- Area: North Nechako
- burger: hari chicken burg from om
- drank: retrogression ipa
- steps/kms according to phone: 33300, 24k
- Bluesky Thread: Link
Alex is the reason I live in Prince George, well, really, Travis is, but you don't need to know the full story. Who are you? Alex and I were together for a solid 10 years until we separated, only coming back as partners again so I could join the effort to support his journey into the afterlife when we all knew his cancer was not getting any better no way no how no sir no matter what or which techniques and spells and prayers anyone who could threw at him. He died within 2 years of his diagnosis. Then, it was just me and our cats in my little basement studio to mourn/meow as a little trio together.
5 years later, with my "walk all of pg" quest in my mind, I realized his would-be 40th was this day and that I should go explore the area he grew up in and his parents still live, and to visit his memorial bench at the park.
North Nechako has been struck quite hard by the "sprawl" in recent years. I know it affects the residents of the area heavily, as they bought their home with the expectation of near permanent isolation and quiet. This attitude is quite nimby, but there has to be some validity there, right? Right? These new neighborhoods are going to triple the traffic (maybe more, of course all of the new builds have at least one basement suite) but provide no relief to it as there are no walkable ameneties in the area. Forgot to grab eggs? Hop in the ford f-10000000000 and go buy them along with all your neighbors!
Despite my bleak outlook at this continual unsustainable sprawl of Prince George, it was a lovely walk! I checked in with Alex's family, I went to his bench and had a beer, I walked through my old neighborhood (that basement suite was on mcintyre), I had a great burger at the end.
When I sat down at Alex's bench at nechako riverside park, I had a small cry as I cheers'ed my beer against his name plate. I then realized the people at the bench 10 metres away from me were also drinking and having some cries together. They appeared to be siblings. Memorial benches provide such a good public space for mourners to come together, it is wonderful to have Alex's bench, and I hope for those other folks the existence of a memorial bench means something to them.