Dear Editor,

In a personal attempt at environmental responsibility I decided that, rather than take my car, I would ride into Burnaby with my daughter-in-law. I then took the SkyTrain and TransLink's new 555 bus to return to Langley, a great experience.

I left the Braid street station at 1: 07 p.m. and arrived at the Park and Ride on 86th at 1: 22 p.m. Fantastic!

Still basking in the glow of environmental responsibility, and adding to that a positive physical fitness component, I decided to walk home. I headed south on 200th Street towards Willowbrook Shopping Centre.

The hitch came when I ran out of sidewalk shortly after beginning my 200th Street journey.

In the positive glow of the season, I decided that the goat path I followed alongside the road was a historical decision to preserve the Carvolth Street memory. I made my way along the trodden footpath, struggling to maintain my footing and working at encouraging the feeling of trekking a pioneer trail. This was no easy task!

I focused on the stream (ditch) beside me, trying not to slip into it and overlooking the discarded underwear and abandoned grocery carts. The dead mouse seemed the only natural debris amid coffee cups and food wrappers.

I strained to hear the birds over the thundering traffic, and I tried to see it as an adventure when I had to step out onto the frenetic traffic to avoid a sign which straddled the path. It was either step around it or limbo underneath, and at my age, the latter did not seem advisable.

At 70th Avenue, the adventure was over: a sidewalk began and pedestrian safety was restored.

As much as I love a historical experience, it might be prudent to attain that at Fort Langley, rather than on our major route into Langley.

There may well be a sidewalk in future plans. If so, the Carvolth goat path will be lost, but wear and tear on walkers' nerves will be worth that loss.

Do use the new rapid bus route into town, but avoid the stress and find an alternative walking route into Langley!

P. Macdonald, Langley