Saturday, Bravehearts had their usual weekend ride with their band-of-brothers.
15 restless riders completed the 20+km loop. Some GPS tracks from homes and back, added up to approximately 35km.
It was pretty straightforward: out The Goose to Atkins Station at the 10km Marker and inbound on the E&N Rail Trail for coffee break at Shoal Point in downtown Victoria.
After coffee, Grant, Rick and Bill headed eastbound riding the Victoria Seaside Touring route around to Cadboro Bay area where all live within a kilometre of each other.
Don't cry because it's overs — smile because it happened
Bravehearts Thetis Relive Ride Bravehearts Saturday ride April 4th was lead by Grant and Bruce.
Ken was ill and couldn't ride. We missed him and hope he's feeling better soon.
Ten riders left Switch Bridge at 10am and stopped at Nest-by-the-lake (Nest2) about 11:30am
In between, we passed the 10km Marker along the Galloping Goose Trail )GGT) and turned right.
This brought us northwest up Watkiss Way to Thetis Lake Park's southernmost trailhead.
Grant and Bruce led the group through this undulating, wide, gravel trail on this sunny day.
What a route! Spectacular, lakeside views; but not for the faint-of-heart cyclist. LOL
This day's ride finished after returning to Victoria via GGT and E&N trails for some
Others stayed on the GGT and dispersed as need to their homes
For most the ride clocked in at some 35km and for Kenny — closer to +50km!
Thanks to all Bravehearts for participating in a shared passion for cycling.
Tuesday March 3 2026, I cycled iZip #1 27km loop from home to CanTire then Atkins along E&N inbound to Hereward Green connector and Pine St on Goose at Selkirk Trestle and Finlayson Road Dedicated Bike Lanes to Shelbourne St.. Really cold fingers.
Returned heated gloves to CanTire and got refund. Gloves are discontinued and none are available.
Saturday morning we had another ride-in-the-rain with Bravehearts Cycling Group.
I got soaked again in spite of my over $500 in rain gear.
Our nothernmost loop took us to Violet Ave. at Grange Rd.
Then south to Mina Ave. and thru Marigold Park to Cardie Crt.
Then Belgrave Rd. to te Galloping Goose Trail (GGT) northbound.
We followed the GGt to E&N Rail Trail (E&NRT) and headed back to View Royal.
After a turn into Portage Park we followed View Royal Ave. to Stewart Ave.
This put us southbound again on the Island Highway sidewalk back to Portage Park.
Tracking Hallowell Rd. got us to ur break at Kinder Cup Cafe.
Around 1pm we headed south to the E&NRT to the Johnson Street Bridge and northward on the GGT
At Finlayson Rd. GGT detour I bailedto take Victoria's best E/W cycling connector.
This GGT detour actually come out ont Jutland Rd. which once eastbound over Burnside Rd. becomes Finlayson St.
Before Finlayson Connector connectss to the Shelbourne St. Dedicated Bike Lanes it changes name again to North Dairy Rd.
The remaining five members of ourgroup carried on to the SB
Wow! Quite the 21km loop from the SB and 33km loop for me from home.
Saturday morning at 10am the Bravehearts met at the Switch Bridge (SB)
My ride started at home at 9:20am some 6km from the SB which gave a total ride distance for the day of 30.4km
And did it rain! That is not a quetion it is a statement!
With having over $500 of rain gear on I still got soaked to the skin. Yes, brother — it poured.
Eleven of us Bravehearts wound up at QV restaurant near Chinatown in Victoria
We had a great ride outbound to Atkin Station and inbound on he E&N Rail Trail.
Thanks to Darryl for his fearless leadership in getting us all back togther again.
We walked 4½km along the E&N tracks from Shawnigan Lake Rd. Xing to Okotoks Powerline Xing.
Every road off Okotoks roads are marked as PRIVATE as are all E&N road Xings. Strange.
When it comes down to it the E&N railway itself is PRIVATE.
Soon enough the E&N RoW will be gone, but we're going to keep on enjoying it as long as possible.
E&N Railway at Malahat BCTuesday, October 1st I drove the 27km (16miles) from Victoria BC to Malahat, BC.
The purpose being to find a level access to the E&N Railway near this location.
After driving through Cedar Springs Ranch campground I ended up at Malahat Mountain Meadows Campground.
The campers here told me how to get to the tracks using the nearby trail.
This access had too much gain for my purposes so after walking the tracks southbound for ten minutes a level xing appeared.
This level xing connects from Cedar Spring Ranch campground (the place I just drove through).
We remember this campground from the 60s and is where our kids learned to swim in the outdoor pool.
Goldstream Suspension Bridge via E&N Rail GradeTuesday our son and I walked 2km from Humpback Rd along the E&N railway to Goldsream Suspension Bridge
The plan was to walk the 5km to Cisco Bridge over Niagara Canyon but that didn't happen.
The CRD aka Capital Regional District Victoria Water Supply has the tracks gated and locked at their facility.
We walked up and viewed the suspension bridge but didn't walk down the 150m grade.
On the way in our son got stung no less than three times by bees. The bees had built a nest on one of the rotted-out railway ties.
It was a great day to be outdoors and we met others along this route.
AddendumWe enjoyed beautiful weather this morning by hiking 4km roundtrip along the Esquimalt and Nanaimo railway tracks. These tracks have been abandoned to train service since May 10, 2011 but are frequented often by locals and hikers. This section provides a shorter and flatter access to the Goldstream suspension Bridge than does the Great Trail. Our walk stated at Humpback Road where it crosses the railway tracks. 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.
Our son was good enough to join me on a hike with which he was not familiar. Shortley after departing our trail-head he may have been having second thoughts after being stung by no less than three bees! Being a tough lad he carried on without comment. The suspension bridge is located where the Victoria Water District has a treatment facility so there are many gates and signs reminding users of restricted areas. The down side for users is they also block access along the rail grade. The VIA Rail Dayliner could run through here but appearenttey walkers cannot. The Capital Regional District has it locked down pretty good.
My Thursday morning bicycle ride was interrupted by a minor mishap.
It happend while walking — not riding — my bicycle around a sharp corner to get back onto the E&N Rail Trail at Admirals Road.
Stupid me, remained seated on my bike while I 'walked' it around a sharp corner on a paved trail.
What I did not notice was the trail surface was lower on my righthand side and when I put my right foot down there was nothing there.
The resulting nosedive put my left hand index finger up against a brick wall with the full force of my body weight behind it.
The end of my finger stopped while the rest kept moving one finger bone beneath the other. Not good.
Said finger also became lacerated which required some stitches. Looks good now.
Sunday our grandson (24yrs) cycled with me on a long, loop bike ride from hi home near Cook Village.
I cycled 13km from home to his place then we rode a 26km loop out to Atkins Station in View Royal.
From there I rode another 15km along the Victoria Seaside Route to home through the Uplands District.
E&N Rail Trail Biking Kimta Railyards 3-minutes #507
Monday morning I cycled a 43km loop from home starting by joining the Galloping Goose Trail at McKenzie Avenue.
After ridingThe Goose to downtown Victoria BC it was up Fort St. to the Vancouver Street Bike Lane to Beacon Hill Park.
Once through the park it was along Dallas Rd., past the cruiseship terminal to downtown again and over the Johnson Street Bridge.
Using the Esquimalt Rd. overpass we were northwest bound on the E&N Rail Trail to Atkins Station in View Royal.
That's another 13km back home so on a beautiful morning there's nowhere else to be.
I video recorded the E&N railway, single-track section by Kimta Rd. with my GoPro and posted the 3-minute video.
E&N Rail Trail Biking Kimta Railyards 3-minutes #507
Saturday morning I cycled 53km loop outbound along E&N Rail Trail and inbound along Galloping Goose Trail. A wonderful three-hour adventure starting at 7:30a.m. under overcast skies.
Started from home and cycled Lochside Trail/Galloping Goose Trail, 10km to E&N Rail Trail overpass at Esquimalt Rd (Johnson Street Bridge).
HIGHLIGHTThe new, one-kilometre trail section between Atkins Rd and Savory School is now paved.
Then another 14km to trail's end at Jacklin Road in Langford. Across Jacklin is Dunford Ave. and down the hill along Henry Eng Plc. This industrial route connects to Fieldview Terrace which is a name-change along Leigh Road.
Once northwest bound along Langford Parkway, its down the dedicated cycling route beside Westhills Drive, past the YMCA and up to the end of the parking lot.
Caveat to above: My first-choice-of-route would be the Ed Nixon Trail beside Langford Lake but it's blocked off at the S.E., wooden boardwalk. Who knows when that will be open; no one is working on it.
There is a single-track connection from here to West Shore Parkway where the E&N Railway crosses. There are various routes through to Humpback Rd. but I chose the Upper Trail which starts underneath The Wall. From here it's one-kilometre through the rough, single-track to Humpback Rd., Great Trail connector.
Upper Powerline Langford Trail GoPro #460Langford Humpback Trail VIDEON.B. 230m diversion at Westwind (from Mapsend, Viewranger GPS track) 51 minutes duration / start at crossover overpass is 10km from home along PaloAlto/Mortimer/Mckenzie/Borden/GGT. Ends Jacklin Rd at Station Rd to Dunford Ave.
N.B. Humpback Rd. is 28.4km from Home. (24.6 inbound to home from Humpback Rd trailhead) 9:17a.m. at Humpback gate. 1:47:00 outbound / 1:19:00 direct inbound Humpback/Irwin/Meridian/WestShore past Belmont school/ Hull's Trail/ Kelly to GGT/ Borden/McKenzie/ McClung Library/Mortimer/Palo Alto.
Saturday morning I cycled 46km roundtrip from home to Humpback Road and back. I rode the Galloping Goose Trail outbound to Millstream connector then the (All-new section) E&N Rail Trail to Jacklin Rd. at Dunford where the paved trail ends. Once down Dunford Ave. and past Langford Lake, I took the usual, single-track route from the YMCA parking lot to Humpback Rd. The same route back got me home in three-hours total, trip time.
Of late my main interest in Langford — and specifically its trail network — is to find out what the citu of Langford's plans regarding the latest, cycling additions along Humpback Rd. and its connection to the Great Trail on Vancouver Island, aka, Sooke Wilderness Trail.
The new Montego Drive connector may be one option in the works. Presumably, this would be accessed from Burlington Crescent near Kettle Creek Station housing development. This connection would inlcude Burlington, Montego and Lakehurst between Humpback Rd. to the west.
Another option, — and one many support — is to develope the already-established Upper Power Line Trail between West Shore Parkway and Humpback Rd. It is well established and well used already.
To this end, may I suggest viewing a biking video through the one-kilometre (1km) section of active trail.
N.B. Trail users could be encoureage to use the single-track trail between the YMCA and the Upper Power Line Trail.
Disclaimer All-of-the-above becomes redundant once the E&N Rail Trail is completed to Humpback Road.
Upper Powerline Langford Trail GoPro #460
Sunday morning I took a three hour, 48km bike ride out to Langford and back.
Cycled the Galloping Goose outbound and the E&N Rail Trail inbound.
The ride was one of my best ever. We (me and God), observed the new E&N Rail Trail construction between Savory School and Atkins Road.
What a great job they're doing over this one-kilometre (1km) section. Why, it even sports a concrete tunnel under the tracks!
The destination for this ride was the E&N railway above Montego Drive in Langford.
We cycled down the rough path from Kettle Creek Station and came out on Burlington Crescent after traversing the construction area.
From TWP's Cowichan Chronicles
“Oops! A wreck on the CNR (Trans Canada Trail) about Mile 60. This was a fatal head-on collision; I have two coupling pins—one from each train as they’re different sizes.”
A Story to Be Told is a book written by Robert I. Dougan and is the definitive record of the September 15, 1900, accident involving a headon collision between two trains on the E&N tracks near Ladysmith, BC.
Nathan Paul Dougan, was the telegrapher/station agent at the new town of Ladysmith in September, 1900 at the time of the train wreck on the E&N two miles north of town which killed 4 people.
Nathan Dougan (father of Robert I. Dougan) was blamed for the accident and charged with manslaughter for which he was sentenced to nine (9) months imprisonment.
These photos are from a hike guided by T.W. Paterson and his associate, Doug McLeod, to find where and what remains from that accident.
Ladysmith Wreck Trailhead GPS Coordinates:
49°0' 41.55"N 123°50' 50.78"W
N.B. Other than using the GPS coordinates, finding this sawed-of windfall (left in frame) is the only indicator to find where the access to the wreck is located in the thick underbrush.
From March 17 2021 photos
From Flickr March 18 2021
YouTube VIDEO LinkA Story to Be Told is a book written by Robert I. Dougan and is the definitive record of the September 15, 1900, accident involving a headon collision between two trains on the E&N tracks near Ladysmith, BC.
Nathan Paul Dougan, was the telegrapher/station agent at the new town of Ladysmith, BC in September, 1900 at the time of the train wreck on the E&N two miles north of town which killed 4 people.
Nathan Dougan (father of Robert I. Dougan) was blamed for the accident and charged with manslaughter for which he was sentenced to nine (9) months imprisonment.
These photos are from a hike guided by T.W. Paterson and his associate, Doug McLeod, to find where and what remains from that accident.
Ladysmith Wreck
Trailhead GPS Coordinates:
49°0' 41.55"N 123°50' 50.78"W
N.B. Other than using the GPS coordinates, finding this sawed-off windfall (left in frame) is the only indicator to find where the access to the wreck is located in the thick underbrush.
Ladysmith Train Wreck Site GPS:
N49°00.719', W123°50.841'
Friday I cycled 30km roundtrip from home along the Galloping Goose Trail to TC Motors.
My route inbound (that means back home) was over Selkirk Trestle/ Banfield Park/ Pine St./ Hereward Park/ E&N Rail Trail to Helmcken Rd.
Down the ramp to the roundabout then into View Royal Park and onto Maclennan Trail at the 8km Marker of the Galloping Goose Trail.
Silly me lit out with a less-than-fully-charged battery and had to walk the last 2km to home. Some guys never learn.
Biking Galloping Goose Trail to E&N Rail TrailMaclennan Trail connector between E&N Rail Trail and Galloping Goose Trail VIDEO
Wednesday morning I cycled a 34km loop from home around the Great Circle Route formed by the connection between the E&N Rail Trail and the Galloping Goose Trail in the Greater Victoria Area.
On a bright, sunny day at a balmy 11°C. (52°F.)
Most of the trail beside the McKenzie Interchange Project is complete with paving and the wall.
Sunday morning I cycled 32km (20sm) from home and around the Great Circle Route.
That's the moniker I've given to the 19km loop formed by joining the Galloping Goose Trail and the E&N Rail Trail.
I've cycled the loop several times but today was the first time done from home -- hence the greater distance.
My plan A was to ride out to the Goldstream Suspension Bridge but upon further consideration decided to do it on a fully-charged battery.
Seems it was a prudent move as the battery was pretty low when arriving back home.
This morning I cycled 34km roundtrip from home to Bentley's and back. The route chosen was Lochside to Switch Bridge then Galloping Goose Trail (GGT) to downtown Victoria. From Harbour Road Connector we rode the E&N Rail Trail to Helmcken Road and the kid's home. After leaving there we rode to Atkins Station and cycled the GGT back to the Switch Bridge and onto the Blenkinsop Greenway to Feltham Road and home.
The lad wanted my Yuneec CGO3 Steadygrip video camera and I wanted to cycle this loop from home so it worked out good for both of us.
The new ebike gave me a good work out but I wasn't exhausted when I arrived back home. That's nice for a change.
Bentley and my daughter say all the repairs and upgrades to their beautiful home are complete.
We hope the Steadygrip works better for Bentley than it has for me.
Monday morning we cycled 19km along the loop formed by the Galloping Goose Trail and the E&N Rail Trail
This section of these paved trails traverse multiple jurisdictions on southern Vancouver Island: Esquimalt; Langford; Victoria and View Royal.
This outing brought an end to my birthday celebrations which started last Thursday. Every year on my birthday for the past decade our son takes me on a cycling excursion -- lunch included.
Today's ride took less than 1½hrs so the old boy can still ride. I've done this particular 19km loop every year over the past five years but today seemed more enervating than past ones. It's only my second ride this season so I'll have to shape up, or get a pedalec bike. LOL
It was a great ride and C. is very generous with his time and gifts. Thanks, pal.
Saturday morning we had another ride-in-the-rain with Bravehearts Cycling Group.
Saturday morning at 10am the Bravehearts met at the Switch Bridge (SB)
