A Welcome Walk in Abbotsford

My husband and I decided we were going to spend three weeks of summer in British Columbia for our then-six-year-old boy to see my family again.

Our son met my aunt and uncle when they visited Ottawa when he was two, so he probably did not remember them much. He had seen his two second cousins a couple of times when they visited the East Coast and we met in Montreal, but again, he did not remember much. It was about time we reconnected in person once more.

We stayed at my cousin’s house in Abbotsford on our first week, and then at her parents’ in Delta for the next two weeks.

British Columbia was my first home in Canada. I had lived mostly in Vancouver when I was there, then worked in Richmond and bought a place in Surrey a few years before I made the big move to Ontario. I never really explored the areas south of Vancouver, which is where Abbotsford and Delta are located. I would just pass by these cities that were close to the United States border whenever we’d venture south to Washington State, but never really stopped to explore.

Abbotsford is the largest municipality in the province outside of Metro Vancouver. It lies on the Fraser Valley, adjacent to the Fraser River and the US-Canada border. It is known for its farms, the Abbotsford Air Show, and relatively cheap gas. The air show happens in August and features a display of vintage planes and military aircraft, plus a synchronous and heart-stopping flight demo performed by the Canadian Forces Snowbirds, the US Air-Force, and the F-22 Raptor Demo Team. Abbotsford also boasts of its own international airport.

When we arrived at my cousin’s house from the Vancouver airport, the first thing I noticed was the skyline. It was dominated by mountains, with a clear view of Washington’s Mount Baker. This was what I had been missing since I left B.C. – the mountain vista. For more than nine years, I had gotten used to this backdrop and never gave it much thought.

It was only when I moved to Ottawa that I realized how extraordinarily spectacular it was and what a privilege it was to have it in our backyard. Looking at the Ottawa horizon only populated by clouds, I had longed for the mountains of B.C.

And there in Abbotsford, just a few kilometers off the U.S. border, I once again saw the clear silhouette of the North Cascade mountains. Simply beautiful! This was the best welcome indeed.

We took it easy on our first day. We slept in, ate breakfast leisurely, then went for a quick walk in the park. My cousin took us to Mill Lake Park. As you can guess from the name, it is a park that surrounds Mill Lake. It has trails around the water, a picnic ground, a play area for kids, and an outdoor swimming pool.

It was scorching hot that morning, but we managed to enjoy our little stroll. The trail is only about two kilometers, and the grounds are flat and paved, easy enough for small kids (my cousin’s girls were about the same age as our son) to manage.

We saw flocks of geese and ducks, some friendly dogs on their daily walks, and cute little critters. There is also a beautiful gazebo and a neat boardwalk over the water where we admired the lily pads abloom with flowers and watched the occasional canoes sailing by. The park has its own wharf, I learned. We also spotted some anglers trying to catch fish with their hooks. My cousin said that the lake is home to trout and two species of turtles. In fact, the kids saw a few turtles and a lot of frogs along the way.

We had a relaxing walk despite the heat, for the path is lined with shady trees and flowering bushes. My cousin told me that in the spring, cherry blossoms are thick and beautiful here and that in the fall, leaves change into their autumn hues and make the scenery look like a painting. I can just imagine!

We brought along our lunch of sandwiches, fruits, and crackers. After the loop around the lake, we settled at one of the shaded picnic tables and watched the other kids playing in the park. After our meals, the kids, with still a lot of energy left, spent time in the play area - sliding, climbing, hanging from the monkey bars, navigating the obstacle course, and just running. Afterwards, we went to the spray park. My nieces went for the refreshing splash of the waters, but our son refused to get wet.

In another section of the park, there was an outdoor kids’ gym with exercise equipment sized for kids but could also accommodate adults. The kids played with their Dads, with the adults trying to match the endurance of the little ones. Then, they found a wooden train, and we just took pictures as we pretended we were going on a rail trip. Afterwards, we walked around the maze garden before we headed off to the parking lot.

The Centennial Pool was close by, but we were not planning on swimming, so we did not go there. We drove back home to avoid the noontime sun which had become quite unbearable, then went out again in the early afternoon.

It had been a good first day of reunion for us, adults, and our young kids.