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Food and Drink

Highlights of a food cycle through the valley of your dreams
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It’s only a wee start of thing in its second year and already they’re expecting the equivalent of about half the population of Pemberton to wheel – slowly, very slowly – into the valley Sunday for the Slow Food Cycle.

What started as a nub of an idea during a chance meeting between Lisa Richardson and Anna Helmer is grabbing a lot of imaginations. Never mind all the precociousness and potential politics of agrifoodietourismlocavorizationess that can lurk around an event like this. It stalwartly remains a one-of-a-kind, born-and-bred Pemberton thing that’s one heck of a lot of fun on just about every sensory level, including your sense of history and common sense.

If you didn’t make it the inaugural year, the weatherman says this weekend is looking fine so drag out your two-wheeler and latch up with the bus heading up to the valley on Sunday – thank you, Whistler-Blackcomb Envirofund and Glacier Coach Lines. How happy is that? You don’t even have to drive your gas guzzler, so you can snooze and cruise all the way back when your belly is full and your mind is empty and your cheeks are tingling from the sun and wind.

So if you’re wondering what you might be getting yourselves into, here’s the lowdown.

First of all, don’t worry about the number of humans on wheels who may show up – Lisa reminds us all that it’s a nice big valley with lots of little side trails and zippety-do-da detours, to contend with as you like. Besides, not only does everyone cycle to their own rhythm, they don’t descend in a herd.

However, those in the know suggest you meander over to Pemberton Community Centre to register and pick up a map at some reasonable hour, say before 10. In the morning, just to be clear. But given it’s a laid-back country kind of day, whenever you roll out will be fine. That said, consider yourself warned that laggards might miss out on Linda Ronayne’s amazing cinnamon buns.

But let’s start at the top, or the end, as it were, some 25 clicks up Pemberton Meadows Road from the starting point. This by way of encouraging you to get a good night’s sleep and not drink too much wine at the previous day’s Feast of Fields, for last year many a good soul gave it up about halfway up the valley and missed a lot of the food and fun.

Already I’m presuming you are armed with some combination of the following: a bottle of water; a pocketful of change for donations or even a few bills if you want to buy a serious lunch or two; some chopsticks for sampling; maybe paper towel or wet wipes if you have kids; a camera for the amazing views; hat; sunscreen; your appetite and curiosity.

Don’t worry about a patch kit and all that. Pemberton Bike Co. mechanics will be cruising the route. And if you plain run out of steam and start draggin’, you can hitch the saggin’ wagon.

But for now let’s get back to the top of the valley, where Marty and Andrea van Loon will be hosting lunch, catered by Pemberton’s own Pony Espresso, on their beautiful seed potato farm.

It just doesn’t get much more Pemberton than this. For the valley, named for Joseph Despard Pemberton, a surveyor-general for the Hudson's Bay Company in the 1850s, turned to seed potatoes for its livelihood soon after the northern gold rush trickled away and the accompanying influx of people settled down.

The van Loon farm is stunning, says Lisa, with a creek running through the property. Plus Marty and Andrea are welcoming hosts who can explain all the ins and outs of potato farming, and the Pony Espresso is sure to put on a great spread.

As you wheel back toward town, stop by the farm at the Hurley Pass turnoff. Denise van Loon will have whipped up some pretty amazing muffins and baked treats to tempt you. From there you can take one of those whimsical detours up to Dolores Los’s special farm, crossing waterfalls along the Lillooet River on the way. Dolores will introduce you to her alpacas and bees, and let you try bubblegum honey fresh from the hive. Don’t worry, all the turnoffs will be well-marked with signs.

Back on Pemberton Meadows Road, you’ll discover a blazingly good barbecue at Bob Mitchell and Don Millard’s "happy beef" ranch. And how perfectly Pemberton is that? While certification and all that monkey business is great, when all is said and done, don’t we all just want the simple goodness and good taste of food that comes from happy, healthy places? So bring on the happy beef, and the happy veggies, and the happy buns of Pemberton.

Next along you’ll find Johnny and Michelle Beks’ Shaw Creek Farm, with a display on seed potato farming and valley history set up in an old cabin they’ve refurbished. The Beks are third generation farmers and Michelle works at the seed potato lab, so they know their Pemberton and their potatoes. They’ll also have a bar with Happy Planet juices (see? I told you this was a happy place) to raise money for Trips for Kids.

Then there’s Bradley Organic Farms. They’re partnering with C3 rafting to offer a raft float on the Lillooet River back to the community centre for a mere $20. Your bikes will be shuttled back for you, but before you raft away, enjoy the barbecue lamb, felt-making displays and sheepherding demos.

Further along, you will have no doubt worked up an appetite again, ready for Andrew Richardson’s (of Araxi) samplings of all things potato at Helmer’s wonderful organic farm. Next door, Chef Hans Sterli from the Westin will be using all fresh ingredients grown right there at Across the Creek Organics to dazzle your taste buds and idea of "local".

All this and we’re only at the halfway point. In the front half of your cycle, you’ll have already sampled some of Pemberton Valley Coffee Co.’s coffee, McEwan’s fresh produce, honey from "Duck" Dennis, Scott Latimer's organic garlic, and more, including the aforementioned amazing cinnamon buns, that is, if you haven’t gotten up too late.

But don’t get all wound up about missing something – whatever you discover will be a homegrown treat, Pemberton style, giving you plenty to ride home about.

For Slow Food Cycle details: www.slowfoodcyclesunday.com

Glenda Bartosh is an award-winning freelance writer who once biked across Bali, eating a good deal of rice along the way.