walking

 

Monday we cycled a 54km loop from Victoria to the Great Trail trailhead at Humpback Reservoir.

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We did not take the published route but one known only-to-the-few: i.e., me.

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Cameron and I took the E&N Rail Trail out bound and the Galloping Goose Trail (GGT) inbound. The GGT trail gave us the opportunity to stop at The Nest for lunch at noon.

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Upon arriving back where we started at Cycle BC Rentals we continued along Humbold St. Bikeway to Vancouver St. Bikeway and out to Clover Point. From there, we rode the Dallas Rd. Bike Path to Ogden Point Docks where we cycled a grand tour.

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We returned Cameron's rental ebike to Cycle BC Rentals at 1:30p.m. after a four-hour, 54km ride.

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Cameron really enjoyed riding the ebike for the first time and I really enjoyed his company.

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Labels: ebike, Great Trail, langford

Sunday morning I cycled 48km roundtrip from home to the Goldstream Suspension Bridge and back.

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1½ hrs outbound and 1¼ hrs in bound. Beautiful day for biking: overcast and a cool 16°C.

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From the Galloping Goose Trail (GGT) at Mill Stream Bridge, we took Atkins Road to Langford. This is part of the E&N Rail Trail (ENRT).

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This is 1400m shorter to Humpback Reservoir than staying on the GGT. Not much difference but better than some of my 'shortcuts' have worked out in the past. Where the ENRT crosses Jacklin Road, follow Dunford Ave to Leigh Road. From this point, it's only 500m down the hill to Langford Parkway and the City Centre Park Connector to get onto Westshore Parkway and Irwin Road.

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This shortcut saves one xing Veteran's Memorial Parkway at Kelly Road and saves riding through the busy, Westshore Mall traffic to get to Glen Lake Road and one's destination at Humpback Reservoir Trailhead.

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E&N Rail Trail Connector Map

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Labels: cycled, Great Trail

Monday morning I cycled 9km on the Great Trail from Sooke Lake Road to Stebbings Xing.

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I've now cycled over its entire length twice -- outbound and inbound.

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Only cycled 21 minutes outbound and 4.3km Not much for an 80km (roundtrip) drive!

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Bike preformed well -- as advertised.

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Labels: cycled, ebike, Great Trail

Thursday morning I cycled 35km roundtrip on the Great Trail from Humpback Reservoir to Stebbings Xing and return.

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The section of the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail aka The Great Trail utilizes 900m of Goldstream Heights Drive to connect Trail Way Rd with Finlayson View Place.


This is where the section of trail between Stebbings Road and Trail Way Rd connects. This section is the most-gruelling part of the trail.

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Stebbings Road Xing 2018

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Youtube VIDEO Finlayson View Place

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Trail Way Road Xing Drone VIDEO

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Labels: cycled, ebike, Great Trail

June 27 2017
Tuesday we drove to the northern terminus of the new Great Trail to see where it connect to the Cowichan Valley/Trans Canada/ Former CNR Railway (TCT) trail. This location along Sooke Lake Road (off Shawnigan Lake Road) is well known to many and for years has been the southern terminus of the Trans Canada Trail on Vancouver Island. Were it not for the Victoria Water Supply, Sooke Watershed property being restricted ground, this is where the Galloping Goose Regional Trail (GGT) would have continued to, instead of being stopped at Leechtown, as it now does.
The Great Trail crosses Sooke Lake Road at this location but not directly; one has to turn left (SW) along Sooke Lake Road for some 90m to pickup the old TCT trail. There is a Big John and parking lot here.
The northern trailhead of the newest link in The Great Trail on Vancouver Island is located 90m north before reaching the TCT trailhead. The TCT trailhead is on the northside of Sooke Lake Raod and The Great Trail is located to the south (lefthand going in).
GPS Coordinates of Trailhead: 48°34'52.43"N 123°37'51.07"W
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Friday, July 14, 2017
Walked E&N Humpback Rd to Suspension Bridge
Friday we walked 4400m (2¾miles) roundtrip into The Great Trail suspension bridge over Goldstream River.
For something completely different we walked the Esquimalt & Nanaimo (E&N) railway tracks. This section of rail has been abandoned since it saw its last train pass May 10, 2011. Even though it's been over six years many railfans still haven't got the memo: Trust me, It's abandoned.
We started walking from the E&N Xing at Humpback Rd. We met a couple of locals walking the rails with their dog. This route has no hills and it's 600m shorter one-way. The Great Trail route (recommended) is 2.8km (1¾miles) oneway.
Even on a weekday there's plenty of foot and cycling traffic along the recently-opened trail.
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Sunday, July 02, 2017
Cycled Langford to Great Trail
This morning I cycled 9km roundtrip through Langford, BC to see where and how the Galloping Goose Regional Trail (GGT) connects up with The Great Trail (TGT).
The ViewRanger App in my phone gave us a clear GPS track.
From the GGT trail at its Veteran's Memorial Parkway Xing to TGT trailhead at Humpback Lake is under five kilometres.
The routing here is a-work-in-progress by the looks of it. The designated bike lanes painted on the roadway are straight forward enough but getting around within Irwin Park needs more organization.
Being the pragamatist that I am, simply connecting West Hills subdivision at Westshore Parkway with Irwin Road would make it all far too simple. Guess we'll have to wait until more of the subdivision construction is completed and the dust settles.
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Saturday, July 01, 2017
Miscellaneous GPS Mapping
It's little known that one's GPX, KML, KMZ and geotagged photos can be added to Google.maps online.
Go to Googlemaps online
Select YOUR PLACES / MAPS / from lefthand Menu
Bottom page select CREATE MAP Lefthand side:
Untitled Layer / IMPORT Select KML or other including geotagged pix
Change the line color in Individual Style (lefthand) 
N.B. One's phone apps do this automatically but some projects are still created using desktops.
see also
 Click on My Maps.
 Click Create a new map.
Add a title and description.
Click Import.
 Click Choose file , select the KML to upload, and then click Upload from file.
WJI cycled Lake Cowichan to Duncan August 16, 2009
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Wednesday, August 30, 2017
E-Bike Langford to Dewdney Flats (Sooke)
Wednesday I cycled 13km in Langford, BC. Rather than haul my Norco out there, I rented an Evo from Oak Bay Bikes (OBB) in West Shore Centre Mall for an hour.
This morning's newspaper stated a new route linking Sooke Road and Langford Parkway opens today. The middle section of the West Shore Parkway will be open to traffic starting today at 10 a.m., the City of Langford has announced. The middle 1.6-kilometre section of the West Shore Parkway connects Highway 14 (Sooke Road) to Langford Parkway.
From OBB to Sooke Rd. one way is five kilometres so after this 30-minute ride I went out the Galloping Goose Regional Trail (GGT) to meet Sooke Rd. again but this time where Glen Lake Rd. joins it.
On the inbound leg, I took a picture at Glen Lake.
N.B. The whole idea of this exercise was to record the ride on my GoPro but I did not check to see if it was operational and rode the entire distance with the video camera OFF. What an idiot! Live and learn? Probably not
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Galloping Goose Trail to Great Trail thru Langford https://youtu.be/mEGNNe_TGGY
Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail https://youtu.be/c1LIzjYjUAY
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Tuesday, August 01, 2017
E-bike from Langford to Wolf Hill Rest Stop
This morning I cycled 17½km (11miles) roundtrip from Oak Bay Bike Shop (OBB) in Westshore Mall to the Wolf Hill rest stop along the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail(aka The Great Trail). It's 4km from OBB to the trailhead at Mt. Wells Park parking (Humpback Reservoir). It's another 4600m (4.6km) to Wolf Hill rest area (and restrooms) from Humpback Reservoir.
What an amazing ride! I rented an Evo electric-assist (e-bike) bicycle and rode the whole way there and back. The only time I dismounted was on one downhill (DH) section. Going up the steep hills is no problem on an e-bike the the DH on the loose gravel could end up smarting a bit. I didn't want to find out. A couple of DH switchback have signs stating to dismount but these were not as treacherous as the one where I chose to dismount (and which, BTW, had no sign). We already walked this section of trail so knew where the hot spots were.
Once over the suspension bridge northbound, the trail pretty much heads straight up. I timed the climb from my GPS track and it's over seven minutes at 10km/hr. Now that's a hill.
When this trail first opened, it was touted as "a 13km connector" between the Galloping Goose Regional Trail (GGT) in Langford to the Trans Canada Trail at Shawnigan Lake. According to my GPS tracks it's closer to 20km. So for those of us who plan on whipping up there to ride it out and back, we may want to re-think that plan. Unless you're exceptionally fit and can do 40km up hill in a day -- then go for it. There are several access points from Goldstream Heights Road so doing it in increments is an option.
Before I go, let me say what a professional, helpful staff Dan Scott has at Oak Bay Bikes in Westshore Mall. Dan had my ride ready the night before and Misha and Pete got me out the door by 10:30 this morning.
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Labels: cycled, Great Trail

Thursday morning Liam and I walked 6km roundtrip along The Great Trail from Humpback Reservoir to Niagara Main CRD Service Road. The service road is just 100 metres beyond the Goldstream Suspension Bridge.

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What a great day to walk the great trail Afterward, we had lunch at Ma Miller's Pub in Goldstream Village.

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We were certainly surprised to see that Humpback Road between Goldstream and Humpback Reservoir is now gated. Everyone now has to use the new Westhills/Goldstream connector whether they want to or not.

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Bigs thanks to our 21 year old grandson for his patience and scintillating conversation while hiking with this octogenarian.

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Liam just returned last week from seven months in Zambia, Africa. He was living in Livingstone volunteering lending his business acumen -- as a fourth- year university student at the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria -- to local goat ranchers.  

After visiting Victoria Falls (9 miles from Livingstone) on no less than three occasions, he was not overwhelmed by viewing Waugh Creek Falls. ;-)

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Waugh Creek VIDEO 30-seconds

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Labels: Great Trail, walked

This morning I cycled 17½km (11miles) roundtrip from Oak Bay Bike Shop (OBB) in Westshore Mall to the Wolf Hill rest stop along the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail(aka The Great Trail). It's 4km from OBB to the trailhead at Mt. Wells Park parking (Humpback Reservoir). It's another 4600m (4.6km) to Wolf Hill rest area (and restrooms) from Humpback Reservoir.

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What an amazing ride! I rented an Evo electric-assist (e-bike) bicycle and rode the whole way there and back. The only time I dismounted was on one downhill (DH) section. Going up the steep hills is no problem on an e-bike the the DH on the loose gravel could end up smarting a bit. I didn't want to find out. A couple of DH switchback have signs stating to dismount but these were not as treacherous as the one where I chose to dismount (and which, BTW, had no sign). We already walked this section of trail so knew where the hot spots were.

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Once over the suspension bridge northbound, the trail pretty much heads straight up. I timed the climb from my GPS track and it's over seven minutes at 10km/hr. Now that's a hill.

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When this trail first opened, it was touted as "a 13km connector" between the Galloping Goose Regional Trail (GGT) in Langford to the Trans Canada Trail at Shawnigan Lake. According to my GPS tracks it's closer to 20km. So for those of us who plan on whipping up there to ride it out and back, we may want to re-think that plan. Unless you're exceptionally fit and can do 40km up hill in a day -- then go for it. There are several access points from Goldstream Heights Road so doing it in increments is an option.

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Before I go, let me say what a professional, helpful staff Dan Scott has at Oak Bay Bikes in Westshore Mall. Dan had my ride ready the night before and Misha and Pete got me out the door by 10:30 this morning.

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Labels: cycled, Great Trail, sooke

Friday we walked 4400m (2¾miles) roundtrip into The Great Trail suspension bridge over Goldstream River.

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For something completely different we walked the Esquimalt & Nanaimo (E&N) railway tracks. This section of rail has been abandoned since it saw its last train pass May 10, 2011. Even though it's been over six years many railfans still haven't got the memo: Trust me, It's abandoned.

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We started walking from the E&N Xing at Humpback Rd. We met a couple of locals walking the rails with their dog. This route has no hills and it's 600m shorter one-way. The Great Trail route (recommended) is 2.8km (1¾miles) oneway.

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Even on a weekday there's plenty of foot and cycling traffic along the recently-opened trail.

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Sooke Waterflow Flickr Album

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Labels: e&n, Great Trail, walked

Monday morning we walked a 2km around the two ponds in Irwin Park

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The Irwin Park trails have been included in the routing from the Galloping Goose Regional Trail (GGT) and the newly opened The Great Trail (TGT) on Vancouver Island.

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Meridian Avenue is the name of the road that connects to TGT at Irwin Road. Meridian Ave. is one of a plethora of ne roads built within the West Hills housing development. Irwin road -- by contrast -- has been there forever.

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The Irwin Rd. part at Meridian Ave. was never paved but the roadway was always there as well. We last last walked it some eight years ago and this area was all forested.

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The 700m paved section of Irwin Rd from Humpback Rd was only paved to Creekside Terrace. Once completed (the area is now designated a construction zone), The newly paved 500m section of Irwin Rd will mean the entire 1200m from Meridian Ave. to the Mt. Wells Park, will be paved roadway.

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TMI It's a moot point but Meridian Ave is laid over part of what was Irwin Road.

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Labels: Great Trail, langford, walked

This morning I cycled 9km roundtrip through Langford, BC to see where and how the Galloping Goose Regional Trail (GGT) connects up with The Great Trail (TGT).

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The ViewRanger App in my phone gave us a clear GPS track.

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From the GGT trail at its Veteran's Memorial Parkway Xing to TGT trailhead at Humpback Lake is under five kilometres.

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The routing here is a-work-in-progress by the looks of it. The designated bike lanes painted on the roadway are straight forward enough but getting around within Irwin Park needs more organization.

---

Being the pragamatist that I am, simply connecting West Hills subdivision at Westshore Parkway with Irwin Road would make it all far too simple. Guess we'll have to wait until more of the subdivision construction is completed and the dust settles.

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Labels: cycled, Great Trail, langford

Tuesday we drove to the northern terminus of the new Great Trail to see where it connect to the Cowichan Valley/Trans Canada/ Former CNR Railway (TCT) trail. This location along Sooke Lake Road (off Shawnigan Lake Road) is well known to many and for years has been the southern terminus of the Trans Canada Trail on Vancouver Island. Were it not for the Victoria Water Supply, Sooke Watershed property being restricted ground, this is where the Galloping Goose Regional Trail (GGT) would have continued to, instead of being stopped at Leechtown, as it now does.

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The Great Trail crosses Sooke Lake Road at this location but not directly; one has to turn left (SW) along Sooke Lake Road for some 90m to pickup the old TCT trail. There is a Big John and parking lot here.

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The northern trailhead of the newest link in The Great Trail on Vancouver Island is located 90m north before reaching the TCT trailhead. The TCT trailhead is on the northside of Sooke Lake Raod and The Great Trail is located to the south (lefthand going in).

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GPS Coordinates of Trailhead: 48°34'52.43"N 123°37'51.07"W

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John Oldfield always takes time from his busy schedule to sit and chat for a while before returning to his kitchen duties. John is owner of the Village Chippery but from a management perspective likes to run a tight ship. ;-) John's family is borne of the Oldfield's of Saanich Peninsula pioneers. We never runs out of things to talk about. Enrico Winery Pass through Mill Bay Junction along Hwy-1 northbound to the second traffic light (at the top of the hill). Turn right (east) onto Kilmalu Road to the first road on the lefthand side (northside). Proceed north along Telegraph Road for 1400m to find Enrico Winery on the lefthand (west) side of the road. Your server in the tasting lounge may be Georgia or the manager, Lorin. Enjoy a marvelous welcome and sipping experience within this 50 acre site.

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Enrico Winery are winners of the 2015 Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Excellence in British Columbia Wines. Enrico Winery’s 2014 Tempest Ortega was on this prestigious list. Enrico's Ortega was chosen out of 425 wines as one of the top fourteen wines from BC by a panel of wine industry professionals through a blind judging process. Enrico wines are currently available at wine shops and restaurants throughout Vancouver Island and across the Lower Mainland.

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Phone: (250) 733-2356 Email: info@enricowinery.com Mail: 3280 Telegraph Road Mill Bay, B.C. V0R 2P3

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Labels: Great Trail, walked

We enjoyed this beautiful weather this morning by hiking 6km roundtrip along the new Great Trail that just opened yesterday.

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What is The Great Trail? The Great Trail (formerly known as the Trans Canada Trail) is one of the world's longest networks of multi-use recreational trails. Once fully connected, it will stretch nearly 24,000 km from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic oceans, through every province and territory, linking Canadians in nearly 1,000 communities.

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The newest section to open on Vancouver Island is a 13km long trail connecting Humpback Reservoir with Shawnigan Lake trails.  

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Great Trail Suspension Bridge GPS Coordinates: 
48°27'44.82"N 123°34'30.78"W (Google.earth)

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Labels: Great Trail, sooke, walked