September 3rd 2020
Walk # 440 Walking into Royal Roads from the entrance near John Stubbs School .
Lois knows this area of Royal Roads better than any of us, and suggested that we could park near John Stubbs school and walk through the forested part of Royal Roads that is only accessible to buses and bicycles. This route eliminates the need to park at the Galloping Goose Park and Ride lot on Sooke Road and walk down the long driveway plus the need to walk all the way back up the driveway when going back to our cars after visiting the area. The group turned into Charlie's Trail and enjoyed the stream side path before heading over to the Japanese and formal gardens near the castle. It looks like this was a very nice walk, and very few other people were seen there.
Here are Colin's photos via Vimeo
Here are Colin's photos via Vimeo
September 9th 2020
Walk # 441 Walking the Mount Douglas Park lower trails
The weather was pleasant and warm when we met in Mount Doug park near the beach by the washrooms and the picnic tables at the northern end of the park. We headed out on the path following the creek at the top of a steep side down to the creek. This little waterway is usually teeming with lots of water but today there was only a trickle. We walked across Ash road and enjoyed the wide paths through the woods on the other side, continuing up and around to the other side of the same creek, crossing Ash road again and exploring the woods on the other side near the steep bush-and tree-covered cliffs above the east side of Mount Doug beach. Then back to the parking lot at exactly noon (coincidence). Eight of us had our picnic/sandwich in the park and the others went to a pub.
Here is Colin's Vimeo slideshow
Here are John's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here is Colin's Vimeo slideshow
Here are John's photos
Here are Terry's photos
September 16th 2020
Walk # 442 A walk around Swan lake
A relatively small group of 8 walked anti-clockwise around Swan Lake.
The smoke was relatively light until after the walk when a breeze from the south brought in some haziness.
As we walked people talked a bit about the history of Swan Lake – some recalled Pendray’s dairy farm that operatied on the Saanich Road side of the Lake until the mid-seventies,
though none remembered when the Lake was formed by glaciers about 12,000 years ago.
After the walk the group split up with most going to wet their whistles at a pub while two of us lunched on the dock and chatted with people coming down to the water.
Here is the Vimeo slideshow from Colin https://vimeo.com/458833989
The smoke was relatively light until after the walk when a breeze from the south brought in some haziness.
As we walked people talked a bit about the history of Swan Lake – some recalled Pendray’s dairy farm that operatied on the Saanich Road side of the Lake until the mid-seventies,
though none remembered when the Lake was formed by glaciers about 12,000 years ago.
After the walk the group split up with most going to wet their whistles at a pub while two of us lunched on the dock and chatted with people coming down to the water.
Here is the Vimeo slideshow from Colin https://vimeo.com/458833989
September 23rd 2020
Walk # 443 A walk along the Gorge Waterway
Fifteen people, wearing rain gear and carrying umbrellas, walked the Gorge from Tillicum Rd. to Admirals Rd. and back. A pleasant, but wet walk. Not a good day for eating lunch outside, and with no patio seating at Gorge Point pub we all carried on home. CanRamblers are most definitely troopers!
Here is the Vimeo slideshow from Colin
Here is the Vimeo slideshow from Colin
Walk #444
September 30th 2020 A walk from the Henderson Recreation Centre to Mystic Vale
A group of ten walkers parked at the Henderson Rec Centre and walked across the road and into the Uvic wooded trails known as Mystic Vale. After we had walked about a half mile we turned down and into a series of large wooden steps (44) that lead down onto the shady glen that is Mystic Vale. A trail leads down the bottom of this little "valley" and eventually comes out near Finnerty Road. We turned up a narrow trail that leads up to the left and comes back out near the original Uvic Students housing. Most of the group continued on to walk through some more parts of Uvic and I walked back down Haro trail and back to where we began this walk. Some went to a pub for lunch, some just went home and two of us went to eat our picnic lunches in Linda's backyard. It was a beautiful fall day for a walk like that.
Linda's photos photos.app.goo.gl/BwFgFup52Mk2F5CT7
Terry's Photos photos.app.goo.gl/AoTetW2VN2NxYQP48
Linda's photos photos.app.goo.gl/BwFgFup52Mk2F5CT7
Terry's Photos photos.app.goo.gl/AoTetW2VN2NxYQP48
Walk # 445
October 7th 2020 A Foggy walk around the Rithet's Bog trail
This morning twelve of us met on a very foggy day and walked the circle trail around Rithet's Bog. This is a perfect hike for our group as it took exactly 59 minutes from start to finish. By the time we set off for lunch the sun was out. Six of us met in the back patio at Floyd's Diner. Nine indicated they were coming for lunch but we know one took the wrong turn and got lost and two probably couldn't find parking. Lydia said it was the best chicken burger she had ever had. Wendy later heard that there had been a cougar sighting at Rithet's Bog. I guess the group scared it off.
There was no photographer on this hike so no visual record for the Web page.
There was no photographer on this hike so no visual record for the Web page.
Walk # 446
October 14 2020 Beaver Lake Park and the former Royal Oak Golf Course Loop
After yesterday’s stormy, wet weather we were lucky to have a mainly sunny and mild day today. We met in the main parking lot at Beaver Lake, walked along the beach, then followed Colquitz Creek from where it flows out of Beaver Lake. This is a lovely creekside walk, under a canopy of fir and maples with some of their green and gold still clinging to the branches after yesterday’s wind. Not long before the path reaches Pipeline Road we crossed a bridge over the creek, and followed a trail to the abandoned Royal Oak golf course. We explored the overgrown grounds while several of our group reminisced about golfing at the course. A short path through the forest then led us back to the parking lot. Wildlife sightings included a Hairy Woodpecker and numerous Canada Geese. This was a shorter walk, about 45 minutes. Some of the group then went to Bill Mattick's restaurant at the Mattick's Golf Course for lunch.
Here is the Vimeo slideshow from Colin https://vimeo.com/468404483
Here is the Vimeo slideshow from Colin https://vimeo.com/468404483
Walk # 447
October 21st 2020 A walk from Camrose Crescent to Payfair Park and back
This time Diane led the group from her residence to Playfair Park along mostly back roads. Here is her report. Twelve folks met on Camrose Crescent and walked up the back streets to Playfair Park. A lovely late fall day with the last of the leaves golden in the sunshine. Nine of us went to the Monkey Tree. It opens at 12:00 and we had two tables in the back area to ourselves. Lunch was excellent with lots of conversation and laughter. They have done a fine job of updating the interior. Good walk, good weather and good food, a perfect Wednesday.
Here are Colin's Vimeo photos https://vimeo.com/470863815
Here are Colin's Vimeo photos https://vimeo.com/470863815
Walk # 448
October 28th 2020 A walk down to Tod Inlet at the Gowland Tod Provincial Park
Peter and Lydia were the leaders of this walk down to Tod Inlet. This park is the Gowland Tod Provincial park. and was once the site of the Vancouver Portland Cement Company that mined the limestore that was located where Butchart Gardens now is located. The road goes down to the site of the original line kiln and the dock where ships came to in Tod Inlet to load the cement. There are many cement structures that were once the foundations of the bunk houses and work places of mostly East Asian workers who lived and worked in this area. The photo to the left is of the cement plant taken in about 1910.
Here are Colin's Vimeo photos vimeo.com/473276901
Here are Colin's Vimeo photos vimeo.com/473276901
Walk # 449
November 4th 2020 A walk from Cattle point through Uplands Park
This week we met at Cattle point in Oak Bay and walked across the road and into the trails of Uplands Park, a large piece of undeveloped wild land next to the most expensive real estate in Victoria. We found most of the trails were not as muddy as we expected after all the rain we had the day before this walk. That saying one of the trails had a number of large puddles that took a little care to get around without getting your feet wet. We could see that the Friends Of Uplands Park had been busy clearing away lots of invasive plants and creating some large clearings for future planting of native plants. Some of the group went to the Smuggler's Cove Pub for lunch after the walk.
Here is Colin's Vimeo slideshow. https://vimeo.com/475704689
Here is Colin's Vimeo slideshow. https://vimeo.com/475704689
Walk # 450
November 11 2020 A walk from Telegraph Cove through the Queenswood area and back
We stopped for a few minutes at Telegraph Cove, and Colin led us in a brief Remembrance Day ceremony at 11:00. In the mid-1800’s Telegraph Cove had a Hudson’s Bay Company wharf, which serviced their Uplands Farm located where UVic is now. The Island’s first telegraph connection in 1861 was between Telegraph Cove and Olympia, Washington, and 1895 the Giant Powder Company established as dynamite factory at Telegraph Cove - there are still a couple of houses remaining from this venture on Telegraph Bay Road.
We walked along Queenswood Dr, stopped at Cranford Park, turned onto MacDonald Rd then took an unmarked pathway back to Queenswood. I believe a few folks had lunch at Maude Hunter’s, but I didn’t join them so don’t know for sure.
Here is Colin's Vimeo slideshow https://vimeo.com/478324250
We walked along Queenswood Dr, stopped at Cranford Park, turned onto MacDonald Rd then took an unmarked pathway back to Queenswood. I believe a few folks had lunch at Maude Hunter’s, but I didn’t join them so don’t know for sure.
Here is Colin's Vimeo slideshow https://vimeo.com/478324250