Princess Pashley Meets The Duchess

I planned to meet my sister at The Duchess Bakeshop on a dazzling Saturday afternoon. The weather motivated me to finally test-ride the newly established bike route that stretches along 106 street.

A large section of the bike route is still under construction. So far this section (near my home) has been blocked for about 6 weeks. Residents have taken advantage of the deserted street to set up their own basketball area. I've seen them hoop it up as I pass by their place with our dog:

I rode along the bike route from 61 Avenue to Saskatchewan Drive. I liked the new traffic signs, indicating proper use of the sharrow portions:

Sections of 106th street are only wide enough for one lane traffic. So as I leisurely rode along the sharrow, vehicles would overtake and pass me by driving in the opposing lane. I guess they don't want to wait for slow cyclists like me. Would motorists be more patient if I was a child/adolescent trying to navigate the sharrows, or would they try to pass kids, too?

Cars can still park beside some bike lanes. Again, cyclists need to watch parked cars in case the doors suddenly open. 

Signs also indicated where the designated bike lanes started too:

It's always fun to zoom along the High Level Bridge path! 

Sweaty helmet head aside, I arrived at my destination full of energy. And hungry,too!

If you live in Edmonton and haven't been there yet, I highly recommend a trip to Duchess. 

My favorite treats are the lavender madeleines:

(both photos from the Duchess Bakeshop)

We strolled down 124th street and stopped at High Street. Lots of boutiques and specialty shops are situated there. I love sitting on a bench and people-watching!

Vespucci Consignment Boutique is a fun place to browse for footwear, bags, and women's clothing. It's a lot bigger than it looks from the outside. Lots of quality items there to check out.

Soon enough it was time to head home. My initial ride along the new bike routes was very enjoyable. I'm confident that more people will take advantage of them. As an experienced cyclist, I probably wouldn't use it on a regular basis, because I am comfortable enough to ride wherever I want. But once the route is finished in my neighborhood, I might change my mind and use it more often. Time will tell!