http://www.tourismsurrey.com/attractions/parks/mud-bay-park-0
The Entrance and only Restroom at Mud Bay Flats. I strongly recommend you use it before the ride!
How to get there: There are several access points to the Dyke. Check http://www.translink.ca/en/Cycling/Cycling-Routes.aspx or the the CVG Greenway Pathways Map
http://www.translink.ca/~/media/documents/cycling/central%20valley%20greenway/central_valley_greenway_route_map.ashx for more details.
Take Hwy 99 South
- west on Colebrook Rd
- south on 127A Street
- east on Railway Rd
- park in Mud Bay Park Lot
- unload and ride west
Length of Ride: aprox. 8.4k one way so 17k round trip
Ride Level: Easy Peasy.
* Good for all levels of riders, and great for the whole Family.
Bike Type: MTB or a Hybrid.
*This is not a Road Bike Ride!
Restrooms: There is ONE restroom available at the Car Park located at the entrance to Mud Bay. I strongly suggest that you do take advantage of it as there isn't another till you reach Tswassen. Your other option of course would be to let nature take it's call in nature.
Mud Bay is a 8.4k stretch of shoreline that flanks Highway 99 leading from White Rock to Vancouver. As far back as I can remember it has been the point, whenever returning home, that I take a deep sigh and take comfort in knowing I am home. A few years ago a Greenway Pathway http://www.localmotion.gov.bc.ca/list.html was put in so that the beauty of this nature filled area could be shared with the Public; and since then I have wanted to go check it out for myself on my two wheeled steed. Unfortunately plans changed and fell through. Days turned to weeks. Weeks to months, and of course months turned to years; and I procrastinated as well. Finally after having had enough of that I decided with or without accompaniment I was going to go regardless.
So, Saturday came. I was bent on not rushing, and enjoying my morning. I got up; made my coffee and breakfast. I got my water bottle ready, a burrito for the half way mark, and my TORQ gels
http://www.torqfitness.co.uk/index.html (which I somehow forgot at home). Soon it was noon. Then noon quickly turned to 1 p.m. It was now or never...SPANDEX UP!!!!! I was off.
I had decided to ride to Mud Bay from my place rather than taking the bus to the Park & Ride seeing as it was all down hill most of the way. So , I headed through town to the Semiahmoo Trail, which I love riding.
Then from there I hit the very busy King George Highway, over the wooden bridge crossing the Nickel Mackel River. Then across the over pass over Highway 99 to the turn off and Colebrook road..and here is where the uncertainty came in. I started to follow this one cyclist who soon took a turn, and luckily I realised it was NOT the way to go as he was heading back in to town.
Following this guy was NOT a good idea!
So, I quickly turned around and headed back to Colebrook road. I was riding against a headwind, and having not been on a long ride since January found it to be a bit of a challenging. A few vehicles with bikes strapped to them passed me, so I took comfort in thinking I was heading the right direction, and just as I was beginning to question where I was, and how much further it was, a large group of cyclist turned on to Colebrook from the turn to Mud Bay. "Oh sure", I thought "I couldn't find one person to come with me, and here they had a whole group; nice". Ironically enough just at that moment one of the cyclist recognised me, he was from the Club
"Just Giver", a group that rides for the Awareness and Fund raising for Parkinson's disease http://www.just-giver.com/ . You can also join their Facebook page @ https://www.facebook.com/JG4PD?ref=ts "Hey" he said, pointing. I said, "Hi", waved, and grumbled past. Both annoyed, yet happy that I now knew where I was going.
Passed this friendly Bunch on the way to Mud Bay.
A short ride to the entrance and I was finally there. I had made it. Yay! I quickly took in my surroundings, and my bearings. I had a quick gander at the map, then anxious, I headed off on the pathway. I was just so chuffed to finally be doing this ride, after years of procrastinating. I have to tell you there are few feelings in the world that compare to finally doing something that you have wished to do for a long time.
Pure Joy I tell you! The Pathway rolls along the seashore stretching from Mud Bay to Boundary Bay and is an easy flat 8.6 k (approximately) ride.
There are information and Map Posts along the Pathway.
...and plenty of points of interest to sit and relax or explore
There are plently of these sign posts with helpful info along the ride.
These Guys were so funny and great. They saw me getting my camera out and said "Okay wait wait" and then posed for me...Hams!
I rode the whole length of the Dyke which has a variation of terrains. Mostly made up of packed gravel, parts of the route is on public road as well. Some of which is paved and a portion which is very dusty gravel. So, please take caution when on those stretches paying attention to any car or farm vehicle that may also be on the road at the time. I stopped and plugged my nose as a car drove past, as the dust was intense.
Parts of the Pathway are open to public traffic. Please use due cation!
Eventually, if you ride the path to the end it peters out in to Tswassen, at Beach Grove Road and 17 "A" Ave...I casually, again having no idea where I was going, rode on for a bit on 17 "A" which lead out to
56 th. Now if you do feel so inclined 56th does lead to the U.S.A./Canada Border, and if you happened to have your Passport on you you could let yourself in for another adventure and head out to Point Roberts.
http://www.colleenrides.com/2012/01/point-roberts-circle.html I decided to save that ride for another day and doubled back to the Pathway.
Beaitful Beach Fronts await you on your arrival in to Tswassen.
Beach Grove Cafe was an Oasis for me personally. http://beachgrovecafe.com/
The Gluten Free Coconut Cake BLEW MY MIND HOLE!!!! I came home and started looking for a similar recipe to bake it for myself...still searching.
I made much better time. Which was good, because all that sea air had tired me out, and it was 'Tea Time'. As I reached the entrance I decided to take one more glance at the Bay that I love so dearly,
and then headed back to White Rock; with the intention to stop at Park & Ride and take the Bus up the hill. Good thing too, because I was shattered. What a great day it was!
One of my Favorite Shots!
Mud Bay Flats is a wonderful ride and a great way to spend an afternoon. Whether you are on your own, with a friend, family, taking your dog for a stroll or riding your horse I highly recommend you take in this wonderful scenic bayside sometime very soon!
Cheers,
Cycle Cafe :)
Serpentine Fen Sunset on the ride to Park & Ride.
I cheated on the way home. Was absolutely shattered and couldn't handle the ride up King George Hwy. So hopped on the bus at Park&Ride.
P.S. I finally had my burrito when I reached home. I was ravenous. I had a latte, chocolate covered pretzel, and a whole pizza from Emilio's as well lol
*A wee Note: There are plenty of signs along pathway regarding bylaws, restrictions, and restricted areas; please respect and abide by them. Also please leave the Pathway as you found it. Remember the Greenway Pathway is a 'shared space', so take do care when passing other cyclists, pedestrians, or equestrians. Although this is a 'leashed' walkway, you may still pass the odd 'unleashed' hairy friend; simply ride on with due caution.Thank you
Links:
http://www.tourismsurrey.com/attractions/parks/mud-bay-park-0
http://www.colleenrides.com/
http://www.translink.ca/en/Cycling/Cycling-Routes.aspx
http://www.localmotion.gov.bc.ca/list.html
http://www.just-giver.com/
https://www.facebook.com/JG4PD?ref=ts
Cycle Cafe is a proud supporter of TORQ gels and Energy/Recovery Drinks in the UK
http://www.torqfitness.co.uk/index.html
~Cycling Cafe's Diva
"Uniting a Community; one Cyclist at a time"
"RIDE HAPPY"
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