Twenty Loopers successfully found their way to Garry Point Park in Steveston on St. David’s Day (aka March 1) to walk along the banks of the Fraser River. Three, by prearrangement, then drove to the Diplomat Bakery near London Landing Wharf—about 3 km along the route—to enjoy coffee and pastries before joining the others as they walked by.

It was a sunny start, although cold. One person wore shorts; no prizes for guessing who. The route led along Steveston Harbour, past Fisherman’s Wharf, and past the Britannia Shipyards National Historic Site. Feathered creatures and public art (see more about Richmond public art) added interest.

At London Landing Wharf, the missing three rejoined the group.

The route continued along a stretch of newly completed dyke path, more flood-proof than before. Close to Finn Slough, we had to divert around Reagle Terminals and cross some railway tracks.

Finn Slough is a community of people living in historic wooden buildings. The community dates from the early 1890s when a group of Finnish people who fished in the Fraser built houses on pilings to protect them from the high tides. For more about the history and present day, see

• www.finnslough.com/
• thetyee.ca/Culture/2015/04/25/Finn-Slough-Off-Grid-Urban-Wilderness-Fraser-River/
• evelazarus.com/finn-slough/

People still live in the shacks (and buy and sell them, although they don’t own the land).

On the return journey, the weather had changed and it was a colder walk back to Garry Point. (Shorts seemed a particularly poor choice at this point.) We were relieved to get to the warmth of the after-walk establishments: the Buck and Ear pub for most and Rocanini Coffee Roasters for the coffee crowd.

Photographs: Jon, Angela, Jean

There is an annual art show about Finn Slough. This year it’s at the Richmond Cultural Centre from April 16 to April 19. See details at www.finnslough.com/.