September 26, 2016

Women's Walking Group

Photos and comments complements Doreen Parker.


Two ladies walked Shawnigan Lake area on a lovely sunny day.
Doreen at the little park across from the firehall.  Just
leaving on our walk.

Helen posing at Shawnigan Lake.

Helen and Doreen with beautiful lake background.

Helen fixing the fence she knocked over and had to put the
apple in her mouth.

Helen by the fence with the old bicycle.

Helen and Doreen decided to try a "selfie".

Men's Walking Group

Nice trek for the 10 of us up to the Rat Lake Hydro lines.  Next week will be our road trip to Ladysmith for the walk up to Holland Creek.  Plan is lunch at the Fox & Hounds Pub. --- Brook


Cool to start - warming up in the sun - a good day for an easy stroll up to Rat Lake and back via the Power Line.  Followed by coffee at the Shawnigan Coffee House.  ---  DeNNis.

Parked at the end of Fern Ridge Cr. and up the trail to the Bamberton Haul Rd.  Stopped at Rat Lake long enough to check it out, then up one of the Bamberton Motorized Trails to the Hydro Power Line.  A pleasant Monday jaunt.




We speedy walkers had to wait for the stragglers to catch up.

Looking out by the picnic table.  Lots of Lily Pads.





Zoomed in on a Butterfly Bush showing off a flower cluster.

A lonely Lily Pad flower still in bloom.

Did a bear do this(?) sharpening up his claws??

A long trail ahead.

Wildlife spotted on our last walk here - June 20/2016.

Todays sighting - people and dogs.

The others took the Low Road,


While I took the High Road.

Quite a lean on this tree.  Just about back at the cars.

The Women's Walking Group following us?  Looking for coffee?


September 19, 2016

Men's Walking Group

A good 6Km trek for the 8 of us around Shawnigan Village with Coffee at the Shawnigan House.  Next week we will walk the Rat Lake Hydro Line starting from Fern Ridge Drive.  -- Brook

 

Escaped most of the rain today - it just teased us as we started.  An interesting repeat of a walk we did 370 days ago (Sep. 14-2015).  Not much has changed and not many real photo ops.  --  DeNNis.

Follow the blue trace from the Legion clockwise.  The interesting part is in the loop (top right),
but hidden in the trees.

Umbrellas to start, but jackets off by the time we finished.

This old, abandoned tank must be about 6 feet in diameter.

Part of the "driveway".

Just a few of the vehicles that were saved for restoration or ???

More fuel to arouse our curiosity.  An interesting area.

A nice sit-me-down,  but a little damp today.

On a brighter note - Coffee Time at Shawnigan Coffee House.

Some new art work over our usual table.


September 13, 2016

Men's Walking Group

It was a great day for the 10 of us to climb up Cobble Mountain for spectacular views of South Cowichan.  After the 8Km trek lunch was at the Cobblestone Pub.  Next week will be a Shawnigan area walk around Elford Road.  --  Brook.

 

The summer is holding on perfectly for our walks.  Excellent weather and great company for a leisurely jaunt up Cobble Hill Mountain.  --  DeNNis.


Lots of twists turns and switchbacks, especially on the way up.  Follow the arrows counter-clockwise from the Cobble Hill off-leash dog park.  On the summit of Cobble Hill (top left)
the number 1 is the viewpoint looking east over Cobble Hill and the Saanich Peninsula,  the
number 2 is looking west down to the large farm near the Bamberton Quarry, and the number
3 is looking northward toward the Duncan area.  The orange-white trace denotes motorized
vehicle trails.  The elevation change from where we started to the top of Cobble Hill is about
220 meters.

On the way up.

Nice wide level trail (in places).

Time for a rest break, then onward and upward.





Looking to the east over Cobble Hill Village.  If you squint,
just between the centre-top and the hanging branches, you  
can see Mt. Baker on the horizon.

Lookin west down towards the farm near the Quarry.

Some "Seniors" taking in the view from the top.

Some pretty steep slopes on the way back down.


Near the bottom - the gathering place for the dogs.

Last, but not least, the old whatever.

 


September 5, 2016

Men's Walking Group

It was a great day for the 9 of us to walk the 9Km crossing Shawnigan Creek in 4 different locations.  Stopped at a farm on Wilkinson Road to view a crop of Elderberries covered by netting as last year a flock of starlings devoured the crop of berries.  Next week will be a visit to Cobble Hill mountain to take the easy route to the summit followed by lunch at the Cobblestone Pub.  -- Brook

 

"No rain Monday again."

Great weather for what Brook calls the "modified Wilkinson Rd walk."

Lots of photos - here are just some of them.   ---   DeNNis.

Parked behind Tim Hortons (right side near top).  Follow the "Yellow Brick Road" counter -clockwise from there.  Hopefully it is fairly self explanatory.

The Stone Bridge - about half way between Tim Hortons and
Shawnigan-Mill Bay Rd.  Lots of moss growing on it.



Shawnigan Creek below bridge on Shawnigan Mill Bay Rd.
Very little water in there at this time.

Shawnigan Creek near Kerry Park Rec. Center.  The water
level is extremely low.

Nature Art.



Action going on at the Tennis Courts behind Kerry Park Rec Ctr.



Bridge behind Kerry Pk Rec Ctr near Wilkinson Rd.



Seen in a driveway off Wilkinson Rd.





Yes - It's getting close to Thanksgiving you "Turkeys".



Feeding apples to the horses.







The fish catching area on Shawnigan Creek near Brentwood
School.  It is 95 to 100 stair steps each way up and down.
Plenty of exercise for one day.




Fish are put into containers and winched up
to the top for transportation up
Shawnigan Creek.

On the way back up.

Malahat Masonic Lodge Nr. 107.