Pedaling through the Squamish Valley, I often see a Squamish Nation pickup truck that says Public Safety on the door. I was stopped on the bridge that crosses the river past the Upper Squamish Valley, taking pictures, when I saw it again today. The bridge is narrow so I scuttled off it so as not be an obstruction. I acknowledged the driver, and then turned for home.

About 10km later I was pulled over at a bend in the river, looking up at a glacier. There’s a gate that has a Squamish Nation sign on that says Authorized Parking Only, but I was on this side of the gate, standing over my bike. The Public Safety vehicle pulls up and I wonder if I’ve trespassed, either here or back there on the bridge.

The Squamish Valley road runs along the Squamish river through Squamish Nation land, and there are a number of signs posted about not trespassing, especially with regard to river access.

The guy gets out of the vehicle and walks over to me. “Do you need any water?” he asks pleasantly.

“Pardon me?” I say, not understanding the random question when I was half expecting to be chastised.

“You’re a long way out of town and I noticed you didn’t have a water bottle with you”, he says.

I did have my hydration pack, but was so relieved to not be in trouble and so genuinely touched by the kindness of the gesture. I thanked him and he got back into his truck and drove off with a wave.

These signs appear frequently along that road. Today the tag line at the bottom stood out for me more than ever.