Walk # 203 January 6th 2016 Walking parts of the town of Sidney
Dave and Marion were kind to lead this walk through a part of Sidney we have not walked before. We parked in a free lot on Second Street and walked up Beacon Ave to Seventh St. then walked north to Henry Ave. We then turned onto Resthaven Dr. and followed it all the way out to Amelie Ave. where we turned left and walked to the water's edge at Roberts Bay. Then we walked back to Lovell Ave and followed that to Second Street and walked all the way back to Mt. Baker Ave where Dave showed us the access to the charming wooden walkway around to the marina and right to the Surley Mermaid Bistro where we had a nice lunch. After lunch we walked the two blocks back to our cars and drove back to Victoria. It was a very pleasant day for a walk.
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Walk # 204 January 13th 2016 The Historic Interurban Rail Trail again
Despite an early morning rain the CAMRAmblers had a mild, dry, but cloudy day to walk out the Interurban Rail Trail from the corner of Interurban Road and the West Saanich Road to the Red Barn Market and back. A total of just over 6 kilometers. John A was the photographer today. The Cooked Goose Bistro is always a favorite for lunch when we walk out this way.
Here are John's photos
Here are John's photos
Walk # 205 January 20th 2016 Fernwood Revisited a Historic homes walk
Historic homes walk in Fernwood.
This is a repeat of an earlier walk, with a few differences in route. The group met at the parking lot on Gladstone across from the Fernwood Community Centre. We took a zigzag route through the streets to the east of Fernwood village, stopping along the way to look at some of the interesting heritage houses. We finished the walk at Fernwood and Gladstone, where we enjoyed lunch at the Fernwood Inn.
Here are Phil's photos
This is a repeat of an earlier walk, with a few differences in route. The group met at the parking lot on Gladstone across from the Fernwood Community Centre. We took a zigzag route through the streets to the east of Fernwood village, stopping along the way to look at some of the interesting heritage houses. We finished the walk at Fernwood and Gladstone, where we enjoyed lunch at the Fernwood Inn.
Here are Phil's photos
Walk # 206 January 27th 2016 Walking the Gordon Point area with Wenche
We had a good 1.5 hour walk today in the Gordon Point neighborhood. 13 people on the walk. From our house, we walked down to the Glencoe Cove park and admired the view of the ocean from atop one of the paths. Off we went to Balmacarra street and down the path towards the beach. Some of us went down the many steps to the small strip of the beach enjoying the view down there. Then back to the house and our parked cars via the path thru the woods behind the fancy mansions in the Gordon Point neighborhood. Lunch was at Smuggler’s Cove pub.
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Walk # 207 February 3rd 2016 Judy's turn The Highrock area - Esquimalt
There was a chill in the air at the outset and the end of the walk, but relative shelter for the rest and no rain. The walk proceeded from the Country Grocer parking lot up Fernhill to Old Esquimalt Road, along Old Esquimalt and then through Highrock Park. It was decided to leave the summit until a summer visit and, instead, the group walked around Rockcrest Avenue and through the Woodway path to Memorial Park, then across Esquimalt Road to the municipal building and library, viewing some memorials and some art. The final leg led past the recreation center and athletic fields, back to the parking lot. Lunch and craft beer were enjoyed at the Gorge Vale Golf Club, where Terry joined the social part of the outing. Thanks to John Adlersparre and Dave Freeman for photographs.
Here are Terry's photos
Here are John's photos
Here are Dave's photos
Walk # 208 February 10th 2016 Walking the Historic John Tod property
The weather was very dull and even a bit showery this morning when we started out on the walk. After only about five minutes though the rain stopped and we had a dry walk after that. We walked up to Willows Park and up the path to Beach Drive to find the almost hidden path that leads beside a white house and leads over to Lincoln Rd. From there we walked to Heron Street and up about two blocks to see the Tod House where the pioneer family lived. From here we walked back to the closest lane and took that up to Musgrave Street and then over to Hamiota Street to the lane that parallels Cadboro Bay road. We walked all the way up that lane to Thompson Ave. and crossed over to Nottingham Road where we walked for about four blocks before finding the Camus Lane
Trail that took us all the way back down to Willows Beach again. This is about half of the original farm that John Tod originally had. We went to the Penny Farthing Pub for lunch. Due to a lot of messed up orders and very late meals we probably won't be going back there again soon.
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Trail that took us all the way back down to Willows Beach again. This is about half of the original farm that John Tod originally had. We went to the Penny Farthing Pub for lunch. Due to a lot of messed up orders and very late meals we probably won't be going back there again soon.
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Walk # 209 February 17th 2016 Colwood Trails and Ales walk
Roger had arranged for the rain to stop for this walk and sure enough it was almost totally dry for the entire walk. We parked in the parking lot for the Liquor store and Bucky's Taphouse on Sooke road and started the walk on the trail that takes off right at the back of the parking lot. Soon we were on the Galloping Goose Trail heading towards Jacklin Road. We walked all the way to the Veterans Memorial Parkway, then turned right onto the Colwood Creek Trail that took us in a long loop along the side of the parkway and into a large open park where lots of people were walking their dogs. Due to the heavy rainfall we have had these past few days there were parts of the park land that was flooded with large pools of water, but the walking trails were fine, with a few puddles that were easy to avoid. We soon got back onto the Galloping Goose and headed back towards our starting point. At Bucky's Taphouse we found the service and food much better than the last time we tried that place, (under different owners) and it was quite satisfactory this time.
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Walk # 210 February 24th 2016 Colquitz Trail revisited from Mann Ave-south
After parking On Mann Ave., we started into the Colquitz Creek trail heading south. In other words, in the direction of the water flow. The water was quite high so I guess that the dam at the end of Beaver Lake is open to let some of the water out. We met a lot of other walking group people on the trail today, they were coming from the other direction. We walked as far as Roy Road and then turned around and walked back the way we had come. A one hour walk today. A short drive to the Crooked Goose Bistro for lunch.
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's Photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's Photos
Walk # 211 March 2nd 2016 Uplands majestic homes and hidden paths
We started off from the end of Cedar Hill Road near Cadboro Bay Road and crossed over to the far side of Cadboro Bay Road. I got mixed up for a few minutes and soon realized that we should have walked down to Upper Terrace Rd. After that bit of confusion we soon found the first "hidden" path that took us down to Midland Rd. We walked over to Beach Dr. and around the Uplands Yacht club area looking at beautiful big homes and waterfront properties. From there we walked to Lansdowne Rd and followed that up to Midland again and along to where we found the second "hidden" path at the end of a small set of wooden steps. This path leads up back up to Upper Terrace Dr. where we turned right and walked back to the junction of Cadboro Bay Rd. and Cedar Hill Rd. again and up to our cars. We were only a few minutes from the Smugglers Cove Pub, so that's where we went for lunch.
Here areTerry's photos
Here are Phil"s photos
Here areTerry's photos
Here are Phil"s photos
Walk # 212 March 9th 2016 Walking along Esquimalt Lagoon end to end
It was a stormy cool day to walk along the path at the inside edge of the lagoon this day, but at least most of the rain held off until we were finished the walk. We saw several kinds of ducks, some Canada Geese and even so pigeons that were doing a mating display. The wind was brisk, as it usually is at this beach, so we didn't walk along the sand on our way back. The path along the lagoon side was a little bit more sheltered.
We went to the Country Rose Pub for lunch, the good was good but the beer selection is not very impressive, Not much selection for our craft beer loving group.
Here are Terry's photos.
We went to the Country Rose Pub for lunch, the good was good but the beer selection is not very impressive, Not much selection for our craft beer loving group.
Here are Terry's photos.