With snow melt and bountiful rain, the Fraser River
is overflowing its banks, and once again, my husband and I risk being labeled
as scofflaws.
Given our shared fascination with water in all
its forms, we took ourselves up to Derby Reach this weekend, one of our
favourite Langley spots to visit.
Over the years, we've seen this river at times fiercely
frozen, and even seen it dwindled markedly in the heat of summer...but never have
we seen it overflowing. Mindful that flooding puts people at risk, we simply could
not resist a chance to see the river cresting.
We found the parking lot full, though the
camp ground host had sensibly pulled out his trailer, and large signs made clear
the inadvisability of entering the camp sites.
In our defense, there were a good number of us squeezing by the warning signs for a peek.
Still, it must be said that of the dozens
of adults and children lining the riverbank, we were the only two who ploughed
along the flooded road to see how deep the water got...well above my knees, as
we went further along!
Somewhere in the heavens, I'm sure my mother
looked down, tsk-tsking about her flighty daughter, (who never had an ounce of
sense), and bemoaning the muddy ruin of a perfectly good summer frock!
Sorry, Mum...but we enjoyed our whimsy. Of course, when the weather took a turn with wind and rain battering against my bare arms and sodden dress, I might have questioned the veracity of our decision, had I any sense indeed.
We saw one adventuresome couple who'd carried in wood
and built a fire...several fishermen who threw in their lines with optimistic
enthusiasm, and when the sun put in a very brief appearance, it became just
another Sunday in the park. It seems we're all so desperate for summer on the
Lower Mainland that we'll celebrate the season, no matter what the weather
throws at us!
With any luck, the river has done all it means
to, and further damage can be averted. Our
prayers go out to those in peril and our heartfelt wish that they stay safe.
