Walk # 291 October 11th 2017 A walk around Vic West to see the construction sites
The CAMRAmblers met near Spinnakers Brew Pub and started the walk by going down to see the new Victoria International Marina that is under construction at the waterfront. From there we walked on to the Delta Hotel and crossed over Esquimalt Rd. to Tyee Road. We looked at the future site of the Dockyard Green development and walked up to the condos where we found a gap that led us through to the small ponds that are behind these buildings. We walked down the stairs to Harbour road and crossed to the far side to look through the fence at the ship repairs at the Point Hope Shipyards. We followed the road along back to Esquimalt Rd. and walked up to the historic Roundhouse where we walked through that property and back to Spinnakers for lunch. Just as we finished the walk we felt a few drops of rain. We missed most of it though.
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Walk #292 October 18th 2017 An Esquimalt walk to Highrock Park & back
Though the forecast was for stormy weather, the quartet of walkers enjoyed warm weather, light rain and no wind but for the final few minutes. We paralleled Esquimalt Road along Fernhill, through Phil Ross Park and along Old Esquimalt Road to the Highrock Park entrance near the historical Lampson Street School. The park consists of rocky hills and typical Garry Oak meadows. Even through the mist, the views were great. On the alternate route down we spotted a garden with decorative art touches and another with productive kiwi vines. Another vintage property is undergoing major updates to the house, gate house and landscape, sure to be a future point of interest. The final leg was through Memorial Park. Food and beverages were enjoyed in front of a fireplace at the Gorge Point Pub. Thanks to Dave and Martin for taking photos on such a wet day.
Here is another of Dave's photos
Here are Martin's photos
Here is another of Dave's photos
Here are Martin's photos
Walk # 293 October 25th 2017 A walk in the trees of Mt. Douglas park
A lovely walk in Mount Doug Park today – lovely Big Maples glowing yellow, the smell of cedar and pine, and the sound of chickadees. Took the low road first from the beach parking lot first and then across the road into the deeper forest. Not much water in the creek, so little rain. Bracket fungi and some toadstools chewing up the old trees as they should.
Wendy Pearson joined us for the first time. Wendy lives close by the park, and knows every tree and shrub, I think.
We had lunch at Maude Hunters. Good food, lots of laughter about Hallowe’en costumes and travel tales. What a wealth of life experiences we have in our group.
Here are Dave's photos
Here are Linda's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Wendy Pearson joined us for the first time. Wendy lives close by the park, and knows every tree and shrub, I think.
We had lunch at Maude Hunters. Good food, lots of laughter about Hallowe’en costumes and travel tales. What a wealth of life experiences we have in our group.
Here are Dave's photos
Here are Linda's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Walk # 294 November 1 2017 Beckwith Park to Stoneywood Park
The CAMRAmblers met at Beckwith Park and walked up Westervelt Pl. to find a laneway path that leads over to Denford Crescent. We walked up to Maltwood Terrace and up to the Cul de Sac where we found the trail that leads into Stoneywood park. Most of us stopped at the top of the steep steps that lead down to Valewood Trail. We then took a side trail that took us to Stoneywood lane and we walked the loop around the beautiful town homes and back onto Maltwood Terrace. We walked back down to panorama Drive and over to Quadra and back to Beckwith Ave. and our starting point. At the corner of Beckwith and Quadra some of us saw the old stone house. I have attached the history of that house at the bottom of this report, after you click on the link, look for it in your downloads folder.
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
The manor_house_4201_quadra_street.docx
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
The manor_house_4201_quadra_street.docx
Walk # 295 November 8th 2017 South-West Fairfield Architectural & Historical walk
The CAMRAmblers met at the corner of Oscar and Cook Streets and walked around several streets to find beautiful old homes from the early part of the 20th century. We followed a route made by the Victoria Hertiage Foundation that tells a little bit of the history of some of the many historic homes in this area. We went to the Beagle pub for a very nice lunch after this walk.
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Walk # 296 November 15th 2017 Walking the Lochside Trail from Lochside Park out and back
The CAMRAmblers walked from Lochside park out towards Sidney for about thirty minutes and then turned around and walked back to our cars. After a few stormy and wet days we were pleased to have almost clear skies for our walk this day. We went to the Bill Maddick's Restaurant at the Cordova Bay Golf Club for a nice lunch.
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Walk # 297 November 22nd 2017 Visiting the Goldstream Park salmon run
The CAMRAmblers went out to Goldstream Park this day and walked along the riverside trail to see the spawning salmon. We spotted a few eagles in the trees along the estuary at the inlet end of the walk. The weather was great !; sunny with only a few clouds. A terrific lunch was had at Ma Miller's Pub nearby and the Wednesday $7 pizzas were wonderful. We recommend their food. Not busy at lunch time. Good service too.
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Walk # 298 November 29th 2017 Historic and notable homes of Gordon Head
The CAMRAmblers met at Tyndall park and walked along Tyndall and other Gordon Head streets to view historic and other notable homes in the Gordon Head area. This walk covered about 3.2 kilometers and we viewed homes that were built from 1898 to the 1970's. A large group of us went to Maude Hunter's Pub for lunch afterwards.
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Walk # 299 December 6th 2017 A walk through Cuthbert Holmes park and back
The CAMRAmblers started at the fisheries bridge (first bridge) and looked for spawning salmon. No fish were spotted, so we headed to the path that starts near Silver City Cinemas. We walked to the third bridge that crosses Colquitz River and crossed over to the residential area and returned by walking up Ker Ave. and back to the Tillicum Mall. This walk took about 45 minutes. While waiting for Claudia I saw a hawk fly into a tree near the fisheries bridge. I took a couple of photos.
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
December 10th 2017 The CAMRAmblers annual Christmas Party
Many thanks again for John & Wenche for hosting the CAMRAmblers Christmas pot-luck and party again this year, and for John's amazing magic show which entertained us so well. It's so good to get together with good friends and enjoy good food and great times.
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Walk #300 December 13th 2017 Walking the Humboldt Valley Heritage walk
The CAMRAmblers followed the "Wings to Roots" walk plan that lists a number of heritage places of interest that also are of interest for their history in the religious history of Victoria. We took a break half way through the walk to look at the many interesting ginger bread creations on display at the Parkside Hotel. Our last stop was the Christ Church Cathedral where I took a couple of people inside to see the carving of the robin on its nest on a pillar that is near the front of the church. We had lunch at the Sticky Wicket Pub on the Strathcona Hotel.
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Phil's photos
Here are Claudia's photos
Walk # 301 December 27th 2017 A walk on Dallas Road in James Bay
About 12 of the CANRamblers, (did you notice the name change?) met at the shore end of the Ogdon Point Breakwater and walked from there nearly to the Clover Point area. At a time that Marion said we had better start back we did a smart reverse turn and walked back to our cars and headed to the James Bay Inn where we had a nice lunch in the pub. There we were met by Larry and had great service by our server.
Here are Linda's photos
Here are Dave's photos
Here are Terry's photos
Here are Linda's photos
Here are Dave's photos
Here are Terry's photos