Walk # 213 March 16th 2016 From Cedar Hill Rec to Peacock Hill and back
On a sunny mid March day the CAMRAmblers walked from the Cedar Hill Rec centre along the south end of the golf course and up to where Tolmie Ave. meets the golf course at a path along the side of a tall hedge. From there we walked up Tolmie Ave. to Cook Street and crossed at the crosswalk. Just a few feet away there is a path that leads up to the gravel path and to the top of Peacock Hill and the rest of Tolmie Ave. From the rocky outcropping you can get a good view of the golf course and most of Victoria. The wildflowers are starting to come out. There is a path that follows the perimeter of the Peacock Hill park and takes you back to the steep path down to Cook Street. We walked back to the Cedar Hill Golf course and since we were so early most of the group decided to walk up to the sidewalk that cuts across the middle of the golf course and back to the Rec centre. We went to the Fifth Street Bar and Grill for lunch.
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Walk # 214 March 23rd 2016 A walk through the area of Cedar Hill Ridge
The rain held off again so we had a very nice walk along this ridge of land that parallels Cedar Hill Road. A lot of interesting and very nice homes in this area of winding streets and large lots. We started at Harrop Rd. where we parked and walked down Braefoot to Wende and up into the oak trees and Althlone Crescent before following Shorncliff Rd to where a laneway cuts through to Merriman Dr. We walked down to Cedar hill Cross Rd. and crossed over to Epsom Dr. and walked all the way to Queensbury Ave where we cut across to King's Pond and then to Ascot Dr. and headed back towards Cedar Hill Cross Rd. At a laneway we cut back through to Charles place and Epsom Dr. and crossed back to Braefoot where we followed that back to our cars. Maude Hunter's was the destination for lunch.
Here are Terry's photo's
Here are Terry's photo's
Walk # 215 March 30th 2016 The Swan Creek Trail from Hyacinth Park
This day was beautiful for a walk! We started at Hyacinth park and walked toward Interurban Rd., but turned left and followed the path along the Swan Creek trail. We walked all the way to the pedestrian overpass at McKenzie and Cary Road, but didn't cross there. We instead walked along McKenzie for two blocks toward the highway and turned into a trail that leads into the other part of the Swan Creek Park. We followed that path all the way to the allotment gardens across the highway from Swan Lake.
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Walk # 216 April 6th 2016 Along the sea shore at Resthaven park - Sidney
The weather was cloudy, but mild when we started out. Resthaven Island was the site of a hospital for over 50 years. In 1914 the Seventh Day Adventist church acquired the property for a hospital and sanitarium
that they ran for more than 50 years as the Resthaven Hospital. In about 1976 they closed the hospital and the building was demolished. The property was eventually turned into a town home complex with a public walking path around the outside. Lovely views of the Shoal Bay waterfront and the marinas. The town homes and gardens are well kept, and this is a place where an artist could sit and paint the views from all the sides of the island. A path took us over to the Tsehum marina where we walked all the way out to the end of the pier to look at the yachts and fishing boats. The weather cleared and it was a terrific day. We went to the Prairie Inn for lunch. The fish and chips are always good there and are one of the specials every Wednesday.
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
that they ran for more than 50 years as the Resthaven Hospital. In about 1976 they closed the hospital and the building was demolished. The property was eventually turned into a town home complex with a public walking path around the outside. Lovely views of the Shoal Bay waterfront and the marinas. The town homes and gardens are well kept, and this is a place where an artist could sit and paint the views from all the sides of the island. A path took us over to the Tsehum marina where we walked all the way out to the end of the pier to look at the yachts and fishing boats. The weather cleared and it was a terrific day. We went to the Prairie Inn for lunch. The fish and chips are always good there and are one of the specials every Wednesday.
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Walk # 217 April 13th 2016 Another trail in John Dean park
We were pleasantly surprised when Peter showed up to join today's walk. The group is very small these days, with too many people off with various joint problems. The weather was good for a nice walk in a loop starting and finishing at the end of the parking area. Lots of tiny ponds were seen, Trillium's and Lily's are out along the sides of the trail and even a few lady Slippers were seen. It's nice that this park has preserved lots of the old growth trees. I apologize for many of my photos that are out of focus. My camera doesn't work well in low light and the forest is quite shady. The ever popular Prairie Inn was our lunch destination again and as usual the food and prices were great.
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Walk # 218 April 20th Walking the E&N Rail Trail in Esquimalt
It seems like summer, but it's still only April. We had a very warm and sunny day for a walk out on the E&N Rail Trail from near Spinnakers Brew Pub to Lampson St. and back. That was enough in this +24c heat. There have been quite a few improvements on the trail for most of that route, namely a paved walkway along side of the tracks for most of the way. The Moon Under Water Brew-Pub was our lunch destination. Thanks to John for taking Terry's camera for some of the way to take photos.
Here are Terry's & John's photos
Here are Terry's & John's photos
Walk # 219 April 27th 2016 The Beaver lake to Pipeline Rd. - to Beaver Lk. loop
We started out from the Filter Beds Parking lot at the south end of Beaver lake and checked out the new dam at the start of Colquitz creek; then followed the creek and the old Victoria water pipeline to Pipeline road and up Normandy road to the Commonwealth Place Rec Center where we went around behind the building to find a path up and into the Royal Oak Golf Course property. We walked past the condos and back out to Elk lake Drive and turned left to walk up to the first path that leads into the Beaver lake woods. Linda spotted two immature owls that I managed to get some photos of. We eventually followed the trails back to the lake and the dam and back to our cars. The group had a nice lunch at the Crooked Goose Bistro.
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Walk # 220 May 4th 2016 Though the Rolston Trail from east to west & back
The Rolston Trail is a beautiful path that goes through a large part of Broadmede from Rithetwood to Rithet's Bog. We started at the Rithetwood Drive end and walked down to Rithet's Bog and some took a side trip up to Donwood and through a laneway and back to Rithetwood for a little bit more adventure. The rest of us just walked back the way we had come. Spring is a much better time to visit this trail as the Rhododendrons are in full bloom and the fresh greenery of the new leaves is very nice. We went to the Monkey Tree pub for lunch and many had the fish and chips as it is half price on Wednesdays.
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Laura's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Laura's photos
Walk # 221 May 11th 2016 From Playfair Park to Tattersall Dr. and back
Is this Spring or Summer? Another beautiful day to explore a trail from Duke Road to Bridgeport Drive. This is a newly upgraded trail that makes it possible to do a loop walk starting and ending at Playfair Park. The Rhododendrons are almost finished, but we got to see a very nice display of all the colours of these giant plants. It's not often possible to find these flowering plants that are so huge that you can walk underneath them. We brought a picnic lunch and enjoyed the sunshine in the park. So many great photos of the walk and the flowers; Thank you to all the photographers.
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Laura's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Laura's photos
Here are Claudia's photos