Bravehearts Cycling Group Saturday, February 14 2026 was a 37km loop to Millstream Cafe.
The weather was a balmy 5°C under clear, sunny skies for 12 riders.
This was the first time a distaff member named Ann joined the group of men.
The Lochside Trail route was an obvious choice as Millstream Cafe is located adjacent to the Lochside Trail at the 18km location.
My total distance was 43km as it's a 6km ride from my home to the Switch Bridge.
After three (3) consecutive Saturdays of rain it was an added bonus to ride undr sunny skies.
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.
The morning of February 5 2026, I took a short ride thru University of Victoria to Gyro Park.
The weather was clear and sunny but at 11°C (52°F.) it's still cool at 22km/hr on a bike.
A first for me was not being able to cycle down the single-track to Hobbs Rd.
Parts of the trail had mud three-inches deep in the middle so walking became mandatory Relive GPS Track
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.
Saturday morning Bravehearts Cycling Group was lead by Darryl.
We took off NE bound along the Lochside Trail to Blenkinsop Greenway then picked up along the San Juan Greenway to Arbutus Cove park.
From there it was SW bound via Arbutus Road to Sincliar Rd. in Cadboro Bay Village.
Up we went along Sinclair Rd. to McKenzie and Lee's House Restaurant on Shelbourne St.
After lunch, I headed the one kilometre distance to home.
The Bravehearts returned to the Switch Bridge (SB) for a 29km loop while my loop was 24km.
My morning's ride atarted at 8;30am when heading over t visit my wife in teh carehome which is located just 400m from the SB.
The day before I bought a pair of heated gloves for $134 bucks but stil my fingers got cold.
It was zero 0°C during this early ride but then warmed up by 10am to 4° for teh group's ride.
Maybe I'll keep the gloves or maybe not. Probably no heated gloves keep the fingertips warm.
Note to Bravehearts Cycling Group (BCG) on WhatsApp"The Heights at Mt. View (HMV) long-term care-home is located 400m NW from the Switch Bridge(SB) and my plan for Saturday is to visit my wife of some 45yrs there before arriving at SB before 10am. I hope it all goes according to this plan."So that's how my day started at 8am as I setup for my 6km bike ride to HMV.
As noted HMV is only 400m from the SB which is BCGs rallying location each Saturday morning at 10am.
Derryl was our team leader today as 13 riders took off northbound along the Lochside Trail.
The first stop along our 19km was atop Mt. Tolmie that provided many good photo-ops on this severe-clear morning. The distant Coast Mountain Range (Mt. Baker) to the east and the Olympic Mountians to the south (Mt. Angeles; Bogachiel Ridge and Mt. Olympus) were the highlights.
Our ride ended at the Univeristy of Victoria's Cove Food Services: Built with one of the largest Passive House kitchens in North America, this brand new carbon neutral dining facility features a 700 person seating capacity across two levels with an open concept, food court. There was plenty of room for all Brvehearts and the undreds of students alrady using the space.
Wednesday morning I cycled a 27km loop to Victoria General Hospital (VGH) then on to Sannich Commonwealth Place (SCP).
My guitar buddy is in VGH with serious heart problems
His wife Marg and son Don Jr. were there so we got to talk.
Marg says the prognosis is not good.
I then rode the on-again-off-again, dedicated bikes lanes along Wilkinson Rd. to SCP.
Three Bravehearts Cycling Group member were three and Nurse Sandy gave us a tour of the exercise facilities.
I'm a morning type guy so rode straight home by 11:30am then I drove back for the 1:30pm meeting.
Bravehearts Cycling Group members numbered 15 souls who gathered at the Switch Bridge Saturday morning at 10am.
The skies were overcast but at 7°C and no rain not a complaint was uttered.
Bravehearts Cycling Group (BCG) is an eclectic mix of aging gentlemen (mostly retirees) who enjoy cycling more with others than by themselves.
Each week, an original, group member appoints himself leader for that day's ride and off they go in single file.
Sometimes the location allows tandem riding and scintillating conversations have been known to occur.
A meaningful part of each ride is the break; usually, per-selected by the ride leader and with sufficient seating for the group's numbers.
The day's ride was led by Ken and he chose the Coffee House at Shoal Point for snacks, coffee, soup and conversation.
The distance covered on this day's ride was 26km. Living 6km away from the Switch Bridge brought this riders distance to 38km. Just right for an 89yr old ebike rider.
Saturday morning I cycled a 26km loop from home out wet to Esquimalt and return.
A cycling group meet every Saturday at 10am at the Switch Bridge.
The group appears to vary in numbers from a few to 16 riders — mostly men.
This day we were four riders all on ebikes.
Once the three regular members decided where the ride ma ytake us we took off to Downtown Victoria.
We stopped at Marina Bay Cafe near West Bay Marina in Esquimalt for a snack.
I finished my ride off at the Heights at Mt.View (HMV) visiting my wife at noon.
HMV is located some 500m from the Switch Bridge from where we started.
A.W. McMorran & Elizabeth (nee Whittaker) McMorran and daughter Doreen
RBC McMorran/Elizabeth/Whittaker 48°24'42.33"N 123°20'17.23"W
McMorran Elizabeth Whittaker (Wallace McMorrran) Engraved: McMorran Elizabeth Whittaker
Write a short report on the part Wallace McMorran played as manger of the Gang Ranch 1921-25 in British Columbia
Alexander Wallace McMorran:
The Gang Ranch is located 45km northwest from Clinton, BC. In the 1920s it covered 1.3 million acres (526,000 hectares)
During the early 1920s, the Gang Ranch — the largest and most storied cattle operations in North America — was in a period of consolidation following significant ownership and organizational changes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Within this context, Wallace McMorran served as ranch manager between 1921 and 1944, overseeing day-to-day operations at a time when large ranches were adapting to postwar economic fluctuations, evolving labor conditions, and modernizing expectations for livestock management
Wallace's wife, Elizabeth (nee Whittaker) was the daughter of Samuel & Christina (nee Irvine) Whittaker and Sam served as taxidermist at the British Columbia Museum in Victoria BC circa 1895. All the stuffed animals seen in the museum after that date — bears, cougars, deer and birds — were Sam's creations.
Remembrance Day I cycled a 23km roundtrip to The Nest and back.
The Nest is located at the 9.5km location beside the Galloping Goose Goose Regional Trail (GGT)
My sister and bro-inlaw live just another 500m beyond so I rode out to see them after downing my bowl of soup.
Both are looking well and are hail and hearty (not hardy).
It sure was cold for me cycling at 25km/hr. The temp was 9°C but in my (achalasia) condition I froze.
The friendly Nest staff gave me a mug of hot water to wrap my hands around and warm them up.
Monday I cycled iZip Pro on a 15.6km loop to our kids place in Oak Bay
My circuitous route took me firstly to Cadboro Bay Gyro Park then along the promenade at Willows Beach
The kids invited me in for some scintillating conversation and moral support.
Ben led me and my ride into their underground parking for security of my chattels.
My inbound route was more direct: up Oak Bay Avenue to Foul Bay Road to the University of Victoria and home.
Bravehearts Cycling Group Saturday, February 14 2026 was a 37km loop to Millstream Cafe.
Saturday morning we had another ride-in-the-rain with Bravehearts Cycling Group.
The morning of February 5 2026, I took a short ride thru University of Victoria to Gyro Park.
Saturday morning at 10am the Bravehearts met at the Switch Bridge (SB)
