Reassuringly Wobbly

Friday, July 18

Last Friday, David and I packed a picnic lunch, rented a zipcar (hooray for car sharing!) and headed across the Lions Gate Bridge to visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge. The bridge is one of British Columbia's oldest tourist attractions. Built as a private bridge in 1889 (connecting the owner's cliff side cabin to his favorite fishing trail) the 450' long simple suspension bridge quickly became a destination. The original bridge was constructed with hemp rope and cedar planks. Today's bridge is a little more sturdy: constructed of spun steel cable but still with wooden planks. The cables are anchored into enormous concrete blocks on either side, but still make a simple inverted arch across the canyon with the Capilano River 230' below.

The Capilano Suspension Bridge swaying in the breeze above the river

No secrets to the engineering - here's what holds the bridge up

Crossing the bridge is a bit of an adventure. Of course the bridge isn't going to fall (in 2006 a giant Douglas Fir fell onto the bridge and was suspended for several days before it could be removed), but it does wobble and sway significantly. You can imagine how a 450' span can get moving with dozens of people on it. At first, the motion of the bridge is unsettling, but I got used to it quite quickly. The view from the middle is really something to see - the river crashes over some rocks just upstream and the view point made me feel almost like a bird soaring above the rapids.

DVZ mid-span

On the other side of the bridge is a park set amidst several acres of old growth temperate rain forest. The cedars and firs tower hundreds of feet in the air and many of them are 300 or more years of age. The "Treetops Adventure" takes advantage of these giant trees. Some of the trees have been outfitted with harmless collars that support platforms and bridges between them. Some of these bridges are more than 100' above the forest floor. I got the feeling of being one of the Swiss Family Robinson and hankered for a tree house to live in!

Part of the network of bridges and platforms that make up Treetops Adventure

DVZ at the base of one of the giant trees

David and I found a shady corner and unpacked our picnic - much to the envy of some of our fellow tourists. Even though it was a busy day at the park, it was so nice to snack under these ancient trees and enjoy the sound of the river rapids in the distance. I made a cucumber salad for the occasion that put me in mind of all the picnics I shared with friends during my summers at Gateway. (Shout out to any of you reading in Bellport!) Though I've made some really great friends out here on the road, I miss all the folks that my 17 months away from home haven't allowed me to see as much as I'd like.

We spent the afternoon exploring the various trails and boardwalks in the woods, but then it was time to venture back across the bridge. The return trip wasn't as nerve wracking as the first trip. Still and all, I was happy to be back on solid ground! Both David and I remarked that it took a while for the ground to stay still - we felt like we were unsteady for a while afterwards.

The park has the largest collection of story poles in private hands - including this one absolutely designed with tourist photos in mind!

We made a pit stop on the way back to Vancouver for some ice cream - the perfect complement to a summer afternoon. The whole adventure made for a lovely afternoon trip!

JV