walking

 

Monday morning I rode the new iZip Juice hub-drive ebike on a battery endurance test from home to Sidney, BC.

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My mid-drive Del Sol electric-assist (had it four years and 3400km) bike only goes if it is pedaled — hub drive bikes go without pedaling.

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The iZip even has cruise-control so this is the setting used for today's test. All momentum is generated from the battery alone.

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I was very impressed with the 52.5km distance achieved by using battery alone. The battery still had remaining power when turned off.

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My Del Sol bicycle got 71km distance by using pedal power along with electric-assist.

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Considering the advantages of both systems, I've concluded a serious cyclist needs one of each — the choice being on the demands of the ride.

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The hub-drive or mid-drive are not competing systems in my opinion. One is not better than the other — they are simply different.

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Labels: izip, sidney

 

Saturday morning I drove to Sidney-by-the-Sea to take a boat ride to Sidney Island.

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That be aboard the 40ft. MV Sallas operated by Sidney Spit Ferry.

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After taking copious amounts of photographs and GoPro videos from its chestcam mount I was able to cobble together a YouTube production showing everything there is to know about this experience.

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It was a fine outing and well worth the $18CND for the boat ride and $11CND for Port of Sidney Marina parking.

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It's been 15 years since we both visited here but won't be that long until the next time.

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Sidney Spit Ferry to Sidney Island #488

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Labels: dji, gopro, sidney, walked

 

Since 2008 our son has taken me on a Birthday Bike Ride

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Usually, it's a ride one would not normally take on a daily, weekly or even a monthly basis.

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Perhaps the type of ride one would only take once a year.

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This year, in recognition of my octogenerian, quinticential birthday, he chose a fish&chips' lunch at Pier Bistro in Sidney-by-the-Sea some 27km from home. That's 54km roundtrip bike ride.

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April 2022 is one of the coldest on record but we managed to keep warm — in spite of the accompanying strong winds.

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Labels: ebike, lochside, sidney

We drove to Swan Lake Nature Reserve and walked the floating bridge and back up to the Nature House.

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Then it was off to Sidney, BC, to find a hotdog stand. No joy there.

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Highland Pacific in View Royal filled the bill with lunch of fish&chips, coffee and smiles from Erica.

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We were home by 1;30p.m.

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It was a fun-filled morning in the Honda.

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Labels: sidney, swanlake, walked

Sunday we walked at Sidney-by-the-Sea and had lunch at Pier Bistro.

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Another beautiful day in paradise.

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A balmy 21°C under sunny skies

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Home by 1:30p.m.

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Labels: lunch, sidney, walked

Tuesday we walked Selkirk Waterway along the Galloping Goose Trail from Tyee Rd to The Trestle

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Coffee and muffin at Fantastico Cafe

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Then we drove to Patricia Bay to view the trails along Tsaykum Rd from Mills Road

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We arrived home at 1:15 after a quick swing through Sidney-by-the-Sea

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Labels: selkirk, sidney, walked

Cameron and I cycled 52km roundtrip to Sidney-by-the-Sea Pier Bistro, had lunch -- left. Awesome!

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Cameron rode his Norco acoustic and me my pedelec

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All went well and we had a fantastic ride and great lunch of fish&chips, beer and coffee at Pier Bistro.

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Momma and I have had takeout from The Pier so knew it's the best on Vancouver Island

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Cameron is so strong on his bike I could hardly keep up with him on my electric -- but I did.

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Labels: cycled, ebike, lochside, lunch, sidney

Wednesday we checked-out the boarding procedure for bicycles at BC Ferries Schwartz Bay Terminal

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We parked at 11 a.m. and the next ferry was not until 1:00 p.m. so we executed Plan B

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Plan B does not include wasting two-hours of our Earthly time waiting for a ferry.

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Another day, perhaps

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What a perfect day!

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Labels: cycled, sidney

Today I cycled 26½km along the Lochside Trail from Lochside Park to Tulista Park.

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Labels: cycled, lochside, sidney

This morning I cycled 14km roundtrip from Cordova Bay Golf Course to Mt. Newton x Road Station along the Lochside Trail.

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This trail section was chosen because most of this part is dedicated trail, meaning there is no vehicular traffic.

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There was a lage group of cyclists at Mt. Newton Station who were on their way to Victoria after getting off the BC Ferry in from Vancouver, BC.

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From this location it's 21km to the southern terminus of the Lochside Trail at Harbour Road near downtown Victoria, BC.

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Labels: cycled, lochside, sidney

Wednesday we walked 3km roundtrip on a reconnaissance mission to sleuth out significant physical characteristics at or near the northern terminus of the Lochside Trail on Vancouver Island. This locale puts one at or near the BC Ferries Terminal at the 33km Marker of the Lochside Trail.

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We parked the limo at the north, deadend of Swartz Bay Road on the western side of Hwy-17 and walked up the paved footpath to Lands End Road. We crossed eastward to Dolphin road the walked down the hill to the cyclists' entrance at the end of the chicane barriers. We entered the terminal here and have pictures-to-prove-it.

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From here we returned to Kitiwake Pl. then eastward to to Curteis Rd. Curteis changes name to Swartz Bay Rd. as it connects to the northern end of the Lochside Trail. This means there is a Swartz Bay Road east and a west. The roads are not designated this way and there is no way of crossing Hwy-17 from one Swartz Bay Road to the other. Perhaps it's just a ploy to confuse visitors and old people -- like me.

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We continued southward on the Lochside Trail -- passing the 32km marker painted on the path -- until arriving at the pedestrian overpass. This places the overpass at approximately the 31½km location along the trail. After crossing high over Hwy-17 on the overpass, we were back on 'the real' Swartz Bay Road where we left our vehicle an hour before.

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N.B. To arrive at the north end of Swartz Bay Road northbound off Hwy-17, take Exit 31 at the overpass before the ferry terminal. Immediately after this righhand turn, make another righthand turn up the road to Wain Road. At Wain Road, cross straight over and turn right onto Swartz Bay Road. Follow this north to its end.

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For cyclists northbound on Vancouver Island's Lochside Trail to catch a BC Ferries sailing, Tsehum Station is the last station they will pass. Tsehum Station GPS Coordinates: 48°40'36.39"N 123°25'29.51"W

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For cyclists northbound on Vancouver Island's Lochside Trail to catch a BC Ferries sailing, the 33km Marker (pinted on path) is the last marker they will pass. This distance is measured from the Lochside Trail's southern trailhead which is located at the City of Victoria's Johnson Street (Blue) Bridge. To actually board a mainland-bound ferry, one has another kilometre to ride through the terminal parking lot. This makes the actual cycling length from Victoria to the ferry 34km (21 miles). Lochside Trail 33km Marker GPS Coordinates: 48°40'36.39"N 123°25'29.51"W

Labels: lochside, sidney, walked

Today I cycled 9.4km around Victoria International Airport (CYYJ) on my older, full-suspension, mountain bike. It's got good hybrid tyres on it but my cycling mate once referred to it as my "90-pound tank". He's not too far off the mark as it weighs in at 37lbs. My new Norco hybrid weighs only 29lbs.

I had heard about this path around the airport and went to check-it-out. What's been completed is very good but the dedicated (not to be confused with 'designated') trail only covers about half the distance. One can presume as funds become available the rest will be completed; thus, insuring the safety of its uses -- especially cyclists.

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Cycling Around CYYJ

Labels: cycled, gopro, sidney

From LG Phone

Today we walked 2km roundtrip on Scoter Trail in North Saanich. The Scoter Trail sits along the shoreline just above highwater in Patricia Bay on the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. We last walked here in May 2011 and noticed improvements to the trail.

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We had lunch by the sea in Sidney-by-the-Sea.

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Labels: sidney, walked

Today we walked 3km along the Bazan Bay toward Sidney-by-the-Sea. We stopped in at the Arts Centre and viewed the First Nations and Metis Invitational Displays. We didn't have an invitation but that only applies to the show's opening day; our names are now on next year's guest list. Today's artist-in-residence was Virgil Sampson, a well-known artist in his own right but also younger brother of, Tsartlip First Nation Elder: Tom Sampson.

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We parked our limo at the southernmost parking area thus giving us an opportunity to walk the entire length of the old Victoria & Sidney (V&S) railway grade section which tracked the highwater mark along Bazan Bay. This is the same right-of-way (RoW) which now forms the trail in behind Elk/Beaver lakes.

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Afterward, we ate lunch at the West-Saanich Road Red Barn Market by chowing down on another of their world-famous Penini sandwiches. This is the most-flavorful meal ever created by man -- or woman (if it comes to that).

Labels: sidney, walked

Today we walked on the combined pedestrian & cycling dedicated overpass at McTavish Road Interchange.

The McTavish Interchange gets lots of well deserved criticism for its ungainly design for motorists and lack of bicycle lanes for cyclists. In view of all the lip service given to cycling amenities by politicians the interchange is a joke, really.

Northbound on Lochside there not even a painted white line for cyclists; only painted white line designating curbside parking spots for vehicles. One really does have to laugh. It is a joke. It must be. Isn't it?

Labels: sidney, walked

Today we walked 3km roundtrip on Scoter Trail in North Saanich. The Scoter Trail sits along the shoreline just above highwater in Patricia Bay on the Saanich Peninsula on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.

We last walked here in August 2009 and noticed improvements to the trail. It's not perfect but much better than it was.

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At ten this morning we picked our friend, Betty, up at Ogden Point Docks after she disembarked from the Celebrity Millennium cruiseship, and drove her to her Brentwood home. We had a hot panini sandwich at the Red Barn for lunch. We sat out on the deck on this beautiful, sunny, warm day.

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We walked Henderson and hit some golfballs before coming home.

Labels: sidney, walked