Naturally, I've taken this opportunity to discover what Saskatoon is all about.... and first, let me say it is a beautiful city where the Saskatoon River runs right through it.... a city of 7 bridges and a city where folks just naturally get out and enjoy the scenery along the river via the wonderful network of hike and bike trails.
The Meewasin Trail runs several miles along each side of the river and zig zags back and forth across many of the 7 bridges.
So, we might as well get started on this next chapter in the neverending saga of Discovering America and now the World.... on 2 Wheels!
The first thing I did when I found out I was heading to Saskatoon, SK was to do a little research on bicycle shops there..... and found the closest one to my hotel was City Park Cycles at #20 1100 7th Ave in Saskatoon. http://www.cityparkcycle.com/
After arriving in Saskatoon, I got settled into my hotel, which was right on the Saskatoon River and adjacent to a large city park.
I went to City Park Cycles and talked to the owner, Ken, and left the shop with a nice rental bike - an Opus Cervin Commuter bike that was totally set up with a Pannier, lock, bell.... and let me tell you, this was the perfect bike for riding the streets, hike and bike paths and trails around the city.
That evening I around till after dark and ended up at the man made weir north of the College Drive Bridge. It increases the level of the river upstream of it making for better recreational use by boaters, skiers and jet skiers.
The next morning I got up early and decided to ride over to the Broadway Street area and check out some of the cafe's and restaurants Ken at City Park Cycles had told me about. I took a picture of the Circle Drive Bridge from the Broadway Bridge.
I pulled into the Broadway Roastery for a cup of coffee and a muffin.
Then rode south on Broadway east on Taylor and then turned north on Preston. My objective was to ride back up to Bridge 1, the Circle Drive Bridge. Many of the main streets and avenues have dedicated bike lanes on them as shown here.
This part of the country is well known for agriculture and farms and I found myself riding between hayfields and the river.
The Meewasin Trail crosses the Saskatoon River at the Circle Drive Bridge by suspension between the 2 vehicle lanes.... Very Cool!
Bridge 2 is the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) Bridge. The bike and hike crossing is even more unique since it crosses the Saskatoon River on the railroad bridge. Note: The bridge is still used for regular railroad traffic.
View of the manmade weir from the CPR Bridge.
Once I crossed to the East Side of the Saskatoon River, I entered the University of Saskatchewan campus.... what an incredible campus with beautiful architecture, research facilities, grounds, museums and scenic gardens. The following pics speak for themselves.
I crossed back over the Saskatoon River at the University Bridge (Circle Drive).
View of the Iron Bridge (Victoria Ave) from underneath the University Bridge.
Then I crossed the Victoria Avenue Bridge (Bridge 5) and explored the west side of the Saskatoon River along the River Walk.
View of the Victoria and Broadway Bridges from the west side of the Saskatoon River.
View from underneath the Idylwyld Bridge.
Skateboarding park north of the Idylwyld Bridge.
The southernmost bridge, Bridge 7, the Grand Trunk Bridge.
The Meewasin Valley Trail is an incredible Hike and Bike Trail System that reminds me of the Greenbelts in many US cities. The US oughta come up here and see how it's supposed to be done!
Nice metal art along the River Walk.
A tree tunneled section of Saskatoon along Idylwyld Drive.
The Historic Bessborough Hotel.
I'm back in Saskatoon now for a 2 week stay and took this picture from my hotel room.
The architecture of each of the 7 bridges is different but each is beautiful in its own way!
Saskatoon continues to expand and improve the Riverside Hike and Bike Trail system. An 8th bridge will be in service by 2013. It will complete a circle of the city appropriately on South Circle Drive.
Saskatoon is a Great City to tour by foot or bicycle and truly a city defined by the River Running Through It!
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