walking

 

Saturday morning at 10am 12 restless, Bravehearts rider left the Swith Bridge for Shoal Point Cafe.

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Bravehearts always take a curcuitous route so headed NW on the Galloping Goose Trail to Atkins Station

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From there it was inbound along the E&N Rail Trail lead by Kevin

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A simple and effective, enjoyable route

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Outdoor seating allowed for enjoyment of the nice weather

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Some friends of friends joined the group today which added to the scintillating conversations

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Labels: bravehearts, downtown, izip

 

Thursday August 20 Bill took a 36km loop ride around Victoria, BC — his home for some 89yrs+5months.

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You know you're having a good day riding when you meet Kevin out cycling at Jutland Rd. at Gorge Rd. E.

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Rode by Finn's Seafood Restaurant on Wharf St. then Fisheman's Wharf

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This ride took me by HMCS Malahat (closed) then Ogden Point and the Victoria Seaside Biking Route

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Then, after picking up a piece of cod fish from Estevan Galley, you meet up with Bruce&Frances at Willows Beach

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A good day.

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Labels: downtown, izip, pedelecs

 

I still walk but my 'walking' blog turned into a 'cycling' blog January 3, 2026

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That was when the Bravehearts Cycling Group added a new member (me) to their roster

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The new member has not missed a Saturday ride since that fateful day — the day that turned his life around.

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His wife of some 45yrs went into a longterm carehome three-months prior; thus, leaving him living by himself in over 65yrs.

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Bravehearts Cycling Group is a godsend to Bill and he really appreciates being accepted into a group of such fine individuals (some doctors, some lawyers and even a candlestick maker!).

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Getting back to today's walk: about 2km up Broadmead/Varsity Place to Finnerty Gardens and return.

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Labels: finnerty, uvic, walked

 

Bravehearts Followed Jonathan 8/15/26
 

Saturday, August 15th 2026 nine Bravehearts set out from the Switch Bridge at 10am lead by Jonathan

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The goal was to end up at Fantastico bar-deli on Harbour Rd. for coffee at noon

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This rider did not Resume his Relive App so no GPX track was made of the route

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Jon's circuitous route started out along the Galloping Goose Trail (GGT) and into the Inland Interurban Trail

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This trail is also referred to as the Colquitz Creek Trail

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A left turn at Roy Rd. took the group to Hastings St. where a gaggle (30-45) of cyclists participating in the Ryder Hesjedal's Tour de Victoria charity ride interrupted their momentum.

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After that came the DH at Eaton Ave and past Stancil Lane (which gives direct access to Welland Legacy Park — no stop was made)

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With the group now back onto the GGT it was out to Atkins Station then inbound onthe E&N Rail Trail to Harbour Rd.

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Thanks again to Jon for leading Bravehearts on another fun ride.

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Labels: bravehearts, izip, viewroyal

 

Completed Bravehearts Chemainus to Ladysmith Bikeway 8/8/26
below Solo Ride:
Cycling 8.6km Chemainus to Ladysmith 7/20/26
Saturday August 8th six Bravehearts drove bikes-on=vehicles to Chemainus, BC.

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They cycled 27km roundtrip approximately 9km of Cowichan Valley Trail then 4km City of Ladysmith bike routes and roads.

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Ken lead his group to La Costa Restaurant at Oyster Bay at its eponymous bay.

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Arriving exactly at noon made the lunch decision a no-brainer with spaghetti&muscles the special-of-day at $27 bucks

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All six ordered the special but La Costa would not give a volume-discount!

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What a great ride! It's a one- hour drive for a short ride but well worth it.

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Labels: bravehearts, chemainus, izip

Three Bravehearts Cycle Galloping Goose Trail End2End 8/5/26
 

Wednesday morning I cycled old iZip up to Grant's home above Cadboro Bay

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He and Janice and I with two bikes in the back of the pickup drove to Bruce's home on Belleville St.

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Grant drove us to Sooke Potholes 49km Marker parking lot

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From there three cycled up to the end of the Galloping Goose Trail (GGT) at the 57km mark while Janice drove their unit home

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Many of the sites (and sights) were new to Bruce but Grant had binderdundat for the most part

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We had a great ride and made it 65km back to Victoria in time to join out Bravehearts' mates for coffee at Sol Food in Selkirk Landing before 2pm.

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BTW The discrepancy between the posted 57km from the trail signage and what we posted at 65km is due (in part) to the GGT detour at Selkirk Trestle. Another factor is no two GPS tracking devices measure the same distances. 

Our total day ride was 78km

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Labels: bravehearts, ggt, izip, leechtown

 

Bravehearts Cycle Saanich Peninsula 8/1/26
 

Updated Info: Lochside Trail thru Saanich Municipal Hall parking lot/ Douglas St. to Ralph St./ McKenzie Overpass to cross Quadra St. onto Chatterton Way to left onto Royal Oak Ave. to the tunnel under Hwy-17/ West Saanich Rd. NW to Pipeline Rd. and traverse Elk/Beaver Lake Park Trail to Bear Hill Rd. past Odyssey Ln. and Wakashan Pl. (left turn) west to Oldfield Rd. across Keating Cross Rd. Seabrook Rd. to cross Stelly's Cross Rd. to right onto White Rd. then left onto Veyaness Rd. to East Saanich Rd. to right onto Mount Newton Cross Rd. to cross Hwy-17 on the Mt. Newton overpass, left onto Lochside Drive and Marigold Cafe.

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Labels: bravehearts, izip47km

 

Labels: bravehearts, cycled, izip

 

E&N Railway Rail railbike okotok

s Cycling Malahat Great Trail to Goldstream Heights 7/24/26

 
Friday, July 24 2026 I drove the wife's Honda with bike attached Mt. Wells parking lot.

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From here I cycled about 12km to Trail Way Rd. located in Goldstream Heights on Vancouver Island

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I've cycled all section of the Great Trail both ways in the past which includes this southernmost section

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All went well and their were lots of other outdoor enthusiasts along the way.

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The biggest surprise for me was just 2km in when seeing the E&N Railway gate blocking the tracks is now unlocked.

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After building a railbike for myself in 2024 this was the end of the line for me. Now maybe I can finally get to Niagara Canyon by rail!

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Labels: Great Trail, izip, langford

 

Cycling 8.6km Chemainus to Ladysmith 7/20/26  

Monday at 9:15am the Honda with bike attached left Victoria for Chemainus BC.

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One hour later said vehicle turned of Hwy-1 onto Henry Rd.for the Chemainus Golf Course (CGC) parking lot.

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CGC has the most abundant parking places near the Chemainus-Ladysmith trailhead

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Technically this trail is named the Cowichan Valley Trail (CVT) which begs the question: Why are most trails on Vancouver Island named the Cowichan Valley Trail?

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Having said all this about all that, it was surprisingly interesting and well -maintained 8.6km section to N.Watts Rd.

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Yes. Cycling by oneself gave time to take pictures-to-prove-it anywhere along the route.

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Labels: chemainus, izip, pedelecs

 

Bravehearts 7/18/26 Cycling 29km

Bravehearts Leader, Ken, did just that Saturday morning 7/18/26

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Ken knows where every park path and connector is on Southern Vancouver Island but he won't say so.

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He quietly goes about leading his group of some12-16 Bravehearts every Saturday morning on the most interesting rides.

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July 18th's ride started from the Swith Bridge (SB) heading northwest along the Galloping Goose Trail (GGT) to Belgrave Rd.

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Then a righhand turn onto Burnside w. Rd. then left onto Cardie Crt. and a cul-de-sac connector to South Valley Drv.

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S.Valley Drv. though South Valley Park with a left onto Hatfield Rd. Xing Wilkinson Rd.to Santa Rosa Ave.

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Once through Rosedale park it's a righhand onto Blueridge Rd. then right onto Holland Ave.

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After a left onto Granville Ave./left to Burnside W. Rd. the nright onto Eaton Ave and the GGT to Hwy-1 overpass.

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Hwy-1 to Admirals Rd. the left onto Colquits Ave. Gorge Rd. W. then right ontoTillicum Rd.

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Tillicum to left onto Selkirk Ave. and though Banfield Park then left onto Raynor Ave.

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Raynor Ave. turn into Regatta Landing that join the GGT which leads into downtown Victoria.

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Labels: bravehearts, izip, saanich

 

Bravehearts Cycle to Lake Cowichan 7/11/26
Saturday, 7/11/26 Bill (me) cycled the 65km (40mile) loop connecting Duncan, BC with Lake Cowichan

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There are two trails connecting these cities: Trans Canada Trail (TCT) on the southdide of the Cowichan River and the Cowichan Valley Trail (CVT) on the northside. The TCT is the former Canadian National Railway (CNR) and the CVT is the former Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR).

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Six Bravehearts riders and three Duncan riders left Glenora Trailhead a 11am heading westbound.

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Seven members took a long break at one of the bridges so Bruce and Bill carried on to Lake Cowichan.

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Bill gave Bruce a tour of the town — since he's been associated with it since 1952 — and Bruce bought the lunch.

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Bill left Bruce at Duncan and took Indian Rd. up to Tidewater Trail and the Trans CanadaTrail (TCT) back to Glenora.

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Bruce had his girl friend drop him off at Glenora and she drove back to Duncan to wait.

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With certain dalays we thought we were behind our times and this was confirmed when Frances phoned Bruce along the trail inbound to Duncan.

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Bill didn't want to waste any more time because he had the longest distance to go.

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Labels: bravehearts, cowichan, duncan, izip

July 4 2026 Relive GPS Route 

 Saturday July 4th 11 Bravehearts left the Switch Bridge at 10:10am for a break at Mattick's Farm Cafe.

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As is his habit, our leader Ken, led us on another interesting, circuitous route through View Royal and Saanich

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We went 28km from SB out and around Elk/Beaver Lake Trail then inbound along the Lockside Trail.

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Bravehearts crossed Hwy-17 at Sayward Rd. and connected Lochside at Hunt Rd.

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Labels: bravehearts, elk/beaver lake regional park, izip

 

Walking Thetis Lake Phelps Trail 7/3/26  

Sunday 7/3/26 I walked 2400m roundtrip in Thetis Lake Park

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This Phelps Trail section is short but with many, gruelling, steep hills.

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The overall gain is when outbound from the parking lot.

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Labels: thetis, walked