walking

Monday morning we caught the 9a.m. Swartz Bay ferry to Tsawwasssen (Vancouver BC Mainland) and drove to White Rock, BC.

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We were searching for the elusive, northern trailhead to the Semiahmoo Trail.

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We found it -- not along Crescent Road -- but beside the Elgin Centre Preschool, 3530 144 Street, Surrey, BC.

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From there we followed Crescent Rd to Crescent Bay Marina and then along 128th to White Rock Pier

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After parking in the museum lot, we had lunch at Charlie Don't Surf (yes, that's its name) Restaurant. It was recommended by the museum staffer as the best place to eat in White Rock.

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Labels: ferry, vancouver

Thursday morning we boarded the BC Ferries' good ship, Skeena Queen to Fulford Harbour on Salt Spring Island

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This was a reconnaissance mission to sleuth out the viability of biking from Fulford to Ganges. There are only two roads one can choose from: Ful-Gan road and Beaver Point Rd. Beaver Point does not connect directly to Ganges so the 4km remaining section can only be achieved using Ful-Gan highway.

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We also planned a side-trip up to my relative's home on Saltspring Way. The turnoff to this is the first right turn past Slegg Lumber, northeast-bound along the Ful-Gan road.

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There may be other places, trails and biking improvements we are unaware of but most visitors cycling on the island mainly use the two just mentioned.

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Salt Spring Island is a beautiful place with many amenities to visit, but for us -- not by bicycle.

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Labels: ferry, saltspring

Tuesday morning I cycled 52km.

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I landed at Tsawwassen Terminal at 11:30a.m. and cycled to Mud Bay Park along the Boundary Bay Dyke Trail (BBT).

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The BBT trailhead is located 8km from the ferry terminal. The access point from the Hwy-17 off the ferry is enough to find but after that it's anybody's guess where the cycling route is located. I followed it to Silverado Plc and once through the park saw a sign on a pathway at 53a St. stating it was to "Mud Bay". I never heard of Mud Bay. A couple of locals were walking by so I asked if it lead to Boundary Bay Dyke. They did not know.

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From studying google.streetviews and Let's Go Biking book, I knew 53a joined 16th Ave to the seashore but was reticent to use it as it has no accommodation for bicycles and has heavy vehicular traffic.

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Anyway, I wound up at the trailhead-in-question and rode the dyke trail for 17km to its end. There was the massive sign stating: "Mud Bay Park". Go figure.

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Now I know if the "Mud Bay" pathway was taken to Candlewyck Wynd and 18th Ave through the South Delta Artists Guild, one would arrive at 58a St. and then 17a St. and the Beach Grove Rd. trailhead. Next time.
Taking Your Bicycle Aboard BC Ferries
 VIDEO Boundary Bay Dyke Trail to Mud Bay Park

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Labels: cycled, ebike, ferry, vancouver

 
O.K., time to get back to posting some walking reports.

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Wednesday we walked along Belleville Street in downtown Victoria, BC. It was very cold down there!

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At a balmy 2°C it felt more like -10 below with a sharp, sou'wester trying to rip our heads off as we rounded Laurel Point. The walk was shot lived. But we did accomlish the mission: photos of the pile-crew removing piles from the habour floor with two large cranes.

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V2V is going to rebuild on the site of the former Undersea Gardens. To lay persons, the fare structure for the new Victoria to Vancouver to Victoria service is questionable: $120-240 dollars per person one-way seems excessive to many. What couple is going to pay over $500 to go to Vancouver a back?

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The V2V Empress is a 254-seat passenger vessel that will change the way you travel. With daily departures from Vancouver and Victoria, the 3-hour journey will transport you in comfort from the heart of downtown Vancouver, across the Strait of Georgia, through the unforgettable beauty of the Southern Gulf Islands, right into Victoria’s historic Inner Harbour, and back again.

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The new 3½ hour-long route will leave from Vancouver Convention Centre docks adjacent to the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre daily at 8 a.m. and depart Victoria directly across from the iconic Fairmont Empress Hotel and the Parliament Buildings at 2 p.m.

Therefore, V2V pax departing Victoria late in the afternoon will have to find overnight accommodation adding another $200 to their bill, if they choose to make the return trip aboard V2V.

The company has not stated whether or not their pricing is in US or Canadian funds.

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Labels: ferry, walked