The sunny spring-like skies of Sunday helped eradicate all memories the monsoon-like rains that hit Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows on Thursday and Friday.

At least that was the case for many.

Literally hundreds of people flocked to different sections of the local dike system on Sunday to soak up some much needed vitamin D.

The very dikes that exist to keep flood waters at bay, and were doing their job for the most part Friday as roads were closed and fields throughout the community were flood, became a recreational sanctuary just 48 hours later.

Darin McClain, manager of the Bell Irving Hatchery, was able to quantify the local rainfall, noting it’s the most he’s seen fall in a 24-hour period since coming to Kanaka Creek Regional Park four years ago.

A whopping 98 mm of rain fell at the rural site in east Maple Ridge during the 24-hour period between Thursday and Friday afternoons, while 52 mm was recorded in 48 hours between Thursday and Saturday.

“That’s a big old wow,” McClain said. “We have seen bigger events over the 28 years or so, but that’s right up there, he said, noting the only other event he could recalling noting as bigger being in 2007.

As the rains stopped, the skies cleared, and the sun began to shine again, local residents were anxious to get back outside – whether they were out for a walk, a bike excursion, or horseback ride.

While most were enjoying the sunny Sunday weather, however, there were still many locals mopping up after Friday’s rains caused repeated flooding at the north end of 224th Street, near 132nd Avenue, as well as along Lorne Avenue in Hammond, and out on may of the fields in Pitt Polder.

• Stay tuned for more details in the print and online editions of The TIMES