Late yesterday I finalized plans to run the Burnaby sections of the TCT with Pat. Even later, Action Jackson emerged from his home improvement projects and wondered if he could tag along.
Fast forward to 4:00 am this morning. Rain is falling hard outside the bedroom window. A drowsy RainNoTrain Jackson mumbles that he is bailing since it's raining. Suck it up, buttercup. I rolled out of bed shortly after 5:00am. The rain had abated somewhat and I snug into the kitchen for some early morning me time and a cup of coffee. I was surprised to see Action slink into the kitchen in time for the run. We finalized our plans and agreed that he would run the same section Pat and I had planned, but continue until we'd pick him up.
We met Pat in Burnaby and continued to the Burnaby-Port Moody town border to drop one car off on Suncor Drive where the TCT crosses the Barnett Highway and continues north of it towards Port Moody. We left our dry gear for the end of the run in the car and drove back west to New Brighton Park, the start of today's run. The logistics of running the TCT are a tad convoluted, but with three people in the car, we made it worthwhile.
Ean took off into the rain...he didn't look too happy, perhaps he thought the faster he goes the faster he'll be back (mistake, since he was depending on us finishing our section).
Pat and I started slowly heading east from New Brighton, through the underpass along the bike path to trail underneath the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge. I knew the first part of this stretch would lead us through an urban decidious forest, but was surprised to be running through the woods most of the way, before hitting Hastings Street somehwere just before we had to start climbing Burnaby Mountain.
Pat was having a rough time, especially as we headed up a small rooty and muddy trail. We took it easy, admiring the blooming chestnut trees and a rhododendron forest and eventually emerged at the TCT Pavillion near the top of Burnaby Mountain. The rain had settled into a heavy drizzle and the views west across town and north towards the mountains were non-existent today. Fog wafted across the meadows as we continued to tackle the last stretch of our run. From here the trail first undulates north of Simon Fraser University along the contours of Burnaby Mountain before steeply descending back down towards Indian Arm. Pat recovered and in no time at all we crossed Barnett Highway again to get back to the dropped off car.
Ean meanwhile, had made his way all the way to Coquitlam where we tracked him down, cold and wet. Thank goodness for car heaters...
Late yesterday I finalized plans to run the Burnaby sections of the TCT with Pat. Even later, Action Jackson emerged from his home improvement projects and wondered if he could tag along. 
Ean took off into the rain...he didn't look too happy, perhaps he thought the faster he goes the faster he'll be back (mistake, since he was depending on us finishing our section).
