Walk # 15 October 25 2011 Downtown Area Haunted Victoria Tour
We walked on a Tuesday this week to avoid the wet weather that was predicted for Wednesday. We started at St. Ann's Academy and headed to Thunderbird park and Helmcken House. Then we walked past the Fairmont Empress Hotel and stopped at Roger's Chocolates and Murchie's Tea & Coffee. Finally we came to Bastion Square and the Maritime Museum. What do all these places have in common? The are all haunted places. This was the Haunted Happenings Ghost walk. The Garrick's Head pub was a great place to have a nice lunch and it is haunted too, by the ghost of the murdered former owner. View Claudia's photos.
Walk #16 November 2 2011 Central Saanich Lochside Trail
We met at the parking area on Lochside near Cordova Bay Road and walked along the straight and level old railway bed as far as Martindale Road. The fall colours, the many maple leaves, the pig sty with the huge pigs, the field of little pumpkins grown especially for pies. There were lots of sites to enjoy, Afterwards a nice lunch at the Cordova Bay Golf Club dining room. And a bonus..the rain held off until we were finished lunch!
View Claudia's photos.
View Claudia's photos.
Walk # 17 November 9 Smith's Hill Heritage Homes walking tour
We parked at the Mormon church near Topaz park and walked up to Finlayson Street. We passed the Quadra Elementary school and the First Jewish School and headed along Fifth street to Summit Ave. We turned left on Summit and headed up to the Garry Oak meadows and around the city water reservour that was built in 1909. We turned back to Summit Avenue and down to Prior Street and zig-zagged from Blackwood to Vista heights and back to Topaz Avenue and Fifth Street and back to Summit Avenue and back to our starting point. Along the way we saw many beautiful homes that were built from the late 1800's,to the early 1900's including the Sikh temple on upper Topaz avenue. After the walk we went to the Fifth Street Bar and Grill for a nice lunch.
View Claudia's photos.
View Claudia's photos.
Walk #18 November 16 2011 Langford area Goldstream Park
From Heather: As it turned out, Phil, Di and I were the three intrepid ramblers who met at Goldstream. We spent an interesting time looking at the salmon and at some of the huge old cedars growing in the area, then walked to the nature house, which lies in a beautiful setting at the head of the inlet. Though the leaves were gone for most of the deciduous trees, a couple of huge cottonwoods there still retained their golden leaves and stood out beautifully from the others. After the nature house, we crossed the highway by using the culvert that runs under it, and walked a short distance up the riverbed to the Niagara falls. They are not huge, but they are spectacular. It was a good outing.
Thanks to Phil for the photos. View Phil's photos.
Thanks to Phil for the photos. View Phil's photos.
Walk #19 November 23 City Downtown Victoria's Chinatown Heritage Walking tour
A cold day didn't stop 10 brave ramblers from exploring the narrow alleys, hidden courtyards and Canada's oldest Chinese Temple as we learned about the early history and architecture of this part of Victoria. As the weather gets colder, nobody seems to mind that the walks get shorter. Or is it that we tend to walk faster? A nice lunch at Swanns brewpub completed the day.
View Claudia's photos.
View Claudia's photos.
Walk #20 November 30 UVic Trails and campus paths
We met at the trail entrance on Cedar hill X Road and started on the path that was once known as Haro Road. When we got to the trail that leads down the steps into Mystic Vale we entered the wooded area and followed the stream side path all the way to a small cu-de-sac near Sinclair Road. There we turned left up a narrow trail that cuts behind some houses and offers a nice view of Cadboro Bay. We came out on the university campus again and followed paths and trails through to the far side of Ring Road where we turned left and headed for the Finnerty Gardens. None of the beautiful Rhodos were in bloom at this time of the year, so we headed to the area on Cedar Hill X road where we had parked our cars. We decided to try McRae's Bistro on Shelbourne for lunch this time. It was a busy place and the service was slow, but we had a good time as always.
View Claudia's photos.
View Claudia's photos.
December 7, 2011 - CAMRAmblers Christmas Potluck
View Claudia's photos.