walking

 

I put my drone up over the remnants from the Old Man Fire beside the GallopingGoose Trail (GGT) in Sooke, BC.

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I was surprised to see it was a ground fire which saved the tree canopy as can be seen in these pictures.

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A subsurface forest fire, also known as a ground fire, occurs when wildfires burn beneath the surface of the earth, often in peatlands or other organic matter. These fires smolder rather than flare up, and can persist for extended periods, even through winter. They can reignite surface fires and pose hazards to humans and animal.

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This is perhaps the reasoning in keeping the GGT trail closed in this area for such an exptended period.

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N.B. The devastion at ground level is immense.

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Labels: cycled, djimini2, izip, sooke

 

Thursday morning I drove my Benz 40km (24miles) to Sooke Potholes Campground.

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With my bike firmly mounted on its bikerack and my Burley Cargo Bike Trailer on the back seat I was ready to cycle to Leechtown.

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More precicely, cycle to Kennedy Flat, located at the confluence of the Sooke and Leech River — where the 1864 Leechtown site was located.

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Nothing remains of the former gold mining town as the forest has reclaimed its own in totality (as it is wont to do).

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The kids, grandkids and great-grandkids were set up in the campground for a three-night stay.

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I had time for a short visit before heading back home in Victoria, BC.

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The forest — as it has done with Leechtown — is actively trying to reclaim Kennedy Flat as well.

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Labels: burley, leechtown, sooke

“This is where I went and this is what I saw.” Our son took me on a bike ride to Leechtown for Father's Day

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We've cycled together many times over the past sixteen years.

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The lad took quite a tumble over his handlebars due to a stick jamming his front wheel.

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The surrounding surfaces were small brush and soft understory so he survived unscathed — actually came up laughing!

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We noted Kennedy Flat (at the confluence of the Sooke and Leech rivers) is getting quite overgrown by the forest reclaiming its own.

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There's also many large logs floated hither and yon by the floodwater released from Deception Reservoir over the past winter.

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Labels: izip, leechtown, sooke

 

Saturday morning I cycled 10km roundtrip from the Sooke Potholes Campground to Leechtown at Kennedy Flat.

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CRD staff member, Janelle said I could park in one of Frank's parking spots for a couple of hours.

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The Campground will close for the season on Monday, September 11, 2023.

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Labels: izip, leechtown, sooke

 

Wednesday I cycled 17km roundtrip from the Upper Parking Lot#2 at Sooke Potholes to Kennedy Flat in Kapoor Regional Park.

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Kennedy Flat is the name given to the open area at the confluence of the Sooke and Leech rivers.

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This is my go-to place on Vancouver Island

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My dad worked for Kapoor at Kapoor Lumber Co. Ltd. at Council Creek in 1928. Dad took me to that site c.1947 and he was dismayed by how few remnants od his former labours remained. Nature always reclaims her own.

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Our neighbours bought a cabin near Olde Wolf Lake in 1972 and I drove my new, 1972 Mazda Wagon down and onto Kennedy Flat that summer. There were three other vehicles parked there as well but all were 4-wheel drive. In those days, one drove in from Shawnigan Lake Road right beside the shores of Sooke Lake.

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It saddens me to see Nature reclaiming this idilic, picnic and swimming location.

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In 1972 Kennedy Flat was an active mining site and parked there was an excavator and motor-driven, machanical, sleuce box and one gigantic hole the miners were digging in the gravel bed. We were there on a weekend and no digging was underway.

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N.B. The flat is named in honour of Vancouver Island Colonial Governor: Arthur Edward Kennedy (1809–1883) .

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Labels: ebike, leechtown, sooke

 

We drove the Benz to Saseenos to celebrate Ren's 2nd birthday then drove on to Sooke Potholes.

Labels: family, sooke

 

I drove the Benz 45km to Upper Sooke Potholes Parking lot and cycled 16km roundtrip to the Deep Pool and return.

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The old swimming hole is really getting overgrown as the forest tries to reclaim its own.

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I was home by 12:15p.m.

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Outflow VIDeO

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Labels: DelSol, leechtown, sooke

Wednesday I walked 2800m back-and-forth from Stickleback West Coast Eatery up and along past the 39km Marker on the Galloping Goose Trail

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Firstly, with wife safely seated in the Benz, I walked the 700m up to a clearing along the trail suitable for launching the drone.

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Once back at the vehicle, we drove to Sooke Village Mall where she would be more comfortable while I drove back and put the Yuneec Typhoon H up over Cooper's Cove.

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The drone camera recorded the derelict HMCS Cowichan minesweeper moored at Goodbridge Peninsula dock which was the objective of this exercise.

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We were home a little after 1:00p.m.

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A very enjoyable day out in the wilds of Sooke, BC.

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Labels: sooke, walked, yuneec

Friday we drove 45km from home to Sooke Potholes

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In the pouring rain, I rode my ebike up to the 54km Marker to photograph the raging river

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Bernice waited in the limo at the upper parking lot

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Afterward, we had fish & Chips at Mom's Cafe in Sooke

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Got some soggy GoPro video and some good camera pix

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Labels: ebike, ggt, sooke

Wednesday I cycled 17km roundtrip from Upper Parking at Sooke Potholes to the end of the trail at Leechtown.

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Rode down the hill to the Deep Pool and took lotsa pix.

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Uriah was supposed to join me but got a big mad-on for me so didn't come down from his apartment.

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We will never know if his bike fits on my bikerack with my new pedal-assist electric bike.

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It was a perfect, fall day. Bright sunshine and cool temps. Perfect!

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N.B. On my new ebike it was 30 minutes up to the gate non-stop and 20 minutes coming back from the Deep Pool. Yes!

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Labels: cycled, leechtown, sooke

Wednesday I cycled 50km roundtrip along the Galloping Goose Trail from Westshore Mall to Saseenos (almost to Sooke) and return.

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I took a photo at the grandkids new digs and then rode back the same way.

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This marks the 3rd year I've rented an ebike from Oak Bay Bikes in the shopping centre.

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It was a perfect ride on a perfect day.

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Had one-third battery left upon my return.

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Labels: cycled, ebike, sooke

We drove to Humpback Reservoir and walked a bit of the Great Trail.

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I photoed the reservoir with Bern's new LG G6 then shopped thrifty $182 and talked with Donna and Cameron
I drove to Staples and picked up the new (replacement) quadcopter which was a new drone, new camera, new battery and four new propellers
Amazing service! AND NO CHARGE ;-)

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Labels: quadcopter, sooke, walked

Thursday we walked the Galloping Goose Trail from the upper parking lot at Sooke Potholes to Todd Creek Trestle.

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The Capital Regional District (CRD) states on their website the trail in that section will be closed to users until lfurther notice.

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There is currently no work of any kind underway on the project. It was stated to us by an onsite park's, trail-worker the trestle work will not commence until the fall.

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It appears to us the delay is primarily to force northbound trail users to use the pay parking lots at sites one, two and three. This is not an issue for us as we have an annual parking pass but it will generate more income for the CRD in parking fees which will in turn defray some of the $1.2 million dollar cost of the upgrades.

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While on site -- and no one was around -- I put the hexacopter in flight from #3 parking lot and shot some video of the area.

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On the way out to the potholes we stopped in at John's place and learned he sold the waterfront spread due to his health issues.

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After we left the potholes, we stopped in at Doug's spread beside Sooke River (at the flats) and invited him to join us for fish&chips at Mom's Cafe in Sooke. Doug is 91yrs now and can still spin a good yarn. If you get my meanin'.

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Labels: ggt, hexacopter, sooke, walked

Friday, my grandson and I cycled 18km roundtrip along the Galloping Goose Trail (GGT) in Sooke.

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We started at Sooke Potholes Upper Parking lot and rode to the end of the trail at the Victoria Water District's gate at the 57km location on the GGT.

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After we backtracked to the first red gate (on the east side) we rode down the opposite side of the trail to the Deep Pool for lunch.

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I've been riding or walking up here for over a decade but this was our grandson's first time.

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What a perfect day! Good riding buddy, good lunch and great weather: 21°C (70°F) under clear, sunny skies.

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Equally importantly -- no bears

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Labels: cycled, leechtown, 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.

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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.

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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.

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On the inbound leg, I took a picture at Glen Lake.

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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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Labels: cycled, langford, sooke

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

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

Monday we walked about 4km along the Galloping Goose Regional Trail (GGT) from the CRD Campground to the 53km Marker. it's only 1.5km from the northern end of the Spring Salmon Place Campground but we did a bit of exploring as well. The access trail between the GGT and the campground is at the 51.5km location.

The Spring Salmon Place Campground operates seasonally each summer on a first-come, first-served basis. No online or phone reservations. Open Friday, May 12 to Monday, September 18, 2017. The 67-site RV and tent campground is located at the north end of Sooke Potholes Regional Park and adjacent to the Galloping Goose Regional Trail (GGT). The campground is a local favorite on Vancouver Island and offers a high quality, self-contained wilderness camping experience at $25 per day ($19USD).

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We picked up a Subway sandwich at their Colwood store which we ate at the picnic table beside the Albert Yuen site. The fenced area here is the site of the former, luxury, getaway-resort Albert Yuen started building in 1982. To be named, Deer Trail Resort, it was touted as a $50 million development that would provide employment for 150.

In 2004, after a series of changes in plans and zoning, and financing issues, the property was acquired by The Land Conservancy and the Capital Regional District as parkland, and the Yuen dream came crashing to an end. Partial dismantling of the lodge structure followed and today little remains but stonework. For the curious sightseers of today – no, it is not the ruins of an old castle – but perhaps more accurately the ruins of one man’s dream.

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Deer Trail Lodge site is located at the 47.7km distance along the GGT
GPS Coordinates Albert Yuen site: N48°26.235', W123°42.994'

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Labels: ggt, sooke, walked

Monday we took the Capital Regional District's (CRD) annual watershed tour. We've taken it in past years but its amenities have been scaled back considerably. No more air-conditioned tour buses; no more tents at the dam-site and no more chairs at the dam-site.

The tents protected passengers from the elements while eating lunch and the chairs were to sit on while eating lunch. No more. Not a tent nor chair to be found.

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But, the price remains the same: Free. "You get what you pay for," is the new credo.

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Today's photo is of Doug MacFarlane, local historian extraordinaire. Doug -- like ourselves -- has taken the CRD Watershed tour before but we have not met while doing so. We have, however, met Doug on a few occasions while requesting historical, Vancouver Island information

Labels: crd, sooke, walked, watershed

Thursday we walked 6200m (4miles) roundtrip from the Trailer Park parking lot beside Sooke River Road along the Galloping goose Regional Trail (GGT) to Todd Trestle.

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We went to check the 27.8 milepost location along the former Canadian National Railway (CNR). The photos was taken in 1985 and showed the initial removal of tracking at that point to commence the construction of the railtrail.

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So, with photo in hand we set to find the location which I had already estimated to be at the present day 46km Marker along the GGT. I was right.

Labels: ggt, sooke, walked