antlers which they shed every February. Banff National Park, by Vermillion Lake. Alberta 2002. Photo by HJEH Becker

It is not a contradiction for me since I do eat meat several times per month – very lean meat and seafood. We buy directly from farmers who raise elk and deer for meat.  They are there at the Calgary Farmers’ Market, along with the bison ranchers.  We only have this meat several times annually since it is not cheap but in Alberta, the quality is excellent and it is locally raised.

These blog photos were taken in the Canadian national parks where these animals are protected wildlife. Our  photos were taken in the national parks of Banff and Jasper.  Hunting is illegal and for a good reason.  As more tourists pile into the parks, roads and trails built for human travel, the wildlife are increasingly pushed  further away from their natural feeding and grazing areas.  Several million visitors visit these parks annually year round.  These parks are rock-stars that give Canada the world-wide fame for its many million hectares of remote, awe-inspiring mountain wilderness and wildlife.

Woodland Caribou Herds –Recovery of  Endangered Species
Most recently the Canadian federal government authority, Parks Canada that is responsible for federal, protected wildlife and national park areas across Canada, have  

Male elk, probaby a teenager. Along Bow Valley Parkway, Banff National Park. Alberta March 2001. Photo by HJEH Becker. Elk are also wapiti in the Shawnee First Nations language.

 raised the numbers of the endangered species, the woodland caribou in the Albertan Rocky Mountains.  Some caribou will be returned to their natural habitat starting this year.  (Sorry, we don’t have any personal photos.)

Secondly, starting in 2013, Parks Canada will shut down the Bow Valley Parkway highway annually  from Banff to Lake Louise,  at night during March to July to prevent car traffic. This quieter highway is parallel to the busy Trans-Canada Highway.   This effort will be enforced and allow the wildlife to move down from the mountains to graze freely  in their natural feeding areas and migrate about undistributed.  

Hungry After Every Snowy Mountain Winter
In March 2001, we saw a lot of deer and some elk when we drove along the Parkway. The snow along the road had melted off and the naked mountain sides had not fully bloomed with their tender spring green tree buds.  Many of these animals looked thin after long, snowy mountain winter and were scrounging around for food near the roadside in the forested areas.

Small crowd of hungry elk feeding by Bow Valley Parkway. Banff National Park, Alberta March 2001. Photo by HJEH Becker. That is an elk with 1 antler. Stags (male elk) have antlers.

  This is Nature’s typical cycle of animals either re-emerging after winter hibernation or subsisting on their fat during long cold winters in the northern hemispheres when temperatures drop well below freezing and there is less plant life for food.

These animals might be deemed as reindeer by romantics, but they are not. The First Nations people in this part of Canada, didn’t domesticate them for pulling loads.  They are wildlife and if encountered as a cyclist or hiker, is to learn not to startle them and distance yourself quickly.  In the 1990′s, wild elk ventured often into Banff town site which caused problems in some attacks on humans, feeding on gardens and damaging trees.  Regular elk visitors were referred by locals as “townies”.  Now the elk tend to stay away from the urban areas which is a good thing for both the animals and humans.  They are never to be fed by humans.

Pair of young wild mule deer checking out a local Swiss-Italian restaurant. Banff, Alberta Jan. 2011. Photo by HJEH Becker

  I have some more photos which have not been digitized.  There is another personal photo treasure: another magnificent brown elk munching on a pink flower bud in its mouth.  One day later and soon!

More Reading:
Parks Canada.  Elk in Banff National Park.

Parks Canada. Species At Risk: Woodland Caribou.  Nov. 2011. Photos of caribou for you to see the differences from elk and mule deer.

Cycling For Favourite Foods To Devour at Farmers’ Markets

Peameal bacon sandwich slathered with Dijon mustard. St. Lawrence Market, Toronto 2011. Photo by I. Yee. No comparable sandwich at markets in Vancouver nor Calgary --yet.

I tend to be a goal-oriented cyclist –I have a destination in mind. Sometimes that turnaround point involves food.
 
Now any diet-conscious cyclist would admonish my attitude:  to maintain a healthy weight, do not reward yourself by eating calorie laden food.  True.  The reality is at least a snack at the market, is a fabulous carrot stick motivator for me.  I food shop at markets and often slug along back home with my 10-20 lbs. of food in my bulging bike panniers.

So here are my favourite local ”snacks”  for 3 Canadian cities where I have lived:  Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary.

Toronto: Peameal Bacon Sandwich
When I lived in Toronto, at least once a week I had my peameal bacon sandwich fix with a 

Peak hour morning line-up for Toronto's famed peameal bacon sandwich. St. Lawrence Market, Toronto 2011. Photo by J.Chong. A favourite with some firefighters and cops (see handcuffs).

coffee, from Carousel Bakery at the St. Lawrence Market. This sandwich has put them on the map for local food fare as witnessed by the newspaper and magazine testimonials that are plastered on their signage. Notably, sometimes there are firefighters and cops who also line up for this hearty sandwich (instead of doughnuts).  At least one can justify, it’s low-fat pork.

I have introduced friends and visitors to this food gem, which by the way, is difficult to find in an accessible way, in  Vancouver and Calgary where I lived later on.  For Calgary, a veritable carnivore capital and producer for quality beef, bison and pork, it’s hard to understand this omission.

Granville Island Market, Vancouver BC 2011. Photo by J. Chong.

 Now I have to settle for having this peameal bacon sandwich only whenever I visit Toronto, which is rare now. 

Vancouver, BC:  Apple Focaccia or for Thrifty Foodie, Almond Anise Biscotti
My first exposure to Terra Breads. was at  Vancouver’s Granville Market before I increasingly switched to their bakery outlet on 5th St.—only a 15 min. bike ride away. My favourite item is their apple focaccia.  A mini round focaccia embedded with slices of apple  baked with a very thin caramel-like glaze. Or their red grape bread with pine nuts, which both desserts have inspired me enough to make my own plain dough for a homespun dessert focaccia with raspberries, blueberries, blackberries or grapes.

Apple focaccia. Granville Island Market, Vancouver BC 2011. Photo by J. Chong

 However if I wanted to save money, then it was their handmade almond anise biscotti or chocolate almond biscotti.  Artisanal baking at its best, with no use of shortening and a much lighter hand with sugar.

Calgary: Chocolate Sourdough Bun
At Calgary’s Farmers’ Market on Heritage Drive, I gravitate towards at YUM’s Bakery for their chocolate sourdough bun.  Again, maybe it’s a bit delusional, but the bun genuinely tastes not sweet, very little fat if any and no use of eggs.  This delusion can morph quickly into an addiction for the 

Chocolate sourdough bun --addictive delusion of eating healthier dessert / snack. Calgary Farmers' Market on Heritage Dr. 2011. Photo by J. Chong

next two days if we buy half a dozen or if there are no buns left, we buy a loaf.  Good thing the Market is a good 15 km. bike ride away.

Ah, what would a good bike ride to the market be without a favourite local food delight.

What’s your one favourite food in the city where you live or have lived? 

More Delicious Reading:

Violin-player buskers at St. Lawrence Market, Toronto 2011. Photo by J. Chong

 Chong, J. Growing Up and Cycling Through the Years to Farmers’ Markets.  In Third Wave Cycling Blog.  Dec. 3, 2010. Covers also farmers’ markets in Kitchener-Waterloo, Hawaii, France, Germany and Saltspring Island, BC.

Chong, J.  Kicking up Foccacia (Fruit Focaccia): My Way with Ginger Root and Spices.  In Cycle Write Blog.  Jun. 20, 2011.

Cycling A Piece of Maidei’s Global Relay Journey: Calgary, Alberta

This gallery contains 6 photos.

Maidei comes delivered in her own tiny cycling jersey,  with her handcrafted bike and even a pair of miniature skis in a Cuban cigar box, with tattered logo label, Romeo Y Julieta. To cushion the postal delivery bumps, she is protected … Continue reading →

Outdoor Art Work as a Thread of National History Across Canada: Monuments to Chinese-Canadian Railway Workers

This gallery contains 8 photos.

In Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary, where I have visited and lived, there is outdoor public art which commemorates the historic work by the Chinese Canadian railway workers on Canada’s transcontinental railroad. The Chinese labourers helped build the national Canadian Pacific Railway … Continue reading →