Vancouver Discovery Walk Festival 1998
Sunday Lt. Broughton Walk
Sunday the sun rose to cloudless skies with a temperature that climbed from 40F to 70F. Walkers headed out to enjoy the final day of the 1998 Vancouver Discovery Walk.
A feature of the Lt. Broughton Walk are international checkpoints. Three of the checkpoints featured this theme. The John Ball Park checkpoint had an Oriental theme, with the volunteers in kimonos and serving fortune cookies. When Elizabeth and I arrived to check on them, a Vancouver police officer was helpfully delivering an order of lattes to the checkpoint workers.
The Port of Vancouver checkpoint had a German theme and served pretzels, juice, oranges, coffee and cookies. The walkers completing 22K, 32K or 42K then continued on past the wetlands where they could view birds and on to Vancouver Lake.
At Vancouver Lake, the Irish checkpoint had Celtic music playing and a great view out over the lake and lots of grass to lie down on for a short rest. We caught up here to the German unit, back for their second day of marathon walking. The Marines elected to do only one day.
From Vancouver Lake, the 32K and 42K walkers continued on to Frenchman's Bar, with a view of giant ships on the Columbia River. The 42K walkers continued into the countryside past farms to the final turn around. All trails then headed back the same way to Vancouver.
About 500 walkers enjoyed the trails. Support was again provided by the Vancouver Police, including the new mounted patrol, the fire department paramedics on bike, the Clark County Amateur Radio Club and the Boy Scouts. Music and dancing filled the Centennial Center throughout the day. I staffed the IML finish table and we rewarded walkers for completing an International Marching League Two-Day Walk.
The Boy Scouts provided the Closing Ceremonies with a friendship circle, scout vespers and carrying out the flags. Mayor Royce Pollard, Walk Chairman Bill Byrd, AVA President Ted Ballman, AVA-IML Chairman Tom Boyd, and International Walk Fest President Wendy Bumgardner thanked the volunteers and walkers and invited everyone to return in coming years.
Friday: Mayor's Friendship Walk
Saturday: Lewis and Clark Walk
1997 Vancouver Discovery Walk Report
Net Links of Interest
Vancouver Discovery Walk FestivalInternational Marching League
International Volkssport Federation
Photos © Wendy Bumgardner, 1998.
Full Disclosure: Wendy Bumgardner was a volunteer officer of the American Volkssport Association, the non-profit association that hosted the event.
