Urban Trek: Bowness Road

The colder months usually means it’s urban hikes for us, especially with Connie on the mend. We don’t want to push it and so doing our thing “in town” makes it’s easy to bail and catch a ride back to the car should there be a problem. Even so we still get out and work it good, at her insistence too, and here’s a fair walk of some sixteen clicks. Not bad for someone who mere months before lost a breast to Cancer. Bravo Connie, your strength is an inspiration!

In this outing we take in all of the western sections of Bowness Road, from end to end with one small unavoidable diversion, and minus a small disconnected stretch some distance away in the east. It was at one time the main way in and out of surrounding communities, but mostly now it just another street, a little busy but not overly so. Ahead it’s charming and delightful tour of Montgomery and the neighbouring community of Bowness. And on reaching heaven at the end, we then double back via a meandering route. You have to mix it up, don’t you know. If it moves you, come follow in our footsteps.

Bowness Road becomes 3rd Avenue NW at 37th Street NW. This is where it begins. There’s ample no-restriction parking here. Feet on the ground, intercept Bowness Road and point west. At the lights, take the path heading south towards the river, a detour, account a pedestrian unfriendly cloverleaf. Soon in pass Angel’s, a coffee/snack stop. Could so use a hot chocolate, but today they’re were closed for renos. Later we’ll visit a second Angel’s, where we’ll have lunch. Not sure if there two are connected in any way, or if only by name.

Continue on the pathway, passing the bridge to Edworthy Park, one of Calgary’s most awesome green spaces. On reaching 16th Avenue NW, cross over and heading north, then turn right at 17th Avenue NW, then left on 42nd Street NW and join up with Bowness Road again. Turn west.

Many decades ago Montgomery was one of Calgary grittier neighbourhoods but today it’s less so and is seeing a fair bit of redevelopment. The gentrification monster has an insatiable appetite. Many homes passed this day are boarded up and due to be demolished and when you visit, there might be trendy condo towers in their place. One house, in the ’70s, was a well known drug place – so I was told. Those fond memories! Pass an old school strip mall. Need a six pack, Chinese Food, Pizza, Shawarma? Or maybe something that sucks? This is the place.

Montgomery did not become part of Calgary until the 1960s and earlier it was a separate town.

Then it’s more houses who have a date with the wrecking ball. Soon on transfer to a pathway. Resist the temptation to visit DQ – later it’s a much better burger and ice cream place. Soon in come to Historic John Hextall (former Shouldice) Bridge, built in 1909 by the Algoma Bridge Company of Winnipeg Manitoba (know more and see a then and now: Calgary Transit then and now – old Shouldice Bridge – John Hextall Bridge). On being bypassed many years back it was turned into a pedestrian bridge. Usually in this city they just demolish everything, so that’s odd but not unwelcome. In the old days it was used by vehicles and streetcars.

On the far side, welcome to Bowness. Like its neighbour Montgomery it was once a community on its own before it too was absorbed by Calgary in the 1960s. Bowness in many ways still has that small town feel, especially when it comes to Main Street. Bend right and at a place called Mary’s Store, go hard left. Mary’s is interesting, a modern incarnation of the “traditional” non-chain corner store. It’s even on a corner! After the original old school version of the store was damaged heavily by flooding some years back it was replaces by the current structure. And while it’s all nice and new inside, it still has that feel. And no, we didn’t win.

In mere moments come to “Downtown Bowness”. There’s lots of shops and restaurants here. If feels very un-Calgary like, so easy going and with a pace relaxed. The old Bow Cycle Store, now a library, has a very cool 50s’ vibe.

Duck under the CPR tracks and continue in westerly direction. At 77th Street NW it’s another retro strip mall. And praise be, not one but two “Mom & Pop” stores where we can get our fix. We’re a slave to the lotto and they’re our dealers. There is actually a third store here, part of a chain, but the urban-hike lotto rules stipulate that scratchie tickets can only be bought at independent corner type stores. And again, we didn’t win. Yes, we have a problem…now get off our back!

Things of interest here, what was once the most awesome meat shop ever, Gour Mart, no longer doing retail (no pic cause it made us sad), a cool vintage sign above a bakery and a pay phone of all things, clearly a long time out of order. Still, we pick up the receiver – no dial tone.

Bowness Road bends right. For the next while it’s older style houses, humble in size and features. Real basic accommodations here quite a contrast with the McMansions often seen encroaching on old neighbourhoods like this. But don’t think the developers aren’t watching Bowness, they are. Bowness Road ends at a curve and turns into 85th Street NW. That daycare is housed in an old former schoolhouse. And a few blocks down, it’s a most heavenly place, Angels Drive In. The business has been here since the ’50s but the current digs are fairly recent.

It’s a burger, rings and milk shake. Can’t be beat it and way better (IMHO) than some of the city’s celebrated burger joints (cough, cough, Peters). Come here in the summer and prepare to wait.

What’s that just down from Angels? Say it with us…Corner Store! And for the last time, no we didn’t win…and now we’ll be late for a car payment.

Cross over east and enter Bowness Park on a pathway. On hitting the river, turn right and duck into the trees. For us, much ice underfoot and lots of slipping and sliding. The wilderness foray soon ends, houses block the way. At a toboggan hill (near deadly on how slippery it was) climb back up to 48th Avenue NW and turn left.

On coming to the train tracks, at 69th Street NW (Bill & Ted: Sixty Nine Dude!). The going is pleasant on this quiet residential street. Well quiet till a train passes – but none showed. A little jog at Bowness Road and continue along 69th. So far there’s been little signs of redevelopment in Bownes, but soon in come to some new condo blocks striking us as rather cold and sterile in design.

Sunnyside was one of Calgary’s top garden centres, and now it’s closed, the land on which it’s on slated for redevelopment. A prediction….more condos and more boutique shops. And around the block, some 1950s era houses slated to be demolished and part of that same “urban-renewal” plan, aka the “Sunnyside Redevelopment Project”. Since we did this trek most of these houses are now gone. A short little write-up: The Lights Are On…

Cross the CPR tracks at 32nd Avenue NW. No trains…we so hoped. At 63rd Street NW go right and on 31st Avenue NW, left. Just past the “Odd House” (you can’t miss is) meet up with Bowness Road again. Cross the Hextall Bridge and double back to the pathway below. Then pass picnic areas, playgrounds, baseball diamonds and a dog park. It’s pleasant going later right beside the river.

At Edworthy park hit the route used in the “in” leg and continue back to your car. Didn’t seem like sixteen clicks. But then like time, space and distance get condensed or squished down when you’re having fun. Interesting how that is. Hope you enjoyed the outing as much as us.

Till next time…

Keeping the Urban Hiking theme…
Urban Trek: Bow River Loop.
Ice Cold Urban Hiking.
Glenmore Reservoir Loop.

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

Date of adventure: January, 2019.
Location: Calgary Bowness & Montgomery.
Distance: 16km (ish).
Height gain maximum: Nil
Height gain cumulative: Nil.
NOTE: all distances and heights are approximate.
Technical bits: Most can’t resist Angel’s Drive In.

Where Bowness Road begins, and adventure calls.

The boulder at the end of the bridge.

Redevelopment is in the cards in Montgomery.

Memories of this house decades ago.

Another due to fall.

That place sucks!

And yet another.

Change is on the horizon.

There must be hundreds of these across the city.

The historic Hextall Bridge.

Welcome to Bowness.

It’s our little problem and Mary’s our dealer.

Things seen…

In “downtown” Bowness.

Murals at the old Bow Cycle shop.

More than a few nails and staples.

Cat on a leash.

Needing another fix.

Retro sign!

It’s clear, we have a problem.

No dial tone.

The iconic VW Micro Bus.

Housed in an old school.

Arriving in heaven.

Someone please…an intervention!

In Bowness Park.

The slippery slope of death.

Condo row.

At the closed Sunnyside Garden Centre.

Going, going, going…

No flyers!

To be demolished for the Sunnyside Redevelopment Plan.

There’s never a train when you need one.

An odd looking dwelling.

Made in Winnipeg, long ago.

It’s good to colour coordinate.

Down by the river.

That poor dead elf…a moment of silence.

Bowness Road & more!