Women's Walking Group

Monday - May 30, 2016.

Women's Walking Group  --  Photos and some text complements Doreen Parker. - DeNNis.

We had a very peaceful walk at beautiful Spectacle Lake.  Thank you Lynn for driving.

Lots of wildflowers.  Some unidentified.

Beautiful lake reflections.

Daisies.

A pleasant way to spend part of the day.

A dimpled mirror image.

Orange Columbines.

Big yellow berries of some kind.

Edible or not?

Ocean spray or creambush?

Starflower maybe?  Where is Vera when we need her flower knowledge?

Why is this deadfall such a red colour?

Men's Walking Group

It was a great day for a tough 7KM hike up to the Split Rock on Mount Tzouhalem.   Next week will be road trip for a 10KM walk without hills around Elk/Beaver Lake followed by Lunch at the Crooked Goose Bistro on corner of Wilkinson & Interurban Road.  ---  Brook

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Perfect weather for a little climb up to "Split Rock" on Mt Tzouhalem today.  What more need I say?   ---   DeNNis.

Parked cars at Providence Farm (top left).  Stopped at the portable sawmill on the way back down for a little demonstration.  This map also shows the trail to the Tzouhalem Cross.

Providence Farm Tin Man.

 

Arriving at Split Rock.  It is easy to walk right past

as this large tree hides the split until you pass it.

You have to walk through single file.

Just room for one pair of feet at a time.

Looking through from the other side of the rock.

 

 

Time to go back now that we are all together again.

This rock looks like it could roll onto the path at any time.

The trail UP must go back DOWN.

The portable sawmill uses a band saw type blade.

The operator gives us a demonstration of the saw at work.

It makes a very clean straight cut.  The wood comes from

trees that were blown down.  Providence Farm will use the

lumber to make furniture, etc.

Looks like a bumper Blackberry crop coming up.

 

Men's Walking Group

Good 7KM walk for the 5 of us on the trail behind the Legion.  Next week plan is to hike up to the split rock on Mount Tzouhalem.  --- Brook

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A little cooler today but nice walking weather.  An enjoyable walk behind the Legion with coffee at the Shawnigan Coffee House as we wound down.    ---    DeNNis.

 

Very messy map - a lot of older traces including "as the crow flies".  Stick to the Yellow Brick Rd in a counter clockwise direction from the Legion.

"Hurricane Hydro?"  Looks like Hydro has been clearing

their access roads.

Horses wondering where we have been  -  haven't done this

walk for quite some time.

Quite a few daisies.  Found this little critter on this one.

Also wild (Nootka Roses - according to "Plants of Coastal British

Columbia").

The Bee is back on the sign.

Always nice to see the old log fences.

Lupins.

Reflections at William Rivers Community Park.

Really???

Really - residents looking for privacy?

Beside Shawnigan Museum - a directional sign to

wherever you wish to go.

Women's Walking Group

Monday, May 16, 2016. 
Women's  Walk to Cowichan Bay Estuary.
Photos and text complements of Doreen Parker.

Six ladies enjoyed a 5K beautiful walk to the Cowichan Estuary.  It was a lovely mild day and a very enjoyable walk.  We gathered some shells and other artifacts along the beach.

Thank you Lynn for doing the driving, much appreciated

California Poppies

Don't know what this tree is...lots of cherries trees out with

little green berries.

Lots of wild roses.

Short stop on railroad tracks.

Sign and neat logs.

Flowers growing in the sand.

Dianne is in love.

A nice deserved rest stop.

Heading home, a nice long walk ending.

Men's Walking Group

Nice day for the 8 of us to walk the 5KM on the Cowichan Bay Estuary followed by coffee at the Drum Roaster at Valley View.  Thanks to Denis and Ken for driving.  Next week plan is to walk the old favorite trail behind the Legion and along the power lines. --- Brook

Men's Walking Group

Map and photos of todays walk at the Cowichan Bay Estuary.  A little cooler and a little shorter.  Company and coffee were great.   ---   DeNNis.

Parked cars off Cowichan Bay Rd across from the Lawn Bowling Park.  Walked down Westcan Terminal Rd and the adjacent railbed trail to the new bridge which was constructed about one year ago where we chatted with a "Birder" who was monitoring the new bird houses.

Old bridge still closed off pending repairs.

Wild (Nootka) roses line the bank in places.

Pastoral farm scene.

Wild Nootka Rose.

Looking across part of the Estuary.

Natures art - where does the reflection start?

Condos or Town Houses???

Recent bridge built, with dredging to allow water flow

between areas of the Estuary.

"Real Estate boom!

Cowichan Bay village from the Estuary.

Monitoring the new bird neighborhood.

California Poppies along parts of the Estuary.