June 02, 2011 | Tips from Travellers >
Richmond, Parks
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So I’ve shot a lot of crazy, weird, and interesting things in my life… But I have to say that today probably takes the cake. Wow! Today I went out to the Richmond Nature Park (located on Westminster Hwy) and filmed my very first ever SLUG RACE! Yes, you read that right. All day today the park was celebrating ‘Slug Fest’, an educational celebration of all things slug. The event, geared towards families and youngsters (and ME), teaches kids about the little garden critters and gets them involved in various fun games, climatically finishing in the annual slug race. I had to see this with my own eyes…
Before I delve into the slug race though, some quick background information about the Richmond Nature Park: The park consists of 200 acres of raised peat bog habitat, lined with 5km of walking trails and a boardwalk for scenic nature viewing. Open all year around, you can find a wide variety of flora, fauna, and critters. Examples include humming birds, owls, migratory birds, turtles, frogs, deer, and spectacularly coloured foliage depending on the season. If you ever wondered what natural untouched Richmond looked like, look no further than the Richmond Nature Park. Oh, and did I mention it’s free? (though they do accept donations)
The slug race. Oh my… This was a fun little event that pitted dozens of the slimy little guys against each other in an epic race for the finish. Tensions ran high as the slugs barreled down the raceway, in a mad beeline for the glory of winning Slug Fest 2011. It was a heated, intense battle and at the end of the day, two slugs (two weight class categories) took the gold medals. It was a great day. I witnessed two slugs live out their dreams of competing in the major leagues of competitive slug racing. Sometimes I film the weirdest things.
I had a great experience at The Richmond Nature Park today. If you’re looking for a nice nature hike in your own backyard, this is definitely the place to be. They have a beautiful facility with lots of informative displays, helpful and knowledgeable staff, and a gorgeous series of trails and boardwalks that really show off what natural untouched Richmond looks like. Slug Fest 2011 is over now, but be ready for next year when the tracks are once again lined with the fastest slugs in Richmond. In the meantime, go take a nice stroll through the park and escape into the wilds of Richmond!