Men's Walking Group

Looks like great weather for a stroll along the waterfront at Duke/Jack Point.  Eleven of us did the Duke/Jack Point walk - about 7 Km.  Then we retired to the Crow & Gate Pub for a delicious lunch where we were joined by Denis Lainchbury and Bill Cairns.  A good time was had by all.  Map and photos below.  --  DeNNis.

Started at the parking lot (bottom right).  At the Jack Point light end we did a counter-clockwise loop and headed back to the cars.

Dan got his exercise

before we even got

going.  Had to run 

back to his truck, then

catch up to the rest of 

us.

                                                                                                                         

Up the first set of stairs.

The faux petroglyph.

Lots of "cranky" trees on the trail.

Also lots of unique sights and rock formations.

The ducks quacking about the weird-o walkers.

Second set of stairs - not too tough to take.

Looking across to downtown Nanaimo.

The area had its share of wind damage.

Third and longest stairway -- 63 steps.

And still a bit of climbing.

BC Ferries Duke Point employee parking.

Unique walk way - tree rounds set on end into the ground

to keep us out of the mud.

Seaspan Ferry alongside Gabriola Island.

BC Ferry rounding the north end of Gabriola Island.

Jack Point Light and BC Ferry to the right.

Cormorant primping on Jack

Point Light.

Jack Point Light with Seaspan Ferry rounding Gabriola.

More rock formations.

63 steps back down.

Caught this guy in passing - doing what he Otter, I guess.

Last we saw of him.

Someone has been clearing the trail.

Thought this looked kind of scenic.

More "cranky" trees.

This old carving needs some TLC.

Through the tunnel, back to the cars.

A newer stone carving at the parking lot.

"Barley" sandwiches to start our lunch at the Crow & Gate.

Men's Walking Group

Fourteen of us walked about 7 Km today behind the Legion along a couple of bush trails and the Bamberton-Haul Road.  Temperature when we started was very close to zero degrees.  Bought coffee at the Shawnigan Coffee House and drank it across the street where it was warmer.  Map and photos below.  --  DeNNis.

We walked from the Legion (bottom right) in a clockwise path down to the Bambeton-Haul Rd, to the far end (bottom left), back to the other end (top right) and back up to the Legion.

Off we go down behind the Legion.

Fortunately some kind souls put these little boardwalks over

some of the areas that tend to get wet.

Some art work (painted rocks)

put into the woodpecker holes.

The marker for a trail we used to

take down into the gulley.

I called it "Fern Hollow".

This display has been here for 2 or 3 years or more.

Someone has been taking good care of it.

What is left of some of the old Mountain Bike trail structure.

Looks like a large tree fell over the trail here.  Probably during

the recent wind storm.

Reflections.

From where we came.

The Bamberton-Haul Rd stops here at Shawnigan Creek.

It resumes on the other side.  It is fenced for safety reasons.

Missed a couple of good shots of the Llama and Alpacas here

due to a dead camera battery.

Time to turn and head back the other way.

Shadows ahead ---

-- and behind us.

Looking up under one of the power line towers.

The horse usually comes for a handful of grass but he 

decided to skip it today.

Natures paint brush coloured the grass.

Some ones unique idea to keep our feet dry.

Some one decorated this tree a few

years back but failed to undecorate

after Christmas.

Another tree addition (up close

below).

Back where we started.  Another new walker on the right  --

Dan has joined our walking group.

Men's Walking Group

A cool, frosty morning.  Had to watch our step as some streets were quite slippery.  Fourteen of us walked about 7 Km today before a warm up stop at Tim Hortons.  Map and photos below.  --  DeNNis.

Parked the cars on Deloume Rd above Tim Hortons (top).  Walked down through Mill Bay Center, up Partridge Rd, over to and up Frayne Rd where we did a counter-clockwise loop to check out the latest phase of Mill Springs, then back down to Deloume and Tim's for coffee.

On Partridge Rd heading to the path over to Sea View.  In front

is Bill, a new walker who joined the group today.

Down the path to Sea View Rd.

The water wheel which marks the border between Deer Park and

Mill Springs.  There is a carving depicting the water wheel in the

YSAG room at the Malahat Legion.

Always have to get some photos of this yard on the way past.

Rest stop to check out progress of latest phase of Mill Springs.

Mother Nature has been at it again.

Interesting cloud formation.

This unique tree makes an interesting photo.

A steep switchback in the trail.

Even on a cool day it is a beautiful walk.

One of those trees growing over the

stump.

Brentwood playing field on Deloume  Rd.  The sun has only

melted the frost on one side of the field.

Must be coffee time after an enjoyable walk!