2019-1

Walk # 364 January 2nd 2019 Following Hobbs Creek in the Mystic Vale woods

At the pond in the Mystic Vale

On January 2nd 2019 the CanRamblers went back to the Mystic Vale area of the Uvic Campus and followed the creek down to where is disappears near Sinclair Rd. Some of us wanted to see the creek flowing after all the rains of the fall. When we had walked the length of the creek we then walked up through the campus and took a different path back to our starting point on Cedar Hill Cross Rd. This was another good weather walk, but it started to rain just as we got back to our cars. We went to Smugglers Cove Pub for a nice lunch afterwards.
Phil's photos
Terry's photos
Claudia's photos

Walk # 365 January 9th 2019 Walking the Rolston Trail in Broadmede out and back

Walking part of the Rolston Trail

On January 9th 2019 we parked along Rithetwood Drive near the Royal Oak Drive end and walked the path beside the large pond (Pondwood Park) with it's island and waterfalls. When we got to the next street we crossed over and continued on to the next segment of this long trail. The trail crosses four streets, but sometimes you have to look up the street to see the next trail entrance, the trails are not all aligned. A brown post is the marker for each part of the trail. We continued all the way to Rithets Bog and then up to the end of Dalewood Lane. There we turned around and walked back to the beginning. This walk takes about an hour. It is a gentle slope down to the bog and not too bad a grade back up to the starting place. We went to the Monkey Tree pub again for lunch.

Claudia's photos
Phil's photos
Terry's photos

Walk # 366 January 16th 2019 A winter walk at Brentwood Bay

This part of the walk is along a waterfront path at the very end of Brentwood Bay.

It was a cloudy and cold day when we went out to Brentwood Bay to walk a big loop around the area of the end of Brentwood Bay. We parked on Marchant Road and walked down to the narrow road that goes past the Blues Bayou cafe. At the end of that road there is a trail to your right that hugs the sea shore. It leads into Ravine Park, a pretty little forested end of the bay where a stream falls down into the bay. You must take the upper path to see the waterfall. The lower path has a better view of the bay though. We followed the waterfront walk to where it goes up hill and we choose the stairs rather than walking around the road. We walked all the way to the top of the hill and then went left on Wallace Dr. and then left again on Hogan Rd. That took us back to our cars on Marchant Rd. We went to the Prairie Inn for a fabulous lunch.

Terry's photos
Claudia's photos

Walk # 367 January 23rd 2019 The Interurban Rail Trail walk

The walking group was spread out along the Interurban Rail Trail this time.

The rainy weather cleared again as it usually does for this walking group. We had a lovely bright sunny day for our walk. We started at the corner of Interurban and West Saanich Road and walked all the way to Hartland Road where we turned around. We all figured that we had enough of a walk for this day. As it turned out we walked 7698 steps or 6.5 kilometers this time. We drove a short distance to the Crooked Goose Bistro for lunch this time.
Colin's photos
Claudia's photos
Phil's photos
Terry's photos

Walk # 368 January 30th 2019 Old Esquimalt Road to Highrock Park Loop

Half way up Highrock Park we paused to admire the scenery and catch our breath.

A very good turnout for this walk through Old Esquimalt Road and up into Highrock Park to the summit to take in the magnificent views. We walked up Old Esquimalt Road from the back of Memorial Park in Esquimalt. Then we turned left on Carin Road, a dead end road that ends into a path that goes up into Highrock Park. We did a short fifteen minute walk up to the summit and then after all had enough of the views we headed down and took the first narrow path to our right and it took us over to the corner of the park where we came out on Old Esquimalt Road very near to Highrock Place. We walked back up Old Esquimalt to find Phil Ross Park and walked down to Fernhill that took us back to Esquimalt Road near the Memorial Park and out starting place. We drove over to the Gorge Point Pub for a nice lunch.

Terry's photos
Phil's photos
Colin's photos
Claudia's photos

Walk # 369 February 6th 2019 A walk that's over and under the Island Highway

The group poses at the entrance to the tunnel.

On a crisp sunny winter day the CanRamblers parked near the Uptown Bistro by Rudd park and walked up Boleskine to where the Galloping Goose crosses the road. They turned left onto the GGTrail and followed it up and over the pedestrian overpass near Uptown and then turned left again to walk alongside the highway out to Seaton St. where they found the tunnel that goes under the highway to the south side. This is one of the longest pedestrian tunnels that I know of in Victoria. It comes out on the other side of the highway and it is still called Seaton St. They walked back up the three blocks to the Uptown Bistro for lunch after the walk
John's Photos

Walk cancelled February 13th 2019 A gallery of photos taken by members near their own homes

This walk was cancelled. The destination for this walk required driving on uncleared residential roads that are almost impassable, and the forest where we were going to walk could be dangerous due to weakened branches of trees that could fall on the trails.
Because of these reasons the CanRamblers will instead post a gallery of photos that they took from their own homes and neighbourhoods. The theme of the gallery was supposed to be Footprints, a nod to our walking group logo. But all subject matter was accepted.

Walk # 370 February 20th 2019 A stroll through the South Fairfield and Ross Bay Area

Walking through South Fairfield.

The CanRamblers walked the streets and shoreline of South Fairfield and Ross Bay Cemetery. We gathered at Gonzales Park and walked along Hollywood Crescent, Dallas Road, Bushby, through the cemetery to St Charles to Pinewood then back to Gonzales Park. Still unseasonably cool, not many blossoms showing. The crocuses and daffodils didn’t look happy but the cherry trees are starting to show some flowers. Someone has been creative at the Ross Bay shore, excellent driftwood sculptures of a sea turtle and a whale’s tail. We went to Ross Bay Pub for a very good lunch.
Phil's photos
Claudia's photos
Colin's photos

Walk #371 February 27th 2019 A walk along the Lochside trail from near the Monkey Tree Pub

Starting out on the Lochside Trail

The CanRamblers walked out the Lochside Trail from just beyond the Monkey Tree Pub and walked for just over a half hour and then turned back to the start. We got a full hour's walk today. We had good weather again and although it was cold, there was no wind so it was a comfortable day to walk in. As usual we went to the Monkey Tree for lunch. Many thanks to Marion for arranging and leading this walk.
Phil's photos
Terry's photos
Colin's photos
Claudia's photos
Dave's photo

Walk # 372 March 6th 2019 A historical walking tour of Esquimalt - the base area buildings

The first walk the Camramblers did 370 walks ago was one of the series of Historical Walking Tours developed by the municipality of Esquimalt as one of seven self guided walks. Over the years we walked almost all of those self guided walks. There was one walk that we never did though; Today we completed that series with Dave in the lead. We parked near the Canex building on the Esquimalt Naval Base and walked from there. After an hour of walking we had covered all the places on the tour except the one that has disappeared, the new fire station has replaced the historic building that was once a public house and then for many years the old Chief's and PO's Mess on Esquimalt road. We went to the Officer's Ward Room for lunch and quickly discovered that it was Dollar Salad Day and there was almost no parking to be had. We almost found enough parking for all of our cars. Sorry Phil that you didn't find a parking place too.
Phil's photosphotos.app.goo.gl/xoM5wWxcpfQdCevv7
Claudia's photos photos.app.goo.gl/6RfbL8obiC5eYPxWA
Colin's photosvimeo.com/321905024?utm_source=email&utm_medium=vimeo-cliptranscode-201504&utm_campaign=29220&utm_term=1199456
Terry's photos photos.app.goo.gl/T5H37K9N9xNMvzQ49

Walk # 373 March 13th 2019 A walk through the lower trails of Mount Douglas Park

The group stops to look into Mt. Douglas creek as it flows down to the sea.

A good turnout for this walk through the lower (flatter) trails and then over across Shelbourne to the perimeter trail for another half hour of walking. It felt like spring at last. The temperature is finally going up to our usual seasonal normal. Thanks to Wenche for leading this walk. And to Marion for arranging the lunch reservations at the Smuggler's Cove Pub.
Phil's photos
Terry's photos
Colin's photos or video

Walk # 374 March 20th 2019 A walk along the Gorge from the Vic Canoe & kayak club

Today was the first day of Spring, or was it the last day of winter? In any rate it was a beautiful day to walk along the north side of the Gorge Waterfront from the Victoria Canoe & kayak Club to the 4 Mile House for lunch, and then back. Some moved their cars before the lunch, but some others did that after lunch. The temperature got up to nearly 20c today.
Dave's photos
Colin's photos
Phil's photos

Walk # 375 March 27th 2019 Walking the Glendale Trail - out and back

It was a sunny day but there was a chilly wind when we walked from Mann Ave. into the Glendale Trail towards Layritz Park. We headed towards the back of the Pacific Centre for Sports Excellence and walked up the hill towards the cell tower at the top. We had trouble deciding which trail to use to go down again and then realized that time was running out so we returned the way we had come. We got to the Med Grill in time for our reservations and had a lovely lunch. All In all it was a nice day's outing. All's well that ends well.
Phil's photos
Dave's photos
Claudia's photos
Terry's photos
Colin's photos