Walk # 103 October 23rd 2013 Along the waterfront path into Sidney and back
When we left Victoria heading towards Sidney the fog was really blanketing parts of downtown and Gordon Head. But as we drove out the Pat Bay Highway the sky was totally clear and the sun was bright and warm. We met on Lochside Avenue just south of Sidney and walked along the waterfront path stopping at Tulista Park where there is an Arts Centre. Some of the CAMRAmblers found unique items to purchase at the Arts and Crafts show. After a while we resumed out walk through the Sidney-Anacortes ferry property and on to the Sidney Seaside Walkway. We explored the fishing wharf and enjoyed the statues and gardens along the way to the Beacon Landing where we stopped for lunch. After lunch we walked back to our cars along the way that we had come. To see Terry's photos please click on the following link:
https://plus.google.com/photos/108709526830847929475/albums/5938069237075137217?authkey=CNKk9Z2fs5X1Qw
To view Phil's photos please click on the following link:
https://plus.google.com/photos/117826671765550615361/albums/5938067899929379985?partnerid=gplp0
https://plus.google.com/photos/108709526830847929475/albums/5938069237075137217?authkey=CNKk9Z2fs5X1Qw
To view Phil's photos please click on the following link:
https://plus.google.com/photos/117826671765550615361/albums/5938067899929379985?partnerid=gplp0
Walk #104 October 30th Part 9 of the Galloping Goose Trail to Sooke
This part of the walk started at the parking area for Roche Cove and finished where the trail crosses Sooke Road at the town limits of Sooke. We turned around and walked back to the starting place. That's 10 kilometers round trip. The gorgeous fall colours and mild weather conditions made this a beautiful walk. Our ambition was to walk the Galloping Goose Trail all the way to Sooke and as far as I'm concerned we've done it! Add to that achievement the fact that we've walked most of the trail both ways so we've done a total of almost 80 kilometers. We celebrated with a nice lunch at the Four Mile House Pub in Esquimalt. To view Terry's photos please click on the following link: https://plus.google.com/photos/108709526830847929475/albums/5940688057182645425?authkey=CLG9gKjPoIGBmAE
Walk #105 November 6th Gorge park and God's Little Acre cemetary
When you say Gorge Park, most people think of the Kinsman Gorge Park in Esquimalt, but there is another park on the other side of the bridge that spans both sides of Tillicum Road. We started at the parking area off of Gorge Road near the Fairway's market and walked down through the park towards Victoria downtown. At the corner of the park there is a little trail that leads in front of some apartment buildings and ends up at a pretty little point from which you can get a good view up and down the Gorge. We back tracked along the water front towards the bridge and walked down a path that goes near the float where the harbour ferry stops, just down stream from the bridge. Walking up to Tillicum we crossed at the corner of Gorge and Tillicum and continued on to the rest of the park on the other side of the road. Here we found the stature of Camosong and the Gorge Canoe Club wharf. This path continues on along the walkway that leads all the way to Craigflower School. We turned around and walked back to our cars to drive over to the God's Little Acre cemetary to visit this historic military burying ground. Since it is almost Rememberance Day we thought that it was appropriate to do a visit like this. After about a half hour at the cemetary we drove back to the Gorge Point Pub for lunch. To view Terry's photos please click on the following link: https://plus.google.com/photos/108709526830847929475/albums/5943303471656341105?authkey=CPXPztnTvoPNRA
Walk #106 November 13th 2013 Cedar Hill Golf Course perimeter walk #2
This is the second time we have walked around the Cedar Hill Golf course. Once in the summer in 2012 and now in the fall. We started at the parking area and walked clockwise around the perimeter in just about one hour. The fall colours make things look different, and of course the turtles in the ponds were nowhere to be seen. The ducks on King's Pond were quite tame and seemed to be looking for a handout too. Most of the group went to the Fifth Street Bar and Grill for a nice lunch. To see Phil's photos please click on the following link: https://plus.google.com/photos/117826671765550615361/albums/5945879247627733729?authkey=CPnrisq04te-tgE To see laura's photos please click on the following link: https://plus.google.com/photos/109567001728485403565/albums/5945866281769137281?authkey=CLHWtfaX3PqR_wE To see Terry's photos please click on the following link: https://plus.google.com/photos/108709526830847929475/albums/5945876635711060801?authkey=CMSX39jnqdihvQ
Walk #107 November 20th 2013 Gordon Head Walk to Balmacarra Beach
We met at the end of Houlihan Court and parked at John and Wenche's and Merv's homes. From there we cut through the lane that leads to Ash Road and followed Ferndale road to the Vantreight park . We walked along the side of the park to where it comes out onto Leyns Road and walked down to the end of Balmacarra Road to the beach access trail and aluminum staircase that goes down to the beach. Walking along the beach to the left of the stairs we beach combed for interesting pebbles and beach glass. The tide wasn't very low but it had uncovered lots of pretty stones and shells. We walked back to the stairs and after the long climb up to the road we paused to catch our breath and take a group photo. We walked up Balmacarra Road to Ferndale and then took a right turn on Pomona Way and a left again on Casa Marcia Crescent. At he end of the crescent we found a lane that took us back to Ferndale. At Grandview we crossed the road and went through the lane to Houlihan Court and our starting place. We piled in our cars and drove the short distance to the Smuggles's Cove Pub for a nice lunch.
To see Laura's photos please click on this link: https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/109567001728485403565/albums/5948509460916843761?authkey=CIOI4OLijuSB4wE
To see Terry's photos please click on the following link: https://plus.google.com/photos/108709526830847929475/albums/5948481878161602385?authkey=CN7I2PDtoKPkgAE
To see Laura's photos please click on this link: https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/109567001728485403565/albums/5948509460916843761?authkey=CIOI4OLijuSB4wE
To see Terry's photos please click on the following link: https://plus.google.com/photos/108709526830847929475/albums/5948481878161602385?authkey=CN7I2PDtoKPkgAE
Walk #108 November 27th 2013 A visit to Sidney to walk, shop and have lunch together
As it's getting closer and closer to Christmas we took the opportunity to go to Sidney to browse the shops, do some holiday shopping and look at the scluptures and statues. Later we got together at the Rumrunner pub for lunch. I almost got run down by a low flying jet from the airport. But all in all it was a nice day out. To view Terry's photos please click on the following link.
https://plus.google.com/photos/108709526830847929475/albums/5951096000598817585?authkey=CJTz2Mia6LbD7wE
https://plus.google.com/photos/108709526830847929475/albums/5951096000598817585?authkey=CJTz2Mia6LbD7wE
There were no scheduled group walks from November 27th 2013 to January 1st 2014
The CAMRAmblers 3rd annual Christmas party 2013 Merv & Cathy host the pot luck dinner
On December 15th the CAMRAmblers celebrated the Holiday season at the home of Merv & Cathy and what a wonderful place to hold another party! Cathy is the champion of home decorating in my books. I don't know how she finds the time to decorate their home so beautifully. I'm sure Merv must help her a lot and of course Merv also makes their beautifully landscaped gardens look like their own Butchart Gardens with an amazing lighting display. John and Wenche and cooked two turkeys and everyone in the group outdid themselves with an incredible assortment of delicious food as well. John also spent many many months to produce a you tube video of the "Evolution of the CAMRAmblers walking group". It's a gift to all the members of this group. Be sure to open it as soon as possible. A surprise guest was Merv's long lost cousin three times removed, Natasha Dimmerswitch who came all the way from the homeland to visit for the holidays and perhaps much longer. A great time was had by everyone. You'll have to view the you tube video over and over to appreciate all the work that John put into it. He also produced some wonderful "Participation Certificates" for all who took part in the Galloping Goose Trail to Sooke challenge that we completed. It doesn't matter how much of the trail you walked..the important thing is the participation part. Thanks to Claudia for taking lots of photos of the party, which was also a birthday party for Merv. To see Claudia's photos please click on the following link: https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=claudia.boorman&target=ALBUM&id=5958114145669539697&authkey=Gv1sRgCNy7543B8o-9Pw&feat=email
To go directly to youtube to watch the video that John made please click on the following link: http://youtu.be/SXMecQyAyrY
To go directly to youtube to watch the video that John made please click on the following link: http://youtu.be/SXMecQyAyrY