Walk # 261 March 22 2017 A return to Knockan Hill park
I really hoped that the wild flowers would be out at last; but only a very few flowers were found this time. The views were lovely anyway and the weather really was great. In a couple of weeks the Camus should be out in bloom if this weather holds. The only downside to the park is the lack of public parking. At the top of the driveway there is only room for about three cars. The parking at Strawberry Vale Hall is now off limits and subject to ticket or tow away now. Saanich needs to fix this problem.
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Walk # 262 March 29th 2017 The 10 Mile Point Trails
Martin agreed to lead this walk since it is in his neighbourhood. He did a very good job of leading us through some of the many trails through the natural areas of 10 Mile Point. There are still more trails to explore later in the year when the ground is a bit less wet. Even though the weather has been rainy, we had a dry and almost sunny walk.
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Walk # 263 April 5th 2017 The Gowland Tod park in Brentwood
On a rainy day the CAMRAmblers walked down the Gowland Tod Park trail to the far end of the shore where the cement pilings with the bird houses are. It was a wet day but otherwise a nice walk in the fresh air. The Trilliums are starting to come out. A drive to the Prairie Inn was well worth
it. The service and food there is terrific.
Here are Terry's photos
Walk # 264 April 12th 2017 A Beacon Hill Park Ramble
The rain that had been coming down steadily all morning tapered off in time for our ramble through Beacon Hill Park. Spring has sprung in the park with all the early bloomers putting on a lovely show. (Check out the fritillaria!) The recumbent moss lady is a new addition to the park. We all enjoyed our lunch at The Beagle pub and were impressed by the menu and knowledgeable server.
Here are Linda's photos and video.
Here are Laura's photos
Here are Linda's photos and video.
Here are Laura's photos
Walk # 265 April 19th 2017 Two small walks in Metchosin in one day
The CAMRAmblers went out to Metchosin to visit the farm walk we did a few years ago, and a new little lake trail that we hadn't seen before. The farm walk is at the end of Wootten Road near the old church on Metchosin Road. We had to stop and admire the millions of Easter Lilys that are in the church yard. Then we continued on to Kangaroo Road where we found The Blinkhorn Lake Nature Park. This little lake has a trail all the way around it. It is sort of like Durrance lake. We went to the Mychosin Cafe for lunch and had the usual wait of over a half hour to get a table. The food was good though.
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Linda's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Linda's photos
Walk # 266 April 26th 2017 A walk to discover the paths in Saxe Point Point
The CAMRAmblers went to Saxe Point Park to explore the many paths and trails and the two beaches in the park. It was a sunny but very windy day. We found all the gravel and chip paths, and enjoyed looking for beach glass on the two small beaches. It took about a hour to walk all the paths that we found. Later we drove to the Gorge Point Pub for lunch.
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Linda's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Linda's photos
Walk # 267 May 3rd. 2017 Discovering Marigold Park and S. Valley Park path
The CAMRAmblers went out to Marigold park to start this walk that leads down to South Valley Dr. by way of a path. We walked along S. Valley Dr. admiring the nice new homes and landscaped gardens. We went off onto the path that leads along behind the town houses and along the side of the pond where we saw lots of ducks and a large turtle. A path leads up to Chesterfield and Zinnia and Tulip and finally to Grange Rd. We walked up Grange to Mina where we found a pathway that leads back to Marigold Park where we started. This park is a well kept secret. Tall trees and a good basketball court and a new play area for younger children. A hidden gem of a park.
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Linda's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here is Larry's photo
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Linda's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here is Larry's photo
Walk # 268 May 10th 2017 Visiting Fort Rodd Hill in Canada's 150th year
- The CAMRAmblers went out to Fort Rodd Hill Historic Park to explore this old fortification on the outskirts of Victoria in Colwood. It was a mild day with almost no wind. There wasn't a lot of other visitors there either.
- We walked all around the grounds and looked at all the old gun batteries and fortifications. Then we walked out to the Fisgard Lighthouse and went inside that too. Near the exit we found a native plant garden with well marked plant identifications. Later we went to the 328 Taphouse, a fairly new pub in Colwood. Their large selection of ales and good food was nice to find.
Here are Linda's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Walk # 269 May 17th 2017 A walk through Uvic and the Finnerty Gardens
We parked on Cedar Hill X Rd. across from the Henderson Rec. Centre and walked into the university campus through the path from there. We followed a route that took us over Ring Road to one of the gates into the Finnerty Gardens. At this time of the year the Rhododendrons are in full bloom and many other flowers are out as well. This garden is a real treasure for the residents of Victoria.
Here are Linda's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Laura's photos
Here are Linda's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Laura's photos