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Unique sightings during a moody winter trail bike ride

It’s been awhile since I’ve shared a trail ride with you!

I just peeked… the last ride shared was THIS beautiful new trail find in September at Cheam Creek Wetlands. Stunning place I’d like to visit again!

But when you have these kinds of trails 5 minutes from your door, it’s pretty effortless to just hop on the bike and go.

I’ve upped the ante when I head out these days. The Vedder River Rotary Trail now offers a full joining loop on two sides of the river, so if I start on my side and if I make good time, I can reach the food trucks on my way home on the other side.

And that right there is a great goal to strive for!

Dinner with a view that I don’t have to cook? Yes please.

I generally share all my rides in my Instagram Stories, so feel free to follow along HERE!

Unique sightings during a

moody winter trail bike ride

Browne Creek Wetlands

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This little strip of Browne Creek Wetlands looks like a puzzle picture, doesn’t it?

I always start my rides in this area because it’s closest to where I live.

How I do the full loop:

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1. Start at Browne Creek Wetlands. There is parking.
2. Head East along the south side of the river, until you get to the Vedder Bridge. 
3. Cross the bridge to the south side of the river, ending in Vedder Park.
4. Head West along the trail until you reach the Train Bridge (which you can cross by foot and end up in Yarrow) or keep going until you reach the Keith Wilson Bridge.

Of course, you can start anywhere along the trail. HERE is a parking lot document so you can pick and choose.

There is also a FB group called the Vedder River Rotary Trail Enthusiasts (that I started) that is open to locals who use the trail only. However it is a public group that anyone can view.

There’s been another reason for not trail riding as much as I’d like to. I injured my leg, and it took about a month to heal. So when I spotted no relentless rain for a change plus a reasonably not complaining leg, I went for it.

I did question if my leg could handle the full loop though. But I figured, if I just went at a slow and easy pace, that ought to do it.

So I gave myself plenty of time to make it back from the other side before nightfall and went for it.

Being that travel was off the radar all last year, the Vedder River Rotary Trail has saved my sanity. THIS winter trail bike ride has my main escape this year.

This was actually on a fairly dreary day, but the beauty of the landscape still shines through big. In fact, it can enhance the moody atmosphere. All those natural muted shades of nature is pure calm, isn’t it?

Oh right! And we did have a week of snow and ice. While that all disappears quickly on the roads, it takes at least a week for the shady trails to catch up and melt back down to gravel again.

I’ve attempted riding the trails in snow once… but once my tires turned into snowmen, well, that meant walking down the road with the bike until I could knock off enough snow to ride back home!

HERE is one post with snow on the trails… I didn’t bike this particular day but it sure made for a pretty walk!

And then of course, there’s the painted rock sightings!

There’s a group of artsy folks in the neighbourhood that love to hide the rocks. The reasoning behind it is, if you find a rock that you enjoy, leave it behind for another to as well. But if it speaks to you in a special way, or perhaps you ‘need’ it, it is considered a gift.

I love that.

And this cute painted shark rock find was a treat! Perfectly positioned along the river shore I might add.

Here’s another painted shark rock I found earlier in the summer! Too fun!

Isn’t nature so interesting though? Something as simple as a split log laying in the leaves pulled me right in.

It’s basically art… only nature can conjure up.

Front of The Vedder River Campground

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It can get chilly on the trails in December and January, but as long as the trails aren’t icy or it isn’t raining, I don’t mind. I bundle up with a couple of coats, gloves, face mask, toque under the helmet, and I can’t feel the cold at all.

There’s someone hiding in this picture. Can you spot her in the stump?

Oh hello other cute painted rock of a happy Japanese girl!

Someone’s REALLY good at this.

Aren’t these bark markings absolutely beautiful on these fallen trees? What a stunning design.

And it never ceases to amazing me when moss and ferns grow on the trees with nothing else around them growing at all.

Except for the odd mushroom. I don’t spot huge wild mushrooms often, but sure appreciate them when I do!

Vedder Park – North side of the trails

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This ride was right after Christmas, so I was happy to see the evergreen trail trees still decorated for Christmas with festive ornaments!

Most decorated trees are thoughtfully decorated, with non-breakable ornaments and wired to the tree so they don’t blow off.

And getting near the decorated trees means one thing when you’re on the trail…

… you are closer to the food trucks! Just in time, as my leg needed a rest anyway. It was slow going, but when you stop to take a bazillion pictures, that added to the rest as well.

On this particular day, I stopped at Amble Coffee for one of my fav XL Honey lattes with oat milk so it lasts me on the trail long enough until I reach…

End of Peach Road

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… G’s Donairs.

What a treat. The food is so fresh, the veggies for the greek salad side are cut right before they are served.

So if you are in the Fraser Valley along the Rotary trail, stop in and try one!

G’s Donairs is located at the end of Peach Road, in Chilliwack, BC. There’s parking there as well so if you’re in the mood for dinner out without the walk or bike, you certainly can! Winter hours are open daily until 4pm.

Food truck hours along the trails change with the season, so best to search online for their current hours.

HERE is a document of all the food trucks along the Vedder River Rotary Trail.

Now, won’t you excuse me for a spell while I take a break on a bench to the right?

It’s time for that dinner with a view… then a sunset ride back home.

What a fab winter trail bike ride kinda way to spend AND end a day, I say!

Video

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Click above to watch a short video tour of the ride! (must have ad blockers off to view video)

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Do you have a local trail or park you like to enjoy during your downtime? Where do you go?

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Read about more rides and the directions to the Vedder River Rotary Trail HERE