Walk # 231 July 20 2016 Francis - King Park trails
A small number of the CAMRAmblers met at the parking area for Francis King park and walked across the road to enter the Centennial Trail on the south side of Munn's Road. We followed the trail signs for about 50 minutes until we found ourselves underneath the power lines. Hmm, are we lost?. We blundered along until we came upon a dirt road, and followed that in the general direction of Munn's Road and eventually we came out where we intended. Along the side of Munn's there is a bridel path that keeps you away from the traffic on the road. By the time we came back to our starting place we had been walking for 70 minutes. It was time to head to the 4 Mile Pub for lunch.
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Terry's photos
The 2016 Summer party July 23 2016 A Viking themed Summer Party
The CAMRAmblers really DO have fun parties! It's all due to the fact that we are all such a bunch of good friends. This time it was at the home of John and Wenche; they chose a Viking theme.
What fun! Scandinavian food, pot luck food, even Norwegian beer. Of course there were horny hats to wear. Costumes were optional. Kathy hijacked most of the group to give them a tour of her lovely garden next door with the new bridge that Merv had built. Later, Marion and Martin played guitars while we sang ABBA hits and other favorite folk songs. It was a really fun time as it always is when this group gets together. It was too bad that Judy and Diane left too early to be included in the group photos.
Here are Claudia's photos
What fun! Scandinavian food, pot luck food, even Norwegian beer. Of course there were horny hats to wear. Costumes were optional. Kathy hijacked most of the group to give them a tour of her lovely garden next door with the new bridge that Merv had built. Later, Marion and Martin played guitars while we sang ABBA hits and other favorite folk songs. It was a really fun time as it always is when this group gets together. It was too bad that Judy and Diane left too early to be included in the group photos.
Here are Claudia's photos
Walk # 232 July 27th 2016 North Saanich - the Bradley Dyne Trail
The weather couldn't have been better for a walk along the trail connecting Bradley Dyne Road to Coles Bay. A really good turnout for this walk saw 18 of the CAMRAmblers out to enjoy this walk. Most of the trail is pretty level and shaded in tall trees and dense bush. The trails cross over several roads as it heads south towards Coles Bay. At the end of Hartfell Road there are some stone steps that lead down to the beach. When the tide is low you can walk along the beach to the left and into the trail that leads up and into the Coles Bay Regional park. In the park we chose the trail to the left, the Nature Trail, and it levels off soon after the initial climb. It is about 300 metres long and leads up to the parking area. From there we walked along Inverness Rd. to Ardmore Dr. and found the first trail leading back to Braemor Ave. where we re-joined the trail we took to take us back to our starting point. This walk took 75 minutes at a steady pace. We drove from there to the Prairie Inn for a nice lunch. It was nice to welcome Dave's wife Kim who was on her first ever group walk. I think that she enjoyed this one. Maybe she will come out on another walk soon?
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Dave's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Dave's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Walk # 233 August 3rd 2016 Devonian Regional Park in Metchosin
A walk in this park is a walk thorough tall trees on a mostly well kept path. The last part; nearest the beach is over a rock out cropping and therefore it is up and down on rough stone steps. Once you are on the beach you will find it is made up of large stones, no sand. I picked a day where the tide would be out so we would have lots of beach. After everyone had had enough time to skip stones and look for lucky rocks we headed back into the trails. About half the group took the bridle trail back and the rest of us walked back the way we had come. We met at the top of the trails where they come together again. The Mychosin Cafe was the place for lunch this time.
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Dave's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Dave's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Walk # 234 August 10th 2016 We Return to South Prospect Lake Park
This park with it's largely undeveloped trails is best visited in the summer. We discovered in 2014 when we visited this park in late January that the trails were very wet and muddy. An online map of the park that I found which showed the trails is not very accurate. Most of the trails are missing or not in the right place on the map. The group followed a trail that went along the lake shore for most of the way. We walked all the way to the small park at Estelline Road. Rather than walk back along the trail, half of the group walked along the road back to the parking area; the rest took the trail again. The Crooked Goose Bistro was the lunch destination.
Here are Dave's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Dave's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Walk # 235 August 17th 2016 The Upper Goldstream Park Trail
Today, sunny and warm, the Camramblers took a new walk for us. We gathered at the Gatehouse to Goldstream Provincial Park Campground. The trail leads off from the Gatehouse through the woods up to the top of the Park. We found a couple of wet spots, with boards in place to cross. At the top, the stairs lead down to the waterfall, which can be heard before they’re seen. Good thing there are stairs because it is quite steep down to the falls. From the top, we took the campground road back to the gatehouse. The campground has a very tall tree canopy and lots of visitors. Lunch was at Ma Miller’s, across from the Park and was very good.
Here are Phil's photos
Here is a map of the trail
Here are Phil's photos
Here is a map of the trail
Walk #236 August 24th 2016 Lower Thetis lake trails
An excellent day to return to Thetis Lake, warm to start and heating up in time to go to lunch. From the parking lot, we took the eastern trail around Lower Thetis Lake. It has it’s ups and downs, explains the moderate rating, but is in very good condition. There are a number of lookouts and benches where we took the opportunity to take a little rest and enjoy the wonderful view. A lot of other people did the same walk, in both directions. Some of their dogs were quite happy with the water. Lunch was at 6 Mile Pub, quite good, where Heather joined us.
Here are Dave's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Dave's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Walk # 237 August 31st 2016 Esquimalt neighbourhood to Highrock walk
Today a few of us explored some of Judy’s neighbourhood. There had been some rain earlier but not for our walk, amazing how often that happens. The geese were quite happy. High Rock park is a very nice part of that neighbourhood, many interesting things to see from the top, like a cruise ship at dock. We passed a few interesting yards on the way back to the cars. The plaque was a good surprise, the surveyor’s name is on several streets in Victoria. Gorge Pointe Pub for lunch. Thank you for the tour, Judy.
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Special Event Outing Sept. 7th 2016 A visit to a new brewery and distillery
This days outing was to visit the Caledonian Brewing and Distilling company that has recently opened their doors in Victoria. We were permitted a free group tour just days before the official grand opening to the public. A guide dressed in traditional kilt greeted us and gave us the rehearsed speech about the company, it's founder and his history. Their plan is to brew craft beer and also brew malt liquor that can be distilled into alcohol that will be put in oak barrels and aged using a proprietary maturing process that will add the taste and colour of a type of Scotch style whisky in just three years. The brand new facility is very impressive, and is set up to make it ready for tour groups to easily visit the brewery and it's gift shop. Those who love whisky a lot can order a 30 litre cask that will be made to order and blended to the purchaser's tastes. The Craft Brewery is already selling a selection of ale styles and more are going to be available in the next few months. The beer sales are expected to cover the operational expenses while the whisky is maturing and is not ready to sell.
Here are Terry's & Merv's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Terry's & Merv's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Walk # 238 September 14th 2016 An easy stroll through Mt. Douglas Park
A small group of us met at the main parking area of Mt. Douglas Park near the public washrooms. We walked through the trail that leads towards Ash Road and goes near the Mt. Douglas stream where some work has been done to improve the salmon habitat. We crossed Ash Road and followed the same trail through the tall trees and stopped to experience the ambience of the forest and stream. Unfortunately the noise of the nearby roads didn't let us experience the sounds of nature that i had hoped we would find. We continued along that trail until it crossed Shelbourne; or is it Cedar Hill Road at that point? We walked back towards the main parking area through the forest trail that parallels the road. Crossing at one of the cross walks we walked down to the large cleared playing field and took a look at the playground before heading back to our cars. A new member of the group; Pat Acton came out for her first walk with the group today. You might remember her from last weeks tour of the Caledonian Brewing and Distilling company tour and the lunch at the Monkey Tree Pub.
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Walk # 239 September 21st. 2016 From McNeil Bay in South Oak Bay
This week we took a tour through South Oak Bay, starting on Beach Dr at McNeil Bay. It was, as you can see, an absolutely glorious day, especially for the second last day of summer. We started along Beach Dr towards Victoria Golf Course, first stop was to watch the otters at play; the second was to explore Kitty Island, from the chairs. At the Golf Course, we strolled up Linkleas to McNeill and then up the alley at Margate and Newport to Currie and Windsor Park. From there, we took a variety of turns to Lafayette Park and back to McNeill Bay. There are a lot of nice properties to see and some wild life. Lunch was at Ross Bay Pub, where we were joined by Marion, Dave and Wenche.
Here are Phil and Merv's photos
Here are John's photos