Checking out Airport Beach
With all of the things that are going on in the few weeks remaining until our trip, it’s good to get the occasional distraction from it all. So when my friend Kevin emailed me on Friday and asked to go for a bike ride, I jumped at the chance.
The weather seemed to be a little unsettled in the morning with some rain but by the time Kevin came over, it was nothing but blue skies. Unlike our bike ride together about three weeks ago to downtown and Kitsilano, this ride would likely be much less up and down hills and more long, flat riding seeing how Richmond (where the Vancouver International airport is) is completely flat.
Most people who live in the Vancouver area associate the airport with, well, the airport. Of course, there’s the surrounding businesses like shipping companies and others that service the airlines but there’s a whole other aspect to the airport that very few people know about. I’m talking about the beach.
As you’re heading towards the airport on the main road (Grant McConachie Way), if you happen to take the first right turn at the first traffic light, you’ll end up on a road that runs north of and parallel to the main airport runways.
Sidebar: If you’re interested in watching the jets land and takeoff right over your head, this is the place to stop.
About 5 Km further down this road you will eventually come to Iona Beach Regional Park. Yes, there is an actual beach at the airport!
Now don’t get me wrong, nobody is bringing their beach towel and lying down to sunbathe but this whole area is quite amazing considering that the main airport terminal is still in sight.
Kevin and I continued to ride past the main start of the park down what is know as the Jetty. This is a thin strip of land (about 10m wide) that extends far out into the water about 4 Km. At the end of the jetty is a lookout point that allows unrestricted view of Vancouver Island and the rest of the Straight of Georgia. Looking North you could see the university grounds of UBC and the tip of West Vancouver.
The best part about this whole area is that there’s probably never more than a handful of people who are ever here so the peaceful serenity couldn’t be of more contrast to the bustle of the airport terminal just a short distance away.
Kevin and I talked about trying to get together for another ride sometime after Barb and I get back home after our trip. Kevin and I have remarked that there’s a limitless source of destinations for us to check out in the Lower Mainland by bike. As long as the weather co-operates, we should be able to get in one or two more rides before the end of the season.
Baden
