There's nothing like a day in the sunshine in beautiful countryside, cycling leisurely on a discovery route of Chilliwack's farms.
The Fraser Valley Slow Food Cycle Tour is back this year by resounding demand. This Sunday, families can cycle through Chilliwack to get to know their local farmers better, and sample delicious treats along the way. The entire route is about 25 km, but participants are welcome to start and stop wherever they like during the opening hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"This is the country lifestyle and charm tour. You will learn about the many businesses that have made their farms sustainable through agriculture," notes Tourism Chilliwack. "You will not be disappointed as you wander through many rustic trails and come across benches and places to stop and enjoy nature at its finest."
There will be lots of samples en route, from meatballs at Greendale Black Angus Beef, to baked goods at Anita’s Organic Grain & Flour Mill, to lemon-mint punch at Greendale Herb & Vine.
Food and other products will be for sale at all 17 stops. Cyclists can leave purchases at the farms, and Tourism Chilliwack will pick them up for free. Goods will then be available at the visitor centre at 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. that day.
For the kids, there will be a collection of activities, such as jumping on a giant air pillow at the Chilliwack Corn Maze, spotting wildlife at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve, and touring the processing plant at Happy Days Goat Dairy Farm.
Children and youth under 18 ride free on Sunday. Adult tickets are $15. To ride in both the Chilliwack and Agassiz tours, the latter of which happens on Saturday, it's $25. Registration is online, or in person at the visitor centre (44150 Luckakuck Way) on event day, July 28.
Volunteers are needed to help out for a few hours with parking and traffic control, clean-up, shopping pick-up, and removing route signs at the end of the day. The reward for the work is free tickets to both the Chilliwack and Agassiz tours.
"It’s a wonderful opportunity to help out, make a difference and still have time in the day to enjoy participating in the event itself," wrote Tourism Chilliwack online.
Riders should bring their own bike and helmet, and obey road rules. A few rental bikes will be available at the tourism centre. Dogs should stay home.
A portion of proceeds from Slow Food events will go to the Terre Madre Fund, a global initiative to connect small-scale farmers, breeders, fishers and food artisans through an annual conference.
Full information on the Chilliwack cycle tour is online.