still hiking....

Hello out there to those who are following the hiking adventure. Blogspot is refusing to allow the loading of any photos. Since I think this blog is nothing without the photos of this gorgeous island, I will be working on fixing this technical difficulty as soon as possible. It could be that I may have to switch blog hosts. We are still hiking every week and taking our photos in the hope that we will be up and running again soon. In the meantime,  check out the blogs of our two beautiful and talented daughters.
http://spherestamper.blogspot.com
http://catasaurusrex.tumblr.com

Strawberry 'hike" 28/24 weeks

We are pretty proud of our bounty.

Dan's professional signage warning us to stay out of the raspberries.

This is the week that we decided this blog should be less about hikes and more about just getting out and enjoying the area. Our original intention with the blog was to do this each weekend without fail. So this Sunday we thought we would park our car and 'hike' in to the fields to pick our yearly supply of strawberries. Little did we realize that it was actually a pretty long and hot hike to the berry fields.

We pick at Dan's Country Market because they are pretty consistent about making their fields available to pickers. They are also pest managed, if not organic. The trick is to get yourself far enough into the fields to find the best, fattest, juiciest and reddest berries. This field is at the foot of Bear Hill, from weeks number 2 and 22. I love the area so much that I kept pausing to look over at my beloved Hill, mainly because I simply can't believe we live in such a beautiful place.
This outing made me especially miss our oldest daughter who is in France this summer. This was the U Pick field we came to when we first immigrated to Canada and Hillary was always with us for a strawberry picking adventure. Now that we have introduced Hannah to our summer Mecca we anticipate her joining us whenever we go.

Bear Hill doesn't look very big from here...

Hannah showing off an enormous berry that she will probably eat before we get back for the weighing. That is the beauty of U Pick.

Our collective effort yielded approximately 40 pounds of berries.

Durrance Lake night hike 27/25 weeks

The only picture of the two of us that came out...Mark thinks it perfectly sums up our adventure.

We had such a busy weekend planned that our hiking time has been seriously compromised for our 27th outing. Mark and I hosted a massage booth at the 2010 Pridefest and we knew that would have us gone all day. I was invited by Mark on a date night to watch the third Twilight movie; Eclipse on Saturday night and I wasn't going to let hiking interfere with that. We decided to try something different and go on a night hike.

We chose the path around Durrance Lake because it is close to our home and a short hike. If you remember the blog from week 9, the Durrance Lake loop is half woods and half lake path. We began at the trail into the woods as it was getting darker fast and we wanted the most level portion to be the part in complete darkness.

Let me start by saying that I have a very vivid imagination. I have read all of Stephen King's novels and I have seen many, many scary movies. I can not say that I recommend a night in the dark woods after seeing a vampire/werewolf film. I had a flashlight but in a lot of ways that just made it worse. I kept asking myself what I would do if a person, monster or thing loomed into the light of my lamp. This is not a good place for the mind to go in the dark. I kept fighting down the urge to completely run into the opposite direction.

This is the view from the dam on the south side of the lake.

In fact, the only two things that kept me from bolting was the dark terrain and my fear of falling coupled with the amount of teasing and laughter I would have to endure from Mark. I simply reminded myself that this was my idea and swallowed the ball of fear that kept creeping into my throat whenever I came upon a darker curve.
The path seemed so different from our last visit because we were moving in the opposite direction so I was always questioning whether we were terribly lost in the dark.
At one point we heard a huge crash in the brush. Despite the fact that our dog was not concerned in the least, I made Mark walk in front of me. At least he would block the imminent appearance of a woodland monster from my view.
Would I recommend a night hike? You bet ya. It really got my blood going and pushed me straight out of my comfort zone which is something I really need these days. If you decide to try one choose a path that is somewhat level to avoid injury. Also choose a path that you know fairly well. In the dark it will morph into a completely different place but hopefully you will be comforted by some familiar terrain.
Sorry about the lack of decent photos. This night hike thing is new to me. Actually I cant wait to do this again. Perhaps I'll schedule one after I see the new Harry Potter film.

Eerie...

Gorge Waterway 26/26 weeks

Posing at the Admirals St. end of the waterway.

This was our 6th month mark on the 52week commitment blog. Our record stands at 26 weeks 0 blisters. So it was a happy little group who assembled at the Esquimalt Gorge park on Sunday. This park is known as the Kinsmen Gorge park and it lays just at the Gorge bridge on Tillicum Rd. We wanted to have a picnic celebration at the end of our walk and chose a park with picnic tables. We also decided to try a park with a relatively level surface. Deciding on the gorge waterway made this weeks outing more of a leg stretcher so we donned our runners and headed out.
Our group consisted of Mark and I, Hannah and friends Jon and Aaron. The gorge is a popular walkway with a variety of attractions. The level walkway makes it the perfect choice for people with limited mobilities and families with young children. There are plenty of park benches and low rock walls should you need to stop for rests.
We started our walk on the Esquimalt side of the gorge. This park boasts of benches, picnic tables and restrooms. There is also a beautiful slice of beach and extensive playgounds. Which reminds me that I had planned to share this playground blog because I think it is a clever resource for families with young children.

Jon and Mark heading for the Tillicum Road bridge at the beginning of the walk.

Looking out over the tranquil water.

The brand new sculpture honoring Camossung and the spiritual place at the meeting of the waters.

Looking for the sacred stone on the south side of the bridge, Hannah checked her iPhone compass application. It wasn't lost on us that our only compass consultation of the year was in one of the most civilized locations...

The walkway stretches from Tillicum Road to Admirals/Craigflower bridge. Along the way are well loved and impeccably tended garden spaces. This site is a popular one in Saanich for festivals. Canada Day Picnic on the Gorge is my favorite place in the city to celebrate Canada Day. Surrounded by small neighborhoods and close to the city, the Gorge attracts families and retirees alike. So the festival atmosphere is always relaxed and calm. If you havent experienced it yet Saanich invites 45 area artists to come together for Gorge on Art. It can be windy along the waterway and this event attracts quite a crowd so be prepared to walk slowly.

I will plant one of these delights at my house just as soon as someone tells me what it is. It looks as if brilliant dandelions are bursting from a little green tree.

We found a small cut from the bridge onto the Gorge road side. This popped out behind the rowing club.

Another view of the glass-like surface of the gorge.

We walked from the Esquimalt Gorge parking lot to Admirals Road and back again. We were on the waterway for approximately 90 minutes. There is parking along Gorge Road in certain places as well as a lot at the end at Admirals Road. The gorge is also accessible by transit with stops the length of the waterway.
So, heres to 26 weeks of outings in 2010. I have every reason to believe that the next 26 weeks will be just as fun and adventurous as the last. Cheers.

Ok. Enough messing around, picnic lunch awaits.

Next week: Sunday is PrideFest and Mark and I are hosting a massage booth at Fisherman's Wharf.  We will probably snatch a quick hike on Sat. afternoon.