walking

DARREN STONE, TIMES COLONIST Times Colonist Sunday, July 7 2024

 Kathy Haesevoets at the Leech Tunnel near the CRD’s Sooke Lake Reservoir. The Capital Regional District (CRD) built the tunnel linking the Leech River to the Sooke Lake Reservoir in 1987, but it has never been used. According to the CRD Regional Water Supply 2022 master plan, the tunnel is expected to come into service by 2042. Although Canadians use more water per capita than other countries around the world, many in the Capital Region have embraced water conservation through measures such as letting lawns go brown in summer and planting less water-hungry plants, driving down consumption from 559 litres per capita per day in 1998 to 337 litres in 2022 — among the lowest in the province for a major metropolitan area. That’s happened despite a population growth of between 1 and 1.5 per cent per year, said Kathy Haesevoets, an information technician with CRD Integrated Water Services, who notes that if consumption drops to 300 litres a day, the CRD could put off supplementing the Sooke Lake Reservoir with the backup plan — Leech River-area water — for 20 years. Elk/Beaver Lake became the growing city’s water source in 1872. The two lakes, once separate, were joined with the damming of Colquitz Creek. Filter beds were installed in 1896 after residents complained of finding fish and tadpoles in their drinking water.  

When residents turned on their taps in 1905, the water was flowing from reservoirs in the Goldstream area, which still has four surface-water reservoirs, with a volume of approximately 10 million cubic metres and a catchment area of 2,109 hectares. In 2007 and 2010, the CRD purchased land from private forest land holders that forms the catchment area around the Leech River to ensure access to the water source and prevent any contamination from industrial or agricultural use. That property, which had been 95 per cent harvested, according to the CRD, has more than 400 kilometres of roads, and is currently undergoing restoration to remove old logging infrastructure, upgrade main roads and deactivate and rehabilitate excess roads.

 The ability of the CRD to own and manage 98 per cent of the land that drains into the Sooke and Goldstream water supply reservoirs — the catchment area — makes the system unusual, as most municipalities rely on public lakes for their water.  

To ensure the water is safe for human consumption, it’s run through a three-step disinfection process that starts with the use of ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and parasites. A low dose (1.5 to 2.5 mg/litre) of chlorine is added next, to kill viruses. Ammonia is added as a final step to prevent bacterial contamination as the water travels through the distribution system pipes.

Labels: crd, kapoor, leech, watershed

History Of Indian Tricolor Every free nation of the world has its own flag. It is a symbol of a free country. The National Flag of India was adopted in its present form during the meeting of Constituent Assembly held on the 22 July 1947, a few days before India's independence from the British on 15 August, 1947. It served as the national flag of the Dominion of India between 15 August 1947 and 26 January 1950 and that of the Republic of India thereafter. In India, the term "tricolour" refers to the Indian national flag. 

 The National flag of India is a horizontal tricolor of deep saffron (kesari) at the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion. The ratio of width of the flag to its length is two to three. In the centre of the white band is a navy blue wheel which represents the chakra. Its design is that of the wheel which appears on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. Its diameter approximates to the width of the white band and it has 24 spokes. *The Chakra This Dharma Chakra depicted the "wheel of the law" in the Sarnath Lion Capital made by the 3rd-century BC Mauryan Emperor Ashoka. The chakra intends to show that there is life in movement and death in stagnation *

 The Do's: The National Flag may be hoisted in educational institutions (schools, colleges, sports camps, scout camps, etc.) to inspire respect for the Flag. An oath of allegiance has been included in the flag hoisting in schools. A member of public, a private organization or an educational institution may hoist/display the National Flag on all days and occasions, ceremonial or otherwise consistent with the dignity and honour of the National Flag. Section 2 of the new code accepts the right of all private citizens to fly the flag on their premises.

 The Don'ts: The flag cannot be used for communal gains, drapery, or clothes. As far as possible, it should be flown from sunrise to sunset, irrespective of the weather. The flag cannot be intentionally allowed to touch the ground or the floor or trail in water. It cannot be draped over the hood, top, and sides or back of vehicles, trains, boats or aircraft.

 No other flag or bunting can be placed higher than the flag. Also, no object, including flowers or garlands or emblems can be placed on or above the flag. The tricolour cannot be used as a festoon, rosette or bunting * Dharma Chakra Ashoka Chakra *Why does Ashoka Chakra have 24 lines? Ashoka Chakra - Wikipedia This is the motif taken up by Ashoka and portrayed on top of his pillars. The 24 spokes represent the twelve causal links taught by the Buddha and paṭiccasamuppāda (Dependent Origination, Conditional Arising) in forward and then reverse order. The first 12 spokes represent 12 stages of suffering.

Labels: chakra, flag, india, kapoor

 

The Deep Pool at Kennedy Flat at the confluence of the Sooke and Leech Rivers is Vancouver Islands best-kept secret. Those fortunate enoughto know of and have access to it can enjoy the best swimming hole on the Sooke River.

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“Kapoor Regional Park is ideally located at the end of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, and is also the northwest anchor of the Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt. With this key location, park visitors will be able to experience a relatively wild and remote area with comparative ease. The primary focus will be on providing visitors with opportunities to enjoy compatible, nature-based recreational activities, such as swimming, hiking, biking, and equestrian use. Opportunities will also be provided for education and interpretation of the area’s natural and cultural history. Community engagement in projects and activities to commemorate the park’s rich cultural history will be particularly emphasized.

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The management plan has received strong public support. The planning process has involved years of extensive input from the public, First Nations, governments, interest groups, as well as a Management Plan Advisory Group.

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On behalf of the Parks Committee, I commend staff and the many groups, agencies and individuals who contributed to the management plan, which will guide decision-making for these parks. It moves our vision further along its way, and eventually, towards a lasting legacy we can all be proud of.” — CRD Parks Committee

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Labels: kapoor, kennedyflat, leechtown

Kapoor Regional Park Miscellaneous Items 

Kapoor Regional Park Jackson Williams / Christopher Causton, Chair CRD Regional Parks Committee / Old Wolf Creek CRD Parks Goal Statement: To ensure park values and visitor opportunities are protected and sustained through the use of best management practices in all facets of park development and management, and to contribute to regional environmental, social, and economic sustainability. *https://www.crd.bc.ca/docs/default-source/parks-pdf/sea-to-sea-management-plan.pdf?sfvrsn=46ce6cca_2 The management plan has received strong public support. The planning process has involved years of extensive input from the public, First Nations, governments, interest groups, as well as a Management Plan 

Advisory Group. *On behalf of the Parks Committee, I commend staff and the many groups, agencies and individuals who contributed to the management plan, which will guide decision-making for these parks. It moves our vision further along its way, and eventually, towards a lasting legacy we can all be proud of. p.37

 Visitor Experience 4.2.3 Kapoor is ideally located at the end of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail, and is also the northwest anchor of the Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt. With this key location, park visitors will be able to experience a relatively wild and remote area with comparative ease. The primary focus will be on providing visitors with opportunities to enjoy compatible, nature-based recreational activities, such as swimming, hiking, biking, and equestrian use. Opportunities will also be provided for education and interpretation of the area’s natural and cultural history. Community engagement in projects and activities to commemorate the park’s rich cultural history will be particularly emphasized. 

*** Although the entire park is open to public use, travel on the road right of way north of Old Wolf Creek to the Greater Victoria Water Supply Area gate will not be encouraged in order to maintain a buffer to the Water Supply Area and to gravel extraction and forestry activities on adjacent private lands *** The central area of the park is a former log sort covered with Scotch broom. An annual broom cutting program should be maintained to keep the area clear for an emergency evacuation and staging area. = predated?: Complete the Galloping Goose Regional Trail to the Old Wolf Creek Bridge Phase 3 To be determined based on management concerns and visitor needs = 

ADDENDUM Sheilds Lake, Peden Lake, Grassy Lake, and Crabapple Lake have historically been used as camping sites. A cabin, built by area hikers, is located at the south end of Peden Lake. All other standing structures, with the exception of the historic fire look-out tower at the summit of Mount Manuel Quimper, have burnt down or been dismantled. SEE ALSO: The University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Forestry offers scholarships to forestry students through the Kapoor Singh Siddoo Foundation, established in nineteen sixty seven. Read more about the KSSF legacy here: https://getinvolved.forestry.ubc.ca/2017/05/an-enduring-legacy-supports-forestry-students/ and more about the lands that were logged in Sooke here: https://www.sookenewsmirror.com/community/entrepreneurial-sikhs-created-successful-sawmill-operation/ 

BELOW; Elida Peers "The Galloping Goose Trail ends at a clearing which is the former site of the Cameron Lumber Company’s sawmill. The Kapoor station kiosk, bench and toilets are at the clearing. The town site of Leechtown is another half a kilometer along, closer to the Capital Regional District Water Services gates and fences. While at the clearing take a moment to read the historical information about this area. Continue along the trail across the bridge over Wolf Creek and look for a rough trail to the left that leads toward Sooke River. Deep Pool is a natural swimming spot located at the confluence of Leech River and Sooke River. This can be a lovely place for a swim as well as the possibility of fording the rivers when the water levels are low. The pool was named by the Leechtown." 

*** Downtown Leechtown” GPS Coordinates 48°29'42.02"N 123°42'46.45"W

Labels: crd, kapoor, leechtown

 

Monday morning at 9:30a.m. C picked me up and drove to Michigan St. to pick up U.

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We arrived at Sooke Potholes and cycled the Galloping Goose Trail 9km up to Leechtown and the Deep Pool (aka Kennedy Flat)

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We hacked some brush with the new brush cutter, ate lunch, took some pic and left.

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A good time was had by all on this beautiful, sunny day a balmy 11°C.

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We stopped in Sooke (Saseenos) at the great-grandson's place on the way back to Victoria.

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Home by 4:10p.m. Thanks again for this wonderful gift of your time to celebrate my birthday.

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Labels: e-bike, kapoor, leechtown

Monday morning we drove 57km from Victoria BC to the new Drs. Jagdis K and Sarjit K. Siddoo Park, located five kilometres west from the Koksilah River Provincial Park, just west of Shawnigan Lake, B.C. The park consists of old trees and second-growth forest, the fish-bearing Koksilah River and 3 Mile Creek as well as known local hiking trails.

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These two sisters are daughters of Kapoor Singh Siddoo who became a timber baron of British Columbia and Vancouver island in the 1920s. To know more about this remarkable man, may we suggest reading Jewels of the Qila: the remarkable story of an Indo-Canadian family by Hugh J.M. Johnston. ISBN ISBN 10-0774822171

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DIRECTIONS from intersection of West Shawnigan Lake Road at Renfrew Road
3 Mile Creek Bridge GPS Coordinates 48°37'47.43"N 123°47'43.67"W

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According to my odometer it's 5km west to Koksilah River Provincial Park and anohter five kilometres (on gravel road) for another 5 km west to 3 Mile Creek River bridge where the Siddoo Park is so situated.

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The logging company has named this road Kapoor Main and posted distance signs along the route. The 7km Down marker is 200m before reaching the 3Mile Creek bridge westbound.

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We only saw the sign erected beside the road with the Siddoo names on it and did not see any indication of any park. We turned around and drove out to Shawnigan Lake Village and had lunch at our favorite, mid-island restaurant: Village Chippery

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There's really only one business block in Shawnigan Lake Village. At the main, village junction is located Subway at the southwest corner -- and in plain sight. The Chippery is located at the opposite (NE) corner of this business block -- at Wilmot and Dundas Avenues. Find it. You'll like it.

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39-second Chippery VIDEO

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Koksilah River Provincial Park is located 4 km west of Shawnigan Lake on southern Vancouver Island. The park offers hiking, fishing, swimming, picnicking, scenic views and mountain biking. The park is officially only open for day use activities although many people camp here in the summer months. This is a popular spot for motorcycles. A gated metal bridge runs over the Koksilah River in the park. It is called Burnt Bridge because the original (built in 1865) was destroyed in a forest fire. Burnt Bridge has been rebuilt twice. Also crossing the Koksilah River is the Kinsol Trestle, just East of the park

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Burnt Bridge 30-second VIDEO  
GPS Coordinates Koksilah River Provincial Park
 48°38'36.87"N 123°44'16.10"W

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Labels: kapoor, siddoo

Monday we cycled along the Galloping Goose Trail from Sooke Potholes up to Kapoor Station at the 55½km location.

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I pulled my Yuneec Typhoon 500+ quadcopter on my new Burley Flatbed Trailer behind my Norco XFR bike.

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Yes, we have pictures-to-prove-it -- and video

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Drone Aerial of Kapoor Regional Park

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These aerial images show the southern. treed area of Kapoor Regional Park at the northern end of the Galloping Goose Trail (GGT). Kapoor Regional Park encompasses all the land -- between the trail and the Sooke River -- from this southern section all the way up to its northern end at the Victoria Water District Treatment Area (watershed) fence. The watershed (red) gate is located at the 57km location of the GGT.

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The former site of the Kapoor Lumber Company Ltd. sawmill is inaccessible to the public because it is located in what is now the Victoria District Water Treatment Area (watershed) under the direction of the Capital Regional District (CRD).

The directors of the Kapoor Lumber Company Ltd. were (c.1929) Mayo Singh. Kapoor Singh, Managing Director, Ganda Singh, Secretary and Paymaster, Ganea Singh is Mill Superintendent and Doman Singh is Wood Superintendent.

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Labels: cycled, ggt, kapoor, yuneec

Thursday we walked 4km roundtrip from Glen Eagle parking lot to the Kinsol Trestle and back. The parking lot sign says it's 1km to the trestle but it's 1.3 (1300m) to the centre of the trestle and another several hundred metres down the trail to the Koksilah River. Trust me: The ViewRanger App in my phone says it's 4km roundtrip and we have a GPS track to prove it.

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We were in on the groudfloor-meetings (2007) when the reconstruction project was still not defined. Thanks to Tom Patterson he convinced enough supporters to go ahead and after sufficient funds were raised, the trestle is as it is today.

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See My Blogspot Post Tuesday, April 24, 2007

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We haven't been to the trestle in a while but heard a new viewing platform was completed and that the southside one is under construction. This was enough to motivate us to drive the 50km (31miles) from Victoria to check it out.

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We had lunch at the Village Chippery family restaurant in Shawnigan Lake village. It's tucked into the Dundas Rd side of the commercial block in that town. What a great place to dine: good food, friendly staff and reasonable prices.

Labels: kapoor, kinsol, walked

Monday we cycled 25km roundtrip along the Galloping Goose Trail (GGT) from the Trailer Park (44½ km mark) to the Kapoor Station (55½ km mark). Ray, Cam and C, carried on to the end of The Goose at the 57 km point -- which is where the trail ends at the Red Gate. This marked the day, Ray, completed every inch (mm?) of the GGT. Congratulations, Ray -- well done.

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While they cycled to the end of the trail, I relaxed in the bright sunshine at Kapoor Station and enjoyed my soon-to-be-world-famous egg salad sandwich.

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It's good of the lads to take me along as they are much stronger cyclists than I. Thanks, men.

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40-seconds VIDEO

Labels: cycled, ggt, kapoor

Today I cycled 15km roundtrip on the Galloping Goose Trail (GGT) from Sooke Potholes to Kapoor Regional Park (KRP). It was a bit of a cooker out there at over 30°C. but I was able to maintain my usual cycling pace at 35-minutes outbound and 30-minutes inbound on the DH. But who's counting?

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My objective for this outing was to sleuth out the old railway spur (long since gone) that used to branch off the CNR mainline at the southern entrance to where Cameron Lumber Co. operated their sawmill from 1934-50. D.O. Cameron built a steam sawmill in 1934 at The Clearing. D.O's brother, Jamie (J.O. Cameron) and Bart Westbrook were the logging contractors.

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D.O.'s son, Newton Cameron and his daughter, Loula Mearns, started Sooke Lake Lumber here in 1947 and named it their "Leechtown Operations". This operation closed at Leechtown Operations in 1950 when they devoted their time to Victoria Plywood plant.

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Even after Cameron closed their mill in 1950 this spur-line was still in use by other operators who used The Clearing as a log sort. All the mills along the CNR north of here in the Cowichan Valley shipped their logs south through this location and due to the expanded railway facilities here at the former Sooke Lake Lumber site, this area saw lots of railway freight sorted and shipped from here. By 1955 logs were being trucked through the watershed (Goldstream) to Cameron's Victoria Plywood operations.

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The old spur today is just a level right-of-way: no tracks or ties (except for one railway tie laying in the bush). Jamie Masters has a photo of this spur in use with loaded log-train cars on it. The best part of the spur today is, it leads down to a reasonably good swimming area on the Sooke River. What more can one ask for on a hot, summer's day in Kapoor Regional Park?

Labels: ggt, kapoor, leechtown

Today I cycled 15km (9½sm) roundtrip on the Galloping Goose Regional Trail (GGT) from Sooke Potholes Upper Parking to The Clearing. The Clearing is where Cameron Lumber Co. built its sawmill and log-sort in 1934. Newt Cameron stated his father built the family sawmill: "On the CNR railway south of the Kapoor Lands." Logically, this puts the Kapoor Lands north of The Clearing. The boundary marker in the clearing's GPS Coordinates are; 48° 29.421N 123° 42.823W. Plug that into your Google.earth and you'll know where -- according to my handheld GPS unit -- the boundary between the two properties is located.

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While I cycled The Goose, Bernice and a friend walked the trails in the Potholes Area. It seems Sooke Potholes Park and the GGT north from there gets more recreational users every year. Today was no exception. The Upper Parking Lot was filled to capacity when we left in the early afternoon. During the ½hr. I was at the clearing, no less than nine cyclists and three walkers arrived.

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The Kapoor Regional Park map is displayed on one the three facets on the new kiosk built at the clearing. This map shows Kapoor Regional Park boundaries starting in the south where Sooke Potholes Park ends and the northern boundary at where the CRD Water Supply (watershed) fence is now located. The western boundary of Kapoor Regional Park is the Sooke River itself and the eastern boundary shown on the map is the GGT (or the Kapoor Lumber Co.'s, chainlink fence). Other than the new amenities added at The Clearing, the Kapoor Regional Park has seen no development or additional access trails or improvements to the existing trails.

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Today, Kapoor Regional Park is a wonderful asset to the Vancouver Island recreational community; in fact, one of the couples arriving at the clearing today had come all the way from Campbell River, BC, just to cycle up to Leechtown. After looking at the map in the kiosk, they asked how they could get to Leechtown.

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"Carry on northward until you come to the first red gate on your righthand side; right across from the gate is a skidroad down to the confluence of the two rivers and former site of Leechtown."

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They were disappointed they could not see the Leechtown Replica Cairn (because it is on the other side of the Sooke River).

Labels: cycled, kapoor, leech, leechtown

Cycling to Kapoor Station along the Galloping Goose Trail (GGT) 1-minute video

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Sunday we cycled 14km roundtrip from Sooke Potholes along the Galloping Goose Regional Trail (GGT) to the clearing at the southern boundary of the Kapoor Lands. "The Clearing" as it is known today, is the former site of Cameron Lumber Company's sawmill. The Capital Regional District (CRD) has recently built a restroom and Kapoor Station kiosk -- complete with shelter and a bench.

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One of the CRD kiosk posters reads in part: "You are standing near the historic site of Leechtown, a mid-nineteenth century gold mining town". Don't waste any time looking around this area to find it. The site of Leechtown and the Leechtown Cairn are 550m to the northwest and on the other side of the Sooke River. It seem the CRD wants to make park users think they are near the Leechtown site without having to do any further development to the Kapoor Regional Park. The correct course of action would be to develop the former Leechtown site and make t accessible to park users instead of only being accessible by Vancouver Island Placer Miners Association (VIPMA) members.

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John Denver wrote in his song 'Eclipse': "I think it's kind of interesting the way things get to be, the way the people work with their machines." I too find it interesting how the CRD and the CRD Water District seem to have unlimited funds when it comes to limiting public access to areas they deem their own but when someone has the temerity to suggest these areas be opened to the citizens (taxpayers) who provide said funds these funds mysteriously disappear. The CRD Water Services has already bridged the Sooke River (from the reservoir) at 48°29'59.15"N 123°42'37.33"W for their own convenience. Why not open it for public access to the northwestern side where the former site of Leechtown is located?

Labels: cycled, kapoor, sooke

The letterhead above was reproduced in PhotoShop as an exact replica from the original 1939 photocopy from BC Archives & Records Services. It will be used in the forthcoming re-publication to the web -- using MS FrontPage -- of Kapoor's Sooke Lake Mill operation ca.1928. One's computer can only reproduce to its screen those typefaces residing within said computer; therefore, replicating the letterhead exactly as a graphic image, eliminates this issue.

Kapoor Singh Siddoo
Mayo Singh started Mayo Lumber Co. in 1917. Later, Mayo Lumber Company Ltd. was incorporated November 21, 1924, under the British Columbia Company's Act, in Victoria, BC, Canada. Kapoor Singh Siddoo became a fifty-percent partner with Mayo Singh and these two men eventually became the sole owners of their company.

Kapoor Lumber Historical Website

Labels: kapoor, railtrails