May 23, 2017, Day 2, Langford to Port Coquitlam. 107km

We left Langford around 7:30, again taking the Galloping Goose Trail, which is fantastic. Some parts are paved, others gravel but well maintained and steadily used. It passes through old growth forests and beside farmers fields We had to get to the ferry to get us to Twassen on the mainland by 11am. Made it! Settled in for an almost 2 hour crossing. I had things to do, like blog, or crochet dish rags or even a little English paper piecing quilt project, but I just sat there like a toad, nodding off occasionally. Just before debarking the couple who had left their things on the seats in front of us returned. Interesting folks. They are headed to Italy where he plans to teach “improvisional combat dancing” which he described as like wrestling without hurting each other. They also drive a car, which he described as “being like a fish that you think is dying, and then it breathes again.” It probably smells like fish too because it’s powered by oil that he gets, free, from sushi restaurants, which he claims is much cleaner than what he’d get from, say, McDonalds.     Yeah, really!

So the ride to PoCo was noisy as we took the highways. There are, surprisingly, bike lanes alongside most of the roads and highways and I feel pretty safe until I think about all the people out there on their cell phones, juggling their coffees and munchies. Better just to not think about it.

We stayed with John and Sandra Reardon, who were my friends when I lived in Guelph, Ontario, a lifetime ago. We’ve been friends for 36 years; the kind of friendship that you can have lots of time between contact and then effortlessly pick up where you left off.

Wow, were they good to us, We had a wonderful time to catch up on our lives and what our mutual friends are up to. We saw their son, Gareth, who I’ve known since he was 3. He looks the same, just taller and more muscular, and now he has two rambunctious children of his own! They fed us ribs, grilled veggies and strawberry shortcake and totally treated us like honoured guests, even making us breakfast the next day and a lunch for later on. Thank you Sandra and John! It was amazing!