Urban Trek: Crossing Over

No, we’re not heading to the afterlife here, even if the biting cold this day had us thinking it might not be a bad place to get away from these frozen limbs and frostbitten noses (and mine’s a biggie). Hell sounds so nice this time of year. No sir, we’re doing this – walking the pathways that parallel the Bow River in and around Downtown Calgary, frigid conditions and all, and taking in every single pedestrian friendly bridge we encounter. Cross one and continue on, cross over another and do the same for each and every one.

Now how’s that not an interesting spin? In fact, we so enjoyed the adventure we ended up crossing some bridges multiples times, silly us, so in the end, instead of putting on maybe ten clicks we did around fourteen. And for all that hard work and suffering in the -25c windchill conditions, we ended up back where we started. A 7-11 hot chocolate, here we come. So follow in our footsteps, the route looking like a mess of spaghetti, or not. It makes no difference. Just makes sure it’s a fun little outing.

First, where to start? We find free parking in the Westmount Community just accosts the river and a bit west of downtown, a spot as good as any. From here we head towards the river pathway (cool, an uncommon Plymouth Full Size Van), and on coming to 14th Street/Mewata Bridge (it’s got two names!), cross over. This here structure dates from the mid-1950s and replaced an earlier span. On hitting the pathway on the south side, turn east towards downtown.

Beside busy Bow Trail over there under all those condo towers, one of the last houses in the core (see: Eight Houses). Come to Louise Bridge, a fine concrete structure from the 1920s. Over you go, turn right and almost immediately come to another bridge, this one for foot traffic, directly above the LRT Tracks. You can hear them overheard, but can’t see them. This bridge is from the 1980s. On hitting the pathway, turn left and soon after that sandstone arch (an homage to “Sandstone City”, what Calgary uses to be called) come to the Peace bridge which you probably saw from the last crossing. It’s a beauty even if it’s been mired in controversy (due to cost mostly) even before it was completed. It’s from the early 2010s and is likely the most photographed bridge on the planet. Or something like that.

Damn, it’s cold.

Cross over (again) and on the north bank of the frozen Bow, turn right (or east). Over there beyond Memorial drive is the Sunnyside Community one the city’s older neighbourhoods with many charming old houses dating back a hundred years or more. Gentrification is making inroads but it’s still got lots of charm. Come to a foot bridge and yup, cross over. Arrive at Prince’s Island Park, a big green space in the inner city. There was lots of people out enjoying the park, even as cold as it was. Calgarians are hearty types. Marble art shines in the sun and over there, the grizzly remains of exploded snowmen. Oh, the humanity…

One more bridge over a river channel and it’s back on the pathway. Go left. Come to Chinatown, a great spot to have lunch. Lots of little restaurants here. A piping hot bowl of Pho is a God-send.

Cross over the Centre Street Bridge, just over a century old, before doubling back on the other side (no simple access to the pathway below on the north end, hence why this way). This is perhaps the most impressive bridge seen this walk, even as beautiful as the earlier Peace Bridge is, a cast concrete structure with graceful arches and flanking each end, concrete lions on guard. Nice views of downtown here.

Back on the south shore, head east again. Just after passing under the 4th Street Flyover, come to the Reconciliation Bridge (former Langevin Bridge) dating back to 1910 and the only old school truss type bridge seen this day. It’s nicely lit up at night and we’ve been meaning to check that feature out some time. Cross over.

On hitting the north bank, turn right and soon in cross busy Edmonton Trail. There is a pedestrian walkway on the span here, called the 5th Street Bridge, but that was being worked on and was inaccessible on out visit. So we continue on, under the LRT tracks spanning the Bow, the the last bridge considered to be in Downtown, the George King Pedestrian Bridge. This 2014 built structure replaced an earlier foot bridge that was one of the most character-less utilitarian spans ever built. Cross over.

On St George’s (Zoo) Island, it’s Bloom, street lights in the shape of a flower. I guess. That put taxpayers back a cool half million. It made the news some years back when Ospreys nested atop it.

Come to the East Village. In years past, this was a gritty place home to rail yards and industry and warehouses, with some blue collar housing on the south end. Today, it’s being reborn, and becoming a trendy hipster heaven with lots of new condo towers rising up. And there’s boutique coffee bars and craft beer pubs (you can’t afford), some housed in the old Simmons Mattress warehouse and out front come summer, food trucks serving all the best pretentious fusion eats costing a king’s ransom. Radish sprout, pickled kale and tuna sashimi pizza drizzled in garlic infused quinoa oil – huh? My soul for an old school hot dog!

Now retrace you steps back. Or do like us and cross and recross each bridge as you come to it. This has us vising some of the pathway not seen on the way in. Once in a while, we pass under a bridge, where in legend Trolls are said to live. Nope, they all went south for the winter.

Over there, St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church from the 1930s with its distinctive onion domes. Note the 1916 date one coming to the Centre Street Bridge. There’s a skating party. It’s a gentle breeze but with it being so cold, it feels like daggers. More pathway, more bridges. Over and over again, and under some, till you’re dizzy. That thing over there, an oversized Pandrol Clip. Smaller versions are used to fasten rails to cross ties, a modern spike equivalent if you will. The LRT in behind makes use of them.

The never ending winter has us thinking of warmer climes and getting out until the hills. Here it is only 3-ish and the shadows are long and the sun low in the sky. And now it’s -28c (wc). Arriving at Poppy Plaza, a recent addition here, in honour to those who’ve served in the military. All that cold lifeless metal makes us think of the harsh reality of war. Not sure if that’s how they intended it.

One more duck under and we’re back at the car. Let’s see, many clicks, eleven bridges, seven pedestrian friendly (and crossed many times), some historic, many photogenic, the downtown skyline, chowing down on some warm yummy goodness, some good exercise and a silly goal to tie it all together. There’s the makings of a good day.

And lastly, a matching jacket and house. Well almost.

Dreaming of the hills…
Crowsnest Ridge.
Mt Ware.
Mount Mann.

If you wish more information about this route, by all means contact us!

Date of adventure: A frigid March 2018.
Location: Calgary, AB.
Distance: 14km if you follow our route.
Height gain maximum: 50m.
Height gain cumulative: 150m if you follow our route.
NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate.

Cool Buddha

An uncommon Plymouth Full Size Van.

On 14th Street/Mewata Bridge, the frozen Bow.

It was bitterly cold this day.

Condo heaven, and one of the last houses in the core.

Louise Bridge, from the 1920s.

Under the LRT tracks.

There’s a breeze and we’re freezing our backside’s off.

Calgary was “Sandstone City”.

The most photographed bridge on the planet!

Looking upstream from where we came.

A charming little house in Sunnyside.

Prince’s Island bound.

Marble art.

The snowmen…they exploded!

Up to the Centre Street Bridge.

The structure dates back over a century.

Details…the work that went into it.

Post lunch, we’ve just left Chinatown.

Building exhaust like this tells you it’s cold.

Reconciliation (formerly Langevin) Bridge, the oldest one seen.

The Troll view.

The George King Bridge is relatively new…

…And is the most easterly downtown crossing.

On Zoo Island, it’s “Bloom”.

This structure replaced an older (ratty) bridge.

Now a trendy part of town.

St. Vladimir’s.

From 1916.

Skating at Prince’s Island.

It’s a most photogenic structure.

A “Pandrol Clip”.

Has us dreaming of spring.

Those strong shadows of winter.

Part of “Poppy Plaza”.

Solace…

In honour of those who served.

Under we go.

In back – yellow – almost like the jacket.

Star=start, heart=lunch options.