Walk # 415 . January 1 2020 A stroll through Finnerty Gardens and parts of the Uvic campus
Nine of the CanRamblers met at the parking lot near the Interfaith Chapel at Uvic and walked through the Finnerty Gardens to admire the new plants shooting up through the compost as if it were spring already. The temperature was unseasonably mild at nearly 10 Celsius. Then we walked along Ring road to a path that took us down to the University Club building and walked around that area there to see the pond and fountain behind the building. We walked through parts of the campus between some newer buildings that none of us remembered seeing before and eventually came back to Ring Road near Lot 6 where we parked. It was time to head over to Maude Hunter's Pub and meet a few other members of the walking group for lunch.
Dave's photos
Terry's photos
Dave's photos
Terry's photos
Walk # 416 January 8th 2020 A January walk through Mt. Douglas Park
Most of the group that walked the Mt. Doug Trails this day.
Linda was the photographer
This day the CanRamblers parked at the main parking lot near the washrooms and walked some of the trails of this beautiful park with Marion leading the group walk.
They had cloudy, but clear weather as I promised, and went to the Smugglers Cove Pub for lunch this time. Good to see Larry out again for lunch with the group. His first time after a complete knee replacement. Good for you Larry.
Linda's photos
They had cloudy, but clear weather as I promised, and went to the Smugglers Cove Pub for lunch this time. Good to see Larry out again for lunch with the group. His first time after a complete knee replacement. Good for you Larry.
Linda's photos
No Walk on January 15th Heavy Snow cancels CanRamblers walk this time
It started to snow again last night (January 14th) around 5:pm and continued until the wee hours. When I got up at 7:30am or so I could see that over 10 inches or about 20 centimeters of snow had blanketed our street, the cars, roofs and everything else. It made for a very quiet scene and was beautiful, but not a day to drive or walk in.
I let those who were interested in the scheduled walk know that it was cancelled and asked them to send photos of the area where they live. Today's web page entry will show those photos. The below photos are what I took at 7:30 am and later at 10:45am (I went back to bed and fell asleep for a few hours.) The total here was about 20 cm or 11 inches.
I let those who were interested in the scheduled walk know that it was cancelled and asked them to send photos of the area where they live. Today's web page entry will show those photos. The below photos are what I took at 7:30 am and later at 10:45am (I went back to bed and fell asleep for a few hours.) The total here was about 20 cm or 11 inches.
I went back to bed and fell asleep again. My neighbour came over and shovelled my driveway before I was even awake again. Nice neighbour eh?
The above photos are all from Linda. The first two are their front yard before and after.
The above photos are from Dave,
The above photos are from Lois
Walk # 417 January 22nd 2020 A Forest Walk in Mount Douglas Park
This time the group met at the end of parkside Road where it joins to Winchester Road, and a path leads up and into Mt. Douglas park. The group walked through the old fire access road that leads off of Pendergast Rd. and did a large loop through the park and back to their starting place. Most of the snow had melted away and the tall trees sheltered them from the winds. The group went to Maude Hunter's Pub for lunch. No photos were forthcoming for this walk.
Walk # 418 January 29th 2020 A Vic West Walk starting at the Save On Foods mall
A group photo taken in the parking garage before the walk.
It was a day for umbrellas and to follow Dave the Leader with his polka Brolly. We started at the underground parking in the Vic West mall, headed north on Tyee Rd., through the Rail yards Housing development on eventually onto the Galloping goose trail alongside the Gorge. Walking past the Point Hope Shipyard, we saw the two new Ferries, a tug named Millennium Falcon, HMCS SASKATOON and the Naval tug Glendyne. Then we walked to Tyee Road and back to the Pub. Lunch was delicious.
Dave's photos
Dave's photos
Walk # 419 February 5th 2020 A visit to the Heritage Acres Park and Site in Central Saanich
The group crosses the log bridge on the trail through the woods. The stream was very high.
It was a misty and somewhat rainy morning this day but the rain stopped completely when we were ready to start our walk on the wooded trail that goes around the back of this interesting park. We ventured out, avoiding some rather big puddles, however we soon came to a very large flooded place where there was no way around the standing water, so we had to turn back. We made our way inside the museum instead and had a very pleasent time looking at the large collection of historical artifacts in this building. There were so many items that we all found things that interested us. Soon it was time to head to the Prairie Inn for a nice lunch.
The pub was very busy this day but our table was ready for us. The kitchen was very busy so it took us quite a while to get our food served but the meals were very good as usual.
Merv's photos
Terry's photos
Linda's photos
Peter's photo
The pub was very busy this day but our table was ready for us. The kitchen was very busy so it took us quite a while to get our food served but the meals were very good as usual.
Merv's photos
Terry's photos
Linda's photos
Peter's photo
Walk # 420 February 12th 2020 A walk in the Government House Grounds
We had nice dry weather for a walk around most of the Government House grounds this morning. We were surprised to find lots of the flowers are out already. The lower trails were posted that they were recently flooded and muddy, but we checked them out anyway and found that they were fine. It was evident that there had been a lot of water flowing down the hill into the Garry Oak Meadows. We headed to the Christie's Carriage House for lunch. It was a long wait for the food because the place was very busy, but it was ok as usual.
Colin's video
Merv's photos
Terry's photos
Colin's video
Merv's photos
Terry's photos
Walk # 421 February 19th 2020 Exploring the Portage Park trails on both sides of the E&N trail
This is one of the entrances to Portage Park. It is located at the rear of the View Royal Municipal Hall. The stairs go down into the park from here.
On a clear but cold day in February the CanRamblers met at the 4 Mile Pub and walked down through the Portage Park trails to the beach and up to the rail trail. We found a gap in the fence near the playground that leads across the train tracks to the trail on the other side of the tracks. A gate was found that leads into a residential street, and a set of wooden stairs that leads up to another street. We took the forest trail that led to the right near the bottom of the stairs and followed it all the way to a nice residential townhouse development that overlooks the water. A steep path leads down to the tracks where another gap in the fence lets you get back to Portage Park. We walked back to the 4 Mile House Pub where most of the group had lunch.
Linda's photos
Colin's vimeo
Terry's photos
Linda's photos
Colin's vimeo
Terry's photos
Walk # 422 February 26th 2020 A walk through Glencoe Cove and back
The sun was out and there was very little wind. Most of us overdressed for this walk. The temperature got over 10c this day. Wenche was the leader for this walk. We walked for an hour through pathways and parkland and did a large loop before coming back at the starting point.
We all went to the Smugglers Cove Pub for a nice lunch.
Colin's Vimeo
Terry's photos
John's sketches
We all went to the Smugglers Cove Pub for a nice lunch.
Colin's Vimeo
Terry's photos
John's sketches
Walk # 423 March 4th 2020 Walking the Ogden Point Breakwater and James Bay
Walking back to shore on the breakwater. It was chilly and very windy.
A group of 14 of us met at the end of the Ogden Point Breakwater on this stormy day and walked out to the end and back. That only took a half hour so most decided to leave their cars there and walk to the Bent Mast Pub for some more walking exercise. It was much warmer walking through part of James Bay than it was out on the breakwater. The special today was a bacon cheeseburger with your choice of fries or salad for only $10. It turned out to be very tasty. A few decided to have the all day breakfast and their bennies looked pretty good too.
Terry's photos
Colin's vimeo
Claudia's photos
Terry's photos
Colin's vimeo
Claudia's photos
Walk # 424 March 11th 2020 A walk in Gore Park & Ravine Park in Brentwood
The CanRamblers met in the cul de sac near the entrance to Gore Park. (see map) We headed into the park expecting to see the huge display of wildflowers we have seen before, but no..they weren't out yet. It's hard to tell when flowers will pop open. There were thousands of green shoots around that will turn into flowers when they are ready. maybe a few more weeks. It's hard to guess when they will come out. We did most of the trails that we could find and then left the park and drove to the end of Marchant Rd. in Brentwood and parked near the government wharf at the foot of the street. We walked to the left towards Anchor's Anchorage Marina and into the trail that is just past that place. We took the upper trail to the bridge across the stream and then walked down to the lower bridge. The view out into the bay is nice from here. The tide was out so the water was low. We walked back to our cars and drove to the Prairie Inn for a nice lunch, and to meet a couple more of the group who didn't walk.
Colin's Vimeo
Dave's photos
Terry's photos
Colin's Vimeo
Dave's photos
Terry's photos
Walk # 425 March 18th 2020 A walk in the Esquimalt Gorge Park
We met at the parking lot for this beautiful park. It was a sunny day with no perceptible wind. It doesn't seem fair that when the weather is perfect for walking the world is shutting down over worries about the CoVid virus. We started the walk with a round of jokes to get us into a lighter frame of mind since all of us are stressed over the news media that we are exposed to about our health risks and the stock market correction. We walked through the Japanese garden first and then down toward the Tillicum Gorge Bridge and noticed the tide was flowing out. A homemade canoe with two young men drifted by. Then we walked all the way to the other end of the park and over the wooden bridge and into the path along the stream. This path took us back to the site of the original site of a carousel that existed before the end of WW2. The Japanese Tea House was located somewhere else. Someday a replacement tea house might be built in this park. Regrettably this will be the last group walk for a while. Social Distancing is the norm now and we have been advised to suspend the group walk for now.
Colin's Vimeo slide show
Terry's photos
Colin's Vimeo slide show
Terry's photos
The group's weekly walks for the CanRamblers have been suspended for an undetermined time period. Thanks for coming to look at our adventures. Please check back from time to time to see when we resume the walks.
As of March 25th 2020 These are some of the walks as shared by members of the group
As good and responsible citizens we are doing our best to "Flatten the Curve" of the Coronavirus CoVid-19 so while we mostly hunker down in our homes practising "Social Isolating" , it is good to get out and do some walking where we can and when we can, but staying a good distance from others. After all exercise is good for us, and so is fresh air. These are the photos of those of us who have gone out for a walk and tried to stay away from others.
Colin and Teri went out to the Gorge Waterway Park on the Saanich side of the water and by chance ran into Diane who was walking there too.
Colin's Vimeo slideshow
Terry & Claudia decided to walk around a few blocks near their home in Gordon head.
Here's Terry's photos
Terry & Claudia went back to Gore Park to find the blooms on April 7th.
There are thousands of Easter Lilies and some other purple and yellow flowers as well. Most of the wild flowers are found in the wooded parts of the park, so I guess that they like the shade a bit more. There will be more flowers in the next month or so, , but if you can't wait (like us) why not head out there in twos or threes and see for yourself. We went to the back part of the park and parked near the split rail fence. Just follow the road around to the back entrance off of Greig Road. There were few other people there, but it was easy to avoid getting close to them. We also stopped at Island View Beach for a short walk.
Terry's photos https://photos.app.goo.gl/vyEqfyr6a3wZssHE7
Claudia's photosphotos.app.goo.gl/mzBZnc8TfMrDVWGEA
Colin and Teri went to Royal Roads for a walk on April 7th. They walked along Charlie's Trail beside the stream.
Here are Colin's Vimeo photos https://vimeo.com/405679504
Outerbridge Park on a sunny April 15th Spring Day
It seems that some of the walking group had the same idea for a place to walk on this sunny spring day. And by chance a few of them chose to go to Outer Bridge Park for a stroll around the gardens. There are lots of flowers out, but we didn't see any ducks this time. Everyone respected the rule to stay six feet or two meters apart, unless they were a couple and that rule didn't matter. I guess that everyone was eager to see their friends again and to get some fresh air and exercise.
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Colin's photos
Colin and Teri went out to the Gorge Waterway Park on the Saanich side of the water and by chance ran into Diane who was walking there too.
Colin's Vimeo slideshow
Terry & Claudia decided to walk around a few blocks near their home in Gordon head.
Here's Terry's photos
Terry & Claudia went back to Gore Park to find the blooms on April 7th.
There are thousands of Easter Lilies and some other purple and yellow flowers as well. Most of the wild flowers are found in the wooded parts of the park, so I guess that they like the shade a bit more. There will be more flowers in the next month or so, , but if you can't wait (like us) why not head out there in twos or threes and see for yourself. We went to the back part of the park and parked near the split rail fence. Just follow the road around to the back entrance off of Greig Road. There were few other people there, but it was easy to avoid getting close to them. We also stopped at Island View Beach for a short walk.
Terry's photos https://photos.app.goo.gl/vyEqfyr6a3wZssHE7
Claudia's photosphotos.app.goo.gl/mzBZnc8TfMrDVWGEA
Colin and Teri went to Royal Roads for a walk on April 7th. They walked along Charlie's Trail beside the stream.
Here are Colin's Vimeo photos https://vimeo.com/405679504
Outerbridge Park on a sunny April 15th Spring Day
It seems that some of the walking group had the same idea for a place to walk on this sunny spring day. And by chance a few of them chose to go to Outer Bridge Park for a stroll around the gardens. There are lots of flowers out, but we didn't see any ducks this time. Everyone respected the rule to stay six feet or two meters apart, unless they were a couple and that rule didn't matter. I guess that everyone was eager to see their friends again and to get some fresh air and exercise.
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Colin's photos
