Sun, Jun 26 2016 - Burn Yer Bridges Bike Ride COC Super Event (View Original Event Details)
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So as I unloaded the bike from the car in the rain, needless to say I was questioning my motivation. I went to put my bike shoes on only to find they were going to stay dry back in the house... doh!
I arrived to find Anne, Jill, and Pat were still game to continue, with only one other person having bailed a half hour before the event. After a little chatting and introductions under the cover of the pavilion and having put off venturing out into the maw of the raging storm as long as we could, we departed.
(note for reality - it was actually more of a light drizzle but a little embellishment is more fun).
Before we even got off St.Patrick's Island we were racking up the count on the bridges. First bridge was more of a steel boardwalk but it looked like a bridge and there was wet stuff underneath so it counts right? Then came the concrete bridge through the pond. Yeah ok so it was closer to a ford but with a couple more inches of water it would have been epic right?
Well if you haven't been across St.Patrick's Island lately its worth a visit because the work that has been done in the last year or so truly makes this area a little gem by the Bow. On the other hand we decided it was bridges over the Bow River that we were meant to count and burn. Good job it was raining and we couldn't really burn them.
So I don't remember when the rain eased and really stopped but we'd only crossed 2 or 3 bridges and things were greatly improved. Not only that but some of the bridges are even covered. All in all I'd say 80% of our ride was rain free and from the start to the better weather, the rain jackets and waterproof bike pants did their jobs. Eventually the skies would clear but temps and conditions were just right to stop us from complaining about the heat and sweating too much. With a smaller group it was easy to stay close and occasional stops to regroup were more of an excuse to chat and take in the views. Riding alongside Jill at one point we were taking note of the relatively large numbers of Calgarians and families who like ourselves had braved the discouraging conditions and made the most of an inauspicious Sunday morning. Calgary certainly has its share of outdoor enthusiasts.
On the return leg we were supposed to have a 4th and 5th bridge to get on and off Princes Island Park however as we cycled onto the island (4th) we saw the next bridge off was our 1st from earlier. A little puzzled but relieved we hadn't actually destroyed it, we reused the 1st Princes Island bridge. Thinking Google had mislead me in my initial count I just reexamined Google maps and see there is supposed to be a bridge at the west end. Switching to the satellite view however it looks more like a causeway than a bridge. Is it really there of do we have a mystery? I suppose I'll have to bike past there sometime to see if we have a missing bridge, a secret causeway, or just a bunch of blind bikers led by a fool who was lost.
Anyway we made it back to the COC Super Event rally point by the pavilion where we awaited the next event. I was signed up to the Bikes n Brews super Event edition and each of my event companions decided to sign up to additional events. Anne tried out Geocaching while Pat came along on the Bikes n Brews until he needed to depart. Jill joined in on our tour of some of Calgary's newest brewing locales. The weather got ever better, and the day was a great success from my point of view.
Thanks to all my COC super event companions for having fun, and to Mark for initiating the festivities.
Grant