tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12215244171922522742024-03-21T05:12:53.400-04:00Come Walk With Us on the Trans Canada Trail (TCT)Come Walk With Us travel and hiking blog following our #Hike4Birds trek on the world’s longest recreational pathway the 28000 km Trans Canada Trail / Great Trail from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic. We visit 15000 Canadian communities hiking unsupported over more than 400 multiuse community trails, rail trails and road ways while exploring and photographing the country. Learn about the path, find useful information and guides as well as getting advice for planning your own adventureCome Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.comBlogger808125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-73402251966139430082023-11-30T23:59:00.013-05:002023-12-04T14:05:46.064-05:00Challenges Hiking the Trans Canada Trail in 2023<h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Trans Canada Trail #Hike4Birds Update</b></span></h2><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoFmvHAb3rKZfyYe60hOzTpkZQ18W4wzLC5x95TLbQISgtew_xzWPD7LcvrKF9lc8YtJWW3jgnXxDXD7-i4dE-UGnKGcKe8qbTu2aXpT5P3V0jQL2y_FhGW63mWl5U8qKB1DZjfpBOuX8bz8B4HUX_6xbN0slO_SJ1PQezTwT3WG2D78dyFwcqmF1w3sN/s3439/Best%20of%20Southern%20BC%20-%20Second%20Edit%20(1415).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail to the Arctic." border="0" data-original-height="2296" data-original-width="3439" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqoFmvHAb3rKZfyYe60hOzTpkZQ18W4wzLC5x95TLbQISgtew_xzWPD7LcvrKF9lc8YtJWW3jgnXxDXD7-i4dE-UGnKGcKe8qbTu2aXpT5P3V0jQL2y_FhGW63mWl5U8qKB1DZjfpBOuX8bz8B4HUX_6xbN0slO_SJ1PQezTwT3WG2D78dyFwcqmF1w3sN/w400-h268/Best%20of%20Southern%20BC%20-%20Second%20Edit%20(1415).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the past few weeks since the publication of an article in </span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nzOUYshlYNEE4A1557UiR88O6I7g_npc/view?pli=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reader’s Digest <i>Our Canada</i></a> </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">magazine</span><b style="font-family: inherit;"> </b><span style="font-family: inherit;">about our </span><a href="https://www.comewalkwithus.online/" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: inherit;" target="_blank"><b>#Hike4Birds</b> </a><span style="font-family: inherit;">we have gotten a lot of emails from people asking whether we are on the </span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://tctrail.ca/explore-the-map/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trans Canada Trail</a></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">, where we are in the Arctic and how we are doing. We want to thank everyone for their concern and curiosity. While many have wondered if we simply were not posting due yet to the lack of WIFI connectivity in the arctic others have speculated that perhaps we had quit our coast to coast to coast trek all together.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOzkJ4MaROTALlJ0Up4Vwtxmy9WVAFNs-jtci1kSwkvl8p7xPTAZqvKYZpPLwWOKwbSpgp2K-cgsjRBKefivSfYwv1xUZux_WqNR7A9YE6DxRK87uW6gRrd9Lrzk9SGYVIY6LKSfBVXwRPl6vReVAGh6VmmvxHTwjoJ_qX9SeXONWW-s-uXiu-wdSvfW8/s3130/Our%20Canada%20p1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Our Canada Reader's Digest Trans Canada Trail" border="0" data-original-height="3130" data-original-width="2251" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOzkJ4MaROTALlJ0Up4Vwtxmy9WVAFNs-jtci1kSwkvl8p7xPTAZqvKYZpPLwWOKwbSpgp2K-cgsjRBKefivSfYwv1xUZux_WqNR7A9YE6DxRK87uW6gRrd9Lrzk9SGYVIY6LKSfBVXwRPl6vReVAGh6VmmvxHTwjoJ_qX9SeXONWW-s-uXiu-wdSvfW8/w282-h392/Our%20Canada%20p1.jpg" title="Trans Canada Trail, Great Trail article Reader's Digest" width="282" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately the answer isn’t as simple as either of these answers.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Atlantic to Pacific, 2019-2022</b></span></h2><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">As you know, on November 22 2022 we arrived at Clover Point in Victoria and officially concluded the 14,000 km long Atlantic to Pacific portion of the Great Trail. In 2023 we had planned to have hiked from Fort Saskatchewan Alberta north through British Columbia, the Yukon, and into the Arctic to get to Tuktoyaktuk Northwest Territories where we would have brought our long trek on the Trans Canada Trail to a conclusion. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately the challenges and realities of climate change in the last year have altered these plans.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Climate Change Realities</b><span style="white-space: pre;"><b> </b> </span></span></h2><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In early May of 2023 we set off to continue our hike into Northern Alberta. We had monitored the usual notifications for localized forest fires in the north but were entirely unprepared for what awaited us. However, even from the airplane – we could see entire mountain ranges, regions, and communities that we were set to trek through on fire. Realizing that the situation was still evolving and growing we continued to watch the situation after landing.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMnzPvFZ6IbY4wkjeMAFOmBzEfnoc0y3A5l_SRdWyR0q04966rzbLTMdP7q5iwuTiTVCfgIKqUZQCLR-HiK0XuLAgBO8XFA5jTqSKjzUwsU7FZzCOhKJXVdbg7raU8PTsdAPA9tnEUycLVJhkBH0cM-Yyl_hAOb_I9hbZZPoJABuq1CHf698xywMt3l5A/s4032/Return%20to%20TCT%20Flight%202023%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggMnzPvFZ6IbY4wkjeMAFOmBzEfnoc0y3A5l_SRdWyR0q04966rzbLTMdP7q5iwuTiTVCfgIKqUZQCLR-HiK0XuLAgBO8XFA5jTqSKjzUwsU7FZzCOhKJXVdbg7raU8PTsdAPA9tnEUycLVJhkBH0cM-Yyl_hAOb_I9hbZZPoJABuq1CHf698xywMt3l5A/w400-h300/Return%20to%20TCT%20Flight%202023%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ulnN_-zEh-8v6wtwJJy67dey4dLeUAhpKsI3ygPdw39D-BTDny93RE4QgaWR7X-UjXl0_neWfkMDmyVLa0BQZvkLDX-R-BcHBoAhxJESUBOzXbY1HkDGFR7pLwZUuHO1BBTJKP25JepkL3H1N7ZhwwJU1h3LzXhuLIyN_rvow8ls0PR1uOebN2MSoH0V/s2978/Return%20to%20TCT%20Flight%202023%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2234" data-original-width="2978" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6ulnN_-zEh-8v6wtwJJy67dey4dLeUAhpKsI3ygPdw39D-BTDny93RE4QgaWR7X-UjXl0_neWfkMDmyVLa0BQZvkLDX-R-BcHBoAhxJESUBOzXbY1HkDGFR7pLwZUuHO1BBTJKP25JepkL3H1N7ZhwwJU1h3LzXhuLIyN_rvow8ls0PR1uOebN2MSoH0V/w400-h300/Return%20to%20TCT%20Flight%202023%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the days passed what we began to see was that the realities of climate change were clearly having more and more of an impact than ever before. Not just upon wildlife and nature or distant nations but upon Canadian communities. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_uJXU2Jd9rJsSutgQ-bkHj4ooTVITyQ8V-KhFYKBjBi13246j0FYDAc2nfV_kJkv8b55l4ImLIur9fI-ZmD3FgKbvM-TNVI0SsePf96BEZYd3RD-_GxGqHl8BjLF881rrd4RWkOMgLvMKblEtdskaU9NkZ2VkiVysZ17ZKhIZZGD9mt0rXxIU-Iaevlh/s225/Alberta%20Forest%20Fire.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM_uJXU2Jd9rJsSutgQ-bkHj4ooTVITyQ8V-KhFYKBjBi13246j0FYDAc2nfV_kJkv8b55l4ImLIur9fI-ZmD3FgKbvM-TNVI0SsePf96BEZYd3RD-_GxGqHl8BjLF881rrd4RWkOMgLvMKblEtdskaU9NkZ2VkiVysZ17ZKhIZZGD9mt0rXxIU-Iaevlh/s1600/Alberta%20Forest%20Fire.png" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2Xryu-Vz11C2D1dyFgjNi3zPW21VsDlwm-lNEcf9kXIbUCokjSdQ7-dhogsD8LhiOVKFXxtKxBQvoVJhI71IMLUHwWpmuQnyF_jhC8UmXoOpfH26G_RqEwY5SuXtH9GkDdOKR1Q9wizEW7RUuF2_2pA56tnSFwDtrT1m5KwnAhB0koR0lizmZRjlk7lZ/s362/Destination%20BC%20-%20Forest%20Fires.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="360" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ2Xryu-Vz11C2D1dyFgjNi3zPW21VsDlwm-lNEcf9kXIbUCokjSdQ7-dhogsD8LhiOVKFXxtKxBQvoVJhI71IMLUHwWpmuQnyF_jhC8UmXoOpfH26G_RqEwY5SuXtH9GkDdOKR1Q9wizEW7RUuF2_2pA56tnSFwDtrT1m5KwnAhB0koR0lizmZRjlk7lZ/w224-h226/Destination%20BC%20-%20Forest%20Fires.jpg" width="224" /></a></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">By the week’s end, and from the safety of a hotel room in Fort Saskatchewan, we witnessed as natural disasters took place from coast to coast to coast. There was flooding in Newfoundland, southern Nova Scotia, and Charlevoix in Quebec that begot crisis in regions that we had previously hiked through. Ongoing droughts across the Prairies worsened, and historical forest fires in Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, BC, the North West Territories expanded to an unprecedented scale. In addition to which the smoke from these widespread wildfires triggered air quality alerts across North America, spanned the Atlantic Ocean, and impacted countries as far away as Portugal, Spain and France. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">We knew then that something unprecedented was taking place.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Tough Year for the Trans Canada Trail<span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></b></span></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXC9M9yHFFmDmCvGbZbvLtNhFfLtXTCJkLrVTp7iiLpSgzcKSNrcQJVc-K9b1n6BMkvekkdFegQTQQig9LLFDsRhHZSEDF8B27qYsNtaNyere8J914JTttwEULHR7-ie4w8rPu_og89W7PkJDsUeERpDlIasAVGweLMtxzIXZz9VwgI4IJ-p6_fRvu4X-/s2550/Sonya%20and%20Sean%20in%20Nova%20Scotia%20(142).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1702" data-original-width="2550" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXC9M9yHFFmDmCvGbZbvLtNhFfLtXTCJkLrVTp7iiLpSgzcKSNrcQJVc-K9b1n6BMkvekkdFegQTQQig9LLFDsRhHZSEDF8B27qYsNtaNyere8J914JTttwEULHR7-ie4w8rPu_og89W7PkJDsUeERpDlIasAVGweLMtxzIXZz9VwgI4IJ-p6_fRvu4X-/w400-h268/Sonya%20and%20Sean%20in%20Nova%20Scotia%20(142).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unfortunately, as a result of forest fires and unseasonable flooding across the nation the infrastructure of the Trans Canada Trail began to collapse in almost every province. Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia all reported either closing or loosing sections of the Great Trail. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88Sioo3CvQ8RlIA2XLgmU3pu1llCRuccvPwfd8Pzw3u39s41d8zrSYvOa0tulr9GzdGJKuHQ0cahV2q2cBS-eU4wd3hm-VH2RYfAAHt6G5dVqhh43k7tcW-Wj69X5b4iiBLW67Ga7g9HEkTwOvEZ7UOUqNcVPlQDQOZ-erGtCoW9utWO_JHI7OwBP_uy6/s482/Forest%20Fire%20Sign.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="482" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88Sioo3CvQ8RlIA2XLgmU3pu1llCRuccvPwfd8Pzw3u39s41d8zrSYvOa0tulr9GzdGJKuHQ0cahV2q2cBS-eU4wd3hm-VH2RYfAAHt6G5dVqhh43k7tcW-Wj69X5b4iiBLW67Ga7g9HEkTwOvEZ7UOUqNcVPlQDQOZ-erGtCoW9utWO_JHI7OwBP_uy6/w400-h281/Forest%20Fire%20Sign.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Forest Fire sign northern Canada</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Newfoundland the Wreckhouse region experienced floods and extensive trail damage.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Nova Scotia the trails around Halifax experienced heavy flood damage. “The Rum Runners Trail … sustained significant damage due to heavy rainstorms and [is listed as] remain[ing] closed until further notice.” In addition to fires which spread from the Barrington Lake District further south endangering communities also undermined large sections of the national trail. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcrR8B0AkeqmFEwzNRl9YHmrsraaUpI2a0iKdlsnUoqwSth22zxutjPV51yR6D2DcGBdMqjoaOamDwf3_n9N1P0wv6sv8fAmLUfjLUCI1djo4xbytLJkZrmL9wSekabLgZd3eHFShWWvTGR8zvk8ExLF2XSQiUGbO5_8h59E4iIIOpAR-ee02ZX1nQzo7/s1020/CTV%20New%20Nova%20Scotia%20Flooding.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="1020" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcrR8B0AkeqmFEwzNRl9YHmrsraaUpI2a0iKdlsnUoqwSth22zxutjPV51yR6D2DcGBdMqjoaOamDwf3_n9N1P0wv6sv8fAmLUfjLUCI1djo4xbytLJkZrmL9wSekabLgZd3eHFShWWvTGR8zvk8ExLF2XSQiUGbO5_8h59E4iIIOpAR-ee02ZX1nQzo7/w443-h249/CTV%20New%20Nova%20Scotia%20Flooding.jpg" width="443" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>CTV News, Southern Nova Scotia</i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In New Brunswick the new section of pathway to St. Andrews by-the-Sea was closed. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Quebec, the Charlevoix region was flooded and only limited trail usage was possible throughout the year. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIGAp2fXqzMl26sy8tt9Kiy3I0A5O7p9GUoVACJKdn1Bar2vYJXvvqPuoV5hO02k5BbXe_a7YETLFND_PJEQwfMUKGFrYBLg6wYZ6-wDcp5tIXsFJCd1woZHQnJ-W4G3_ptVs-oTAP7Gi-hP-K126Rygfs9gl4LGwzDPJp4n9O7LXGMc6VSvuUyq-kLyN/s1280/Charlevoix%20Flood.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieIGAp2fXqzMl26sy8tt9Kiy3I0A5O7p9GUoVACJKdn1Bar2vYJXvvqPuoV5hO02k5BbXe_a7YETLFND_PJEQwfMUKGFrYBLg6wYZ6-wDcp5tIXsFJCd1woZHQnJ-W4G3_ptVs-oTAP7Gi-hP-K126Rygfs9gl4LGwzDPJp4n9O7LXGMc6VSvuUyq-kLyN/w468-h263/Charlevoix%20Flood.jpg" width="468" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>CTV News, Charlevoix Quebec</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Saskatchewan around Madge Lake forest fires lead to the “closure of the trail … between Ranger's Bay and the western park boundary due to fire mitigation logging and excessive trucking along the corridor.”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In southern Alberta, the towns of Olds and Irricana, both of which we hiked through in 2022 were hit by a violent tornado. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In southern British Columbia the towns of Elkford, Sparwood, Kimberley, Penticton, Princeton and Ossoyos all dealt with forest fires. The town of Kelowna, near the famed Myra Canyon stretch of the Kettle Valley Rail Trail witnessed as much of West Kelowna burned across Okanagan Lake. Amid all of this the huge gap in the Trans Canada Trail (between Princeton through Hope to Chilliwack) that led us to trek regional roads and the insanely busy Coquihalla highway amid a forest fire in 2022 had yet to be repaired. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyRAX9VGSAtTTA6L0wMWTwa-6QSd1xnesh9qny65P1rY2r6YJTCcH1Np6b_zugQnvTrE6FMPL2-5A4kK3NudhEJFKrEO3Bfcmg8y7wyCyJTjMnm7kTo2Z-L-WTjpZVAkdwLzYiSdyBdyI-olWRXZdMyqCetWmkStB1HcpS6XD_arXznlMx6ICNZFPqqna/s700/Canada-Wildfire-Forest-Fire%202023%20-%20near%20road%20and%20TCT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="700" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkyRAX9VGSAtTTA6L0wMWTwa-6QSd1xnesh9qny65P1rY2r6YJTCcH1Np6b_zugQnvTrE6FMPL2-5A4kK3NudhEJFKrEO3Bfcmg8y7wyCyJTjMnm7kTo2Z-L-WTjpZVAkdwLzYiSdyBdyI-olWRXZdMyqCetWmkStB1HcpS6XD_arXznlMx6ICNZFPqqna/w400-h286/Canada-Wildfire-Forest-Fire%202023%20-%20near%20road%20and%20TCT.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>CBC image, Forest Fires in Northern Canada</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meanwhile beyond the Atlantic-Pacific corridor in the north – where we were due to trek in 2023 – the number of forest fires seemed to grow exponentially day by day throughout the year. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The situation became so tough across Canada that two people hiking across the nation on the Trans Canada Trail had to essentially abandon the national pathway and drive from green space to green space cutting across the prairies. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5eWWr7eim_EwLgIYnvgqYXB10N0diITcDYNgbadgV4GdbsqE7Bfc5nK2uR4EqZmozHJn2mOAm7Yupf9fPMGyTcfaDUqr9SdCBLSQD00kJzKPwO68dO9LIbMCYfH0YGI6A-Jh128fCRupHFBqpM_saL0qzIb_BXLMXhJSlTImg-AOWODH_mK3TsDcpfpi/s951/Slide1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="951" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5eWWr7eim_EwLgIYnvgqYXB10N0diITcDYNgbadgV4GdbsqE7Bfc5nK2uR4EqZmozHJn2mOAm7Yupf9fPMGyTcfaDUqr9SdCBLSQD00kJzKPwO68dO9LIbMCYfH0YGI6A-Jh128fCRupHFBqpM_saL0qzIb_BXLMXhJSlTImg-AOWODH_mK3TsDcpfpi/w557-h318/Slide1.JPG" width="557" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In Northern Alberta in areas including Lesser Slave Lake and Peace River, a mere 195 km into what would be a 4000 km hike into the arctic were hundreds of out of control forest fires. Beyond these problems the long stretch of the Dempster Highway, which serves as the major portion of the Trans Canada Trail heading north, had forest fires along it on both sides. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NoexIBTlGZlNlWTIVizMT4eFhKSdvHyCiP8XUwgUujHuVEhr_de_DtJE4kMkIZro70iV2g4RTvqUyxzsfqJLlxBL8Jr8jMs2_-Y2ny5deshmTiM9mFp3pLP4YDTufnolPBCJrgQiv7x7S5KSDZnQ1rZc0F90FxBG68K-CMH1dLuHuJC0HKKJnCFwEI1z/s976/Alberta%20Wildfires.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="976" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4NoexIBTlGZlNlWTIVizMT4eFhKSdvHyCiP8XUwgUujHuVEhr_de_DtJE4kMkIZro70iV2g4RTvqUyxzsfqJLlxBL8Jr8jMs2_-Y2ny5deshmTiM9mFp3pLP4YDTufnolPBCJrgQiv7x7S5KSDZnQ1rZc0F90FxBG68K-CMH1dLuHuJC0HKKJnCFwEI1z/w448-h252/Alberta%20Wildfires.jpg" width="448" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Online Image Donnie Creek Fire</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In particular the Donnie Creek Fire – the largest ever to affect British Columbia and which eventually destroyed a region larger than the entire province of Prince Edward Island was burning an area that we would have to hike through. </span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFP39AxF2u0xsZhsY1ZuGodu5HKKZ5U1jB6ER1XxkRiu_DHyPEMg95NTdZ_wEAcpl8cio88dceNNIyodOAkglU4n52bskP2-GhegoAx_fGqlABr63aQUS-gNkIOfTQTnCtkeyKXSnqRk681uFskNN1ntcWxfIASp-Tr28l6vXxn3s9GDY0rfV4HUYva3K/s860/British%20Columbia%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail BC Map." border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="860" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigFP39AxF2u0xsZhsY1ZuGodu5HKKZ5U1jB6ER1XxkRiu_DHyPEMg95NTdZ_wEAcpl8cio88dceNNIyodOAkglU4n52bskP2-GhegoAx_fGqlABr63aQUS-gNkIOfTQTnCtkeyKXSnqRk681uFskNN1ntcWxfIASp-Tr28l6vXxn3s9GDY0rfV4HUYva3K/w400-h321/British%20Columbia%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Trans Canada Trail, Explore the Map British Columbia</i></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Beyond the matter of the forest fires the trail towns that we would need to rely on for resupply were either under alert or being evacuated. This unprecedented situation was so bad that the Calgary Herald would go on to note 2023 as “The Summer Canada Burned” having a “Wildfire Season that Shocked the World” describing the conditions as:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“...never before had Canada seen this many wildfires that were this large, this intense, and this fast. The superlatives stacked up as flames gutted forests across almost all of Canada’s 10 provinces and three territories throughout the summer. Some provinces recorded the largest wildfires they had ever experienced. Others recorded more fires than ever before.”</i> (Monica Zurowski, <b><a href="https://calgaryherald.com/feature/wildfires-novascotia-bc-alberta-summer-canada-burned-book-smoke" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Summer Canada Burned</a></b>)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">These conditions would lead many including Canadian Geographic to declare that the Anthropocene Era (an epoch when humans irrevocably shaped the planet’s fate) had begun. As the year progressed, according to <b><a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/les-decodeurs/article/2023/08/17/canada-s-mega-fires-13-7-million-hectares-of-forest-have-burned-twice-as-much-as-the-1989-record_6096785_8.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Le Monde</a></b>, by August 17th, 2023 approximately 13.7 million hectares of forest in Canada – much of it in the boreal – had burnt or was on fire. By September 2023 that number would be at 18 million hectares. By the end of the summer, the new normal of record setting temperatures, extreme weather and widespread natural disasters was clearly in control across the nation. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquPF4VeMEpaXpc7_zKH1x8V34c30wQgEFXQerCWfyRn8i6XYm0cyn5uyWHxiUaP_2dkalhyphenhyphenJLj7-_dzUkS0eqKEJNSTiubGgO-_kTwnK97w8Q1VuFKYyzzoAVf-f6CFlOzUyl4V6luTxLKyFF-fIOeUiVWBgsud1xEYZvLpwSHWbZ5-q_UKCjAKJA4dOs/s959/CBC%20Historic%20Wildfires.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="959" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhquPF4VeMEpaXpc7_zKH1x8V34c30wQgEFXQerCWfyRn8i6XYm0cyn5uyWHxiUaP_2dkalhyphenhyphenJLj7-_dzUkS0eqKEJNSTiubGgO-_kTwnK97w8Q1VuFKYyzzoAVf-f6CFlOzUyl4V6luTxLKyFF-fIOeUiVWBgsud1xEYZvLpwSHWbZ5-q_UKCjAKJA4dOs/w606-h234/CBC%20Historic%20Wildfires.JPG" width="606" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>CBC News Report on Historical Wildfires</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">As most would agree this was hardly the best of scenario to walk into the arctic wilderness for 100-200 days on the Great Trail. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Decisions and Demands</b></span></h2><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">We clearly had a decision to make... </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">We did not want to set a bad example to others by hiking into a dangerous situation. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In addition to which any attempt to trek into the affected areas could potentially endanger others or mean that they might have to divert resources to aid two people silly enough to hike into a region on fire. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ultimately however we personally had little desire to hike into a region on fire or that that we could not readily get out of in the event of danger. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijal0v_TV2CkkLNxMxjJWAvzRy4Y7VlBg_V8KGlqBfhGF3VX7syLNrzmYc0oNnWG81GNIVXq5ronXA3qdySe47Tjb9Bx-MUPXWe8BrQmZZwXbS6BU5azbaE0S5ZyIkTr22kCV2DNB7rcdkbLwKWAUYda61LR-zwaH54rLO2FuPHN3i10MndjGyHBT8B3cz/s6016/Best%20of%20S%20Alberta%20Landscapes%20(379).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijal0v_TV2CkkLNxMxjJWAvzRy4Y7VlBg_V8KGlqBfhGF3VX7syLNrzmYc0oNnWG81GNIVXq5ronXA3qdySe47Tjb9Bx-MUPXWe8BrQmZZwXbS6BU5azbaE0S5ZyIkTr22kCV2DNB7rcdkbLwKWAUYda61LR-zwaH54rLO2FuPHN3i10MndjGyHBT8B3cz/w400-h268/Best%20of%20S%20Alberta%20Landscapes%20(379).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Having come to the conclusion that we were not doing to be able to continue on we were also informed by trail builders in several provinces that we should not return to the Trans Canada Trail in 2023. During this time we were also contacted by a number of individuals and told that our blogs and commentary over the last 4 years had done a great deal of harm to the national trail and subsequently they (more or less) demanded that we not continue our trek. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75csQT-y4Qxm-flOEzSCKC4vWle1AwYlWZVFWpmIb37_2Jm1RgV8cVCU1O0dpm3FR4xXHFmuwd8cNrSTdk6tYhggZwb6r2q2et_hRKnH5uTPmpOp8BiV2zJpbYv7p7XDUL5nhDyqassgP85G5JzD-Pu7IoOK4Ih3_TRIK16dLDBwtW9gNqScB_4PxYqyS/s620/Northwest%20Territories%20Conditions.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="620" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75csQT-y4Qxm-flOEzSCKC4vWle1AwYlWZVFWpmIb37_2Jm1RgV8cVCU1O0dpm3FR4xXHFmuwd8cNrSTdk6tYhggZwb6r2q2et_hRKnH5uTPmpOp8BiV2zJpbYv7p7XDUL5nhDyqassgP85G5JzD-Pu7IoOK4Ih3_TRIK16dLDBwtW9gNqScB_4PxYqyS/w400-h399/Northwest%20Territories%20Conditions.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Trans Canada Trail, Explore the Map information</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">And so, with no possibility to safely proceed and little support to do so we stepped away from the Great Trail for the year.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Climate Change and the New Normal</b></span></h2><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Having walked across, visited and explored so much of this incredible country we are (as are you) more than aware that Canada’s natural wonders are the stuff of dreams and post cards. However after a year of extreme temperatures, freak weather and historic wild fires there is no denying that climate change has begun to affect and impact almost every region in new ways. The events of the past year have led to tens of thousands of Canadians having to be evacuated. They have closed community businesses and affected so large an area that it required an international effort including firefighters from South Africa, the UK, Australia and the United States to bring things under control. The scale of our wildfires has been so large that they have impacted not only our own communities but also those in the United States and parts of Europe. Despite these record breaking matters, in so many ways 2023 now seems less like an outlier and more like a harbinger that foreshadows what the new normal might look like.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Reflecting on 14,000 km</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the course of the last year as we waited and watched we recognized how fortunate our first four years of hiking the Trans Canada Trail have been. While we have been challenged by rainy weather, the occasional snow storm, and a few days of prairie mud we have never really had to deal with the extreme natural dangers which the country is now facing. Indeed, perhaps the toughest we had was navigating through the forest fires from Princeton to Hope where the TCT had been destroyed – a challenging week that was off trail (as there was no path) along busy smoke filled highways. Even those moments when we encountered a hurricanes, 40-50 degree temperatures and hail we were always blessed to be near somewhere that we could get inside. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Heading north however there are no such guarantees and only a few places that we can take shelter or leave the trail if necessary.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Uncertain Future</b><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span></h2><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Jo-GiVhYWmzWYBFLLtGNbqevg7_trb1G5pLhlwQd1yp9aciUKIC_NLqCIp1hd2OzZHslVlqLH_bHHwIpetv60YG-zECIbJlP58LkKIIeCLhZc5EPXwZ3qR1eWsCBnYrdPZ2nvS45i_gOCOk25oEH24XXKbD1Dc4aqTxXAIRQ-ffNlV_SdyEfPJcUP5tZ/s4032/TCT%20Presentation.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Jo-GiVhYWmzWYBFLLtGNbqevg7_trb1G5pLhlwQd1yp9aciUKIC_NLqCIp1hd2OzZHslVlqLH_bHHwIpetv60YG-zECIbJlP58LkKIIeCLhZc5EPXwZ3qR1eWsCBnYrdPZ2nvS45i_gOCOk25oEH24XXKbD1Dc4aqTxXAIRQ-ffNlV_SdyEfPJcUP5tZ/w400-h300/TCT%20Presentation.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>#Hike4Birds 150th Presentation on Nature across Canada</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">So with all of this said, what is next for us? Well with a national trail now broken from coast to coast to coast and the challenges of climate change upon us we honestly aren’t sure.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The reality is that the next 4000 + kilometers of the Trans Canada Trail is on the side of a highway. This already unappealing situation means that we are largely reliant upon communities we as trek – the same communities that are still dealing with their own losses, natural disasters, and evacuations. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Added to this is the fact that - as we have already discovered in Nova Scotia and PEI in 2019 and southern BC in 2022 - disaster recovery is both timely and expensive. Supplies are sparse, lodgings are tough to find and everything is more costly for both local residents and </span>travelers<span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Moving forward and northward also requires that there are no forest fires in our path and that there is actually a trail route to venture along – neither of these things are guaranteed in the coming years. Climate change has intensified the cycle of wildfires and given way to more extreme weather conditions. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFVc_EIikVJLy8plF8KjyCGU5QplohOFMH48GEdjpnxg0bUS_XIJ83bzE8jYcnftP2AySoa22-tdyv_4hJbVzmtuDaSxJAnT1dkLEjdMIjyic0xireaUFHYGp9LEiUv0Jmx2iMnFajhWQcskWP2Qx2SYEBLMxgy5vjmvypqGffdSdbVW-iDnuDB2kJU88/s6016/DSC_9911.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFVc_EIikVJLy8plF8KjyCGU5QplohOFMH48GEdjpnxg0bUS_XIJ83bzE8jYcnftP2AySoa22-tdyv_4hJbVzmtuDaSxJAnT1dkLEjdMIjyic0xireaUFHYGp9LEiUv0Jmx2iMnFajhWQcskWP2Qx2SYEBLMxgy5vjmvypqGffdSdbVW-iDnuDB2kJU88/w400-h268/DSC_9911.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>TCT Montreal</i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The simple fact is that we want to hike to the Arctic, we both want to see and share it. But at the moment the unpredictability of climate change, its widespread impact in 2023 and the logistical realities which this situation has given way to means that trekking north will be both more challenging and more expensive than we had ever anticipated. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">In addition it seems that many would rather we did not continue our hike, our presentation of the Trans Canada Trail and our photographs of the country. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Regardless, if we are able to continue we will, but at the moment the future is uncertain.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>“I found out long ago…</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>It’s a long way down the holiday road…”</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Lindsey Buckingham, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsYqIJqlPNc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Holiday Road lyrics</a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5t6yfsxb7jovGeErlbqImFQo2_sMekesGAsNgbUGnlgtJVx1-j7XDlYKCELXUyD7ok_zA17ncWMCmuOYfBk8nNZHpYTPqaFkDKmxEczkBBFHFuSdEvgofXN3hPMCifu51Fgqc1wRk6zpKOV13PcHAlm1SUxm5OBypex4NiNdnq_LsAG2Jm0VFp_HxfwKL/s4649/Best%20of%20S%20Alberta%20Landscapes%20(1913).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail hiking sign." border="0" data-original-height="3104" data-original-width="4649" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5t6yfsxb7jovGeErlbqImFQo2_sMekesGAsNgbUGnlgtJVx1-j7XDlYKCELXUyD7ok_zA17ncWMCmuOYfBk8nNZHpYTPqaFkDKmxEczkBBFHFuSdEvgofXN3hPMCifu51Fgqc1wRk6zpKOV13PcHAlm1SUxm5OBypex4NiNdnq_LsAG2Jm0VFp_HxfwKL/w400-h268/Best%20of%20S%20Alberta%20Landscapes%20(1913).JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Sechelt, BC, Canada49.4741736 -123.754560121.163939763821155 -158.9108101 77.784407436178839 -88.5983101tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-59178261913887728942023-11-20T11:18:00.002-05:002023-11-20T11:18:27.667-05:00A New Adventure to Share<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While we have a
great deal to still share about our ongoing adventure across Canada we thought
we would also post about something new - the Bruce Trail. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5EhVMV99qu7DnuB0rG-NXN4uQ9xIaiplaGI7_YRwEH-zLXdb7n5BDxt_0FDRLELbFtjpp1dvzrBERHCwZ1lqBrYttgrjbWci8fBu7oQwCCQ-HiQQtGaQDG5GB7UZCaRFqTl0H2oVsqKvlLm96UHMiSchfqigENtEcVVyl8Tnmu6bYaH5N9wOdyrogQGl/s1080/new-bruce-trail-hiking-blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bruce Trail Hiking Blog Come Walk With Us" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH5EhVMV99qu7DnuB0rG-NXN4uQ9xIaiplaGI7_YRwEH-zLXdb7n5BDxt_0FDRLELbFtjpp1dvzrBERHCwZ1lqBrYttgrjbWci8fBu7oQwCCQ-HiQQtGaQDG5GB7UZCaRFqTl0H2oVsqKvlLm96UHMiSchfqigENtEcVVyl8Tnmu6bYaH5N9wOdyrogQGl/w400-h400/new-bruce-trail-hiking-blog.png" title="New Bruce Trail Blog" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>Long before we set
out onto the Great Trail or onto the <b><a href="https://ourwalkalongthecaminofrances.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Camino Frances</a></b> to Santiago
we set out onto the famous <a href="https://brucetrail.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Bruce Trail</b> </a>in Ontario. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bruce Trail is 890 km in length tracing
the Niagara Escarpment from Queenston Heights to Tobermory.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is where our love of long-distance hiking
began, where we completed our first thru hike, and where we learned so much
about backpacking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trekked from
2014-2022 it took us nearly 10 years to complete the Bruce Trail in a series of
day hikes, organized end-to-end events, and an educational thru-hike of the
Peninsula Section.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To be honest, when
we took those first tentative steps onto the Bruce Trail we had no idea what we
were doing, carrying a 4-person tent that weighed 12 lbs, enough outfits to
have clean clothes for a week, and 12 days of food for 3 people. Somehow
we managed to survive the pain of the learning curve, but if you'd told us that
adventure would be the start of a lifetime hiking together, including a 14,000
km hike from the Atlantic to the Pacific on the <a href="https://tctrail.ca/explore-the-map/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Trans Canada Trail</b>,</a> we
wouldn't have believed you. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid63TEnvetyv-4-2toMxAqwKH-nloP4Uqk5l0rNGrhq09l0LI4ysezsCff-hfL1ESBrbBv-jeA5WBdI3ufsTx84abyId8aJgwTRTET8mytwetKeikTar_3h9Zk1pW-DWcN6E66_ABz_1bIsIYCBqElg0yquG1kL8Wydu2m019yuJNGfT6OJbHIn76DXFP4/s2560/Bruce%20Trail%20Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bruce Trail Hiking Map" border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1764" height="576" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid63TEnvetyv-4-2toMxAqwKH-nloP4Uqk5l0rNGrhq09l0LI4ysezsCff-hfL1ESBrbBv-jeA5WBdI3ufsTx84abyId8aJgwTRTET8mytwetKeikTar_3h9Zk1pW-DWcN6E66_ABz_1bIsIYCBqElg0yquG1kL8Wydu2m019yuJNGfT6OJbHIn76DXFP4/w397-h576/Bruce%20Trail%20Map.jpg" title="Bruce Trail Map" width="397" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">En route we would have a range of experiences. Participating in organized End to End events, weekend strolls with friends, and thru hiking with a teenager. Over the course of our trek we would see dozens of bird species, learn about newts and snakes, and explore Ontario's history - all of which anyone can discover along the Bruce Trail. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />If you are
interested in more of our adventures then we invite you to 'Come Walk With Us'
by checking out our <b><a href="https://ourwalkalongthebrucetrail.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-decision-to-hike-bruce-trail.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bruce Trail blog</a></b> to learn where the adventure began!</span></div>
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Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-67298184647884414682023-09-30T14:02:00.230-04:002023-12-05T12:59:26.702-05:00Reflecting on the Trans Canada Trail in British Columbia <h2 style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><b>Trans Canada Trail in British Columbia</b></h2><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Over a year
ago now, in October and November 2022 we hiked into British Columbia on the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trans Canada Trail. </a></b> Owing to a combination and exhaustion over the past year we had yet to release blogs detailing our reflections on the TCT in a number of provinces. Over the coming few weeks we hope to rectify this oversight and provide a general overview of each region, detail a few thoughts on our experiences in each, and perhaps help future hikers. </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQ09OtnRYXLZGcvSPTxyrTdG2sO2Y-NPTcyXaRx20DZipjw4o-fuZwJE4dsRPlwLCb6w2m6p1dISCCoul81FT4zrQ4bs_wHXlWdt8JkuNAu0L0glImvJ94fvKJTFPeqNalO6x3xtyRLMLv7NdQC8Bdngke0uRbqqDpHjLoqZa2nkRDSHxR6cPjcYyuiM8/s3339/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(153).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2504" data-original-width="3339" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQ09OtnRYXLZGcvSPTxyrTdG2sO2Y-NPTcyXaRx20DZipjw4o-fuZwJE4dsRPlwLCb6w2m6p1dISCCoul81FT4zrQ4bs_wHXlWdt8JkuNAu0L0glImvJ94fvKJTFPeqNalO6x3xtyRLMLv7NdQC8Bdngke0uRbqqDpHjLoqZa2nkRDSHxR6cPjcYyuiM8/w400-h300/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(153).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">Much like Alberta
the Great Trail in British Columbia has </span>two distinct routes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of these routes traces along the southern
border from Elkford to Vancouver and then across to Vancouver Island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the other, ventures north out of
Alberta along the Dawson Highway to the Yukon where the trek to the Arctic
Ocean begins in earnest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /> </span><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG64spOCNMQdsJSwx_-_Kz7_a6lO9-wbpOLtDMPNSIQAtq5rHQz-e6mwDEFqjj4E5ADSnxT-H8vNxnJXjQUtCsYpr3DptpKCEjZjtrGkhIJ8ZuF1hqscx-yEKUSxhAZmaMPcE4XWEl-qXerOkxivNXVMmhJnTE3xZwQ6uYVul2tKs9MkdQSGDlrqs2s0hy/s720/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20in%20British%20Columbia.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Map British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="548" height="473" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG64spOCNMQdsJSwx_-_Kz7_a6lO9-wbpOLtDMPNSIQAtq5rHQz-e6mwDEFqjj4E5ADSnxT-H8vNxnJXjQUtCsYpr3DptpKCEjZjtrGkhIJ8ZuF1hqscx-yEKUSxhAZmaMPcE4XWEl-qXerOkxivNXVMmhJnTE3xZwQ6uYVul2tKs9MkdQSGDlrqs2s0hy/w361-h473/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20in%20British%20Columbia.JPG" width="361" /></a></div></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p><br /></o:p>The southern stretch of the TCT navigates from Alberta to
Vancouver Island, is more than 1750 km in length, and includes mountain passes,
train tunnels, rail trails, long distance cycling paths, paddling routes, and the
TCT Pacific Mile Zero marker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On BC’s
stunning segment of Canada’s Great Trail you can hike in the mountains, follow
discovery pathways, traverse engineering marvels, walk in the woods, and
explore city parkways and promenades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The possibilities to get out, connect with nature and explore are
boundless.<br /> <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> <br /> </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Coming Full Circle, Approaching the Pacific</b></h2></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>In
many ways so much of British Columbia felt like coming full circle as we neared
our Pacific destination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /> </span><o:p> <br /></o:p>In
2019 we had begun on the “island” of Newfoundland and in 2022 we would end on
Vancouver Island.</div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzBbZ-fYO5AynnMsy4ZbD7Vfzep-OL_FURO0mDkGzew6nIuc0FZ9U5IVlcyKeJC_CpXGfvQ6NqPPGd6WyZ9gj37PuKjHPUht0lXRw-DC2uJRi9IIUqxDIHXNuI8myTYlY3AuryWiIL6rCKrnlD6xq4kOlWvBDkFU-nPDXD2eJnIVXLEJmMN8Sf97IvXMy/s1200/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(7).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Nature Newfoundland." border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzBbZ-fYO5AynnMsy4ZbD7Vfzep-OL_FURO0mDkGzew6nIuc0FZ9U5IVlcyKeJC_CpXGfvQ6NqPPGd6WyZ9gj37PuKjHPUht0lXRw-DC2uJRi9IIUqxDIHXNuI8myTYlY3AuryWiIL6rCKrnlD6xq4kOlWvBDkFU-nPDXD2eJnIVXLEJmMN8Sf97IvXMy/w400-h300/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(7).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkiaYovbXZJ43sch67XhkN87Q1-kJS_Jq2MtLdboi8HolEK-TH7FyAIkVwlJMPpNf-uud3PPKjb8_p0bNBUbcHT5T75wdil9F4yZ2u4yvAR9RxJnwyjkYtAt090COuNK8o3J7MU3UMWxLb_qFmUeCUigrBChueYWRl7iZtUmFkZUj27IDuxlnbHLMnr6M/s3022/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(8).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Thru Hikers Sean Morton and Sonya Richmond." border="0" data-original-height="2267" data-original-width="3022" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOkiaYovbXZJ43sch67XhkN87Q1-kJS_Jq2MtLdboi8HolEK-TH7FyAIkVwlJMPpNf-uud3PPKjb8_p0bNBUbcHT5T75wdil9F4yZ2u4yvAR9RxJnwyjkYtAt090COuNK8o3J7MU3UMWxLb_qFmUeCUigrBChueYWRl7iZtUmFkZUj27IDuxlnbHLMnr6M/w400-h300/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(8).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>When
we began our #Hike4Birds we set out from Cape Spear with members of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nature Newfoundland</b> while at the
conclusion of our trek we would walk to Clover Point with <span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">members of the <b>Victoria Natural History
Society</b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> and <b>BC Nature.<br /></b> <o:p></o:p></span></span><o:p> <br /></o:p>When
we set out we crossed through the amazing Witless Bay Ecological Reserve and
when we reached the end of our hike we would do so on the shores of the
Victoria Bird Sanctuary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9lSwdGT7gJe5_jHvAT2o9dOFugVCu8dTGhaXXKpV6KxiunaV2JQTvVhLmeaZJWbHwfZuubg-Xn9iL3I6-kGZ5KTw4NzMGWq1a751gSbaFJIJIYRDfLFK4LbeQ9tBKvOpVm8BUgzFSSMe4EyLFhBzHns35e1wjlce1dPudAXfY8E94gKMfc7L27yLBY1a/s2791/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(168).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sonya Richmond and Sean Morton Trans Canada Trail hike Atlantic to Pacific." border="0" data-original-height="2791" data-original-width="2791" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9lSwdGT7gJe5_jHvAT2o9dOFugVCu8dTGhaXXKpV6KxiunaV2JQTvVhLmeaZJWbHwfZuubg-Xn9iL3I6-kGZ5KTw4NzMGWq1a751gSbaFJIJIYRDfLFK4LbeQ9tBKvOpVm8BUgzFSSMe4EyLFhBzHns35e1wjlce1dPudAXfY8E94gKMfc7L27yLBY1a/w400-h400/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(168).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><o:p> <br /></o:p>Next,
we ended our first province with a ferry ride to the mainland, while in BC we
would reach the end by taking a ferry off of the mainland.<br /> <span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Finally </span>we
had also ended our first year of trekking through Atlantic Canada amid the
snows of late November – something which we would unfortunately repeat as we
approached the Pacific.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p>However,
while much felt familiar – perhaps a reflection of having lived in Sechelt BC
for many years – it did not stop us from having new experiences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our time on the Great Trail in BC would see
us cross the Rockies, walk though rail tunnels over a kilometer in length and
lead us to undertake our first paddled section on the national trail as well as
bringing our Atlantic to Pacific trek to a successful conclusion.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The “Other” British Columbia</b></h2></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>What
particularly struck us however is that the Trans Canada Trail would push us to
reconsider how we viewed the province of British Columbia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the days and weeks we spent hiking we
came to see that the Great Trail spent much of its time taking us through “the
other BC” on its way from the Rockies to the Pacific.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOp-Y6O1NYLo9rcZyRfo1aS_G67mqNOQA3hQL63kt-EUBNl5UlgVzNFcKsWcjxTe76Zn8sqBZUpclkFNevV9y4QE0aQrw4afyLICSMjk3sa1YGhcd8uMpZqhEzHcf_HTts7O20ki_V9OA444ptJIRzsinTKK7nvIV92bzb3YE6Xv8X5o-5RRcJvW64wsxp/s2302/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(52).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1537" data-original-width="2302" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOp-Y6O1NYLo9rcZyRfo1aS_G67mqNOQA3hQL63kt-EUBNl5UlgVzNFcKsWcjxTe76Zn8sqBZUpclkFNevV9y4QE0aQrw4afyLICSMjk3sa1YGhcd8uMpZqhEzHcf_HTts7O20ki_V9OA444ptJIRzsinTKK7nvIV92bzb3YE6Xv8X5o-5RRcJvW64wsxp/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(52).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><o:p> <br /></o:p>The
province is widely known as Beautiful BC because of its mountain ranges, epic
landscapes, stunning coastlines and amazing vistas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It does of course have all of these things
and a great deal more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it is
also what most people see of the province when they drive down Highway 1 or fly
over the region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We forget that in many
ways these areas have been carefully cultivated to preserve the perspective
that BC is a perfectly conserved and limitless province.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result, as Bruce Obee the author of the
TCT Guidebook for BC observed years ago, is that many have a skewed perspective
of the region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfvhvCwzXjiqYp-zHRJWryjuiZD5tIncoYHv7a-tpPfP_MIzZZUubqILc5AJkvv9TGfZjNW2yar6sJ-i3aGzDbzmnCgrOrbIzbFw17508RVxCKFNSGNNZFNvN0cb_OgP_4Lzwa-Cv1n4fgZSEZ21IjPl8Mg6cOcXNiy4k_byXseHWCMnQjebpqBx_PTsp/s5379/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(37).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3591" data-original-width="5379" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwfvhvCwzXjiqYp-zHRJWryjuiZD5tIncoYHv7a-tpPfP_MIzZZUubqILc5AJkvv9TGfZjNW2yar6sJ-i3aGzDbzmnCgrOrbIzbFw17508RVxCKFNSGNNZFNvN0cb_OgP_4Lzwa-Cv1n4fgZSEZ21IjPl8Mg6cOcXNiy4k_byXseHWCMnQjebpqBx_PTsp/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(37).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbxExezgEsJqg4coZySTFgn8RLdqI-NBpUPHoU9tq9GzbvbfJ_W4Cv25fR1aoNh4YjPsg3-Ai-iQ7dxxx_BHtWJEScjrAdcbH7CGB3NK-atVPuwH7PQvSRcq6zSmnl5DX2dgVFi1l1tbBKaZGOpR2j3Y3EUtYekWSy83Po5XltRajVNK7MtqYEUNqfk8_/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(40).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbxExezgEsJqg4coZySTFgn8RLdqI-NBpUPHoU9tq9GzbvbfJ_W4Cv25fR1aoNh4YjPsg3-Ai-iQ7dxxx_BHtWJEScjrAdcbH7CGB3NK-atVPuwH7PQvSRcq6zSmnl5DX2dgVFi1l1tbBKaZGOpR2j3Y3EUtYekWSy83Po5XltRajVNK7MtqYEUNqfk8_/s320/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(40).JPG" width="214" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Mwe3dZJzb2UiRIfCHkBCqYRgOhKJAjElqBJtB0XikOlJN99zBp0T82tkFxZAuZi1LqZeAbKzySsXHLZgz7R4w-UbPlaXOfqTeBOQpCgIA9G6pecm4hPigls1Fie4fOjZyPca6Au5ay-HdhFoJIXywa34ap4TXX6zjvkMJ8gbp6a5A_esOFt0YNbYWNrR/s5753/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(41).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5753" data-original-width="3841" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Mwe3dZJzb2UiRIfCHkBCqYRgOhKJAjElqBJtB0XikOlJN99zBp0T82tkFxZAuZi1LqZeAbKzySsXHLZgz7R4w-UbPlaXOfqTeBOQpCgIA9G6pecm4hPigls1Fie4fOjZyPca6Au5ay-HdhFoJIXywa34ap4TXX6zjvkMJ8gbp6a5A_esOFt0YNbYWNrR/s320/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(41).JPG" width="214" /></a></div></div><o:p> <br /></o:p>Our
reconsideration of BC began within days of trekking into the province when we
almost immediately found ourselves amid immense forestry cuts, massive coal
mines, pump mills, the Trans Mountain Pipeline and industry of unimaginable
scale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /> </span><o:p> </o:p></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-XY0OZ4ooBNI5m3pvvcFW0jS67mZUsw2BF1ovFmyi2nAr6n29VM7riGPVOEkrJekwF-f0H26T90jH-PpiwjnjyCiWwiGJvhvrM6ladDUSE8zsm_XMj70iM3__b86V9ys7VxWdMOfbw6d8WhJBU9yyyjeh9aIpikIdZMn8QapeX4kP1mIQUdikncrt3xO/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(39).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sparwood BC Titan Coal Miner." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-XY0OZ4ooBNI5m3pvvcFW0jS67mZUsw2BF1ovFmyi2nAr6n29VM7riGPVOEkrJekwF-f0H26T90jH-PpiwjnjyCiWwiGJvhvrM6ladDUSE8zsm_XMj70iM3__b86V9ys7VxWdMOfbw6d8WhJBU9yyyjeh9aIpikIdZMn8QapeX4kP1mIQUdikncrt3xO/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(39).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;">In
addition, nature itself would also give way to the unexpected for us as we
traversed the Rocky Mountain Trench, the deserts of the Okanagan region and
prairie like grasslands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those,
like us, who hold British Columbia to be a province solely of huge mountain
ranges, powerful rivers and expansive forests the realities give way to so much
more natural diversity than we had anticipated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJQrSmdzkuT57Aps9PqB8DG9YMALg0k_AMjKbWaygjPR7EV33ZQyGyMtCEGvvZyApYn-QYeePHQuCZ1bDvtfYvSuqT86JaXl9qv4vG13oGMhOuYMbBxt85SK28jb005WKTeEVnw_uOOD2-6oavt8GtNKCiYjYAirigENB2AsigpaMUS89Aktb6hIU9Qv2/s3154/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(38).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2105" data-original-width="3154" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXJQrSmdzkuT57Aps9PqB8DG9YMALg0k_AMjKbWaygjPR7EV33ZQyGyMtCEGvvZyApYn-QYeePHQuCZ1bDvtfYvSuqT86JaXl9qv4vG13oGMhOuYMbBxt85SK28jb005WKTeEVnw_uOOD2-6oavt8GtNKCiYjYAirigENB2AsigpaMUS89Aktb6hIU9Qv2/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(38).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvLf3zPaQGOJ30QC3X9FZ1kO5R0jeEA43dZTaYSddOMCztJ_GzfNmONH02m-V5eexuMuAwM8LQkKTRSEO0Ygd5Qono1GG3M_WGAiDth5LxVYkhZXd81ntnlAbL1piOrwjxr8DFhWlA6WXH8uVRkxizQbnM0flCC8dDyMmzdrrRKpAIv13rXdHI916iYuF/s6015/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(73).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4015" data-original-width="6015" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBvLf3zPaQGOJ30QC3X9FZ1kO5R0jeEA43dZTaYSddOMCztJ_GzfNmONH02m-V5eexuMuAwM8LQkKTRSEO0Ygd5Qono1GG3M_WGAiDth5LxVYkhZXd81ntnlAbL1piOrwjxr8DFhWlA6WXH8uVRkxizQbnM0flCC8dDyMmzdrrRKpAIv13rXdHI916iYuF/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(73).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>Beyond
these unexpected aspects of the province the route the national trail followed
took us to communities which fewer tourists explore – providing for a tour of
small-town and historical British Columbia different from that experienced
along the Trans Canada Highway. From the Elk Valley to the Pacific the TCT
would weave from mountain passes along maintained rail trails and to historical
frontier forts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As such, we soon came to realize that the
Great Trail despite being a relatively new pathway nonetheless followed
along<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>what one author termed routes that
were already “well worn”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this regard, our expectations of what we
thought British Columbia to be would be like where challenged and transformed
by our exploration of the “Other BC”.<br /><o:p> <br /></o:p></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Elk Valley and Coal
Discovery Trails</b></h2></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></b>Crossing over<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>the
Continental Divide we descended from Alberta into British Columbia our 10<sup>th</sup>
and final province between the Atlantic and Pacific.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"> entered BC by trekking over the Elk Pass and through the Elk Valley marking
the first time that we had entered a province over a mountain range.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis24ZPHP2l2Nkw2q-B6LRvM6deooV_EzWnYTm9wp7mDAK60eudLrVY1z9YPlnD0wMEc7E6K3iBZQKdHjVzFR23hTP8lM5CBxM5i52FXO7XAr_cj37RtXTY0TYQK9cVlldqalWJ5KYjhZPeqjGCDyhToHz8sxht8ImBsaRFAZW9ELysQ-_gX7L-9zS28auM/s3303/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(25).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sean Morton and Sonya Richmond hiking Elk Pass." border="0" data-original-height="2478" data-original-width="3303" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis24ZPHP2l2Nkw2q-B6LRvM6deooV_EzWnYTm9wp7mDAK60eudLrVY1z9YPlnD0wMEc7E6K3iBZQKdHjVzFR23hTP8lM5CBxM5i52FXO7XAr_cj37RtXTY0TYQK9cVlldqalWJ5KYjhZPeqjGCDyhToHz8sxht8ImBsaRFAZW9ELysQ-_gX7L-9zS28auM/w400-h300/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(25).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBRwZn3m-9m4QpudVuSMrfhmtfOHOqqdEz2K9rWE9CCHPr8nxPcQzYFu0BfVKb7-hnBWttom1_R9NEMiC51XNF1ngrvIPicMJ2duZQwIQis1GoYzaBF333w_Dz-bagzZUoF5aX8SV7ldum4JmPTCZAMGowvH-FS7DPOcR1QjyuCe42-QcKa0qJbZOrZz4/s3076/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(26).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Great Trail in British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="2307" data-original-width="3076" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBRwZn3m-9m4QpudVuSMrfhmtfOHOqqdEz2K9rWE9CCHPr8nxPcQzYFu0BfVKb7-hnBWttom1_R9NEMiC51XNF1ngrvIPicMJ2duZQwIQis1GoYzaBF333w_Dz-bagzZUoF5aX8SV7ldum4JmPTCZAMGowvH-FS7DPOcR1QjyuCe42-QcKa0qJbZOrZz4/w400-h300/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(26).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></span><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://trailsbc.ca/routes/upper-elk-valley/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Elk Valley Trail</a></b> is the eastern most
section of the Trans Canada Trail in southern BC and it is also one of the most
remote and exciting routes in the entire Great Trail system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>Continuing off of the amazing High
Rockies Trail in Alberta the Elk Valley Trail spans almost 200 km from the
Alberta-BC border to the community of Elko.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>En route it ventures along the edge of Elk Lakes Provincial Park, and
traverses through the towns of Elkford, Sparwood, Fernie and Elko.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its route begins with a decent from the peak
of the Elk Pass and the province of Alberta and follows pathways, hydro cuts
and logging roads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN7wGeDm3fPsi-dGWJx7ciUEHisByiNE_5MxAYmfl8gmDQmsLMIIaD_D9eMSl7ORsO2tQwyYnNF-f06HsxsqwBELW2R85o_DSj6xYEriNC08LX-i-Zt40k1LJmk071axHifL1xEpxbJOlxedAS3GYLJqk56mhpqBzohLH5lQVc3imPIxaCgu_ZZuAyO_q/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(27).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYN7wGeDm3fPsi-dGWJx7ciUEHisByiNE_5MxAYmfl8gmDQmsLMIIaD_D9eMSl7ORsO2tQwyYnNF-f06HsxsqwBELW2R85o_DSj6xYEriNC08LX-i-Zt40k1LJmk071axHifL1xEpxbJOlxedAS3GYLJqk56mhpqBzohLH5lQVc3imPIxaCgu_ZZuAyO_q/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(27).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4ADYYCKAqxKUNPEbMeOKyCCTGoavFxlTlOe2-YW4wHaojnGI4KvsgCm1CWGxItg8LNjU3Eh3VMPPM5WejEJ7PUIgwDISge8LXaJDV4Gb-sgI0OBOij9kLK1KRph36MdsvAjRvxrsTh_kCoCXbUP-nhL-Mnee_VcsjSQJ1gc21XIIe0cfH0d70GQLsQA4/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(34).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4ADYYCKAqxKUNPEbMeOKyCCTGoavFxlTlOe2-YW4wHaojnGI4KvsgCm1CWGxItg8LNjU3Eh3VMPPM5WejEJ7PUIgwDISge8LXaJDV4Gb-sgI0OBOij9kLK1KRph36MdsvAjRvxrsTh_kCoCXbUP-nhL-Mnee_VcsjSQJ1gc21XIIe0cfH0d70GQLsQA4/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(34).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><o:p> <br /></o:p>Along the way we camped in BC Recreation Areas, resupplied
in local towns, visited the Titan in Sparwood and relaxed in the outdoors
community of Fernie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Throughout the
mountain landscapes and forested pathways along this stretch are amazing and allowed
us to essentially set up camp along the way without reservations and enjoy the
outdoors.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Chief Isadore Trail</b></h2></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></b>Moving westward we soon came to the<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <a href="https://cranbrooktourism.com/things-to-do/trails/chief-isadore-trail" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Chief Isadore Trail</a></b><a href="https://cranbrooktourism.com/things-to-do/trails/chief-isadore-trail" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a>which is one of those quiet routes along the
Trans Canada Trail that has been well developed and is locally loved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Chief Isadore Trail is 44 km in length
stretching from Wardner Community Park into the heart of the beautiful city of
Cranbrook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWom7cIEYGdd1JXzDzkyTyKJTKmyRZNnsNFBFHIgn93vBCP3S63dPZzcp6SmJEj5Xs_gG5b-L5-umvM1S0mUOSWgbyVH3tVcxZXyVyxq_6_UNg27pmXCaxAJ9-ED0L2FCruPHeU2g89vS1n9VOuF0K20aRvQ7t4o__Xj44aWvHF4TPbsE1ChZh1RHoBofu/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(55).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chief Isadore Trail British Columbia Trans Canada Trail." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWom7cIEYGdd1JXzDzkyTyKJTKmyRZNnsNFBFHIgn93vBCP3S63dPZzcp6SmJEj5Xs_gG5b-L5-umvM1S0mUOSWgbyVH3tVcxZXyVyxq_6_UNg27pmXCaxAJ9-ED0L2FCruPHeU2g89vS1n9VOuF0K20aRvQ7t4o__Xj44aWvHF4TPbsE1ChZh1RHoBofu/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(55).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7H9BY-b7PU9VjL7SmIB5n7GGb9GTjksRPm2eND2_GaaqAJGrwPHqG6DBVIv1Yr3tU0q2Ibh9ysKekwjOgxgBuZcVebFfJQ_d8t0BI1p9M25vn_VLj3a9YG5FKTVKncO2rE0iM2rf1hiRkB5QpU2aZ1Ha0ZxPQFxQklhEl7ZesVcJfgWgFKLC4kBW3T74B/s5832/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(56).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2408" data-original-width="5832" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7H9BY-b7PU9VjL7SmIB5n7GGb9GTjksRPm2eND2_GaaqAJGrwPHqG6DBVIv1Yr3tU0q2Ibh9ysKekwjOgxgBuZcVebFfJQ_d8t0BI1p9M25vn_VLj3a9YG5FKTVKncO2rE0iM2rf1hiRkB5QpU2aZ1Ha0ZxPQFxQklhEl7ZesVcJfgWgFKLC4kBW3T74B/w551-h227/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(56).JPG" width="551" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;">This route traces the Isadore
Canyon and was historically used by the Ktunaxa peoples.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Along the way regular signage as well as
historical plaques have been installed and do a terrific job of acquainting
trail users with the region’s Indigenous heritage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>En route we travelled along a mixture of packed
gravel surface and well maintained dirt trails as well as enjoying regular
picnic areas and incredible scenic views of the nearby Rocky Mountains.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">North Star Rails 2
Trails</b></h2></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></b>Beyond the Chief Isadore Trail is the beginning of a
wonderful stretch of pathway – which includes the <a href="https://www.northstarrailtrail.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">North Star Rails 2 Trails</b>.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Developed
as a multiuse trail in 2010 and built on an abandoned rail line between towns
Cranbrook and Kimberley which had previously been used when the region was the
center of the provincial mining industry in the 1890s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EpPMpev5LIaDqQuOK76GPlLQ2cG9NcP9c8ekz4O0ztl8mBHvDHWDvBs_p76sTwrvAnvSNM3G6q8C4ryQiS1GtmhxecpsgnVeEGE6WZfHN2mtHd3XCi77581XocYblv_NgKYx6QhGcP5wfHLMTt3yEJ9OHXwUkpqXi8sGJb_-K_TUPvNxBu4fr3w6j_jS/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(53).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2EpPMpev5LIaDqQuOK76GPlLQ2cG9NcP9c8ekz4O0ztl8mBHvDHWDvBs_p76sTwrvAnvSNM3G6q8C4ryQiS1GtmhxecpsgnVeEGE6WZfHN2mtHd3XCi77581XocYblv_NgKYx6QhGcP5wfHLMTt3yEJ9OHXwUkpqXi8sGJb_-K_TUPvNxBu4fr3w6j_jS/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(53).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;">Today the North Star Trail consists of
almost 25 km of paved pathways which gives way to easy trekking between the
towns of Cranbrook, Marysville and Kimberley.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This well maintained trail navigates regional grasslands and forests
providing for a naturally beautiful experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As an added bonus the North Star Rails 2 Trail gives users stunning
views of the Rocky and Purcell Mountain ranges as well as the opportunity to see
hoodoos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /> </span><o:p> <br /></o:p></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Columbia and Western Rail Trail</b></h2></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>Most hikers and cyclists looking for great treks in BC head
for the Kettle Valley Rail Trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a
result however few people take the time to learn about and explore a section
the Trans Canada Trail known as the <a href="https://tourismrossland.com/business-listing/columbia-western-rail-trail/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Columbia
and Western Rail Trail</b>,</a> a rail trail that extends 160 km from Castlegar to
Midway. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>This amazing stretch of rail trail<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>rivals the KVR for its amazing
amenities, regular shelters, great trail conditions, terrific information
plaques, and long distance routes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
addition to which the C&W Trail includes several train trail tunnels –
which hikers and cyclists need to venture through to traverse the route from
end to end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMX3lYrPy2v-cEK1DZZWjg1FxInjBj9vI62qG1SYXNZmOIU8zrqzZ41huznMmLaVWn70GbBOUc8m5_CYSQ919iNg6319l1wEZ2Muzg0yCHEXW5QvLqGCnUVkX-i6YObM2Kgx7URA-2AJt-MCJYAEDtQ6htnN3Ogya0rRdaGbgmtaF2-tYopPyYLGJd6vA/s3909/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(65).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2610" data-original-width="3909" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizMX3lYrPy2v-cEK1DZZWjg1FxInjBj9vI62qG1SYXNZmOIU8zrqzZ41huznMmLaVWn70GbBOUc8m5_CYSQ919iNg6319l1wEZ2Muzg0yCHEXW5QvLqGCnUVkX-i6YObM2Kgx7URA-2AJt-MCJYAEDtQ6htnN3Ogya0rRdaGbgmtaF2-tYopPyYLGJd6vA/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(65).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxjji2o7ghe83ppI0xYeB_kH2stk9EBU_LUc3zS26PA-Z3m9la64V0iVsOLc16eOQvI7-psQqH6N4OICQHFNbiuoS5TlN51cL8s8mJ0ctQ0Dul1Jx_AYmydC7hK0b_PdYsC9zdU_LQaSVeauBkH1nEDHm2DQO1HHSIuTNQHoaR8BOt94018w3jd6SWefS/s4658/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(76).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3110" data-original-width="4658" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyxjji2o7ghe83ppI0xYeB_kH2stk9EBU_LUc3zS26PA-Z3m9la64V0iVsOLc16eOQvI7-psQqH6N4OICQHFNbiuoS5TlN51cL8s8mJ0ctQ0Dul1Jx_AYmydC7hK0b_PdYsC9zdU_LQaSVeauBkH1nEDHm2DQO1HHSIuTNQHoaR8BOt94018w3jd6SWefS/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(76).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sBQTjyiELR-nrDHKjSUxU1UsJPXESfMWagOcNNFcG2sKEfsjjHriWUM-DFF0_jP0HSCRuL1r7SSbhtCl_pKMjislGnOhByUb1cz4sA8im07kHq8FsOiCTJV4DVT3SXt2FB9n8rT9Y1Kd7ZVqi85WDdB-z-tH9OwVIec5d_2SkjLDmVhMfX0QEMpVGSWb/s5180/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(79).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3458" data-original-width="5180" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sBQTjyiELR-nrDHKjSUxU1UsJPXESfMWagOcNNFcG2sKEfsjjHriWUM-DFF0_jP0HSCRuL1r7SSbhtCl_pKMjislGnOhByUb1cz4sA8im07kHq8FsOiCTJV4DVT3SXt2FB9n8rT9Y1Kd7ZVqi85WDdB-z-tH9OwVIec5d_2SkjLDmVhMfX0QEMpVGSWb/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(79).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div>The largest of which is the Bulldog Tunnel which was built
in 1899 and is almost 1 kilometer in length and 15 meters tall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Bulldog Tunnel – Canada’s longest rail
tunnel - is so long that users cannot see the light at the other end, requiring
those adventurous at heart to use flashlights and headlamps as they navigate
the trail through the dark!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The C&W
is not only a terrific rail trail from end to end but it is a wilderness
experience that provides users with a wonderful adventure, great scenery, and
sightings of elk, moose and bears.</div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vFmwSgWz7i0_b0CP7RwEzoeEHw_HEDHV235P7Wct2jRFV2szU_Pi5vtXfeOpA71fCH2Yp56xfntOVDlObYqF_01nPelIIuXEJcAGASiJLg30zxvFvXNmVexWKJV3YS6Po1kpD57ihRbl2I6tA1hadsYNr5AOtU4iP10dqCJuZcSZK3x4U5BFrGs2b6si/s5856/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(82).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2151" data-original-width="5856" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vFmwSgWz7i0_b0CP7RwEzoeEHw_HEDHV235P7Wct2jRFV2szU_Pi5vtXfeOpA71fCH2Yp56xfntOVDlObYqF_01nPelIIuXEJcAGASiJLg30zxvFvXNmVexWKJV3YS6Po1kpD57ihRbl2I6tA1hadsYNr5AOtU4iP10dqCJuZcSZK3x4U5BFrGs2b6si/w578-h213/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(82).JPG" width="578" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></b></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Kettle Valley Rail
Trail</b></h2></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></b>Leaving the tunnels and terrific conditions of the Columbia &
Western we continued westward following the popular <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.bcrailtrails.com/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAjrarBhAWEiwA2qWdCKr7OO7P8MAzCZTmDc6MUXAc0nkBlSRp9YRRAuo3Eke76ahPZWlsKBoCwxEQAvD_BwE" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kettle Valley Rail Trail</a></b> with its gravel tract, broad valley views,
and vineyards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The KVR is perhaps
British Columbia’s most renowned trail and is consistently featured by tourism sites
as well as trail guides – yet there is little publicly shared about it or its
conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At almost 500 kilometers in
length the Kettle Valley Rail Trail is one of the longest sections of the TCT
in both the country and the province.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
spans from the end of the C&W in the town of Midway and crosses to Hope on
the edge of the Greater Vancouver region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MAwtwvu8G13d519XEzRLcvGKi3qtIx_4pyTzEWgTH4lahLe38mS_8w6acm-HQgnqDx-u28yFe2EZNa2VDi7EniwyOhdZHsKXYa67y1rKFWpORUhWJ6oMim5dRYDOjbw5nLimEjHXgGKpyXcdacjWa9XWVFtFIVVZ4BLXbR2Lb3kJUFu77FQ_j18sN3a7/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(101).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MAwtwvu8G13d519XEzRLcvGKi3qtIx_4pyTzEWgTH4lahLe38mS_8w6acm-HQgnqDx-u28yFe2EZNa2VDi7EniwyOhdZHsKXYa67y1rKFWpORUhWJ6oMim5dRYDOjbw5nLimEjHXgGKpyXcdacjWa9XWVFtFIVVZ4BLXbR2Lb3kJUFu77FQ_j18sN3a7/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(101).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycNXUW-7L46ImV5O09IamWFqadtTjnu3PONcocvs7msF9r8pImtrxQGXl8CZ0siDIzYvqObYNVm67kWs3JNL5NFkUx6ptYWDdaXSGtCMVfSR8EItf-1hPyF4edmpfEXahQl_mH606wO14R-bvqmetcN9AJI0as0InOLHA_PKyLcfAlrWO1WoWrCqblpgX/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(95).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycNXUW-7L46ImV5O09IamWFqadtTjnu3PONcocvs7msF9r8pImtrxQGXl8CZ0siDIzYvqObYNVm67kWs3JNL5NFkUx6ptYWDdaXSGtCMVfSR8EItf-1hPyF4edmpfEXahQl_mH606wO14R-bvqmetcN9AJI0as0InOLHA_PKyLcfAlrWO1WoWrCqblpgX/s320/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(95).JPG" width="214" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOA_Js1UwuOLECYtJpqoAPtvy_g_SxzdHpB2d9TnAXZHKFw4JPS-C3zIiBv8ZiFCknUo5aUhLFbgReHYCkBXfb-cuKTDR7iuiTSqTgeKbrkCtwLfmDs_I6Mj8jvL8idC7nWuTVGcWcH8ERaAEjGh_63NZSGgop9brHPIpYq9G5OQoeDGoR9dIfFTTjJiYl/s320/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(102).JPG" width="214" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;">On its own the KVR accounts for almost one third of the TCT in BC, along
with the C&W these rail trails comprise exactly one half of the route in
southern British Columbia. The promise
of being able to trek such a long distance off busy roadways was enough to
impress us. However the KVR also takes
users through the varied landscapes in the region, weaves through a number of
historic mining towns along its route and navigates the famed Myra Canyon.</div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Myra Canyon</b></h2><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></b></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUOvayi_YgTVKdUhixpxDUeONU0cM3mmh4yAmTcTv1ck2lPEauDH2SkcMqMd7a03jqhayv4YV5lS51QKjfAoQgcj9mGFki48W6MVPl9BPEB38J-TlvFOS1QDegDTuQvR_FbpLRqbsr87AyTxO2ose0LmovRMc52lTbyVErdus_ZbY9psKNz7zBYGg-Gfq/s5263/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(96).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3513" data-original-width="5263" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUOvayi_YgTVKdUhixpxDUeONU0cM3mmh4yAmTcTv1ck2lPEauDH2SkcMqMd7a03jqhayv4YV5lS51QKjfAoQgcj9mGFki48W6MVPl9BPEB38J-TlvFOS1QDegDTuQvR_FbpLRqbsr87AyTxO2ose0LmovRMc52lTbyVErdus_ZbY9psKNz7zBYGg-Gfq/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(96).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiUZCFGCpluWmBnlSlFQWQ-acNXOQSRt3_V2nxnmFQF7uQ7xUWg0UR5w7GyDcYA1LZz87p3XgxFnzH-SzEO2u1rc62EqezR8kyflL_ZI4gmTy4X9QDrVTTc06jyJbelnZ-HQBjUNlIQoRvNliVimvWFng333POsbNSsd6fEGtumumGnvGsU-IPIuNJA0f/s5766/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(98).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3850" data-original-width="5766" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxiUZCFGCpluWmBnlSlFQWQ-acNXOQSRt3_V2nxnmFQF7uQ7xUWg0UR5w7GyDcYA1LZz87p3XgxFnzH-SzEO2u1rc62EqezR8kyflL_ZI4gmTy4X9QDrVTTc06jyJbelnZ-HQBjUNlIQoRvNliVimvWFng333POsbNSsd6fEGtumumGnvGsU-IPIuNJA0f/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(98).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS61xSOUYYjklNiiYi_-9NH5o_9PN2ABn_6NaQ3d4ptzrGrp3VySiJZrGi2WKRBzuNfCT8mq1vumuC_wgVrEkbqW9e3dldWkrdmfqVJ2AFZp4IW4t709PyM9XlvmZx8MRRZp3cfu2KcPrxFdZ77FIxMC74sGQ4FQN4s2b7aS9wljvNkmFu73oailMkQj20/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(99).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS61xSOUYYjklNiiYi_-9NH5o_9PN2ABn_6NaQ3d4ptzrGrp3VySiJZrGi2WKRBzuNfCT8mq1vumuC_wgVrEkbqW9e3dldWkrdmfqVJ2AFZp4IW4t709PyM9XlvmZx8MRRZp3cfu2KcPrxFdZ77FIxMC74sGQ4FQN4s2b7aS9wljvNkmFu73oailMkQj20/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(99).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><o:p> <br /></o:p>As noted, at the heart of the KVR and situated amid the
unforgettable landscape of <b><a href="https://www.tourismkelowna.com/things-to-do/outdoor-recreation/myra-canyon/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Myra-Bellevue Provincial Park</a></b> is the engineering
marvel known as Myra Canyon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
awe-inspiring stretch of the KVR consists of 20 kilometers of trail taking
users over 18 trestle bridges and through 2 tunnels. Trekking Myra Canyon, a
National Historic Site of Canada, end to end led us to venture over massive
trestles which are improbably perched on the sides of mountains and overlooking
stunning valleys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its construction was
one of the most expensive and impressive parts of the Trans Continental railway
– a legacy that continues as part of the Trans Canada Trail.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pipelines, Floods,
Landslides and Wild Fires</b></h2></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>Now unfortunately, after over 1000 km of hiking in British
Columbia and as we got closer and closer to Vancouver the Great Trail presented
us with a number of unique challenges including having to navigate reroutes, flooded
pathways, destroyed trails, and wide spread wildfires.</div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4K2Z6RqezT7YrVpR3p6na9fEatbnVJ-GJhfG-2XKg7HSg0unrwCRGgPdv7hZKjylAp8uew1HgRhTgLX0J7s9FcqC8_cD4F9CTyjvSFIidnJnzLzOG5T8-uNyiOW7EY1j00F92PwhCnys6wBk15PBDpONvkq4cy39InM_5YH8cgCufYA3GW5yYHusL-HJ/s1504/Trans%20Mountain%20Pipeline%20Kamloops%20BC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="1504" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4K2Z6RqezT7YrVpR3p6na9fEatbnVJ-GJhfG-2XKg7HSg0unrwCRGgPdv7hZKjylAp8uew1HgRhTgLX0J7s9FcqC8_cD4F9CTyjvSFIidnJnzLzOG5T8-uNyiOW7EY1j00F92PwhCnys6wBk15PBDpONvkq4cy39InM_5YH8cgCufYA3GW5yYHusL-HJ/w468-h263/Trans%20Mountain%20Pipeline%20Kamloops%20BC.jpg" width="468" /></a></div><br /><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;">Trekking westward, at one point the national pathway was
unexpectedly rerouted onto roadways to accommodate the installation of the
massive Transmountain Pipeline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ronw9mUfitIhONk9167cQr6RAwmI7mRHeicKslGhHq9sTXTHvHS5WUPehzlXp6iI-pvZb8XOKgKKGqrJUDTGjS4njQdQkBJ7JkAKnodDtctuJ6s7RhQCJg6WQMA3HkGKPkc89rjzEO-LtJVhAhPwHCZMuEkCYFbV_LejRs4OpRwW3PG8vhSN6CMtela6/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(24).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ronw9mUfitIhONk9167cQr6RAwmI7mRHeicKslGhHq9sTXTHvHS5WUPehzlXp6iI-pvZb8XOKgKKGqrJUDTGjS4njQdQkBJ7JkAKnodDtctuJ6s7RhQCJg6WQMA3HkGKPkc89rjzEO-LtJVhAhPwHCZMuEkCYFbV_LejRs4OpRwW3PG8vhSN6CMtela6/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(24).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiQ6aUTQ8DJAlXnbGOGZ3WhP1DYPTARweFrepVldgXY6KrsOsUtobAkW2kmKG32ivKhQ7QZqlgWEAgDzeqNPs2prQw7vUaHJk8kGqiZXEclsOzD1OwaFsl0K2UtkJrEoKsJ-__mZlYcDD-P_3IjwrI1jFE8Qkw6lnWQq9O90-A_YTv3RYzqyuE-uWOhiC/s3320/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(60).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2216" data-original-width="3320" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuiQ6aUTQ8DJAlXnbGOGZ3WhP1DYPTARweFrepVldgXY6KrsOsUtobAkW2kmKG32ivKhQ7QZqlgWEAgDzeqNPs2prQw7vUaHJk8kGqiZXEclsOzD1OwaFsl0K2UtkJrEoKsJ-__mZlYcDD-P_3IjwrI1jFE8Qkw6lnWQq9O90-A_YTv3RYzqyuE-uWOhiC/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(60).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WKSyBKQUlo_APDthaXuy6BfIIwnCVX4isGv5kpM_5Sgm8z6t1k8Qp1zfLqmnVIvWPBilkUwPTGWv-AMu38S2e8njJtdQpH5cIIlEDE4ALVNTdh4UCLW7eMZMQI4QQjLAYK4udf4VfR-j7fqXnjiMVW-r0PR-j1gF_HvZsQG9uJjOXQ-UpHY9IvJwbAzg/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(84).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_WKSyBKQUlo_APDthaXuy6BfIIwnCVX4isGv5kpM_5Sgm8z6t1k8Qp1zfLqmnVIvWPBilkUwPTGWv-AMu38S2e8njJtdQpH5cIIlEDE4ALVNTdh4UCLW7eMZMQI4QQjLAYK4udf4VfR-j7fqXnjiMVW-r0PR-j1gF_HvZsQG9uJjOXQ-UpHY9IvJwbAzg/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(84).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><o:p> <br /></o:p>Soon after, we discovered that the stretch of the TCT from Princeton
to Hope had been undermined in 2021, a year before our arrival, by landslides
and flooding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The result being that huge
sections of the pathway had been washed away necessitating that we follow an
alternative route into the Greater Vancouver Region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet even this would not be so straight
forward a process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we arrived the
same region which had already endured floods was experiencing widespread
wildfires and local trail builders had closed the area to usage.</div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCwcEgqM98brBMOx42BQyo2qHpOKw07RL1wmYTrHKZ_XZmnLKc2LEJ2tu5eMn7d3h7AZvDbcA77w84ZS16kraJD-glMxovD3HzGLGxoVhKBGWQ89h6ZJ3cyYBdm0mNoF17qj97m-KVtFw-EYMVYVDGsvrTc3xSw88NDQx5gQ4Z4kIu45p1kGscW_9ewW-/s860/British%20Columbia%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="690" data-original-width="860" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrCwcEgqM98brBMOx42BQyo2qHpOKw07RL1wmYTrHKZ_XZmnLKc2LEJ2tu5eMn7d3h7AZvDbcA77w84ZS16kraJD-glMxovD3HzGLGxoVhKBGWQ89h6ZJ3cyYBdm0mNoF17qj97m-KVtFw-EYMVYVDGsvrTc3xSw88NDQx5gQ4Z4kIu45p1kGscW_9ewW-/w400-h321/British%20Columbia%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a result, the TCT
recommended that trail users walk along local roadways and the busy Coquihalla
Highway for almost 150 km – an experience that we navigated amid active
wildfires, evacuations, and construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All in all it was an experience that we ever wish to repeat again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIAYNYPNlm5VJBOo_c7UCYiUcyN2kaaWYlPCJVlqvSuABb1FCAsePmO_UgdSLt-EUNicXHBDPngVMWjTyE5rW3JjPBvTS1zuKCZnJ4iBh5padd2Ih-k6KNnrMv7fiookuDfPWDFRrZ9e8m0LZLYVMDbUSqP-Vay_IxW1N2rrnE23rVi-H81GPghLyjEno/s5847/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(90).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sonya Richmond Canadian Explorer and Nature Hiker." border="0" data-original-height="5847" data-original-width="3903" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpIAYNYPNlm5VJBOo_c7UCYiUcyN2kaaWYlPCJVlqvSuABb1FCAsePmO_UgdSLt-EUNicXHBDPngVMWjTyE5rW3JjPBvTS1zuKCZnJ4iBh5padd2Ih-k6KNnrMv7fiookuDfPWDFRrZ9e8m0LZLYVMDbUSqP-Vay_IxW1N2rrnE23rVi-H81GPghLyjEno/w268-h400/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(90).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><o:p> <br /></o:p></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Historical Fort
Langley</b></h2></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></b>After a harrowing time traversing BC’s highways amid
wildfires we reconnected with the Trans Canada Trail in Hope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here we found ourselves on the edge of the
Greater Vancouver Area and followed the national pathway to Agassiz,
Chilliwack, Abbotsford, then Mission, though Langley, and into Maple Ridge
before joining up with the established trails of Fort Langley and Pitt
River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Combined these two trail systems accounted
27 km of established paths spanning from the community of Fort Langley to the
outskirts of Pitt Meadows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELOycbTXdbgSC4u9HflHRQJWxXS8JnVtUxF6Cp3fxtyECv25z2AkumOnbEaE54HCN2C8VUP-coV5uS2-rS0ouRKgMrBP5obc8Dq9TjbiSqaaLlGZvRbNPtimbpY4-puOKQiENciMcShSzDLCcpaE4iYztTBdZuVZsL3uOnVkV_7GhN0rwfiLgo8SYEtky/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(111).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELOycbTXdbgSC4u9HflHRQJWxXS8JnVtUxF6Cp3fxtyECv25z2AkumOnbEaE54HCN2C8VUP-coV5uS2-rS0ouRKgMrBP5obc8Dq9TjbiSqaaLlGZvRbNPtimbpY4-puOKQiENciMcShSzDLCcpaE4iYztTBdZuVZsL3uOnVkV_7GhN0rwfiLgo8SYEtky/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(111).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQI46HtcuWKy60pNPgdALUWqT3bBEjinrS5-hoYctcWswWBlM1Tx-SGgvai529ICapxbpIochyBSul1O-PYyVwUYHQ50WJtg2h10i16jCU-nmHodXJeD2pbhkMH0mE7VDIKfjc2nvWWwxPAL0XyY9esw9Xwvbmgr1U1nyWJ0XuojSnpDDzeWQ1sUvvjK7/s5190/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(112).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fort Langley Fort to Fort Trail." border="0" data-original-height="3464" data-original-width="5190" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgQI46HtcuWKy60pNPgdALUWqT3bBEjinrS5-hoYctcWswWBlM1Tx-SGgvai529ICapxbpIochyBSul1O-PYyVwUYHQ50WJtg2h10i16jCU-nmHodXJeD2pbhkMH0mE7VDIKfjc2nvWWwxPAL0XyY9esw9Xwvbmgr1U1nyWJ0XuojSnpDDzeWQ1sUvvjK7/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(112).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8vggvERw8rK82Gmiwx3DklpT3oEHMu6jVpjthMZUJ0-IgIC_Jg9TXy-kxDZu8eqJJf-ZV0li7iC9Zd4UTlhD3eMsK0itvE_NCeDrsnZ06klB0H0naK73vwuHP0VnuJQjbu7Mw1fIM5D-HfZXpMaTKM5az9Qm4S04tkhmEjq6SEra9HGF04UZ3_h5YkWy/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(113).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA8vggvERw8rK82Gmiwx3DklpT3oEHMu6jVpjthMZUJ0-IgIC_Jg9TXy-kxDZu8eqJJf-ZV0li7iC9Zd4UTlhD3eMsK0itvE_NCeDrsnZ06klB0H0naK73vwuHP0VnuJQjbu7Mw1fIM5D-HfZXpMaTKM5az9Qm4S04tkhmEjq6SEra9HGF04UZ3_h5YkWy/w268-h400/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(113).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KFeuZ1lXXBxBimbM0RMM-Zqak3ohfh51_HkzyYBXZlUEE98CeFezFXkBEpwaeBWnJQD_D1sI1lLAsOzO9gCnLlTOxj2wuXHLEUPeqkFZvkLyE40P7iL-sFUMjeiawTw00pRBoaR3HSeo15nfSYxg77H1F562c-wgUtuPbSdNWfcJpxqTSi-OhUWXTe3y/s3009/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(115).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2257" data-original-width="3009" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KFeuZ1lXXBxBimbM0RMM-Zqak3ohfh51_HkzyYBXZlUEE98CeFezFXkBEpwaeBWnJQD_D1sI1lLAsOzO9gCnLlTOxj2wuXHLEUPeqkFZvkLyE40P7iL-sFUMjeiawTw00pRBoaR3HSeo15nfSYxg77H1F562c-wgUtuPbSdNWfcJpxqTSi-OhUWXTe3y/w400-h300/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(115).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><o:p> <br /></o:p>Beginning in the beautiful Fort Langley trail we enjoyed
terrific local bakeries, educational historical sites, and the shorelines of
the Fraser River. Heading westward the packed gravel trail navigated community
forests, Indigenous lands, city green spaces and historic farms at Derby Reach
Regional Park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the community of
Walnut Grove the trails of Fort Langley concluded as the TCT turned northward
taking users over the awe-inspiring Golden Ears Bridge spanning the Fraser
River.<br /> <o:p> <br /></o:p></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Pitt River Regional
Greenway</b></h2></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>Once on the northern shores of the Fraser we found ourselves
on the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://metrovancouver.org/services/regional-parks/park/pitt-river-regional-greenway" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Pitt River Regional Greenway</a></b>
tracing along the top of the Pitt River dykes system with its wide gravel
trails ideal for hiking, biking and bird watching.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here between the mighty Fraser River and the
city of Pitt Meadows we enjoyed expansive views of the regional agricultural
lands and surrounding mountain ranges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The result being that the paths of Fort Langley and Pitt River were a
superb off road route to hike amid the hustle and bustle of the Greater
Vancouver Area.</div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKONIHeEVsbAJZB8ljyuKiR3jSJyi2dtLlWs8g99BFhHJi-YaWGKYe7VB2jL3oM7ZbpiYdz-lGEILnaPOgXW0r2n7zmBQL8y9xUeTsnBNa3-7RXNXOF7owoJk1uini0Wi4gzgpS2be_RXZTR86A_Gd5fJ86jYlwcmv__KcyZVVyy8tp1zqmrDD_pn12Z4/s4032/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(20).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKONIHeEVsbAJZB8ljyuKiR3jSJyi2dtLlWs8g99BFhHJi-YaWGKYe7VB2jL3oM7ZbpiYdz-lGEILnaPOgXW0r2n7zmBQL8y9xUeTsnBNa3-7RXNXOF7owoJk1uini0Wi4gzgpS2be_RXZTR86A_Gd5fJ86jYlwcmv__KcyZVVyy8tp1zqmrDD_pn12Z4/s320/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(20).jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpo6r75AGBQSUegyFIPUjk2xQfj7d8bHjD1ZM0V_m7kvGff6mzqAIJWYaXp9ARgLmXpO70ryQdKvPq13e54KJxyfojCZ6PO1-vqIc7FZwXkDBHGfo5XOyGTBP_8gszabT8yvL3eEzFPkgjPmZkIQ8AjA6MOEpT3L0OuBqt2E6hB2ZPXsuVfNArOqwyVk3/s3931/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(22).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3931" data-original-width="2949" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpo6r75AGBQSUegyFIPUjk2xQfj7d8bHjD1ZM0V_m7kvGff6mzqAIJWYaXp9ARgLmXpO70ryQdKvPq13e54KJxyfojCZ6PO1-vqIc7FZwXkDBHGfo5XOyGTBP_8gszabT8yvL3eEzFPkgjPmZkIQ8AjA6MOEpT3L0OuBqt2E6hB2ZPXsuVfNArOqwyVk3/s320/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(22).jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26gsjO9r-DkJI82Kr59ReTcRntYw0aCDrQQc35J20kaCx88uWcOiNmz95iIThcZaUMrvfeh3Pj3DhD4OGPpUxOtsCgEYNgNUT5327Yclyht5kqeg8RiZmGeJ4Fnxleolt2bciXVDTEt-EL_ofsUz7fzNS142OXJx4ecsrrDLDF_1yHsFsiJPnLX5nrNoN/s5763/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(23).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5763" data-original-width="3847" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26gsjO9r-DkJI82Kr59ReTcRntYw0aCDrQQc35J20kaCx88uWcOiNmz95iIThcZaUMrvfeh3Pj3DhD4OGPpUxOtsCgEYNgNUT5327Yclyht5kqeg8RiZmGeJ4Fnxleolt2bciXVDTEt-EL_ofsUz7fzNS142OXJx4ecsrrDLDF_1yHsFsiJPnLX5nrNoN/w268-h400/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(23).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>Beyond being fortunate to traverse the massive urban sprawl
of the west coast without really walking along roadways our greatest challenge
was the shift from wild camping to now having to stay in hotels and deal with
the drastically higher costs than we were used to in the smaller communities of
British Columbia.<br /><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyBJ0Zk8bmFKlhOwBibkI_1AiWCQNXb1QjSPTstwjT30MAEskw0_VTZ0-gdsep5I5amNBxjBIm-1jBDUQX4ztlKh4xVJ7LbrYjTXP_LUNr2u5hIS7vR7FRW8oU7dqSLtwjq98wfQFokg7u-MnSBVHPIVa1nFDvmle9ynTaI4AA6FSm21iioYS1laqFvAm/s5994/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(18).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2153" data-original-width="5994" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyBJ0Zk8bmFKlhOwBibkI_1AiWCQNXb1QjSPTstwjT30MAEskw0_VTZ0-gdsep5I5amNBxjBIm-1jBDUQX4ztlKh4xVJ7LbrYjTXP_LUNr2u5hIS7vR7FRW8oU7dqSLtwjq98wfQFokg7u-MnSBVHPIVa1nFDvmle9ynTaI4AA6FSm21iioYS1laqFvAm/w594-h214/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(18).JPG" width="594" /></a></div></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Stanley Park,
Vancouver</b></h2></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></b>The next section of the Great Trail that really stands out
was also one of the last that we trekked on the mainland of Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, it is almost too obvious a choice to
say that we really enjoyed the Seawall paths around the amazing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/stanley-park.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Stanley Park.</a></b> Set in the middle of the
City of Vancouver, Stanley Park has a network of pathways well beyond those
that comprise the Trans Canada Trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This entire peninsula is a dedicated natural space, inland lakes,
coastal beaches and dense forests for local residents and visitors to explore.</div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MN0QDZhhCj3AFE7JzK4ReiPM02EhaPntA9_OPpmvlb0dqSSfKo6wzWab183pQSKQkeHg3ZJbMNvB0qXxyhHA2DS5nWBr79VAVb4zaGN1k7pkafmHgZq3ityE3pZBcnOj0yz5n_33ENAbNR7dLfIqnZ2WCBeijdGEuzpOsLG_xMEvp1_pwjGM_33SHQHx/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(124).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_MN0QDZhhCj3AFE7JzK4ReiPM02EhaPntA9_OPpmvlb0dqSSfKo6wzWab183pQSKQkeHg3ZJbMNvB0qXxyhHA2DS5nWBr79VAVb4zaGN1k7pkafmHgZq3ityE3pZBcnOj0yz5n_33ENAbNR7dLfIqnZ2WCBeijdGEuzpOsLG_xMEvp1_pwjGM_33SHQHx/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(124).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpI0gWiwnoJOJNFzzXdV3uoZA7uUBYLq95YbU2nplu_-PCyYeZR7P4P4MqUbRrZteDGpaGtiTQuuuJMXXh6s851On4iC9y0EpOPB6-CsDOginwZtm-l3HC_eXuFsFaCXQ8k7-iqqe8VFBNrOTf5NthicgIe9uZFFjbFEJg3uA-tt2gGH9UjMV5u9VllG6/s4000/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(125).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpI0gWiwnoJOJNFzzXdV3uoZA7uUBYLq95YbU2nplu_-PCyYeZR7P4P4MqUbRrZteDGpaGtiTQuuuJMXXh6s851On4iC9y0EpOPB6-CsDOginwZtm-l3HC_eXuFsFaCXQ8k7-iqqe8VFBNrOTf5NthicgIe9uZFFjbFEJg3uA-tt2gGH9UjMV5u9VllG6/w400-h300/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(125).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEpY1KMMS-cegzIzYDsOa-I-8F_YxyLtbFmbutEn-sRSi1AEOuY7Rjmra4M5yjogXxad4GazEjQ8foJ_I09Yig54L7XfL7plxfexLWbXJH6R4JpGj2a1r5Hrc1Jy8XV8e1rjXB2ubPKnHv7WACeytCNoa9s8KNCiZdXqtTC05dJpetJ7k-Sx-J0K8b74C/s4000/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(126).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSEpY1KMMS-cegzIzYDsOa-I-8F_YxyLtbFmbutEn-sRSi1AEOuY7Rjmra4M5yjogXxad4GazEjQ8foJ_I09Yig54L7XfL7plxfexLWbXJH6R4JpGj2a1r5Hrc1Jy8XV8e1rjXB2ubPKnHv7WACeytCNoa9s8KNCiZdXqtTC05dJpetJ7k-Sx-J0K8b74C/w400-h300/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(126).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eAj_xbfgQEQD95JuynFWAAyOwYrYXXovVkXUf-ClAad29qmHh48-da_EC-waHYW-IIOfSg1pXsTA8YMYiCJMOOaLnIfioHcV2wf1UcQFKdR-MvyMynIkcydSYyX56ntP1tiroZS_oucPdCu43SMXi1szzxNtsW682Za9lIr0yanShxcraePkkL80WMBt/s5753/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(127).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5753" data-original-width="3841" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eAj_xbfgQEQD95JuynFWAAyOwYrYXXovVkXUf-ClAad29qmHh48-da_EC-waHYW-IIOfSg1pXsTA8YMYiCJMOOaLnIfioHcV2wf1UcQFKdR-MvyMynIkcydSYyX56ntP1tiroZS_oucPdCu43SMXi1szzxNtsW682Za9lIr0yanShxcraePkkL80WMBt/w268-h400/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(127).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>It total Stanley Park spans more than 1000 acres in size and
is larger than New York’s Central Park and is a designated a National Historic Site of Canada noted
for its huge trees and green space at the centre of one of the nation’s largest
cities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In particular the Vancouver
Seawall, the route the TCT follows around this amazing urban parks, is one of
the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront walkways. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFy4JL-5yPHA2g5yUmg5HJWrcyRKM1kRVQ4SkwnAvxLTuPWFwvCC_Obicq994KE9cChXgQjeK1jTGvSg9SZa0_vnzryhmo8otjAw97a-d7vfeS4ZAEl0UK-usSZsuaR9hxYIWaDj9PciKt3Qp38cXdjBW4D-HO5mX-DqsjM4nuAbZn5jvUnaWMm67wBd8W/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(130).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFy4JL-5yPHA2g5yUmg5HJWrcyRKM1kRVQ4SkwnAvxLTuPWFwvCC_Obicq994KE9cChXgQjeK1jTGvSg9SZa0_vnzryhmo8otjAw97a-d7vfeS4ZAEl0UK-usSZsuaR9hxYIWaDj9PciKt3Qp38cXdjBW4D-HO5mX-DqsjM4nuAbZn5jvUnaWMm67wBd8W/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(130).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WnkZrSfC5V8puHpQRpUDnisuBJyZ8xNhXUaTVmLmXNRdhl3MJgRFFU9Mb9Vu7RdIykp4JT4S8t4AFd9yvPikPe2nvZHGZO-nSwtRxP9CmhBCJ8ejLLAl-x6NvqwyFvugVPr75kxut69D2XjWmgF3OBJiA4RW6MQFauYt2XuKv9UfVp68ZwJQ_IMmckH9/s3913/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(131).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2935" data-original-width="3913" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WnkZrSfC5V8puHpQRpUDnisuBJyZ8xNhXUaTVmLmXNRdhl3MJgRFFU9Mb9Vu7RdIykp4JT4S8t4AFd9yvPikPe2nvZHGZO-nSwtRxP9CmhBCJ8ejLLAl-x6NvqwyFvugVPr75kxut69D2XjWmgF3OBJiA4RW6MQFauYt2XuKv9UfVp68ZwJQ_IMmckH9/w400-h300/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(131).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;">Along
it we trekked under the Lion’s Gate Bridge, visited Indigenous totem poles, saw
the famed 9 o’clock gun and wove around a beautiful marina on the edge of the
city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></b></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Salish Sea Marine
Trail</b></h2></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOaPREBKa-WFbiSXHyREdL_iQvya0o8CKRcq3xDJSfnLv0-eJsTNAMB33jTA90RIGgKnrIJxkBhl4Qp3U6vlpJGZJNhde4v9heOf8IMElOxiWEed0HPcRB3IdaiEm_Hdu7IU0C5ZexizfMwjM_n2EWi6Er8TyAF65latsTN9NIdtpAKfMFT1JGTH28k9n/s4032/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(107).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYOaPREBKa-WFbiSXHyREdL_iQvya0o8CKRcq3xDJSfnLv0-eJsTNAMB33jTA90RIGgKnrIJxkBhl4Qp3U6vlpJGZJNhde4v9heOf8IMElOxiWEed0HPcRB3IdaiEm_Hdu7IU0C5ZexizfMwjM_n2EWi6Er8TyAF65latsTN9NIdtpAKfMFT1JGTH28k9n/w400-h300/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(107).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></o:p></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p><br /></o:p>Leaving the mainland of Canada behind us to the east we next
ventured onto one of the many paddling sections of the Great Trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These water routes are scattered across the
nation and over the four years of our hike we typically walked around them
rather than dealing with the logistics of arranging for a kayak or canoe on the
go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nearing our goal and having now
reached the Pacific (and having access to kayaks from Sechelt) it was time for
us to try something new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDR9WIYQKCIwcca0isfZrg_u_i3YcK_UWafMJLYqHrUEGCmcbqfVTVzjVHQAnpHyGwD755vFAw3YXXII_hhPxKnN6a6fb7tSLUGvuJKKusLYJcfyo4fPFW87cr68En9SCZFup7tsRp7xefJTXMz6GSas41jSR2F0-jSmdZ2MBb44NGCOIMRyJhOPE3XIZ/s640/Salish%20Sea%20Marine%20Trail%20detailed%20Map.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="488" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyDR9WIYQKCIwcca0isfZrg_u_i3YcK_UWafMJLYqHrUEGCmcbqfVTVzjVHQAnpHyGwD755vFAw3YXXII_hhPxKnN6a6fb7tSLUGvuJKKusLYJcfyo4fPFW87cr68En9SCZFup7tsRp7xefJTXMz6GSas41jSR2F0-jSmdZ2MBb44NGCOIMRyJhOPE3XIZ/w305-h400/Salish%20Sea%20Marine%20Trail%20detailed%20Map.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><o:p> <br /></o:p>On the coastline of Horseshoe Bay is one of the most beautiful
TCT water routes in Canada - the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.bcmarinetrails.org/salish-sea-marine-trail/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SalishSea Marine Trail.</a></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Created in 2017
and 267 km in length, the Salish Sea Marine Trail connects Horseshoe Bay, Squamish,
and the Sunshine Coast before weaving throughout the Gulf Islands of the Salish
Sea to Vancouver Island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This water
route incorporates access to coastal towns, navigates provincial parks, and has
a number of possibilities for camping along the shoreline.</div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDWIgC8qZYDFA9Ao_rV3Su1MJPQA_JgTAOWywPdRTdKbs0oDOE4FQywdldSgC_-ZaSPilK8dN9xFHoBVSuOdy9KGDNZbEKFe_l3U-S8LNpBqyPpjB9_Oef7eBR6RmU9Luv7h5KkUMb2-deTTq-0asRr9Hg6ey3OXEmoFtoVkQlZUgek957I2XBmjrikOR/s6000/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(4).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDWIgC8qZYDFA9Ao_rV3Su1MJPQA_JgTAOWywPdRTdKbs0oDOE4FQywdldSgC_-ZaSPilK8dN9xFHoBVSuOdy9KGDNZbEKFe_l3U-S8LNpBqyPpjB9_Oef7eBR6RmU9Luv7h5KkUMb2-deTTq-0asRr9Hg6ey3OXEmoFtoVkQlZUgek957I2XBmjrikOR/w400-h266/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(4).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>In terms of marine life the waters here are one of the west
coast’s most diverse ecosystems supporting up to 253 fish species, migratory
birds, and marine mammals including orcas, sea lions, seals, otters, starfish,
jellyfish and various whale species.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Salish Sea Marine Trail name also reflects the native heritage of the area,
which is populated by the Coast Salish, the indigenous peoples of southwest
British Columbia and northwest Washington who traditionally inhabited the lands
along the Salish Sea.</div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7xpKvsWqK5DjQz1_f1dqgcyPg6JFBRNiOblSKHLb8Gu2N4Zm-2s2YAosUvDigMRQgiL6KezHbFMgPrmPPvAaHOdFl9VCrbbrwjaKL9ryOheeNZJ3GcCO743nwnvnKctx5G1IuJ3RVFyD9eWSmQz5RLaWK5wyFB2L8K4VxdDUtGB5mST01vAfxSw0JU87/s5994/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3992" data-original-width="5994" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ7xpKvsWqK5DjQz1_f1dqgcyPg6JFBRNiOblSKHLb8Gu2N4Zm-2s2YAosUvDigMRQgiL6KezHbFMgPrmPPvAaHOdFl9VCrbbrwjaKL9ryOheeNZJ3GcCO743nwnvnKctx5G1IuJ3RVFyD9eWSmQz5RLaWK5wyFB2L8K4VxdDUtGB5mST01vAfxSw0JU87/w400-h266/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(3).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>During our time on “the path of the paddle” we saw seals,
whales, and coastal birds all the while struggling against coastal tides,
strong currents, unexpected swells and tough winds between the islands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps most challenging along this route was
having to deal with the regular ferry traffic and stunning number of shipping
vessels along the Pacific coast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></b></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cowichan Valley Trail</b></h2></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></b>The end of our time in kayaks brought us to Vancouver Island
where the next section we would hike, and first on the island is also<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>the most westerly portion of the Trans
Canada Trail between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Developed on a former CN Railway line the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.cvrd.ca/121/Cowichan-Valley-Trail" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cowichan Valley Trail</a></b> is a 129 km long
path spanning from the town of Ladysmith to the border of Goldstream Provincial
Park to the south.</div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYR1c6oVkZ3c6AEW6tX37Ts134qvw9XrgIdhALC82OFBDSwFpLaBc8huFwTvepc0305sABsyC7hw27i7RuToADnFlVKjskpPoPS8UnPkMshQMPiAlXvT4GipALcJf6_U7M78VPDZVqDIiveOYaDHSaqd7y7z5Ae_wlzIgTyPfotq6FR3TvpxNFvM2Duit/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(144).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRYR1c6oVkZ3c6AEW6tX37Ts134qvw9XrgIdhALC82OFBDSwFpLaBc8huFwTvepc0305sABsyC7hw27i7RuToADnFlVKjskpPoPS8UnPkMshQMPiAlXvT4GipALcJf6_U7M78VPDZVqDIiveOYaDHSaqd7y7z5Ae_wlzIgTyPfotq6FR3TvpxNFvM2Duit/w268-h400/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(144).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOiCixcKJsbMSFDSoq3haQGhr-CD-I1QCIWjxoOiH-zML6i3uj1iX6OAPasNWF3Oce6RU5NKla57zmtgcZZR9IQMlQH1ys7DgHRCWPMv6eLxHryZ2CUyZdQWh2b0HkPQCSVv3A8pGHjNmHN2z-RQS6eqPlvrfrYn2cpWyndorr0AUfOF85FYMhYNualQq/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(148).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Western Terminus." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOiCixcKJsbMSFDSoq3haQGhr-CD-I1QCIWjxoOiH-zML6i3uj1iX6OAPasNWF3Oce6RU5NKla57zmtgcZZR9IQMlQH1ys7DgHRCWPMv6eLxHryZ2CUyZdQWh2b0HkPQCSVv3A8pGHjNmHN2z-RQS6eqPlvrfrYn2cpWyndorr0AUfOF85FYMhYNualQq/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(148).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>One of the country’s nicest Rail Trails, the Cowichan Valley
Trail crosses eight restored trestle bridges, taking hikers to picnic and rest
areas along the entire route.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here we
trekked under a canopy of lush trees while enjoying spectacular views of the
region. Highlights en route include the opportunity to visit the Western
Terminus of the Trans Canada Trail in community of Lake Cowichan, venture over
the historical Kinsol Trestle, and being able to reconnect with nature beyond
the bustle of the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1dGlf12McJOH-2G43x0RllUvCMLFtSj399A8DHk7fyDF2XF8BT0HmP71hkjZkXmhpw_bfe2EGXUo4ke27zBJ_KYYx8apVkfyZc_K2tndKncDgvAXrOMgLzTiwf7lnB6EtvORBjeUYYCo9mVzs0ZuG58SDAzH9ZLRTi7AtamsPJNJaGtGSu3mp3CBtbYC/s4324/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(149).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2886" data-original-width="4324" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1dGlf12McJOH-2G43x0RllUvCMLFtSj399A8DHk7fyDF2XF8BT0HmP71hkjZkXmhpw_bfe2EGXUo4ke27zBJ_KYYx8apVkfyZc_K2tndKncDgvAXrOMgLzTiwf7lnB6EtvORBjeUYYCo9mVzs0ZuG58SDAzH9ZLRTi7AtamsPJNJaGtGSu3mp3CBtbYC/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(149).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Wk9mkLo3-15ibymMSVD2R_8da2XLDuMg36vGcXzgyFueraqRQ6tQYcYz5z2_mglXqb7xAXhT9nm2y_7lWyRQjrMyXDfCjm0czEPY-aGyEn915B83Zpr-CLquExojgyYodamTPR9qZw21P_uq-iiCWsE-ZG-CF7YBlha9E1ak3xGxMLmt_gNN9AYOt7nU/s4032/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(151).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Wk9mkLo3-15ibymMSVD2R_8da2XLDuMg36vGcXzgyFueraqRQ6tQYcYz5z2_mglXqb7xAXhT9nm2y_7lWyRQjrMyXDfCjm0czEPY-aGyEn915B83Zpr-CLquExojgyYodamTPR9qZw21P_uq-iiCWsE-ZG-CF7YBlha9E1ak3xGxMLmt_gNN9AYOt7nU/w400-h300/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(151).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;">In addition to which this trail begins near and continues
beyond the 49<sup>th</sup> Parallel – which is the historical Canadian-American
southern border.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As this border does not
extend across Vancouver Island it means that south bound hikers will get
frequent views of the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State!<br /><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></b></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Capital Pathways</b></h2></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></b>Now on the edge of Victoria and not far from our final
destination of the Pacific Terminus of the Trans Canada Trail we followed a
series of pathways including the Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail, Galloping Goose
Trail and the urban routes BC’s capital city.</div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Yse2c8qlfDLWlBVsbJWLz50GNNK9xtI5mOOHq2gjUtBY4jyz32OO46TlJULCzeq8c3SpgQVETxkNC66QQDu6NOT3nPwWCOdpq-zX01AaClKC05wGr5vLVOXEnKKSt2rhsCfdS1J_Zj7NaeplzwxqWEuln4tm2pS0rsfQzEqI8_IohXAZMW4BbBs3k6xk/s3088/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(156).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2061" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Yse2c8qlfDLWlBVsbJWLz50GNNK9xtI5mOOHq2gjUtBY4jyz32OO46TlJULCzeq8c3SpgQVETxkNC66QQDu6NOT3nPwWCOdpq-zX01AaClKC05wGr5vLVOXEnKKSt2rhsCfdS1J_Zj7NaeplzwxqWEuln4tm2pS0rsfQzEqI8_IohXAZMW4BbBs3k6xk/w214-h320/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(156).JPG" width="214" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjDNEQN3Yo0Y43oPoBOy_1x6UDWN9ulZ6qCgjLcW0bRPFxCsiHvBg9gMZ8u-v6yek0SqVRkrJHwzGieh7sxhlrqOo-gQFIQkwDQeyiZXlCpRlO-Rkx6kzZ6Qq72mB7qBNMc5HntqQ28_ei41EqJwYCLtmU7yp-3uKWTDCMLsGTwYpl73-BhF4lGG7j3y0/s4029/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(154).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4029" data-original-width="2689" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjDNEQN3Yo0Y43oPoBOy_1x6UDWN9ulZ6qCgjLcW0bRPFxCsiHvBg9gMZ8u-v6yek0SqVRkrJHwzGieh7sxhlrqOo-gQFIQkwDQeyiZXlCpRlO-Rkx6kzZ6Qq72mB7qBNMc5HntqQ28_ei41EqJwYCLtmU7yp-3uKWTDCMLsGTwYpl73-BhF4lGG7j3y0/s320/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(154).JPG" width="214" /></a></div></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.crd.bc.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-trails/find-park-trail/sookehills-wilderness" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sooke Hills Wilderness Trail</a></b> is located just north of the provincial capital and
connects the Cowichan Valley Trails to the cities of Langford and
Victoria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It traverses the region’s
largest park along a packed gravel surface through dense forests while
navigating the borders of the Humpback Reservoir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we set out onto this trail the
undulating terrain and natural beauty of the region led us though arbutus
forests and to owls which meant that we took a great deal longer here than
anticipated.</div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJPG256YcVOA8LTpFeZb4IpE5gL6fl0SDoTM5-OIaHyLg-eIjR5HUS6iwmSSlPQRDc4zz_3K9hQgHrjStupy_NY_44vbxO8yIQ4H0a2hlguqUhJvZG8bRufdUgAmXKAe8Zqe1VVmT7D44_0zj2vkoH8XlS6ZrPU1AoIiBMVnN-q1cxyOFDfqCny9R3ODm/s3383/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(158).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2259" data-original-width="3383" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJPG256YcVOA8LTpFeZb4IpE5gL6fl0SDoTM5-OIaHyLg-eIjR5HUS6iwmSSlPQRDc4zz_3K9hQgHrjStupy_NY_44vbxO8yIQ4H0a2hlguqUhJvZG8bRufdUgAmXKAe8Zqe1VVmT7D44_0zj2vkoH8XlS6ZrPU1AoIiBMVnN-q1cxyOFDfqCny9R3ODm/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(158).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1xibvkWbndfqT0zufpZuTlqbH4bX-88IP92QikhxDgw1U5NYXXNEktAPEDHFo1nVvq7Huxzy1ZmBnPBPPQ3yMjoprxszwnaMRDNyxRjVRWO5jW4_uLFY6GMopbT6lDU1qxuEd10_yX8oD6WKYO-LnNi802Y6rxskSKbAnGgC7m8bIEKFyNun0WeVIOSU/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(159).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj1xibvkWbndfqT0zufpZuTlqbH4bX-88IP92QikhxDgw1U5NYXXNEktAPEDHFo1nVvq7Huxzy1ZmBnPBPPQ3yMjoprxszwnaMRDNyxRjVRWO5jW4_uLFY6GMopbT6lDU1qxuEd10_yX8oD6WKYO-LnNi802Y6rxskSKbAnGgC7m8bIEKFyNun0WeVIOSU/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(159).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>Connecting amid the suburb of the City of Langley we joined
with the Galloping Goose Trail, a 16.5 km long paved route that would lead us
into the heart of Victoria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Named after
a historic local rail line, the Galloping Goose kept us off the busy city
roadways and led us to explore the Swan Lake Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary,
as well as <a href="https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/fortroddhill" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Fort Rodd Hill and</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Fisgard
Lighthouse National Historic Sites</b></a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ultimately it would take us to a point only 5 km from our final goal.</div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkV1sSjTJEOZ5cMUjrqAlMzQADzq6TnBf9MCt2RB1uOcWvf3CphvI_sGQNst1UX8zuxTC-7sQ-FK_pF2MmWICT_CUC307-KMQqVGi0iSIAAupwDjC5zts7lvrXW9ai1C4Yvp6jxbcWtPV_G-43PL9NjNUV5w5VhXCBY6RPrIsP4gL9yBDwaIaNS40ELUJi/s2477/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(161).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail hiking and cycling Victoria." border="0" data-original-height="1654" data-original-width="2477" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkV1sSjTJEOZ5cMUjrqAlMzQADzq6TnBf9MCt2RB1uOcWvf3CphvI_sGQNst1UX8zuxTC-7sQ-FK_pF2MmWICT_CUC307-KMQqVGi0iSIAAupwDjC5zts7lvrXW9ai1C4Yvp6jxbcWtPV_G-43PL9NjNUV5w5VhXCBY6RPrIsP4gL9yBDwaIaNS40ELUJi/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(161).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">British Columbia
Deeply Connected with Nature</b></h2></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p> <br /></o:p></b>Taken as a whole, there is no denying that the Trans Canada
Trail in British Columbia is a monumental challenge – not just to hike or cycle
but for those who have built and continue to maintain the national pathway.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>From
urban walkways, to weaving through the interior grasslands, to long stretches
of extensive rail trails, trestles and trail tunnels to mountain passes in the
Rockies, southern BC’s potion of the TCT is one of the most varied in the
nation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In crossing the entire southern run of the
Great Trail one gets the opportunity to explore the “other” British Columbia,
visit frontier towns, discover the history of the province’s development and
railways, and to access nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBW_TO_Gn1jGTYgqx8uGBheGZO86D7BZkqEv82TPdbEH4oS-etSTMWuZjOcQSTQRH6ZirQJluI0Twu0irnhDWS_-hjjicsj3ZgDTEkBn63TNha90vkp-m9HtUV5GDGxWzzJwX0C80ZKlZGRwDNOoDc-tsIPzVfZErdueyuTYCMHDA4Kx3daLZn-i60Mhq/s5340/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(163).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5340" data-original-width="3564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBW_TO_Gn1jGTYgqx8uGBheGZO86D7BZkqEv82TPdbEH4oS-etSTMWuZjOcQSTQRH6ZirQJluI0Twu0irnhDWS_-hjjicsj3ZgDTEkBn63TNha90vkp-m9HtUV5GDGxWzzJwX0C80ZKlZGRwDNOoDc-tsIPzVfZErdueyuTYCMHDA4Kx3daLZn-i60Mhq/w268-h400/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(163).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><o:p> <br /></o:p>Yet the cost of being able to do and see so much in a single
province is reflected in the staggering effort required to maintain it and keep
it open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With long stretches of this system being along
logging roads and including rail trails that are actively used by lumber
companies to access the backwoods the trail could easily degrade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That it does not is a testament to provincial
trail builders such as those amazing people we met on the Columbia and Western.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly, several areas along the
route have been repeatedly subject to floods, avalanches, and landslides and
have to therefore be continually restored and reopened as a result.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While yet other regions such as the KVR’s
Myra Canyon have been rebuilt several times after being destroyed by
wildfires.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When taken as a whole the
amount of effort required to keep British Columbia’s portion of the Trans
Canada Trail running is reflective of the dedication of trail builders across
the country.</div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNJVAzTPXFJoIHNlfuxIP72xmIFBXXN1iFSRajHAkQRlMVuXr48jMSulYR8HTQBSLPA4t8fC6IKy5i30ljWrobMQwlUGRhgWsMIfuVU96J8w7hGoUoOOaEWNevAMK9UCi7bXZ7zrcs922EeKi7ek_lJsk3ZbrffVGGzQ9n7bm9sm0omXypPMLqTGJNjoy/s2164/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(164).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Pacific Terminus." border="0" data-original-height="2164" data-original-width="2164" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNJVAzTPXFJoIHNlfuxIP72xmIFBXXN1iFSRajHAkQRlMVuXr48jMSulYR8HTQBSLPA4t8fC6IKy5i30ljWrobMQwlUGRhgWsMIfuVU96J8w7hGoUoOOaEWNevAMK9UCi7bXZ7zrcs922EeKi7ek_lJsk3ZbrffVGGzQ9n7bm9sm0omXypPMLqTGJNjoy/w400-h400/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(164).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><o:p> <br /></o:p>For our part, <span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;">throughout it all, we were constantly amazed by the province’s natural
splendors, beautiful landscapes and its huge variety of wildlife and birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>There is no denying that the Trans
Canada Trail in southern BC provides people with the means to explore,
discover, and enjoy the best of the nation’s outdoors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A route which enables all who are
adventurous to climb the Rocky Mountains, trek the continental trench, traverse
historic dykes and paddle the Salish Sea is stunning to behold.</div><div style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRDMq8KXT0ifOym5GY_dH-R5jsfR8qyNCrYdEwYfruYvALPVn_bU-ugmfVAsIBzVOyIXVn1xQBspLo7r7B5Vjyfmi5yUVsAXjWh-S7t66GEw5ATCpGkHYyNl9BEo8GODq1zOCabCpId0cvoNfmw6yDz60W-k_EPZhuscLcTrPtW4Dye3kOoGgFqt2YSPM/s5415/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(137).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1829" data-original-width="5415" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRDMq8KXT0ifOym5GY_dH-R5jsfR8qyNCrYdEwYfruYvALPVn_bU-ugmfVAsIBzVOyIXVn1xQBspLo7r7B5Vjyfmi5yUVsAXjWh-S7t66GEw5ATCpGkHYyNl9BEo8GODq1zOCabCpId0cvoNfmw6yDz60W-k_EPZhuscLcTrPtW4Dye3kOoGgFqt2YSPM/w639-h215/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20British%20Columbia%20(137).JPG" width="639" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Sechelt, BC, Canada49.4741736 -123.754560121.163939763821155 -158.9108101 77.784407436178839 -88.5983101tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-59628885159418727362023-09-26T19:02:00.001-04:002023-09-26T19:02:17.162-04:00Nature Canada Letter of Congratulations #Hike4Birds<p>A huge thank you to<b> <a href="https://naturecanada.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nature Canada</a></b> for recognizing our <b><a href="http://www.comewalkwithus.online" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">#Hike4Birds</a></b> along the <b><a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trans Canada Trail </a></b>over the past few years. We greatly appreciate your recognition and support!<br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilU19MC3C7rV9zuK0aj2h76WiwN7C-WvZcjHvbOncZINs0qIxbVznBjgcjQTev6PTIsKfq7Ih-dVKIwm1Kt42St_w2V0rmgaLGrD1Y03ZCfS0JllBFlYTvMgeXt3AeN_T8KtiJ2btSULib6kOFjb05jwlJDVG6Zz9rHWTbUcZeac1SoyXdNlchAB9wbVfN/s3250/Nature%20Canada%20Letter%20of%20Congratuatlions%20pg%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3250" data-original-width="2501" height="773" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilU19MC3C7rV9zuK0aj2h76WiwN7C-WvZcjHvbOncZINs0qIxbVznBjgcjQTev6PTIsKfq7Ih-dVKIwm1Kt42St_w2V0rmgaLGrD1Y03ZCfS0JllBFlYTvMgeXt3AeN_T8KtiJ2btSULib6kOFjb05jwlJDVG6Zz9rHWTbUcZeac1SoyXdNlchAB9wbVfN/w596-h773/Nature%20Canada%20Letter%20of%20Congratuatlions%20pg%201.jpg" width="596" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTNZ4QW40f7J3i0oqNUz3x0CfBUiqcBnZv4TUljFAQpPeJ-P-aYWjF83JEuFioX-E2zzUdfQSKXt3_i2KNv7Y4UwPZExJy0x2v3WHWM3g-08Fu-PUJc_HEbywuI5zCqpfYULGWBMFk5KdlCdea1vM42yIi957SOGHykN5R0xd6Yvcq9AQLIWqALxgdtkJ/s3288/Nature%20Canada%20Letter%20of%20Congratuatlions%20pg%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3288" data-original-width="2552" height="783" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTNZ4QW40f7J3i0oqNUz3x0CfBUiqcBnZv4TUljFAQpPeJ-P-aYWjF83JEuFioX-E2zzUdfQSKXt3_i2KNv7Y4UwPZExJy0x2v3WHWM3g-08Fu-PUJc_HEbywuI5zCqpfYULGWBMFk5KdlCdea1vM42yIi957SOGHykN5R0xd6Yvcq9AQLIWqALxgdtkJ/w607-h783/Nature%20Canada%20Letter%20of%20Congratuatlions%20pg%202.jpg" width="607" /></a></div><br /> </div><br /><p></p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Sechelt, BC, Canada49.4741736 -123.754560121.163939763821155 -158.9108101 77.784407436178839 -88.5983101tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-34613730001859330622023-08-23T12:16:00.002-04:002023-08-23T12:16:56.967-04:00There Was Never going to be a Cathedral…<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSN9DsxJJM2IDF_pz271d4neTY-UjnwTH3Vwq3Z_DfPOGh508Asuw_9IKItWXVFy_sbtGZaZqHVisZfNuy6VqqmbUGDEwd8FkXSt_luiO0P3yy7O0QzYYWAJt2-tllHiBpqpEQeaadyNKkG-VsJBvZ-YNQlmk7Kycj7aGw2oO6c3bU2MsajrVfd8SBCdF8/s3868/Santiago%20to%20Lisbon%20-%20SM%20(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2901" data-original-width="3868" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSN9DsxJJM2IDF_pz271d4neTY-UjnwTH3Vwq3Z_DfPOGh508Asuw_9IKItWXVFy_sbtGZaZqHVisZfNuy6VqqmbUGDEwd8FkXSt_luiO0P3yy7O0QzYYWAJt2-tllHiBpqpEQeaadyNKkG-VsJBvZ-YNQlmk7Kycj7aGw2oO6c3bU2MsajrVfd8SBCdF8/w400-h300/Santiago%20to%20Lisbon%20-%20SM%20(3).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">One
of the lessons we learned from walking to </span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://ourwalkalongthecaminofrances.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Santiago de Compostela</a></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">, Spain is that
pilgrimage is not about the cathedral at the end.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This piece of wisdom has been freely shared
by other pilgrims, in online forums, and even in many of the Camino guidebooks.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Simply put, the cathedral is not the end of
the journey.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7L_DltGNHflbnipf8HMD-dKpwnObEj7RzrRWoivoju7eA5DDw-N2SBw-iKEzab1tY-HNWs_IKwjvmREdmX1WtZeg5TUH5SfrOmiB27Qhob0_-WgS1mJwsjXTr-2eGBA0mHFyRop9OGIrseL0i2WmyjpCmGIRo3MzvPxlTeq4kpNWHZvaW0C9pyTn7xrL/s6016/Camino%20de%20Santiago%20Sonya%20Richmond%20(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7L_DltGNHflbnipf8HMD-dKpwnObEj7RzrRWoivoju7eA5DDw-N2SBw-iKEzab1tY-HNWs_IKwjvmREdmX1WtZeg5TUH5SfrOmiB27Qhob0_-WgS1mJwsjXTr-2eGBA0mHFyRop9OGIrseL0i2WmyjpCmGIRo3MzvPxlTeq4kpNWHZvaW0C9pyTn7xrL/w400-h268/Camino%20de%20Santiago%20Sonya%20Richmond%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_-6ITLV89L1uLgULjJp-K_NMSFv1sYFn0k4_MzNxxJCIbXMYaPsPPkoyrHO_pdT4l_XlecV2x6OPD2t2dNt0MXasLh72ZZ2IV0MeI1IDi0Mgu3p_CdOyD63VwSuqAJ4vNa8wKayf0Kmsj_HFL7N01ZpwPWUKYZd1vqupHb0gCPcR7FRO7y-txfvM-QCS/s6016/Camino%20de%20Santiago%20Sonya%20Richmond%20(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_-6ITLV89L1uLgULjJp-K_NMSFv1sYFn0k4_MzNxxJCIbXMYaPsPPkoyrHO_pdT4l_XlecV2x6OPD2t2dNt0MXasLh72ZZ2IV0MeI1IDi0Mgu3p_CdOyD63VwSuqAJ4vNa8wKayf0Kmsj_HFL7N01ZpwPWUKYZd1vqupHb0gCPcR7FRO7y-txfvM-QCS/w268-h400/Camino%20de%20Santiago%20Sonya%20Richmond%20(3).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">We soon realized that while
the cathedral in Santiago has its own sense of grandeur, and it is exciting to
receive our Compostela, which is an official certificate of completion,
ultimately we did not undertake the journey to arrive at a building or to
receive a piece of paper.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> The trek was
undertaken for our own reasons and for goals beyond the trail.</span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“In
every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.”</span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 144.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">John Muir</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While
ostensibly any hike or pilgrimage is a physical undertaking, it is also a mental
and spiritual journey. In an uncertain world, hikes are one of those things
that give us direction, a clear goal, and a sense of accomplishment.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">They are physically refreshing and mentally
relaxing.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Long distance treks push this
further, allowing us to pursue grand goals, meet the challenges en route, learn
endurance, and attempt to deal with those deeper burdens that each of us carry
throughout life.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQkPlcuBQqaQiyGvJMESESUa_CVdHDos30_tQa1gk-n-hblBLRQPcgpsWZPmAcWI1T28pGTTEDJwkyNJVflRn6IFvKTz3RLEBe1qIdvAd_6d6sgNDFXyN4poS9ezg_7r9MZV6j32zR_0bXLQXp_ZCfh0dDq_cZw19oRz8bzwFoaxwBneiDEDN66rCkqlK/s5526/Sonya%20and%20Sean%20NFLD%20(105).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3689" data-original-width="5526" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQkPlcuBQqaQiyGvJMESESUa_CVdHDos30_tQa1gk-n-hblBLRQPcgpsWZPmAcWI1T28pGTTEDJwkyNJVflRn6IFvKTz3RLEBe1qIdvAd_6d6sgNDFXyN4poS9ezg_7r9MZV6j32zR_0bXLQXp_ZCfh0dDq_cZw19oRz8bzwFoaxwBneiDEDN66rCkqlK/w400-h268/Sonya%20and%20Sean%20NFLD%20(105).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As
we spend hours walking, or weeks and months hiking between communities, over changing
landscapes, and alongside rivers and roads we begin to sort through
things.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of these burdens we come to
terms with, other matters get resolved, while others we learn to accept or set
aside.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet not everything is worked out en
route, and much like a pilgrimage – the process is ongoing and continues beyond
our time on the trail.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p><i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Get
lost in nature and you will find yourself.”</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As
a result, the reflecting and thinking continues after the physical adventure
comes to an end.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the weeks and months
that follow the completion of a trek we invariably keep asking a lot of
questions.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We search for the meaning in
our hikes, strive to find words to explain our venture, and many of us hope
that the time and effort spent on it was justified. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is, of course, a natural process.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCjnxh2wH2xPAKq4Jg2gB-edXrUOf67ywrUTMwUA-rfSHGcq9fjACgYWlmyenOuex9QBCbAFeua-fBwUW_JdRAXEWiEgS2TjQwn9LwO7TbgUW7iIB3fEhLVVJp0YRRl-ZMmI9Yzp_U9DNKo9SUO8R8Np8JwUip9n7G5DXujUYsWU9lD9P6wDNym-dhquC/s4338/Vila%20do%20Bispo%20to%20Carrapateira%20-%20to%20edit%20Print%20(110).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2896" data-original-width="4338" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCjnxh2wH2xPAKq4Jg2gB-edXrUOf67ywrUTMwUA-rfSHGcq9fjACgYWlmyenOuex9QBCbAFeua-fBwUW_JdRAXEWiEgS2TjQwn9LwO7TbgUW7iIB3fEhLVVJp0YRRl-ZMmI9Yzp_U9DNKo9SUO8R8Np8JwUip9n7G5DXujUYsWU9lD9P6wDNym-dhquC/w400-h268/Vila%20do%20Bispo%20to%20Carrapateira%20-%20to%20edit%20Print%20(110).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">However,
it also takes place because even though it is hard to explain the need to go on
pilgrimage or hike across a nation, it is nonetheless somehow important to be
able to put it into words and rationally frame it in some way.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We feel that we are expected to articulate
the meaning of our hike and detail how our lives were changed so that others
can make sense of it.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet the truth is,
so much of what we undergo in nature cannot be easily explained.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Some of it is an indescribable feeling, some
of it is too personal, and some of it (to be honest) would just sound silly to
those who have not had the same experience.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBYHmmEUnbrfVCrLOzfIt_rjZsqibMj5C8CFr0sOcCZ6JFxTcpuvDx0t-NBBdJkCfZzRcls47yPjQUCLvmCV9v7gA1LkFGl0ZRx_HkrkkR2iV4UkFLbNwOBFcEqHIzeOodQJ9WSGT4yj97k7lGkP9D3_JBKhukboFisM3XIiq0_jC_XecNr27LjVKHV7z/s6000/Camino%20de%20Santiago%20Sonya%20Richmond%20(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCBYHmmEUnbrfVCrLOzfIt_rjZsqibMj5C8CFr0sOcCZ6JFxTcpuvDx0t-NBBdJkCfZzRcls47yPjQUCLvmCV9v7gA1LkFGl0ZRx_HkrkkR2iV4UkFLbNwOBFcEqHIzeOodQJ9WSGT4yj97k7lGkP9D3_JBKhukboFisM3XIiq0_jC_XecNr27LjVKHV7z/w400-h266/Camino%20de%20Santiago%20Sonya%20Richmond%20(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You
can get a sense of this after walking a Camino, wherein pilgrims often smile
when they see a yellow arrow or shell in their daily lives.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Regardless of the fact that such symbols
might simply be construction markers, random shapes, or company logos in their
neighborhoods, they have taken on a deeper and inexpressible meaning.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This relationship and feeling serves as a
reflection that the individual has gone on a quest and is not the same person
as they were before.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It also shows that
while you might not be able to explain or justify your choice to go out into
the world to others, it was and is the right thing to have done, for you.</span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p><i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Returning home is the most difficult part
of long-distance hiking;</span></i></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> You have grown outside the puzzle and your
piece no longer fits.”</span></i></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 180pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cindy Ross</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And
so it is with our </span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.comewalkwithus.online" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">#Hike4Birds</a></b><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.comewalkwithus.online" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a>across
Canada on the </span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trans Canada Trail</a></b><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The numbers we regularly share such as 556
days, 4 years, 14,000 km, 10 provinces, 810 blogs, etc. are all statistical
descriptors that truly fail to convey the depth of this epic adventure.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In every way, our hike on the Trans Canada
Trail was and is much more, and we are still struggling to put this into words
in a way that would make sense.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwitz1VeteeH4O3z687JZCNbhG4vXG2wz8sdtp-RB5b8lzhOqrgZuiYvmqxZ8cmP6K79W2lU-fjAYomMkWyy6Q2xB7nRKKi6L6qXS2pN0Ry_2KVOkNrR-SkYcKnGrB12aGOdD-BDYCdMwgPm5yp7bJ8hX10RHqGrM9DX99H_zvQWcCtqb81hkqsIZzFxv/s2560/TCT%20Map%2028000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1781" data-original-width="2560" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwitz1VeteeH4O3z687JZCNbhG4vXG2wz8sdtp-RB5b8lzhOqrgZuiYvmqxZ8cmP6K79W2lU-fjAYomMkWyy6Q2xB7nRKKi6L6qXS2pN0Ry_2KVOkNrR-SkYcKnGrB12aGOdD-BDYCdMwgPm5yp7bJ8hX10RHqGrM9DX99H_zvQWcCtqb81hkqsIZzFxv/w400-h279/TCT%20Map%2028000.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Over
the past few months, since arriving into Victoria, BC, each moment on the TCT
has come to have renewed meaning for us. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">When writing articles for various magazines and
editing our Photo Book – </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Canada: A View
from the Trail </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">– we have recalled and recounted hundreds of stories.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We remember the feel of each region, the conversations
with people, and the glorious fall colours of the Great Trail.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">With many of the pictures we've taken along
the way we can happily recall those moments when the Pacific seemed impossibly
far away and we doubted our ability to get there.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This
year, while visiting family in British Columbia, we felt excited every time we
saw the Trans Canada Trail signs or realized we were near the route we lived on
for 4 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Equally, while working and
hiking in Ontario we have both found ourselves at the cross roads of a trail
and longed to head back out across the province, and then keep going, into the
wilds of Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The TCT holds great
meaning for us these days, and it has been hard not hiking on it this
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBgECzoRtYc6vOknV-K0-_t9Uds6go1E9BXyGzIAAyEGE7OKIDTgrcDhnuc-u0NHBAhO4qzIGHGXb-k0yh8ACw4FP0NYJT_H7SVv2Z2m4OUb7ETWEechBGcA3Xsc5kq6_8UUc17dLKLdvAmA5NWdugfTZL5p8ugztZSaNSYDbIJ_ImOObKjbBIetwKEcI/s6016/TWO_1008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3873" data-original-width="6016" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUBgECzoRtYc6vOknV-K0-_t9Uds6go1E9BXyGzIAAyEGE7OKIDTgrcDhnuc-u0NHBAhO4qzIGHGXb-k0yh8ACw4FP0NYJT_H7SVv2Z2m4OUb7ETWEechBGcA3Xsc5kq6_8UUc17dLKLdvAmA5NWdugfTZL5p8ugztZSaNSYDbIJ_ImOObKjbBIetwKEcI/w400-h258/TWO_1008.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While
these signs and symbols across Canada bring back wonderful memories, and have sustained
us while waiting to return to the Trans Canada Trail amid a year of floods,
historic forest fires, and trail closures, it has nonetheless been tough to
bring our trek into focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Part
of me wonders if this is because Canada is just too large and diverse to
capture in a few short sentences. Part of me wonders if it is because a huge
portion of the trek is done, having already traversed from the Atlantic to the
Pacific, but at the same time there is still so much further to go to get to
the Arctic.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCwtIRGtNQSzpXAslM0ySW5MgYxngFF90mg66bcQtQFuF02wF8kJzBM2sbOlGORZeQlYxx5uFhZ-pbZfzrlzA1TDFNxSt0pRkEIuu64KecVPg8LJW8fzRQvCM7HdwZIxMl5XqnHzCaVHzUwpI0codchRyLYjYInl5kEIEUEqDN3m43s1q-XXPu5RtHafg/s5863/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20and%20others%20(152).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3915" data-original-width="5863" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCwtIRGtNQSzpXAslM0ySW5MgYxngFF90mg66bcQtQFuF02wF8kJzBM2sbOlGORZeQlYxx5uFhZ-pbZfzrlzA1TDFNxSt0pRkEIuu64KecVPg8LJW8fzRQvCM7HdwZIxMl5XqnHzCaVHzUwpI0codchRyLYjYInl5kEIEUEqDN3m43s1q-XXPu5RtHafg/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20and%20others%20(152).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And
another part of me wonders if it is because there was no “cathedral”.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ultimately, the end points of the Trans
Canada Trail are the coastlines of the nation.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In 2019, we began at the lighthouse in Cape Spear, Newfoundland.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although it was on the Atlantic Ocean, there
was nothing to mark this as a terminus of the Trans Canada Trail, and indeed,
it was located in the middle of the East Coast Trail, which we had previously
hiked.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In 2022, we first reached the
shores of the Pacific Ocean more than 200 km before arriving at the western
terminus of the Trans Canada Trail, which was indicated only by a small metal
sign at Clover Point.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">While these coasts
are themselves amazing, and in some ways there is nothing grander than walking
from ocean to ocean, I think we all hope to have definitive starting and
finishing locations that are recognized.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our beginning and ending felt somehow arbitrary.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">After spending so many months on the world’s
longest recreational trail, it still seems hard to believe that two of its
three end points are relatively inconspicuous to most people.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEHAw9alwnyk8c14DLKZllM8mN_cMCdGiIMa6Zifsutug8pgbTHqoML4TaZe5pMCEbCMXQv0UmR9BLF5lplxzOgCPX7UUDWHRekOSF4N9-u9dbi5a4Z3zKvVnR0Pb65zEkeD_Gg1G3yv3Kf6SJczoFhO7cDD7GLlvw5EqTmFN-5bqI4gLNZnxq4QeXKYZ/s1080/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20TCT%20Banner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="1080" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUEHAw9alwnyk8c14DLKZllM8mN_cMCdGiIMa6Zifsutug8pgbTHqoML4TaZe5pMCEbCMXQv0UmR9BLF5lplxzOgCPX7UUDWHRekOSF4N9-u9dbi5a4Z3zKvVnR0Pb65zEkeD_Gg1G3yv3Kf6SJczoFhO7cDD7GLlvw5EqTmFN-5bqI4gLNZnxq4QeXKYZ/w640-h158/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20TCT%20Banner.png" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I
suppose this malaise about the lack of a substantive trailhead is our own
difficulty as we knew there was never going to be a “cathedral” at the end of
this trek.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">We have also come to feel
that seeing a hike merely in terms of its starting and finishing points is to
reduce it, and to miss the greater gifts and moments along the way.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">If we are focused only on the destination,
walking only so we can arrive somewhere else in the future where we expect to
find something of value, we miss being present in the moment.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">The simple fact is that the Trans Canada
Trail cannot be reduced to being the mile zero signs in St. John’s,
Newfoundland or Clover Point, Victoria BC.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">
</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is not merely the number of provinces completed or the number of bird
species seen en route.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the end, the
Trans Canada Trail is about realizing that the journey is far more important
than the destination.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: center;"><o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></o:p><i style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“It's
the not the Destination, It's the journey.”</span></i></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 144.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 36.0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ralph Waldo Emerson</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lots
to think about these days.</span></p><p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">See
you (hopefully) on the Trail – More details to come soon!</span></p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Victoria, BC, Canada48.4284207 -123.365644420.118186863821151 -158.5218944 76.738654536178842 -88.2093944tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-68330964919254368122023-07-28T11:07:00.000-04:002023-07-28T11:07:04.394-04:00Go For It! : Exploration and New Perspectives<div style="text-align: center;"> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door.</i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You step onto the road, and if you don’t keep your feet,</i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">there’s no knowing where you might be swept off to.”</i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 180pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">J.R.R. Tolkien</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSIzl4NMrfTDCK6-pTFx90ef6mHNIa0ZlK4Q8Q1AOeQNfNLW1049wp1HdyfkRsGGswCxmseJHRVln1vfXbNS3HqNPWKjR4KZaJQOMhRuR-cQL-g56sDz0p4TI4Bn7mXyC76j5bl4sRa1fKiTvD061s_dFAPJEB3odIeiYoeA190KadKG8lJUpt2GqUxig/s5686/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Hiking%20Blog%20Come%20Walk%20With%20Us.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3796" data-original-width="5686" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSIzl4NMrfTDCK6-pTFx90ef6mHNIa0ZlK4Q8Q1AOeQNfNLW1049wp1HdyfkRsGGswCxmseJHRVln1vfXbNS3HqNPWKjR4KZaJQOMhRuR-cQL-g56sDz0p4TI4Bn7mXyC76j5bl4sRa1fKiTvD061s_dFAPJEB3odIeiYoeA190KadKG8lJUpt2GqUxig/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Hiking%20Blog%20Come%20Walk%20With%20Us.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Being the “First”</span></b></h2></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Many years ago now, just after we had finished our plans to
hike <b><a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Great Trail</a></b> and just before our house in Simcoe Ontario sold the
intrepid and inspiring Dana Meise completed his hike along the Trans Canada
Trail from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Arctic in 2018.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His achievement marked the first time anyone
had completed the national trail from coast to coast to coast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While being the first to complete the TCT was
never on our radar, the fact also remains that this achievement had already
been completed even before we stepped outside our door or set foot on the
path.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtD33JNfCUfyHmGH8LoTsypQShOblWuSRBDjR1RBRozG5FA2bXFnScwPqdaPcJVDZBwF_wZn_nDGNG8E2JjjTtbJBQptPYEBrk-7GkgAz0zccFVM0SGdkY2KAHohMZWd_2QVUjivdEpNW1cfexC-uDxxDJeur1y8Wyqgr7Kpu8zn1FbWcze3BkXcWQxg/s850/St.%20John%20-%20Dana%20Meise.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="488" data-original-width="850" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtD33JNfCUfyHmGH8LoTsypQShOblWuSRBDjR1RBRozG5FA2bXFnScwPqdaPcJVDZBwF_wZn_nDGNG8E2JjjTtbJBQptPYEBrk-7GkgAz0zccFVM0SGdkY2KAHohMZWd_2QVUjivdEpNW1cfexC-uDxxDJeur1y8Wyqgr7Kpu8zn1FbWcze3BkXcWQxg/w400-h230/St.%20John%20-%20Dana%20Meise.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Around the same time another intrepid individual – Sarah
Jackson – completed her Pacific to Atlantic trek making her the first woman to
undertake the Trans Canada Trail from the Atlantic to the Pacific.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnqO_1P3R9MqmH2TgUYLUdJaIbapY_EW_EADGHvq3-bYFUMoc31b8taME3v3WFi0PYDlYDFPk8tdV1q4gKORgAn4u594c470RuifXgJrs-1bD95v7saeviZrFaREQeFTuRJ_r3dZ5IXc3YIfkLmEZftIf5knTjUEdEucVdoIYt2SaQRwAkQ1errf0Nw/s780/St.%20John%20-%20Sarah%20Jackson.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="439" data-original-width="780" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnnqO_1P3R9MqmH2TgUYLUdJaIbapY_EW_EADGHvq3-bYFUMoc31b8taME3v3WFi0PYDlYDFPk8tdV1q4gKORgAn4u594c470RuifXgJrs-1bD95v7saeviZrFaREQeFTuRJ_r3dZ5IXc3YIfkLmEZftIf5knTjUEdEucVdoIYt2SaQRwAkQ1errf0Nw/w400-h225/St.%20John%20-%20Sarah%20Jackson.webp" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Amid all of this, in 2019, both Dianne Whelan and Mel Vogel
(soon to be joined by Malo) were well into their own ventures on the Great Trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so for us, the idea of being the first, or
the fastest, or this… or that was more than a little of beside the point. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was clear, even before we set out, that
generally the national trail had been done.</div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZao4anUpSQ5RWk8uIhgzokjPzRaLLixqNb_f7rm08qkzWx4ibTZDlOMESs6aBNQPVPXIcQc_S8cHgJAW50p-VmXzcffBFIPO7j7DMZqAYYyEP_VjZYoYCpYrzLttXMYDnJqnSrDMW9qJWJFOsDV7K1piYypiR7wxaZVSTg8wJZWgB5F9x9B--GH1fqA/s480/Dianne%20Whelan%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="421" data-original-width="480" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZao4anUpSQ5RWk8uIhgzokjPzRaLLixqNb_f7rm08qkzWx4ibTZDlOMESs6aBNQPVPXIcQc_S8cHgJAW50p-VmXzcffBFIPO7j7DMZqAYYyEP_VjZYoYCpYrzLttXMYDnJqnSrDMW9qJWJFOsDV7K1piYypiR7wxaZVSTg8wJZWgB5F9x9B--GH1fqA/w400-h351/Dianne%20Whelan%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">Over the past four years I have come to see that this
obsession with being the first person to do something too often also translates
in society into a sense that only the first individual can be the one whose
achievement is acknowledged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegFsW_Pd6wVEJsnwi3mXY1HzrM4VRq17cSiExE-uHw4tgePja7SG72-2-styv06FELsLv_vR2M9vRlRIMevo2-mvnGLgdJ2GzlLlMn0HS5NtqdgZCpQxpcaWVi8j5XfGSWIdYgz_I33sJIsZ7RVMhXfGgb91RPfRPNE6r2tX4vOEduoa25qDt7v5gzg/s1200/Mel%20Vogel%20Great%20Trail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegFsW_Pd6wVEJsnwi3mXY1HzrM4VRq17cSiExE-uHw4tgePja7SG72-2-styv06FELsLv_vR2M9vRlRIMevo2-mvnGLgdJ2GzlLlMn0HS5NtqdgZCpQxpcaWVi8j5XfGSWIdYgz_I33sJIsZ7RVMhXfGgb91RPfRPNE6r2tX4vOEduoa25qDt7v5gzg/w400-h266/Mel%20Vogel%20Great%20Trail.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">As a scientist, however – trained in the notion that
repeated experiments give way to increased perspective and new results – this
focus on “being the first” is odd and blinding to the benefits of repeating an
undertaking and garnering new perspectives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>More so given that future experiments do nothing to remove from the
achievements and discoveries of those that came before hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> They just take it in new directions.<br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTt9QG4bUULmmhfiik8wMDRo6Az0K5XExapkcXZ1YXLNPiw5_OWgF2gvyt2lParhQ_rECGqtYPoFE7L5WXjpPxRFyeodgELJar5_F_0WOAyTeBj2JTgEGWScNqmzFXsCglvdQ78gTSawk7yYb4fxaBuu7Yr4RvLXSzJGNgiecuNujVRLI8ayFMK__zw/s3264/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTt9QG4bUULmmhfiik8wMDRo6Az0K5XExapkcXZ1YXLNPiw5_OWgF2gvyt2lParhQ_rECGqtYPoFE7L5WXjpPxRFyeodgELJar5_F_0WOAyTeBj2JTgEGWScNqmzFXsCglvdQ78gTSawk7yYb4fxaBuu7Yr4RvLXSzJGNgiecuNujVRLI8ayFMK__zw/w400-h300/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20(3).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">And so, while we were not the first to complete the 14,000
km stretch of the Trans Canada Trail from the Atlantic to the Pacific the
<b><a href="http://www.comewalkwithus.online" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">#Hike4Birds </a></b>can nonetheless be seen as a Canadian adventure that gives way to
new perspectives and which perhaps expands upon<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>– but which absolutely does not remove from - the achievements of those
who came beforehand.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal"> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">We have sought to carve our own niche and offer our own
contributions rather than striving to supplant the adventures and experiences
of others. <br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">"Not the First”</span></b></h2></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">As
already noted, when we set out from <b><a href="https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/spear" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cape Spear Newfoundland </a></b>in 2019, more than 555 days and 14,000
km ago we had no illusion that we were the first. Indeed, this simple fact has
been regularly reiterated by almost every outdoors company that we hoped to get
support or sponsorship from over the last four years.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2zUsxHKxj_vH2uswqve5Z6xYz85wROtIaC3RyxdruLnB35OK0Hj602BvrtNgat106winbnQnu_041H4M-qIL_iwVkjAU9aM6VS1GSfYP-cZZC5oEsWWJ7x8JeTrY7S1sEJ16izLCAJ45ZB_YUrgCzWbjiyLA7qqnQ6Gft7bHKNUXpifNwvuxMMbLgw/s6016/Sonya%20Richmond%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20%20Hiker.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2zUsxHKxj_vH2uswqve5Z6xYz85wROtIaC3RyxdruLnB35OK0Hj602BvrtNgat106winbnQnu_041H4M-qIL_iwVkjAU9aM6VS1GSfYP-cZZC5oEsWWJ7x8JeTrY7S1sEJ16izLCAJ45ZB_YUrgCzWbjiyLA7qqnQ6Gft7bHKNUXpifNwvuxMMbLgw/w400-h268/Sonya%20Richmond%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20%20Hiker.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">For the hundreds of requests and interviews
we have done we have received an equal number of rejection letters asking questions such as :</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">You
are not the first so what is the point?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">You
don’t have the athletic skills so what is the point?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">You
don’t have the right look so what is the point?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">You
are hiking to educate people and just show off nature in Canada?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is the point?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">You
are aware that science and education are boring?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what is the point?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">The
sole exception to this perspective being <a href="https://www.bridensolutions.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Briden
Solutions of Calgary Alberta</b> </a>who have been wonderful to us helping with
food and dehydrated supplies in their efforts to promote exploration, ensure we
were prepared and to help others in the community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To them our heartfelt thanks goes out to you!</div><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Adventure of a Lifetime</span></b>
</p><div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm;"></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">So
if one isn’t the first, then what is the point of hiking across Canada?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtmheDi5h98WAsqxyQcqn1wmjmtNtiAoWzHmWApAl5nRJDpt1RnAexryVIepQfSE7eQ_2XOSkWpxb4yZgbLDXdLUEiu7l9x_Ff4Io9bE559Qvk5IDnHnINV_3h14GuMHQ9JNoAnDYLp2zB2YQ2vLqYvRroNxJIv9MNNA6VKLaB1y9rFBKWKdLuMIs2g/s4342/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20(7).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2899" data-original-width="4342" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKtmheDi5h98WAsqxyQcqn1wmjmtNtiAoWzHmWApAl5nRJDpt1RnAexryVIepQfSE7eQ_2XOSkWpxb4yZgbLDXdLUEiu7l9x_Ff4Io9bE559Qvk5IDnHnINV_3h14GuMHQ9JNoAnDYLp2zB2YQ2vLqYvRroNxJIv9MNNA6VKLaB1y9rFBKWKdLuMIs2g/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20(7).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">Well,
we wanted the journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wanted the
chance to share Canada with Canadians from a perspective most today will never
see or have the chance to enjoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Admittedly
we also wanted to learn more about ourselves, change the direction of our desk
bound lives, and to break free of the cycle of fear that the news media and
internet seem to constantly promote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
– to be honest – we wanted to go on the adventure of a lifetime.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">And
so that is what we did. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For four years
we took everything we have and poured it into this single endeavour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Into it when our home, our jobs, our careers
and all of our energy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The point was to
push our own boundaries, to see the world differently, and to collect
experiences rather than things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also
wanted to understand Canada more than we thought was possible through books,
the TV, or the internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> <br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Trek is Reason Enough </span></b></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPsbJWd6T8Jwl06FDfbyTU4znZWIJyRbmHX8on3-78Mc_Us6kZaW15l_KJPr9vY5YsXSkyTBwbsgL-mlWFbW6rNl7Faq4BSrhb56OCnmYZoTfSAcyppxVLoJqrXeko9nXgStCqVzApvp9o4c1dfRH4QapQouZDt8K6fZj4_Wj1PsHIjRbCuGDA1MleQ/s1954/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20(6).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1305" data-original-width="1954" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPsbJWd6T8Jwl06FDfbyTU4znZWIJyRbmHX8on3-78Mc_Us6kZaW15l_KJPr9vY5YsXSkyTBwbsgL-mlWFbW6rNl7Faq4BSrhb56OCnmYZoTfSAcyppxVLoJqrXeko9nXgStCqVzApvp9o4c1dfRH4QapQouZDt8K6fZj4_Wj1PsHIjRbCuGDA1MleQ/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20(6).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></b></h2></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">As
two of the few who have completed the Trans Canada Trail unsupported on foot
from the Atlantic to the Pacific we can definitely tell you that despite not
being the first or the fastest – the trek itself is enough of a reason to step
out the door. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">The
natural wonders across Canada, the stunning diversity of cultures we have
experienced, and the amazing people we have met are all reason enough of a
reason to set out.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">And going on the adventure of a lifetime is
enough of a reason to set out. </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfX0jB1Ksmbf0yt6tpReyXhClMvC-KmeG1CwV6V0IhSVEKfUzBvrKZV0EN1idPGYDFics24364BJ7utdbeXWcX74M-WgKU9_JUtZ2k1LKSP1J-2dYznoOshl7O5746ntwTQmJlV737-3Ae6s42YT3OP0enuMtLFUlNSsmTgl-jsxFDSwWduMajfhnuKA/s2748/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1834" data-original-width="2748" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfX0jB1Ksmbf0yt6tpReyXhClMvC-KmeG1CwV6V0IhSVEKfUzBvrKZV0EN1idPGYDFics24364BJ7utdbeXWcX74M-WgKU9_JUtZ2k1LKSP1J-2dYznoOshl7O5746ntwTQmJlV737-3Ae6s42YT3OP0enuMtLFUlNSsmTgl-jsxFDSwWduMajfhnuKA/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">There
is so much of this world that is absolutely unknown and will only be found,
embraced, and understood by those willing to step into the unknown - or that
which we presume to know - and stumble upon it and reconsider it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">The
message being : <b>Never let anyone else tell you that because you are not the
first that your dreams have no value – no one knows what will come of stepping
out the door and following your own path. </b>Remember that while a lot of the world has
already been mapped and quantified there is still so much more to be discovered
and understood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The world today needs
explorers and new perspectives now more than ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">Trekking
across Canada, as with all hikes, is about the journey not the destination
because there is always room for exploration, improved understandings, and new
perspectives – of ourselves and the world around us. </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“I
don’t care if no one else believes, cause I still got a lot of fight left in
me”</i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 180pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo1VInw-SKc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rachel Platten,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> Fight Song</i></a></b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Great Trail Firsts</span></b></h2></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">With
all of that said, let us circle back to the topic at hand of “firsts” on the
Trans Canada Trail… </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">Dana
Meise was the absolute first to hike all of the TCT from the Atlantic to the
Pacific to the Arctic – in his adventure he lit a fire and guided all that
followed with his inspiring trek. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">During
this time, Sarah Jackson became the first woman to venture from the Pacific to
the Atlantic. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">In
the years that have followed others including the talented Dianne Whelan would
walk, cycle, and paddle her own route while <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY4hPjqmm3k" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">making a movie (500 Days in the Wild)</a></b> from ocean to ocean to
ocean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">Recently
(only a couple of days before our own arrival in fact) the intrepid Mel Vogel along
with Malo became the first woman to hike across the nation to all three oceans
along the Great Trail.</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUntHx88Hr0hJmK4kvLb1K_w--Dy1ctfGRGl7ljGxbshffv5kd-OnGxMJUCEdDmMyA9o3-Tmz2B2ZtwBa0ex7mT4sKyRontuB9HhADVTmcs8aVIJcKqxlqcuJ02th9ImZFfZs2G3bcUUQyRP4ReKCKdX9UWQNuKgeil0H8VUpiiazcrUk-XKr5oYo9A/s1080/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20(4).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggUntHx88Hr0hJmK4kvLb1K_w--Dy1ctfGRGl7ljGxbshffv5kd-OnGxMJUCEdDmMyA9o3-Tmz2B2ZtwBa0ex7mT4sKyRontuB9HhADVTmcs8aVIJcKqxlqcuJ02th9ImZFfZs2G3bcUUQyRP4ReKCKdX9UWQNuKgeil0H8VUpiiazcrUk-XKr5oYo9A/w400-h400/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20(4).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">Each,
as we have been, was also a <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://rcgs.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Royal Canadian Geographical Society</a></b> expedition at various times during their
adventure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, while we have all
essentially trod the same pathway, the shape of our own adventures, the moment
of our experiences and uniqueness of our perspectives meant that we each
undertook individual treks providing new insights into the Canadian Experience,
the times in which we live, and the national trail itself. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">This
is why it is so exciting to read Dana Meise’s facebook posts, to hear about Mel
Vogel’s experiences, to watch clips from Dianne Whelan’s forthcoming movie, and
to see Instagram posts from the amazing Bonnie Thornbury – as each of these
alongside our comprehensive photography and blog provide wider and wider
insight into the experiences of those communities across Canada that we have
all visited and seen from our own perspective. <br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Come Walk With Us : Sharing Canada with
Canadians</span></b></h2><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRhLA6DiydxuvzmGtkxGDDxnStQcVBWGBnkGQ2t2ireJl5Hme32GkYvdwwVRf_3aaZnNk4z5qQ0xSJDPSxfYOr4SGBF3LLctwVAj05M4ceahB_-uGKzMCSUkDTQ3LzjIIqsLkeomb4LbmDg1QXsUstxr7zGd1fQhy7u4RiV2qItBwbYCUNDmhoNuvzg/s2997/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Sentier%20Transcanadien.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2247" data-original-width="2997" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRhLA6DiydxuvzmGtkxGDDxnStQcVBWGBnkGQ2t2ireJl5Hme32GkYvdwwVRf_3aaZnNk4z5qQ0xSJDPSxfYOr4SGBF3LLctwVAj05M4ceahB_-uGKzMCSUkDTQ3LzjIIqsLkeomb4LbmDg1QXsUstxr7zGd1fQhy7u4RiV2qItBwbYCUNDmhoNuvzg/w400-h300/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Sentier%20Transcanadien.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">All
of which gives way to the question, in the past 4 years what niche does <b><a href="https://www.comewalkwithus.online/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Come Walk With Us</a></b>’ trek have amid all of these inspiring people?</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">First,
we are the first duo to hike on foot unsupported from the Atlantic to the
Pacific. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">Second,
we are the first to release a comprehensive daily blog and to document the
entire Trans Canada Trail from the Atlantic to Pacific providing a guide and
map of the national trail for others to follow in the future. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">Third,
Sonya Richmond is the first to bird the nation along the TCT and share (to
date) more than 400 species with Canadians striving to learn about Canada and
its wildlife. </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2qrWDJn9dSdSX5BURzpxdOOvJJdbCkXraNtFfp7-IOnX1KJV7q53INukTq9xlE91zRBRcSFjWR_4-AHlDkzilrH__09uPkLyEnVPZo1svMv6HUYtdAXy8CncyVyWuz8VkvpaukB2xTGWBF4LPL3LGr5KuuqpTXNTPcXaCD8QnJOrga-W19U1BdP6vA/s552/Bruce%20Trail%20Sean%20Morton%20Photography.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="420" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW2qrWDJn9dSdSX5BURzpxdOOvJJdbCkXraNtFfp7-IOnX1KJV7q53INukTq9xlE91zRBRcSFjWR_4-AHlDkzilrH__09uPkLyEnVPZo1svMv6HUYtdAXy8CncyVyWuz8VkvpaukB2xTGWBF4LPL3LGr5KuuqpTXNTPcXaCD8QnJOrga-W19U1BdP6vA/s320/Bruce%20Trail%20Sean%20Morton%20Photography.jpg" width="243" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixQHZC35SYiEIoEGxYxOofBXP80ZvUheXU-Fi_5Q8MeAkieLxVGbfuNPw9Bc8Thc9ffTIHKFh27arnaBY35lWNHiSuYb1OBKF5OiSljCtYny01fqJtWS2Ndof70hu7cb22a9-BEFCTTCydPExdCJQhOJIMUoFoaWAZsA9_ZxM_oIMwNjms2dGA2IoYw/s512/Broadview%20Magazine%20Sean%20Morton%20Photography.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="375" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgixQHZC35SYiEIoEGxYxOofBXP80ZvUheXU-Fi_5Q8MeAkieLxVGbfuNPw9Bc8Thc9ffTIHKFh27arnaBY35lWNHiSuYb1OBKF5OiSljCtYny01fqJtWS2Ndof70hu7cb22a9-BEFCTTCydPExdCJQhOJIMUoFoaWAZsA9_ZxM_oIMwNjms2dGA2IoYw/s320/Broadview%20Magazine%20Sean%20Morton%20Photography.jpg" width="234" /></a></div></div></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><b> </b></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">Fourth,
Sean Morton is the first to comprehensively photograph and document the TCT and
the modern Canadian experience along the trail from the Atlantic to the Pacific
– in the process taking more than 750,000 pictures and having shared more than
100,000 of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>En route his
photographs of Canada have won awards, been featured in Canadian Geographic,
<b><a href="https://view.publitas.com/on-nature/on-nature-summer-2020/page/18-19" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ontario Nature</a></b>, <b><a href="https://broadview.org/trans-canada-trail-hike/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Broadview magazine</a></b>, and <b><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bz-KotkXcszNl2-M-T67Yc1fl0cClHMV/view?pli=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Alberta Nature</a></b> as well as over one hundred newspaper
articles. </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8XZAWeaAqwTaEyqjyaBQmjBrpsAx68aTzU2OD6l3Kn5-4jAyowEvmLaXazCqLnj4Rn2uyGOVG2PsfqQLVr94aZUn3JPerqOIesphKFoN9HtfHe--Jx_Qm_C8usgxkmwdnFpVGW_cEcIqu7qIONxZDXWzTqojWgd_8lhX078EGNnGcfZth-pMRFx1Jg/s4525/Sean%20Morton%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Blog.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3497" data-original-width="4525" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8XZAWeaAqwTaEyqjyaBQmjBrpsAx68aTzU2OD6l3Kn5-4jAyowEvmLaXazCqLnj4Rn2uyGOVG2PsfqQLVr94aZUn3JPerqOIesphKFoN9HtfHe--Jx_Qm_C8usgxkmwdnFpVGW_cEcIqu7qIONxZDXWzTqojWgd_8lhX078EGNnGcfZth-pMRFx1Jg/w400-h309/Sean%20Morton%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Blog.JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">Fifth,
we are the first to hike the national pathway for a cause, namely striving to encourage
Canadians to engage in Citizen Science and using the TCT to campaign for Bird
Conservation, the protection of <b><a href="https://www.ibacanada.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Important Bird Areas</a></b>, and the essential nature
for the Boreal forest.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">Finally,
we are the first to hike across the nation with the intention of Sharing Canada
with Canadians towards promoting youth engagement in communities across the
nation by showing them the natural beauty, engineering marvels, and ingenuity
of peoples across Canada. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the process
we have shared over 800 blogs, over 100,000 pictures, written over a dozen
articles, and given hundreds of presentations to nature groups, hiking clubs
and school classrooms.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">All
in all, not a bad list of accomplishments for two novice hikers striving to
find birds and spend time in nature. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
only hope that each of you have found enjoyment in this trek as well. </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“…the
best I can do does not do the place much justice in the way of beauty…”</i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 180pt; text-indent: 36pt;">Tom Thomson, 1914</div><div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 180pt; text-indent: 36pt;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3j3ipx8r-XaL8COIfqvBdhDK0O9CCBacSyMeurCGTPjJ49DIv0NA7N6NZCscXYcB8ILotHJe1n2QsAIrgGnPXYxa0H2F_GXDfNkpbNAqMOHgq303a9yiZAcZss2jJDdK6XUwBdH305iipDsxgBelp3JP-Ksz4TL2LM3VWdyd9251uAwA8krXOnEAyQ/s2734/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20(10).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2734" data-original-width="2734" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid3j3ipx8r-XaL8COIfqvBdhDK0O9CCBacSyMeurCGTPjJ49DIv0NA7N6NZCscXYcB8ILotHJe1n2QsAIrgGnPXYxa0H2F_GXDfNkpbNAqMOHgq303a9yiZAcZss2jJDdK6XUwBdH305iipDsxgBelp3JP-Ksz4TL2LM3VWdyd9251uAwA8krXOnEAyQ/w400-h400/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20(10).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Go for It!</span></b> <br /></h2></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">At
the end of the day what does all of this add up to?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps the best piece of advice we can give
anyone now is : To those who dream of undertaking an adventure – whether big or
small – go for it! Find a way to make it work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Challenge your own fears, overcome your limitations, and go beyond your
comfort zone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adapt to challenges en
route and know that people from coast to coast to coast are cheering you
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibM7rssmfYwvitBn6YcSxhiPUqPDP7N0Icd7c0gKYWOnQsQVv9HR9UCnombDebsM5LqkCbMfubeD-KFbFfUS5zvNsjosHaoK7hVnrogv4dA5K27GGrIVt2fNojhWq9tnrXGC95Lm3OMPLip2wC5_yaTdL0cpnqrDFJheY2TcC9Ck6sihoJ2yS8yNtR8Q/s1195/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20(8).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="913" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibM7rssmfYwvitBn6YcSxhiPUqPDP7N0Icd7c0gKYWOnQsQVv9HR9UCnombDebsM5LqkCbMfubeD-KFbFfUS5zvNsjosHaoK7hVnrogv4dA5K27GGrIVt2fNojhWq9tnrXGC95Lm3OMPLip2wC5_yaTdL0cpnqrDFJheY2TcC9Ck6sihoJ2yS8yNtR8Q/w488-h640/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20(8).jpg" width="488" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">Continued
exploration is necessary, there is a value in improved understandings and a
need for new perspectives – and so in providing these we hope we have inspired
each of you towards setting out on your own exploration of Canada and the world in whatever form it
might take.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Canada is an amazing country
and filled with more natural grandeur and in person kindness than most realize or have the opportunity to see
first hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Twenty
years from now, you will be more disappointed by</i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the things you didn’t do</i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>than by the ones you did do.”</i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-indent: 36pt;"> Mark Twain</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 72pt; text-indent: 36pt;"> </div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;">Wherever
you are right now you are travelling down a road, the road of life. We hope
you’ll get to explore new places and take some detours as your travel. But
above all you must follow your path. </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"> </div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zydJVdfjxgVeZoH2OE1Ui5G0xcj6T94bNPtzGizjLN0nMwmFyfunCYO9Ohpu1sjyM8i-XlhthWsy_uKO8IrHD7eE0y11o4iwR4yFDfX-ExfArCpE933SXOKxKdrhHKfhsC-86h5PEwzaj7pNTDnWMj_afZwTS-oQpCv4jxv9xscsH9ZHPNEM38jRWg/s3926/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20(5).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2621" data-original-width="3926" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zydJVdfjxgVeZoH2OE1Ui5G0xcj6T94bNPtzGizjLN0nMwmFyfunCYO9Ohpu1sjyM8i-XlhthWsy_uKO8IrHD7eE0y11o4iwR4yFDfX-ExfArCpE933SXOKxKdrhHKfhsC-86h5PEwzaj7pNTDnWMj_afZwTS-oQpCv4jxv9xscsH9ZHPNEM38jRWg/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20(5).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"> </div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“The Road goes ever on and on down from the
door where it began. Now far ahead the Road has gone, and I must follow, if I
can”</i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 180pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">J.R.R. Tolkien</span></div>
<p></p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Sechelt, BC, Canada49.4741736 -123.754560126.052580668211803 -158.9108101 72.8957665317882 -88.59831010000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-2512127343830808522023-07-25T15:26:00.016-04:002023-07-28T11:08:01.020-04:00Facebook Lost ... yet Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZgFCpBJdX0x-ryT5bPv2XAKIiFne-BV-RXFUghnyl7JPd4sJ4wKfvLiMJLveLxEJlw-UH_gLI0L5ppkmjRCBaNuCPB7dbv6ttZlEx6K31tNwhLHhOsdU8V2kNpNAXGndnlx1a6ALj1HL0GiVKY9jpUbCc7cjr18rY_IKvvtzovA1cTCf-lhahShGOw/s6016/Sonya%20and%20Sean%20in%20Southern%20BC%20-%20Third%20Edit%20(129).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKZgFCpBJdX0x-ryT5bPv2XAKIiFne-BV-RXFUghnyl7JPd4sJ4wKfvLiMJLveLxEJlw-UH_gLI0L5ppkmjRCBaNuCPB7dbv6ttZlEx6K31tNwhLHhOsdU8V2kNpNAXGndnlx1a6ALj1HL0GiVKY9jpUbCc7cjr18rY_IKvvtzovA1cTCf-lhahShGOw/w400-h268/Sonya%20and%20Sean%20in%20Southern%20BC%20-%20Third%20Edit%20(129).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Just to let everyone who was again kind enough and follow us
on our second attempt at Facebook.<span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Over a month ago, effective June 14<sup>th</sup>, 2023 our Facebook account was no longer accessible to us and many of our posts had begun to be removed and tagged
as “infringing content”.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDlTBllSSP9Kr8ZISxUEo67ljqK83vAjnAn7-T0jbyTI6L-JszJF3EU_uPVR-QA-q1GhkX0icBjMKL4C2dPCGR2MX5FOeG9nigaQt3Q2vVkFc1QGzNff2AWVICjNncp4QvKtEqoOMJPKjyFvS5l3-FtowuoU27VMVk-NrGSBw_ztHNomsV3RRcQ444g/s874/TCT%20Infringing%20Content.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="874" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDlTBllSSP9Kr8ZISxUEo67ljqK83vAjnAn7-T0jbyTI6L-JszJF3EU_uPVR-QA-q1GhkX0icBjMKL4C2dPCGR2MX5FOeG9nigaQt3Q2vVkFc1QGzNff2AWVICjNncp4QvKtEqoOMJPKjyFvS5l3-FtowuoU27VMVk-NrGSBw_ztHNomsV3RRcQ444g/w453-h243/TCT%20Infringing%20Content.JPG" width="453" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">As of today (July 25th, 2023) we received an email that both our own Facebook accounts
and the Come Walk With Us page are due to be deleted for "posting
infringing content" and "misleading content".<span> </span>No details have been given beyond this. All attempts to have the situation clarified have failed to garner a response. We have only ever posted links to our hiking blog and
photographs taken on Canada's great Trail and so we once again have no idea who has complained about either our images or commentary.<span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Beyond this we have been informed that all images and
"references to organizations” "are the sole ownership of that organization
and cannot be used by any other entity" – even if that content are
photographs that we have taken and own. <br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1bClcNmPPcDSWmI3f73fIKZzE7xVHHx7dx-IYcjtp7L18l6_OJdMPvt8gp-uWuOf94ppn4Q0ubbEHvnMZBjgRA-S8f6tjb30BRHxx1aqT16keeGCQltkP0edLxTNrAuz68jCU67KAwpecFbhIvVYy8FzbQKj_EumjNhy0i_AH2ffDAZXRec6sN7-mw/s5314/Sonya%20and%20Sean%20Best%20Ontario%20(95).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3547" data-original-width="5314" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy1bClcNmPPcDSWmI3f73fIKZzE7xVHHx7dx-IYcjtp7L18l6_OJdMPvt8gp-uWuOf94ppn4Q0ubbEHvnMZBjgRA-S8f6tjb30BRHxx1aqT16keeGCQltkP0edLxTNrAuz68jCU67KAwpecFbhIvVYy8FzbQKj_EumjNhy0i_AH2ffDAZXRec6sN7-mw/w400-h268/Sonya%20and%20Sean%20Best%20Ontario%20(95).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Given that this is the second time that our hiking account
has been questioned and shut down we have decided that Facebook is no longer a
viable means to share our adventure as we continue to trek across Canada.<span> It is a great deal of effort to put out regular content and having now twice posted more than 850 blog entries and thousands of pictures we no longer feel it is worth the time to re-post everything a third time. <br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span>At present we will still be regularly posting blog entries and continue to both share an document our trek from coast to coast to coast. <br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you to everyone for your support and ongoing
encouragement.<span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>“The Laughing Heart<br />
your life is your life<br />
don’t let it be clubbed into dank submission.<br />
be on the watch.<br />
there are ways out.<br />
there is a light somewhere.<br />
it may not be much light but<br />
it beats the darkness.<br />
be on the watch.<br />
the gods will offer you chances.<br />
know them.<br />
take them.<br />
you can’t beat death but<br />
you can beat death in life, sometimes.<br />
and the more often you learn to do it,<br />
the more light there will be.<br />
your life is your life.<br />
know it while you have it.<br />
you are marvelous<br />
the gods wait to delight<br />
in you.”</i></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 216pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">Charles Bukowski, Betting on the Muse </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;">Onward and forward with optimism that our best days on the trail are still ahead of us!</span></div>
<p></p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Sechelt, BC, Canada49.4741736 -123.754560121.163939763821155 -158.9108101 77.784407436178839 -88.5983101tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-70741847528380444062023-06-14T15:42:00.000-04:002023-06-14T15:42:24.809-04:00Long and Crooked Path : Struggling to Return to the TCT<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“… every time a problem ends<br />
Another one begins ...”</span></i></div><p>
</p><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 108pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlkTVMMkCP4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vampire Weekend, Harmony Hall</a></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA">For all you dedicated readers who have faithfully
journeyed from the Atlantic to the Pacific with us along the <a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Trans Canada Trail</b></a> this far, experiencing
Canada vicariously through our adventures and misadventures, we realize this
blog is now long overdue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However life,
like trails are not a straight line connecting you from beginning to end or
from where you begin to your goal – it is a long and crooked path.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarQ8V7TygG8WaepUS0qp7L3XSnBuVmM6Hd92gOFRJmDri8NIlha6qI8v75r0wkHfh8I8InsMqPMQETwNBHOBTxNJqMKF4Zx45NSRyUjzHr69PgufHeWRLrdFazp4kepk7Ome8EiCCL3i-znDcgs3kl-HVy7lejuzAa5JzB9T8kR-4v8hkzFDrigcYIw/s4128/20230518_110628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiarQ8V7TygG8WaepUS0qp7L3XSnBuVmM6Hd92gOFRJmDri8NIlha6qI8v75r0wkHfh8I8InsMqPMQETwNBHOBTxNJqMKF4Zx45NSRyUjzHr69PgufHeWRLrdFazp4kepk7Ome8EiCCL3i-znDcgs3kl-HVy7lejuzAa5JzB9T8kR-4v8hkzFDrigcYIw/w400-h300/20230518_110628.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA">In recent weeks not a single day has gone by when we
haven't been asked the questions:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are
you still heading north this year? When are you planning to leave?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust us when we say, in recent weeks not a
single day has gone by when we haven't been trying to answer those questions
for ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a number of
factors that have combined to make the next steps of our journey on the Trans
Canada Trail uncertain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">“Best laid plans of mice and men go often askew”</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 108pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-CA">Robert Burns</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA">Originally, we had planned to head to Edmonton sometime
between early April and mid May to begin our trek north from Fort Saskatchewan,
AB to Tuktoyaktuak, NT. According to our calculations, mid-May was the absolute
latest we could leave and still have a chance of making it up to Tuktoyaktuk,
NT by late September, when winter and extreme temperatures frequently makes their
first appearance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously, since we are
now in the second week of June, that deadline has passed, meaning our hike
north this season has already been delayed. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA">For Canadian readers, the main reason our departure for
the Arctic was delayed is likely obvious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Simply put, Alberta is undergoing an "unprecedented" wildfire
season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the beginning of May, news
channels across the country began reporting that over 170 forest fires were
burning across the province, 86 of which were out of control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Within days, more than 29,000 people had been
evacuated from their homes, and states of emergency had been declared in over
30 communities by local, band council, and provincial authorities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By May 9th, 416 wildfires were burning, affecting
an area of 410,441 ha, which is nearly double the 5-year average for this time
of year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While forest fires have been a
factor in our cross-Canada hike for the past two years, this situation is a
little different.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrbiNvIvvy5eJ7UkGfZvx4O6kMMJ1otWdl1iUxRb2PrUXD36Uti-DrCCzuwTcqxTF1ezrIsehtj-5oErsyFX11rhlNwqUng4U26PbtinBhm2BHnxjWEml0-zW3qby33zF8DfuZze_3FNn-usCzHOTksMc8jQ6e7H1HtvF3BAa68aIfg9hT8xdsqqy8g/s959/CBC%20Historic%20Wildfires.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="959" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrbiNvIvvy5eJ7UkGfZvx4O6kMMJ1otWdl1iUxRb2PrUXD36Uti-DrCCzuwTcqxTF1ezrIsehtj-5oErsyFX11rhlNwqUng4U26PbtinBhm2BHnxjWEml0-zW3qby33zF8DfuZze_3FNn-usCzHOTksMc8jQ6e7H1HtvF3BAa68aIfg9hT8xdsqqy8g/w640-h248/CBC%20Historic%20Wildfires.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA">First, heading north, the Trans Canada Trail passes
through very few communities, offering scant opportunities for us to resupply
and recharge, even under the very best of conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately, many of the communities we
will visit were affected by the fires in May, including some areas around
Edmonton, Fort Saskatchewan, Athabasca, Smith, Slave Lake, and Peace
River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I write this, a few of these
fires are still burning, including several between Smith and Slave Lake
(currently being held), a very large one between Grouard Mission and Peace
River (out of control), and another near Cleardale (out of control).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In BC the situation is little better, with
several fires burning between Fort St. John and Fort Nelson, as well as the
Donnie Creek wildfire, which is out of control, and is currently the second
largest fire on record for the province of BC.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wildfire situations are constantly changing and evolving, but as many
communities across the country know all too well, the aftermath of these fires
remains long after the flames have been extinguished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is partially where our problem lies.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RCshOvt7AuV6uDU9azDvOqoLw1HniuEuA7FVoz1c7oOVRxJXj6zo5maPydgyycywLGrXo0JF7_MqMuy8m8FXn_DOLw6abe6veTdC_DlZ1bKr00ngXWnxFEosGn6dynNVDmhuMN3lezKpaGW9tT1f9JZ6sCuZ0KXvEmF6RCe258KE6nRnxWbMjneG3Q/s951/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="951" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RCshOvt7AuV6uDU9azDvOqoLw1HniuEuA7FVoz1c7oOVRxJXj6zo5maPydgyycywLGrXo0JF7_MqMuy8m8FXn_DOLw6abe6veTdC_DlZ1bKr00ngXWnxFEosGn6dynNVDmhuMN3lezKpaGW9tT1f9JZ6sCuZ0KXvEmF6RCe258KE6nRnxWbMjneG3Q/w640-h364/Slide1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA">During the past two years on the Trans Canada Trail,
we've visited communities that were devastated by forest fires and floods,
sometimes 1-2 years before we got there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In many of the smaller communities, the motels were still filled with
the 'houseless' awaiting disaster relief, decisions on insurance settlements,
or completion of rebuilding projects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some towns still had no clean running water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In others, businesses had not yet reopened even
a year after the natural disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In these
situations infrastructure was already stretched to capacity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only do we believe it is irresponsible to
place an extra and unnecessary burden on communities that are still in
recovery, or are supporting nearby towns that have been devastated, but the
financial cost of doing so is prohibitive for us at this stage in our journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In our experience, motel rooms can cost 2-3
times what they normally would, food also comes at premium prices, and at times
it is necessary to pay for drinking water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Understandably, hiking trails are not a priority when rebuilding
devastated areas, and in the wake of a disaster it is often very difficult to
determine if local trails are even passable or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of our trek north is on the highway, but
a few small sections are not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If this
route becomes cut off, or has been destroyed, in many areas there simply is no
viable alternative for us to take.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIyLwkBBnSsVNsEqRMWhRk8_4DSjjW7CYTchdIWwBkYtZzAWg8A3xd8aVE7zSvqG6t1-CqFkdhoQ6HfYKIdAjeuelnqRFnJAONjK7Q2rH5yuPzT6OFmVPwXhK6qWY4mULzehZxnmuCreFI2UXH5A58ev2yBRK8YXcOh5tWHqs1AuBGVIEPIjH3HpEJA/s976/Alberta%20Wildfires.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="976" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIyLwkBBnSsVNsEqRMWhRk8_4DSjjW7CYTchdIWwBkYtZzAWg8A3xd8aVE7zSvqG6t1-CqFkdhoQ6HfYKIdAjeuelnqRFnJAONjK7Q2rH5yuPzT6OFmVPwXhK6qWY4mULzehZxnmuCreFI2UXH5A58ev2yBRK8YXcOh5tWHqs1AuBGVIEPIjH3HpEJA/w450-h253/Alberta%20Wildfires.jpg" width="450" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>CBC Image, Alberta Wildfires </i><br /></div> <br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA">The second consideration we currently face is that we
are still only at the start of the fire season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Forest fires have always been a natural part of the cycle of
regeneration in the Boreal forest ecosystem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, as the climate in northern Canada becomes hotter and drier, and
human activities like mining and forestry tip the landscape into imbalance, the
fires are becoming larger, more frequent, and the 'fire season' seems to be
starting earlier each year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In response,
many regions are restricting or prohibiting backcountry travel and camping, in
an effort to both reduce the likelihood of new fires being sparked, and to
reduce the need for costly and potentially dangerous rescues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we never light campfires unless we are
in designated campgrounds where they are permitted, we cannot expect strangers
to simply trust us on this, especially when their lives and livelihoods are
under threat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Furthermore, with no
public transit available, in the event that we needed to evacuate, we would
have no choice but to rely on others for help at time when assistance would be
needed far more by others.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA">Finally, as I alluded to at the beginning of this
post, it is now too late in the season for us to reasonably expect to make it
all the way north to the Arctic Ocean on foot before the snow begins to
fly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As far as we can tell, our
remaining options are to walk as far as Dawson Creek, BC this season and take a
bus back, or to push on (possibly) to Whitehorse, YT, and fly back, picking up
where we leave off next summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the
moment, we are struggling to find ways to finance either of these options,
while simultaneously wrestling with the question of whether it is even smart to
head up north on foot during a year when the probability of encountering heavy
smoke or an active forest fire is twice what is considered normal, and many of
the landscapes and communities we visit may still be devastated. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0f20mS-jhQ5RBjhwSO0P7DJRhIaeiTC3GPcUrc52ciaGLxO-2OvsZmGzgcQB2vv2bs6GLnXaSW6tqta9m47hv9xBEV2TIIG7bWdmw1V99WXNUeacxsBhU1vr9Rgt9T47DyqGSnt_8dhVIfX0ja4AofN2xLDdwu2zH1ZyX2KoLpbxWHzU3DlSoa3ekXA/s4128/Arcade%20to%20Poio%20to%20edit%20-%20SM%20(30).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3096" data-original-width="4128" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0f20mS-jhQ5RBjhwSO0P7DJRhIaeiTC3GPcUrc52ciaGLxO-2OvsZmGzgcQB2vv2bs6GLnXaSW6tqta9m47hv9xBEV2TIIG7bWdmw1V99WXNUeacxsBhU1vr9Rgt9T47DyqGSnt_8dhVIfX0ja4AofN2xLDdwu2zH1ZyX2KoLpbxWHzU3DlSoa3ekXA/w400-h300/Arcade%20to%20Poio%20to%20edit%20-%20SM%20(30).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA">During the past four years many individuals have
supported our trek through donations, and we have received the equivalent of
$3,500 per year in expedition funding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are humbled and grateful for all the support, without which we
wouldn't have gotten this far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
our trek is now two years beyond what we budgeted for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To keep moving forward through the pandemic
we swallowed considerable unforeseen costs, and in the past two years the price
of airfare, bus tickets, rail travel, and motel stays in Canada have soared
exponentially to unreasonable levels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is now cheaper to fly to Europe than it is to take a bus from Toronto to
northern Ontario.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA">Will we be able to head north this year?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will we have to postpone our journey to the
Arctic until next spring? What other adventures can we share in the meantime?
At the moment, our next steps on the Trans Canada Trail remain uncertain, but
one thing is for sure - the dream and the possibility of walking to the Arctic
Ocean are still alive and well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon
as we discover the best way forward for us, you all will be the first to
know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1b-0kBADfwjrrY5nxsKPfPc4SkSO6jwM3WsgQCPWiScDctI8IB2Ym4Rm_qezApdoMmMqpxZuBHqVcK_L0o8SwRiDImoR729NCWfjJlXEWUNsAEg2mziEg112m3o6kATINLzc-eLh0aUILN4X_jpQZoJAm_BiHEIQWFXqGB9mXrNdyJhcoZy8CbpENiA/s6016/Porto%20to%20Vila%20do%20Conde%20-%20to%20edit%20print%20(137).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1b-0kBADfwjrrY5nxsKPfPc4SkSO6jwM3WsgQCPWiScDctI8IB2Ym4Rm_qezApdoMmMqpxZuBHqVcK_L0o8SwRiDImoR729NCWfjJlXEWUNsAEg2mziEg112m3o6kATINLzc-eLh0aUILN4X_jpQZoJAm_BiHEIQWFXqGB9mXrNdyJhcoZy8CbpENiA/w400-h268/Porto%20to%20Vila%20do%20Conde%20-%20to%20edit%20print%20(137).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA">See you on the trail (hopefully soon)!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“If something burns your soul with
purpose and desire,</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">it’s your duty to be reduced to
ashes by it.</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Any other form of existence will
be yet another dull book in the library of life.”</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 108pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span> </span>Charles Bukowski</span><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></div>
<p></p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Sechelt, BC, Canada49.4741736 -123.754560121.163939763821155 -158.9108101 77.784407436178839 -88.5983101tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-70543858711363175822023-06-06T15:04:00.002-04:002023-06-06T15:04:55.901-04:00Rewalking and Reflecting : Point Zero Victoria<div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA">Anyone who has completed a long-distance walk or
pilgrimage knows that the post-hike blues are a very real thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the rhythm of trail life is suddenly
disrupted, life feels strange and off balance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, when you finally reach a milestone it took you four years of walking
to reach, what do you do the next day? For us, the simple answer was to keep
walking, at least for a little while longer.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXF_A4OsPHLxG4Koj6xV4-7TssQuTTab7UiXOmLVVtg0oS4bNOf2BUjsVwDNr0DhCHHGf9qNq-ryqUnE0deQpv624ANSfPXPA0ZZT2Hkd08Oq-XUsIpEUxTDqFjbr1z5YkY7ZY_2AHQY_Rxr7En8nAWWNSwfvTT8neSfCHBQkp6RVcjlvLrnVaWae6Q/s4553/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3038" data-original-width="4553" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTXF_A4OsPHLxG4Koj6xV4-7TssQuTTab7UiXOmLVVtg0oS4bNOf2BUjsVwDNr0DhCHHGf9qNq-ryqUnE0deQpv624ANSfPXPA0ZZT2Hkd08Oq-XUsIpEUxTDqFjbr1z5YkY7ZY_2AHQY_Rxr7En8nAWWNSwfvTT8neSfCHBQkp6RVcjlvLrnVaWae6Q/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA">Yesterday trekking Point Zero with members of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Victoria Natural History Society</a></b> passed in a blur, the details of those final kilometres
utterly lost in the excitement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not yet
ready to sit still and begin the transition back to life off-trail, we decided
to redo the walk to Clover Point at a more leisurely pace, making the time to
take in the scenery and do a little birding as well.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCn2LRS3Ezcwf4vl5v63zTVLfitvI4pfx_MgpnqkfSwH2HuzqAFivsGNWLats1Aiv0f_D_zYjcOGPlwl9K4q0CAciIdr1LzObsZrc7gyEMAIXxm4ebCLtGxH_Eb_ZH2LEX76hb6Ypt1IjKqaFkl22lMZ_Nm4jDvJrMYKsqzNJj-LhHvCPr5ZzVWmYdg/s4102/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2738" data-original-width="4102" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDCn2LRS3Ezcwf4vl5v63zTVLfitvI4pfx_MgpnqkfSwH2HuzqAFivsGNWLats1Aiv0f_D_zYjcOGPlwl9K4q0CAciIdr1LzObsZrc7gyEMAIXxm4ebCLtGxH_Eb_ZH2LEX76hb6Ypt1IjKqaFkl22lMZ_Nm4jDvJrMYKsqzNJj-LhHvCPr5ZzVWmYdg/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(7).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">We began once again at the <a href="https://www.leg.bc.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Legislative Assembly of British Columbia</b>,</a> which we had fondly
nicknamed the ‘not parliament’ buildings due to a blunder I made a few days
ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had recklessly suggested we could
meet up with anyone interested in walking the final kilometres with us in front
of the Parliament Buildings, only to quickly discover that while Google maps
and Wikipedia refer to them that way, locals do not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one could even guess where I was
suggesting we meet up, as these imposing buildings are firmly referred to as
the Legislative Assembly of BC.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSSvExWdExuEmS8Rloyz3I-ofTyow3sCEljXnhHCnFR4PBvsp3XZXx02h2CnQUh5m8Su9ZgpcG31CSFElvukRcmK70xW_HmyJUBGsRoBRFeoyO6FCRxWcW3XDqiOTz201i3v2mxIWOKy1cshA_qjUkPeeaVmT2bR2y8_XGrVTP1dvzUAFgeCbJBWsCA/s5462/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxP2I_HtvVApGy-k0CqCNBRxphRugkpcwfTmBiW8_Nn0dK7yyrWngk55TWr-TuR0pbCvhOBi7P_vqubaLxSmaYo7MyehhR9DIKWYz8ZY6COU2s_L0p3eEWwoAI3H_t9FSFDzSbgMKG4Y2dKtbIQKtFHv5q8W1Gs3MyjoC2q5uf1zel3tHvpBUEsPO7Q/s4085/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4085" data-original-width="2727" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxP2I_HtvVApGy-k0CqCNBRxphRugkpcwfTmBiW8_Nn0dK7yyrWngk55TWr-TuR0pbCvhOBi7P_vqubaLxSmaYo7MyehhR9DIKWYz8ZY6COU2s_L0p3eEWwoAI3H_t9FSFDzSbgMKG4Y2dKtbIQKtFHv5q8W1Gs3MyjoC2q5uf1zel3tHvpBUEsPO7Q/s320/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(4).JPG" width="214" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="5462" data-original-width="3646" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfSSvExWdExuEmS8Rloyz3I-ofTyow3sCEljXnhHCnFR4PBvsp3XZXx02h2CnQUh5m8Su9ZgpcG31CSFElvukRcmK70xW_HmyJUBGsRoBRFeoyO6FCRxWcW3XDqiOTz201i3v2mxIWOKy1cshA_qjUkPeeaVmT2bR2y8_XGrVTP1dvzUAFgeCbJBWsCA/s320/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(3).JPG" width="214" /></div></div></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">Whatever their correct name, British Columbia’s
Legislative Assembly Buildings have sat majestically and imposingly looking
down on the Inner Harbour in Victoria since 1898.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The long, sloping lawn in front of them is
adorned with a regal looking statue of Queen Victoria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The nearby Cenotaph commemorates the
province’s WWI, WWII, Korean War, and Afghanistan veterans and fallen soldiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Outside the Ceremonial Entrance to the
buildings stands the Central Fountain, its waters splashing down into its
rounded<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>stone basin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking across the water at the Empress
Hotel, the last of the Canadian Pacific Railway Hotels we will see along the <a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Trans Canada Trail,</b></a> it very much felt
like we were standing in an outpost of the British Empire.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vJmJhjGbtITohZcfouzhpM7j6VMHkRIrQug0n0NqVCR81xazzCRNTlYg4qemw1FtX9uBmGea1aAJuN6zrr-xHkw43X1py9YlVFM-JKOpMwmv5Q3XezAOtljABMVbiSou2mxXkakzzpi0PhAuUi1eL1f-iyS0Tue08HhtcxpghCbmrdAHnyU2mAIrww/s4800/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(9).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4800" data-original-width="3204" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-vJmJhjGbtITohZcfouzhpM7j6VMHkRIrQug0n0NqVCR81xazzCRNTlYg4qemw1FtX9uBmGea1aAJuN6zrr-xHkw43X1py9YlVFM-JKOpMwmv5Q3XezAOtljABMVbiSou2mxXkakzzpi0PhAuUi1eL1f-iyS0Tue08HhtcxpghCbmrdAHnyU2mAIrww/s320/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(9).JPG" width="214" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJcB3m_XeijhkFG8GCjeoHlNE3cE8_kJEjhrPtoEU8IEl0Ano2n2fImh0cECUjw5t_ObIfMWd_khbiCrAPwJbQbMH36oy--yC1hEaRcMQV4lhwBI7zHyts6SyM2gAW5-RqrPbiYzjoCpXo_PqzY3GIc6bYSfPmX5eQqQ3M8Pb0TB3ROxHs_H3JA7eyA/s5045/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5045" data-original-width="3367" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJcB3m_XeijhkFG8GCjeoHlNE3cE8_kJEjhrPtoEU8IEl0Ano2n2fImh0cECUjw5t_ObIfMWd_khbiCrAPwJbQbMH36oy--yC1hEaRcMQV4lhwBI7zHyts6SyM2gAW5-RqrPbiYzjoCpXo_PqzY3GIc6bYSfPmX5eQqQ3M8Pb0TB3ROxHs_H3JA7eyA/s320/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(10).JPG" width="214" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCOU_K7ZySWySJeWpWwMU4eDfWqeY1n85UYEX6Otbp0Jn6PVumKPFLkFjy1H1XU9KPCkCISiyr80fxDXH-z-fFW-ceytNLJPiIBCNUk7yDza3J05aVif0DCupanc_9W0eUJjlxjkg35cM3_wxzdDU7Drc4BrAgBiiV8BItjUIptquUMl31TA6XTY2Cg/s5661/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(13).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3779" data-original-width="5661" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCOU_K7ZySWySJeWpWwMU4eDfWqeY1n85UYEX6Otbp0Jn6PVumKPFLkFjy1H1XU9KPCkCISiyr80fxDXH-z-fFW-ceytNLJPiIBCNUk7yDza3J05aVif0DCupanc_9W0eUJjlxjkg35cM3_wxzdDU7Drc4BrAgBiiV8BItjUIptquUMl31TA6XTY2Cg/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(13).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">From the Inner Harbour the trail took us around the
very modern glass building that housed the Inn at Laurel Point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well landscaped formal gardens adorned the
shoreline, and the multilevel paved walkways soon brought us to Fisherman’s<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wharf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0A6gcpLM4MgUnn-wjv2kEJHzPaCdLgNdXFz6EREVf91twkogSoL0yyg0FDPW91RDtbK_u_zl9vxb9dQkLUjnSjy7rLcd-958gXfRcULG3-EsqnjoIO0hIFP3qsmbXAq8f9oQ95b5wfcFaZqpqiMCvKLLGzmD-mKOlbJScu0HIIXJoA0hv2hbumiUybg/s2131/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2131" data-original-width="1422" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0A6gcpLM4MgUnn-wjv2kEJHzPaCdLgNdXFz6EREVf91twkogSoL0yyg0FDPW91RDtbK_u_zl9vxb9dQkLUjnSjy7rLcd-958gXfRcULG3-EsqnjoIO0hIFP3qsmbXAq8f9oQ95b5wfcFaZqpqiMCvKLLGzmD-mKOlbJScu0HIIXJoA0hv2hbumiUybg/w214-h320/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(15).JPG" width="214" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFM7ULJHAk3TKzj5OLWLoD_Yz0wJoLrahNgm5O_nKd97lVSQyTikOfdklMoQRPmTuGa6L7kNZoD9RAkKook_J21-fFOnhQ5KZSEUsJ024BfU9ZxCKhPQhqXLoKTfD2nWIUol_djEh-OYasianj82rqX_eusx_ypwP-kQpUPgu0slaiXvaxCnWjm3HQKg/s5889/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(16).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5889" data-original-width="3932" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFM7ULJHAk3TKzj5OLWLoD_Yz0wJoLrahNgm5O_nKd97lVSQyTikOfdklMoQRPmTuGa6L7kNZoD9RAkKook_J21-fFOnhQ5KZSEUsJ024BfU9ZxCKhPQhqXLoKTfD2nWIUol_djEh-OYasianj82rqX_eusx_ypwP-kQpUPgu0slaiXvaxCnWjm3HQKg/s320/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(16).JPG" width="214" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WQd6Dzl3Oz_4N-qIfebpWfvquPVErBDWWZV3Oe9y26lQAB0VujG3uAOSYaxKDRFapE04OllwnlOljXD85CAaCBpzZE_uwXhrbvrWS0feuknGrQtiE3qtNcyICfI8Gj0XxMc3ffJ2jdSsDa9yugJ-HF-u8C2fBjlZ1cYdpm2FGECyoc6AgqCDXL0-rg/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(18).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WQd6Dzl3Oz_4N-qIfebpWfvquPVErBDWWZV3Oe9y26lQAB0VujG3uAOSYaxKDRFapE04OllwnlOljXD85CAaCBpzZE_uwXhrbvrWS0feuknGrQtiE3qtNcyICfI8Gj0XxMc3ffJ2jdSsDa9yugJ-HF-u8C2fBjlZ1cYdpm2FGECyoc6AgqCDXL0-rg/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(18).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">Here an eclectic collection of very brightly coloured buildings lined
the boardwalk and docks of a working harbour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Shops, restaurants, cafes, and tour boats were mixed in with private
sailboats and working fishing vessels selling fresh seafood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was too early in the morning for much
activity as we passed, but it looked like it would become a lively, bustling
spot later in the day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfeTP6EwNLhbkkUcej8mdApd4Q7TMiNyziXFgmywEJM5znLgxwxwvV8ZfSiZMRg9qIxowYHctHtiObZ1WK9uCj2maLefJZ3lg9orPGnO7fT4x05VbuUuEe-ZXHn3L9IQ6ZeMU5JN19sp6Q2QBVC6ZByi5qg0lqIZqED0GecBeyZKpJqt4xRwdXjHx8A/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(21).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfeTP6EwNLhbkkUcej8mdApd4Q7TMiNyziXFgmywEJM5znLgxwxwvV8ZfSiZMRg9qIxowYHctHtiObZ1WK9uCj2maLefJZ3lg9orPGnO7fT4x05VbuUuEe-ZXHn3L9IQ6ZeMU5JN19sp6Q2QBVC6ZByi5qg0lqIZqED0GecBeyZKpJqt4xRwdXjHx8A/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(21).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiip-2WyuzSz27yWwTrEzDSclgwIYDgXVXWgrm_KHypLso8nnlikaSGEGvWqfsnl8YLG9UX2PXqeakpa9CjXFV-k40YIUueQVEY9jjY8beA_SZLXa8NwPKBQE0FqABS-A3dd-_aC1uuaf738KF_QhDFELE9vxc_WHaNgBqQfO2ewnONCGSyHwupl5Lgvg/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(22).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiip-2WyuzSz27yWwTrEzDSclgwIYDgXVXWgrm_KHypLso8nnlikaSGEGvWqfsnl8YLG9UX2PXqeakpa9CjXFV-k40YIUueQVEY9jjY8beA_SZLXa8NwPKBQE0FqABS-A3dd-_aC1uuaf738KF_QhDFELE9vxc_WHaNgBqQfO2ewnONCGSyHwupl5Lgvg/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(22).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXYRrcFR4Ldz8xWoTwfk4Jh_C7qSbXDEl9eNHopp1n9vUf1Ilz2BhwFUYEihWa-V6RjfNotkcKXOQic2ygOBUX7BocMmqkjd3ye8vlghh90leAVVRsxwgWyBofLjFTgzmW1Fpem-nog5dJoj_R44MGwwTxMjt4KOoHVtVXX8N075kL2FXfz8cFJgoUA/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(25).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXYRrcFR4Ldz8xWoTwfk4Jh_C7qSbXDEl9eNHopp1n9vUf1Ilz2BhwFUYEihWa-V6RjfNotkcKXOQic2ygOBUX7BocMmqkjd3ye8vlghh90leAVVRsxwgWyBofLjFTgzmW1Fpem-nog5dJoj_R44MGwwTxMjt4KOoHVtVXX8N075kL2FXfz8cFJgoUA/w214-h320/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(25).JPG" width="214" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspoOLDtvJqrE9Ka_cBTz5vjHVQLAXPqbgq_YYh93B3oLSKruVlnnnkM17pHDvaPWEy1X8VBceBoFvssUVqbfOBuYPIAEC2nPpWIJJr_iMaO9I3_lafwTeAdvFc6ujspF3_kTxeR443pz96ApvLxaAy_U-ds_I-iQ1TAZ72l3iFXZO1actolazB88hHQ/s5408/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(26).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5408" data-original-width="3610" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjspoOLDtvJqrE9Ka_cBTz5vjHVQLAXPqbgq_YYh93B3oLSKruVlnnnkM17pHDvaPWEy1X8VBceBoFvssUVqbfOBuYPIAEC2nPpWIJJr_iMaO9I3_lafwTeAdvFc6ujspF3_kTxeR443pz96ApvLxaAy_U-ds_I-iQ1TAZ72l3iFXZO1actolazB88hHQ/s320/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(26).JPG" width="214" /></a></div></div></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">We turned up through the Fisherman’s Wharf Park, which
was a lovely treed green space with a playground, and soon found ourselves on
familiar tree lined streets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we made
our way along the quiet sidewalk we noticed three small stone markers, half
hidden by fallen leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
gravestones for three members of the Camel Point Indian Village, who had been
buried more than 300 years ago, unearthed at various points during the past few
decades, and then reburied in that spot.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> <br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaG2qpXJM5S1_wLnI8LFiGSmnYpT8EEmqZ7J7LPU6J1Nhohr-KG96wR9nhZw5dTWw8wiCbldyIVDXnxo40m6N8DjJ-cZRoMOOeH5FEm4q0SWPIJtzkPrARxXcGJZD-nx-c8aAL_BaD28RrwU6CrrQgw9NU_jOhYqX8qzlx2sr10pfI1sYumC8hSDUhRg/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(27).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaG2qpXJM5S1_wLnI8LFiGSmnYpT8EEmqZ7J7LPU6J1Nhohr-KG96wR9nhZw5dTWw8wiCbldyIVDXnxo40m6N8DjJ-cZRoMOOeH5FEm4q0SWPIJtzkPrARxXcGJZD-nx-c8aAL_BaD28RrwU6CrrQgw9NU_jOhYqX8qzlx2sr10pfI1sYumC8hSDUhRg/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(27).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77YbDfDRmsIYsgpJjNX1aFN3zJ25038xhxSSU0BKiMA3VZOupxacAZ3h8DlViiq_U1x-bxOFjNbgS6K2-ZH4R4vPeqpVKeYygKbh6JDJzZ7NSZNa1AdrnhaM-I9R6cq0uWN4jCIQ3X4wJGMc3TQX4oUeanHjejQfr5lGSp9JOer6byCD-q01K5c-puQ/s4820/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(28).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3218" data-original-width="4820" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj77YbDfDRmsIYsgpJjNX1aFN3zJ25038xhxSSU0BKiMA3VZOupxacAZ3h8DlViiq_U1x-bxOFjNbgS6K2-ZH4R4vPeqpVKeYygKbh6JDJzZ7NSZNa1AdrnhaM-I9R6cq0uWN4jCIQ3X4wJGMc3TQX4oUeanHjejQfr5lGSp9JOer6byCD-q01K5c-puQ/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(28).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKuOSzwzOhgwo_jkevgPB829RXJpz-7sqq2PmnwPWY_T7fKpvSXV9EIr7g1XCBeke4O9LFEsvCIdu4S-aFjjyqn4N8lC4rX3pjLeSdRZ2S91XyfJmFHXpJyot7gl9DfXMhd03OlJ20x1N9DKikdkinnBGnD8HOGFlMzWrIFtq4QKw3Sdl4bvzpyw6Lw/s5555/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(29).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3709" data-original-width="5555" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKuOSzwzOhgwo_jkevgPB829RXJpz-7sqq2PmnwPWY_T7fKpvSXV9EIr7g1XCBeke4O9LFEsvCIdu4S-aFjjyqn4N8lC4rX3pjLeSdRZ2S91XyfJmFHXpJyot7gl9DfXMhd03OlJ20x1N9DKikdkinnBGnD8HOGFlMzWrIFtq4QKw3Sdl4bvzpyw6Lw/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(29).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">I haven’t been able to find much information beyond this, but understand
that Victoria sits on land traditionally occupied by the <a href="https://www.songheesnation.ca/community/l-k-ng-n-traditional-territory" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lekwungen People</b>, </a>who are now known as the Esquimalt and Songhees
Nations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seven large brass markers and
interpretive plaques are located at culturally significant spots for the
Songhees throughout Victoria, but none were present at this unassuming spot.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpaCJW1VrtysWeVXIao2UodlVNlY6l9992imM3Www2h9lLjDLkKsYUW5GziPX77uy3Te2puBYmlTVz_UZdP_vTO03EF9074XouSZMT-fehGn3QVAbQcOZ2SOoqvDlRYDMH3mTdF7SKVBlSukJ4i9KtGa2d5-4kdQALP8U-EjejJRCoRuGWQoGj8cbYg/s3502/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(32).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1855" data-original-width="3502" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidpaCJW1VrtysWeVXIao2UodlVNlY6l9992imM3Www2h9lLjDLkKsYUW5GziPX77uy3Te2puBYmlTVz_UZdP_vTO03EF9074XouSZMT-fehGn3QVAbQcOZ2SOoqvDlRYDMH3mTdF7SKVBlSukJ4i9KtGa2d5-4kdQALP8U-EjejJRCoRuGWQoGj8cbYg/w400-h213/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(32).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JBCS2wpUJgQGZ9WLNoX6p-ukglJNo_ptKi0qwSaL-7SH2L8ryoYHtEWSth6sms5J2yk1QIpkmTC2Zz2QsUl3PHtMtNvc3zLDKSuQcHMm7j_sN_80VLq8BmKXqiZTTROVIHnUMSzKi2tP6q2btiZzjVAmEir25OgvRmltL9TiAiAogFMz-vnR4mOsbA/s6832/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(45).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1518" data-original-width="6832" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JBCS2wpUJgQGZ9WLNoX6p-ukglJNo_ptKi0qwSaL-7SH2L8ryoYHtEWSth6sms5J2yk1QIpkmTC2Zz2QsUl3PHtMtNvc3zLDKSuQcHMm7j_sN_80VLq8BmKXqiZTTROVIHnUMSzKi2tP6q2btiZzjVAmEir25OgvRmltL9TiAiAogFMz-vnR4mOsbA/w640-h142/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(45).jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">Soon we once again passed the Coast Guard Facility we
had managed to notice yesterday, and then suddenly we came to Ogden Point, the
significance of which had entirely escaped us previously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although it was relatively deserted when we
passed by, the very large parking area and bank of warehouses along the water's
edge apparently comprised the busiest cruise ship terminal in Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The deep water port facility serves as a
repair and supply spot for cruise ships and other vessels, such as deep sea
cable laying ships.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its location on the
Juan de Fuca Strait, close to both Vancouver and Seattle make it a popular cruise
ship destination.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I</span>n 2018, more than 245
cruise ships operated by 10 different companies landed, over 20 of them
carrying more than 3,000 passengers each.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is a lot of traffic!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8cm1VzX14W1UABy8E-KqtUvtT3joMiedjEUFX5XttsxsFttel5kN16OYFTrNwY25r8VpIQuce00rhyodBYr5D4QFitetRIeaEOvFkDbFViBeR4it4UecW-eqIcajE1TJrazth-vwBm8eKe3ktezFxItbupF_g4jQBmBH4VoJp8kRMQePojXHL9oQKQ/s4588/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(35).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3063" data-original-width="4588" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8cm1VzX14W1UABy8E-KqtUvtT3joMiedjEUFX5XttsxsFttel5kN16OYFTrNwY25r8VpIQuce00rhyodBYr5D4QFitetRIeaEOvFkDbFViBeR4it4UecW-eqIcajE1TJrazth-vwBm8eKe3ktezFxItbupF_g4jQBmBH4VoJp8kRMQePojXHL9oQKQ/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(35).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEe8iq2z_Zr2I_kkVW9ccTCBUWP49cZukXGsjoL0psAog2dQxhOoMddqITpDGgEX977b70xPaH8U6fhC2qKPASBsJVdPPyaxU-FosnY-oBeNCaz9mfeLkNM4ibd9HA29p1b27BdV3WTqWZ7QPEVZoapyHD-lQEngSuFGHBk7VHBa_2xKIJRgX1g0QUg/s4153/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(36).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2772" data-original-width="4153" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEe8iq2z_Zr2I_kkVW9ccTCBUWP49cZukXGsjoL0psAog2dQxhOoMddqITpDGgEX977b70xPaH8U6fhC2qKPASBsJVdPPyaxU-FosnY-oBeNCaz9mfeLkNM4ibd9HA29p1b27BdV3WTqWZ7QPEVZoapyHD-lQEngSuFGHBk7VHBa_2xKIJRgX1g0QUg/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(36).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXImBzEHP3s2cCIoQOzpdRYW_wy90DsQye183MQ2Kv_cHyi5TAHg41ySCFSbGAxGjM3oVV05vtfBYM0YSeypGj7n-8X4DsrE8z57DvlNJBDBnVZVlYCFtg_oDRWRgUte4mqXRyYHO1ZCdjGT0Cdyu46H5mIDaBObT790D3cFxgIEDfdE1bGrLm7BhYQ/s5864/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(37).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="5864" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxXImBzEHP3s2cCIoQOzpdRYW_wy90DsQye183MQ2Kv_cHyi5TAHg41ySCFSbGAxGjM3oVV05vtfBYM0YSeypGj7n-8X4DsrE8z57DvlNJBDBnVZVlYCFtg_oDRWRgUte4mqXRyYHO1ZCdjGT0Cdyu46H5mIDaBObT790D3cFxgIEDfdE1bGrLm7BhYQ/w640-h126/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(37).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3US8w6d9__AQ4xEdpQI1N_SsIdAFaN9hnkAhlYN48FHEIDCb4KVD3q6ZmjsJ5MuZ-lEy7vV4hY0eE1sQcDgmOeQqQEWpqGJwUJCsUQ65VxC1Eqs8OHa9aPGx4ROy5HEAB9ugRw9erMdf_DjIKcPpJ5m_AnIx5j4QyhdxU7v_Xk3o1Ey3iXh_Plz9SAw/s5350/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(38).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2033" data-original-width="5350" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3US8w6d9__AQ4xEdpQI1N_SsIdAFaN9hnkAhlYN48FHEIDCb4KVD3q6ZmjsJ5MuZ-lEy7vV4hY0eE1sQcDgmOeQqQEWpqGJwUJCsUQ65VxC1Eqs8OHa9aPGx4ROy5HEAB9ugRw9erMdf_DjIKcPpJ5m_AnIx5j4QyhdxU7v_Xk3o1Ey3iXh_Plz9SAw/w640-h245/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(38).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FGmb2Tw2rzkMhIan_YVlVHEfhJIrRvMYblQV8vFG4pHa0A2t7OIK_rGzhviEpumx0cVQM_OdR5xYq9ahwgcMIBIA7qNKN_p2lQjBncq6XEQA8wkvUil4nMlA-OqVKflR6AEZLkQIlG_LCmNxdQYb2u5comZYEOTeenEsY3J2aCThEsozUGFhuI6T6w/s3467/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(40).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2314" data-original-width="3467" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FGmb2Tw2rzkMhIan_YVlVHEfhJIrRvMYblQV8vFG4pHa0A2t7OIK_rGzhviEpumx0cVQM_OdR5xYq9ahwgcMIBIA7qNKN_p2lQjBncq6XEQA8wkvUil4nMlA-OqVKflR6AEZLkQIlG_LCmNxdQYb2u5comZYEOTeenEsY3J2aCThEsozUGFhuI6T6w/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(40).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">Ogden Point was named after <a href="http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/ogden_peter_skene_8E.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Peter Ogden (1790 – 1854),</b></a> a prominent explorer and trader for the
Hudson's Bay Company. Construction of the piers and breakwater at the facility
began in the early 20th century in anticipation of the increase in shipping
that would result from completion of the Panama Canal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today, there is an 800 m or so long trail
leading out on top of the breakwater, which has a picturesque lighthouse perched
on its tip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We couldn't resist taking a
short detour out to the end and back.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pw6dE0Ytklzt2wEubeRrRQ3IXGRUgLsy5HZhL7sY_HslMp-bmnIPswYGgC-pILub7Xnxov04RKrd4YffdF89DLMZPf6paGDLCASFVf-j1gukn_3fCm52p9gEXYRfGYRIm4mEQrgNiWdga73oNKmHyrdqrjD9a9qVINTVvN0aFZz-iOc8B8tfsgv5Uw/s5864/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(41).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2224" data-original-width="5864" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pw6dE0Ytklzt2wEubeRrRQ3IXGRUgLsy5HZhL7sY_HslMp-bmnIPswYGgC-pILub7Xnxov04RKrd4YffdF89DLMZPf6paGDLCASFVf-j1gukn_3fCm52p9gEXYRfGYRIm4mEQrgNiWdga73oNKmHyrdqrjD9a9qVINTVvN0aFZz-iOc8B8tfsgv5Uw/w640-h242/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(41).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfba6mJI5NP45nJSL-UavqA7JNmwXxhvZwj_dEG5B3F8MjV7NLLScGxpLMsnyWGjmEABzF7s5PxMl6qXScIaIuIdc-8Px11yBEOWe54vL5plzq0u1suBEIDMT0DoI3ESDzMGERHtmUT1v6d6F8bTduK9NY6f_JMJ7r33UGdg8psc01Niw9WSAtMle2A/s5898/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(44).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1842" data-original-width="5898" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMfba6mJI5NP45nJSL-UavqA7JNmwXxhvZwj_dEG5B3F8MjV7NLLScGxpLMsnyWGjmEABzF7s5PxMl6qXScIaIuIdc-8Px11yBEOWe54vL5plzq0u1suBEIDMT0DoI3ESDzMGERHtmUT1v6d6F8bTduK9NY6f_JMJ7r33UGdg8psc01Niw9WSAtMle2A/w640-h200/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(44).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgha1n4F4QGKTX3OdeDW_03MNVSmNCGnScBVDSTpkJqHrmp9pPqMw4BkSNGZORxjCYSojaC_aBNtNfi8W_phrH5PxR-s9IsTBk_1vGNk7CirYk7fn6NnfdTCtrfL0fMW9ACUksxstYSXgp-3pHM8saeZrcJOmu-DIlFUKNDI7WhAGbYtW2jpAvTB3gigA/s4840/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(46).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2470" data-original-width="4840" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgha1n4F4QGKTX3OdeDW_03MNVSmNCGnScBVDSTpkJqHrmp9pPqMw4BkSNGZORxjCYSojaC_aBNtNfi8W_phrH5PxR-s9IsTBk_1vGNk7CirYk7fn6NnfdTCtrfL0fMW9ACUksxstYSXgp-3pHM8saeZrcJOmu-DIlFUKNDI7WhAGbYtW2jpAvTB3gigA/w400-h204/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(46).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXR5trfgvUfUsz0PvqINw6qmJWrPV3be8KuBwikeQx7BMDhQ_hwkpFkJgDR5bSTa2RIQYeDW07cMtys0tTq5IV0-rUt1YTIdHse1ZSg4YIX6p3u3j5CVwJUnleWa-3zXHP9FHycROshj0G6T2aCA_P28mmTbJ-SsZjthSypSPeilCGHbTmyIfIgyDBcw/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(42).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXR5trfgvUfUsz0PvqINw6qmJWrPV3be8KuBwikeQx7BMDhQ_hwkpFkJgDR5bSTa2RIQYeDW07cMtys0tTq5IV0-rUt1YTIdHse1ZSg4YIX6p3u3j5CVwJUnleWa-3zXHP9FHycROshj0G6T2aCA_P28mmTbJ-SsZjthSypSPeilCGHbTmyIfIgyDBcw/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(42).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">As we approached the breakwater we noticed that its
sides had been painted with colourful Indigenous artwork all along its
length.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Collectively, the artwork is
known as the <a href="https://gvha.ca/about-gvha/blog/the-unity-wall-mural-at-ogden-point/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Unity Wall Mural</b>.</a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The work was commissioned in 2009 to honour
the traditions of the Salish Nations, and it was subsequently created by
established First Nations artists and the young artists they mentor. The
incredible mural extended from the land to the sea, and was intended to help
bridge the different cultures in the area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were delighted to see that many of the stories and scenes depicted
featured birds, as well as other wildlife.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC90csXZWjajcLKftNH85pWldSf5vxFH_ua1a0K9K6WCD0QGwDR5nrCXUW5z8G8y7HSPf-fxzE_yDDZIKie5jCyA8q7YiWm-uyXTn99RzlxOnQ9QwW1J9eFxyU5x3VMswWOtIfAdrwrq3crfEDbYMK2u-bL-brN5lp2TVGZDkfqmkWgdiRqTQVguwCSg/s5753/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(43).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3841" data-original-width="5753" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC90csXZWjajcLKftNH85pWldSf5vxFH_ua1a0K9K6WCD0QGwDR5nrCXUW5z8G8y7HSPf-fxzE_yDDZIKie5jCyA8q7YiWm-uyXTn99RzlxOnQ9QwW1J9eFxyU5x3VMswWOtIfAdrwrq3crfEDbYMK2u-bL-brN5lp2TVGZDkfqmkWgdiRqTQVguwCSg/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(43).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jz9ZKSV-LDqVmV5nOGqOmhdHZGiayt-umgOdgiHjLwOxdB5_VLXwz02SNWMXxFFuf6HfEEusE-9P7LKT880MyZxlscW4QTAY6NWk_xzKVyQ87-ianSwdPOS3baPBu9c-8wXza_NjgNtwgFshakBgbSEYtyyirnc240pZAY94kHLa61xJTdNV9b2Vxw/s4797/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(39).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4797" data-original-width="3202" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3jz9ZKSV-LDqVmV5nOGqOmhdHZGiayt-umgOdgiHjLwOxdB5_VLXwz02SNWMXxFFuf6HfEEusE-9P7LKT880MyZxlscW4QTAY6NWk_xzKVyQ87-ianSwdPOS3baPBu9c-8wXza_NjgNtwgFshakBgbSEYtyyirnc240pZAY94kHLa61xJTdNV9b2Vxw/w268-h400/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(39).JPG" width="268" /> </a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwO2oN25GJmdknq4ByI_7t1TuJKkZcsUbEiaqLWZyGAPq_ret5ovPPq8grOnHPK_VFMHAXfCZJEIxVAhwWAA-f9J_zrgRpgBzwjs3W5eZWyUz8p5o7CdaleIBsXy5n91l0rtqh_HbCdy2Imz3IvksPUT9nfO_MawFFxJT6rKQKsOxpKK1JF1yOZ57qA/s5863/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(50).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3915" data-original-width="5863" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwO2oN25GJmdknq4ByI_7t1TuJKkZcsUbEiaqLWZyGAPq_ret5ovPPq8grOnHPK_VFMHAXfCZJEIxVAhwWAA-f9J_zrgRpgBzwjs3W5eZWyUz8p5o7CdaleIBsXy5n91l0rtqh_HbCdy2Imz3IvksPUT9nfO_MawFFxJT6rKQKsOxpKK1JF1yOZ57qA/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(50).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFc0mfCe481ofcjGMBgmXQ-xKj2-BzPpwt3sOQyNRjaoDSjF2xHKAk5M91zazagJSoiGYcuX-q5qQ2qiyl6lRTmkI_Uf675uKz6QW22XbG6kjCua5Brc5SCPuyGRwu8F9doWnTZl822o3awWu-kX7g2qHxGlhsKl_4c7kO9UJDCldPL0_4ZhM1WKFmw/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(52).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFc0mfCe481ofcjGMBgmXQ-xKj2-BzPpwt3sOQyNRjaoDSjF2xHKAk5M91zazagJSoiGYcuX-q5qQ2qiyl6lRTmkI_Uf675uKz6QW22XbG6kjCua5Brc5SCPuyGRwu8F9doWnTZl822o3awWu-kX7g2qHxGlhsKl_4c7kO9UJDCldPL0_4ZhM1WKFmw/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(52).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_JQYTHxt0uk0MrHjtFL4mQWwC_AbQT3z-RYBJScFIDt4VOcYlGzXE_fXUWqJF9JPexSoLHXQ4zVgrMtmxVpWiWUHdaNC8kd7uc3LzwptUc_uMKqi6r3XZW5-a4VsXFxYmPI36_d-IFWxtkhxybrXNr50mi0YxuNpHXUK7iPjIGmJDz8xrvPU9RvvSg/s4142/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(54).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2765" data-original-width="4142" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc_JQYTHxt0uk0MrHjtFL4mQWwC_AbQT3z-RYBJScFIDt4VOcYlGzXE_fXUWqJF9JPexSoLHXQ4zVgrMtmxVpWiWUHdaNC8kd7uc3LzwptUc_uMKqi6r3XZW5-a4VsXFxYmPI36_d-IFWxtkhxybrXNr50mi0YxuNpHXUK7iPjIGmJDz8xrvPU9RvvSg/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(54).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHB3bc15TpZQ0FuonCCeC9WVU1mnfYViXongOflEz1RUcv2KaCr0tEFf9jQSg03m1A4zlIlXnbKqvmF-8qlnRUr9Y0NKByUjxWvU3HFc09vQWovSkpFwKFwDm41HNFF2wm4VGkEXbiSQN2KGjqs7wx52s4ze4ZPbB26vSvLDKgVqt4QYFhd1--BEY78w/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(55).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHB3bc15TpZQ0FuonCCeC9WVU1mnfYViXongOflEz1RUcv2KaCr0tEFf9jQSg03m1A4zlIlXnbKqvmF-8qlnRUr9Y0NKByUjxWvU3HFc09vQWovSkpFwKFwDm41HNFF2wm4VGkEXbiSQN2KGjqs7wx52s4ze4ZPbB26vSvLDKgVqt4QYFhd1--BEY78w/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(55).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizbNlMVG6NiEU4MsKFd1xAzXMV6D-0b0k8Pj1WkJyA-NuoWMlNPs_8YD5tAi4nxtAHUdznY9sTeH6rasmXzvD6kxUZLG2Jr0dZ_p3JsnvfJJzDgHV63t5Z0UNLDV52Cb8_EcNq1-WijquTGgnFZvGbUuRIv6EU7iy_a7v97lMP1S1ikkmQyvFI3N_iA/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(57).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizbNlMVG6NiEU4MsKFd1xAzXMV6D-0b0k8Pj1WkJyA-NuoWMlNPs_8YD5tAi4nxtAHUdznY9sTeH6rasmXzvD6kxUZLG2Jr0dZ_p3JsnvfJJzDgHV63t5Z0UNLDV52Cb8_EcNq1-WijquTGgnFZvGbUuRIv6EU7iy_a7v97lMP1S1ikkmQyvFI3N_iA/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(57).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div></div></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">As we made our way back towards the land, stopping to
read the forest of interpretive plaques explaining the history and marine
ecology of the region, and describing construction of the port and breakwater,
we noticed another small sign indicating we were in the <b><a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-bird-sanctuaries/locations/victoria-harbour.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary.</a></b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The breakwater
is a very popular spot for local birders, with over 160 species reported on
eBird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking around, we spotted a
couple Surf Scoters and Harlequin Ducks floating in the choppy grey waters, as
well as a Pacific Loon swimming farther out.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVS3uTlVLpJawdGJdJCEcHyy9_epF6CKjvdw0mAfEZZqINU-8BKRvs1C1PZamrVCOdi4f4W0lRCDTMi_oCJeWgXWjyRcVVRj3dwFdLt2pprUqaqhQVYBBYv5GCxD0WYsoRb_gcC18JCcTU3MSj9BTgiJTSbhFAieynIswGtAJPOjgjrAnQSXlSi56GDA/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(59).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVS3uTlVLpJawdGJdJCEcHyy9_epF6CKjvdw0mAfEZZqINU-8BKRvs1C1PZamrVCOdi4f4W0lRCDTMi_oCJeWgXWjyRcVVRj3dwFdLt2pprUqaqhQVYBBYv5GCxD0WYsoRb_gcC18JCcTU3MSj9BTgiJTSbhFAieynIswGtAJPOjgjrAnQSXlSi56GDA/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(59).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7i8ARr3uJrMvI5WUrSMrlvIMGv5QE0uzYwtGmHG7kwhltJv-3TyLrNWou8t6WwT0NxVVG7iuyQbz-Ay5l80HCCpQxzh6pinAob84cNodRiC8p8yqgNvM1db_WvaIlrL8n0Q-P4bf61CYHCU5VAap362SAq3Mq4GOYAtMIsjrLGr75qRz5nm9qN_Q1kg/s5633/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(62).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3761" data-original-width="5633" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7i8ARr3uJrMvI5WUrSMrlvIMGv5QE0uzYwtGmHG7kwhltJv-3TyLrNWou8t6WwT0NxVVG7iuyQbz-Ay5l80HCCpQxzh6pinAob84cNodRiC8p8yqgNvM1db_WvaIlrL8n0Q-P4bf61CYHCU5VAap362SAq3Mq4GOYAtMIsjrLGr75qRz5nm9qN_Q1kg/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(62).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrMfqwVAc5E8Xo6cPlPAqyb6tOLEe9GI7V9B385qLxRhWz1HfTGt4ha1yjrETuP80Ya8zwujLyXM2iOD5xY4QfNvM__MUs6L7s_r1itLTMiOY-C_c1sXU-G_fZG8-v4-RCycGdEoFGatkod9HfLEWstkuq16XJNjkFJcK1_KnsfaFBbAwuK_Ttil_ig/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(65).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrMfqwVAc5E8Xo6cPlPAqyb6tOLEe9GI7V9B385qLxRhWz1HfTGt4ha1yjrETuP80Ya8zwujLyXM2iOD5xY4QfNvM__MUs6L7s_r1itLTMiOY-C_c1sXU-G_fZG8-v4-RCycGdEoFGatkod9HfLEWstkuq16XJNjkFJcK1_KnsfaFBbAwuK_Ttil_ig/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(65).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHafQBU4Noyp7L6Mbvm724U-Mq8CASXXFgKsnQ8Z5PZynLByD6NinkrmuoPkKUW3MxyiojHRNkSUE0PGEvuGwKZo-uvsckbZ-hGrfZv1EbWX2QrJ1FQy4xqtgYgUovkgIVzwKT6cf8ZI3dD8FSAT2Mn7vAcvf83TMwCUJ_7ur6WBvGCRmIAnWi0GJ22A/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(70).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHafQBU4Noyp7L6Mbvm724U-Mq8CASXXFgKsnQ8Z5PZynLByD6NinkrmuoPkKUW3MxyiojHRNkSUE0PGEvuGwKZo-uvsckbZ-hGrfZv1EbWX2QrJ1FQy4xqtgYgUovkgIVzwKT6cf8ZI3dD8FSAT2Mn7vAcvf83TMwCUJ_7ur6WBvGCRmIAnWi0GJ22A/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(70).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KOAKp83NG6CTMDbcRl8oyIkk8uvJ3VLdRAdG5LYWws6H0qkRhROZjV7wJAnPxmPyIqPK7pPLZEnf7d_OUUPfce9G9vnHXsrnHcG3srYpeIL5_sITT17EnfsAfoEQWhklyGuE974mKd4EtaMu8J4801hDwiy4b7FUefrn2Ha_KlZi99G0v1_xZcjQqQ/s5340/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(71).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5340" data-original-width="3564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KOAKp83NG6CTMDbcRl8oyIkk8uvJ3VLdRAdG5LYWws6H0qkRhROZjV7wJAnPxmPyIqPK7pPLZEnf7d_OUUPfce9G9vnHXsrnHcG3srYpeIL5_sITT17EnfsAfoEQWhklyGuE974mKd4EtaMu8J4801hDwiy4b7FUefrn2Ha_KlZi99G0v1_xZcjQqQ/w268-h400/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(71).JPG" width="268" /></a></div></div></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">We continued along the waterfront, following a paved
pathway around Holland Point Park, and enjoying spectacular views of the snow
covered mountains across the strait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
small flock of Buffleheads was bobbing around in the waves just off shore,
managing to keep pace with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It felt a
little like we had an escort.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdaCeDsMuLLuq_ZrbkT2oQ72mkFormqoIrRaxZ2Xe7MrntVTvhUvd_3gki0o74VtLznL65FK-aiCYp4eZ2trh3T2cA2x5t2e_XV3M8bz64F-mIi-KpqVLc50jnrEGL74on6sXAA8adjQ7USQ5OYPT7lGxa4WpZr6ZHgtyJump-9NvzsKTsiJ3PAQwtA/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(68).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdaCeDsMuLLuq_ZrbkT2oQ72mkFormqoIrRaxZ2Xe7MrntVTvhUvd_3gki0o74VtLznL65FK-aiCYp4eZ2trh3T2cA2x5t2e_XV3M8bz64F-mIi-KpqVLc50jnrEGL74on6sXAA8adjQ7USQ5OYPT7lGxa4WpZr6ZHgtyJump-9NvzsKTsiJ3PAQwtA/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(68).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">We soon arrived back at the famous “Mile 0” marker,
signifying the beginning of the Trans Canada Highway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Interestingly, just beside the large wooden
sign there was a bronze statue of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://terryfox.org/terrys-story/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Terry Fox</a></b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Terry Fox lost his right leg to
cancer at the age of 18, and began a cross-Canada run to raise awareness and
money for cancer research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He began in
Newfoundland, and had he survived long enough to complete the 8,000 km journey,
he would have arrived at the Mile 0 marker where we stood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It brought to mind the large memorial statue
to Terry Fox we walked past in Thunder Bay Ontario, at the final place he
reached on foot.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIN1FjjiG1BMblXHuOas_KhpxHwU_4ktZq_nnSW8TfgKzmMDl5NgzivhwE8L7rkngVfWZoMlNEWvxiIlgvN32z92i3FS66xWdK1q55HF_X86Xb2ILxpgP6FsJ09V3ovaHH-ulVklJif6J126jQH00VD4O_aXmBm7t1jI--cwxUF3WMQk0ZRluIWX-jw/s4004/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(94).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4004" data-original-width="2672" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIN1FjjiG1BMblXHuOas_KhpxHwU_4ktZq_nnSW8TfgKzmMDl5NgzivhwE8L7rkngVfWZoMlNEWvxiIlgvN32z92i3FS66xWdK1q55HF_X86Xb2ILxpgP6FsJ09V3ovaHH-ulVklJif6J126jQH00VD4O_aXmBm7t1jI--cwxUF3WMQk0ZRluIWX-jw/w268-h400/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(94).JPG" width="268" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOYbwy6p3IshKwI74XycmRjI7tywn4fDR2eeL9irFo1DB7XrftqK-EgeWAuELjQJRohwHkK5nKdQnwmcjp-EM8iJNtKmYs_v4seE3eRHwM0XmOmHAAJWGiYRxNgwm3MRySf7gxYj51nZaq5ZtR3jnxbGMSR471bRBQJ8uv0SY8KBogWySbtgYFDZVGA/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(92).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOYbwy6p3IshKwI74XycmRjI7tywn4fDR2eeL9irFo1DB7XrftqK-EgeWAuELjQJRohwHkK5nKdQnwmcjp-EM8iJNtKmYs_v4seE3eRHwM0XmOmHAAJWGiYRxNgwm3MRySf7gxYj51nZaq5ZtR3jnxbGMSR471bRBQJ8uv0SY8KBogWySbtgYFDZVGA/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(92).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">Nearby, there was also a small plaque to commemorate
Stephen Fonyo’s “Journey for Lives.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Stephen ran almost 8,000 km across Canada in 1984-85 to raise money for
the <a href="https://cancer.ca/en/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Canadian Cancer Society</b>,</a> for
cancer education, patient care, and research.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Seeing this second commemoration was a strong reminder that many
different kinds of journeys have begun and ended at this spot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">The Mile 0 marker sits at the edge of Beaconhill Park,
which resembles a large, forested hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This 740,000 m park features a network of footpaths and trails, as well
as manicured flowerbeds, play areas, public washrooms, and a variety of natural
areas with sensitive ecological elements.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Among these areas is a patch of the Garry Oak ecosystem, one of the
rarest and most endangered ecosystems in Canada.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOQrDRa27SIMwynwLzDGe9LM5mgkAY44o1HACI0ifc3K_RLhWYC5vrRxmt7YCbjfZnqu0Iev7CoIldvX-Tt6J8bt9GqQdS7g94lYp8TabXOxgeyKZcR_qeYUmKIoTJReUpPMO-6iV8U8KXYGJsE2uRqCnwOnmSZfqaX3ltgVIKK9hjRrlA97tefausg/s5557/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(72).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5557" data-original-width="3710" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirOQrDRa27SIMwynwLzDGe9LM5mgkAY44o1HACI0ifc3K_RLhWYC5vrRxmt7YCbjfZnqu0Iev7CoIldvX-Tt6J8bt9GqQdS7g94lYp8TabXOxgeyKZcR_qeYUmKIoTJReUpPMO-6iV8U8KXYGJsE2uRqCnwOnmSZfqaX3ltgVIKK9hjRrlA97tefausg/w268-h400/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(72).JPG" width="268" /></a></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">In addition to being ecologically important,
Beaconhill Park is also a sacred place of cultural and historic significance
for the Lekwungen People.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their
practice of cultivating camas and other native plants for food and medicine
helped shape the landscape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
also archaeological significance to the site, with a known burial ground on the
southeast edge of the plants. The park was formalized in 1882, and designated
as a municipal heritage site in 2009. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">After we had passed the slopes of Beaconhill Park we
saw the Beaconhill Story Pole rising up above us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently, at 127 ft in height, it was, and
perhaps still is, the tallest free-standing totem pole in the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pole was erected in 1956, carved by a
team led by Mungo Martin, a Kwakiutl tribal chief and renown carver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was restored and repainted in 2011, and
the colours still looked bright against the blue sky beyond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, totem poles have an average lifespan
of about 50 years, and this one is no exception.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end of this time they are returned to
the earth, so the stories can live on in future generations.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSV_zqSEgwhGT98bRqY5KGj4mLIcZ2HKDmjLi_cXcjqUfCKcm1WuSxKv0dcIyr8ATCI7ywg-XE97YJa4PFu1mUobujl-5jA88Am8drXba1gkPtjER8OMdsRwBFH3xsHXyHGTvZgf2n2ho5Ux0ZTYjOHYdwYCRf1OSBSybibUAX8wnMREGy-WLt9Ay3A/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(73).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQSV_zqSEgwhGT98bRqY5KGj4mLIcZ2HKDmjLi_cXcjqUfCKcm1WuSxKv0dcIyr8ATCI7ywg-XE97YJa4PFu1mUobujl-5jA88Am8drXba1gkPtjER8OMdsRwBFH3xsHXyHGTvZgf2n2ho5Ux0ZTYjOHYdwYCRf1OSBSybibUAX8wnMREGy-WLt9Ay3A/w268-h400/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(73).JPG" width="268" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4o1lHJ96Q2KXUiUoUckJvKUfwdlJqNUiZHUVJtva3gyr-RLafkB7AQVZWhom-IzGGnT20g2D-Rwfm0cBDNLNHlQjov3BCnNOBQnDaeJm9g13rkJPJbjFXxtjr6e8ip-hvc3Zu3_rOyOluI1nMWrNdIafTpoG7mXVtF6l5pmja3T4I2EnOhN8XGvI65A/s3129/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(90).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2088" data-original-width="3129" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4o1lHJ96Q2KXUiUoUckJvKUfwdlJqNUiZHUVJtva3gyr-RLafkB7AQVZWhom-IzGGnT20g2D-Rwfm0cBDNLNHlQjov3BCnNOBQnDaeJm9g13rkJPJbjFXxtjr6e8ip-hvc3Zu3_rOyOluI1nMWrNdIafTpoG7mXVtF6l5pmja3T4I2EnOhN8XGvI65A/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(90).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDZ_deMp_jOmWieOCeJzLEoVrkyGL_Hyq9FTqaruRwnN6hop3z79m_3tfgWJc1uQa13WRcaPsrK1AhNvyTYUEgETeJlMtNwDJVJuA0JJrSuCK_Pxxvqtuw5wL7ttXdoCiQz4X7XS76FNtVLFT8UYs2zH9veVuRlu8o9eeFhh8_i7SrExPEfNXK5YVdA/s4027/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(74).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2688" data-original-width="4027" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDZ_deMp_jOmWieOCeJzLEoVrkyGL_Hyq9FTqaruRwnN6hop3z79m_3tfgWJc1uQa13WRcaPsrK1AhNvyTYUEgETeJlMtNwDJVJuA0JJrSuCK_Pxxvqtuw5wL7ttXdoCiQz4X7XS76FNtVLFT8UYs2zH9veVuRlu8o9eeFhh8_i7SrExPEfNXK5YVdA/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(74).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">From the world’s tallest totem pole it was a short
walk down the paved cycling path along the shore of the Salish Sea to Clover
Point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The long stretch of open green
grass was busy with a herd of very enthusiastic canines and their obliging
owners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The overcast sky was streaked
with soft bands of yellow and pink light, and although the sun was mostly
hidden, the reflection coming in off the water was fairly bright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We looked for a second time at the mountains
rising up on the far side of the strait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In some ways it felt strange to see land, and not to be standing looking
out at the unbroken waters of the Pacific.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>At the beginning of this crossing, when we stood at the top of<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <a href="https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/signalhill" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Signal Hill in St John’s, Newfoundland</a></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">,
looking out over the Atlantic Ocean</span>, we felt like we were standing on the
edge of the world.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2u_hiwGNqrAtcrp6FkXQg0gKvaw7vedt27ZuP_UGBqXW9e2M1MLqlBj6SYBNne5Tus-6qng6j-S4_q_34XR01V00jtEksllS_QE_AMdRmklxXrmYR7RDkfXKrOYo0SXJlq1WcwOmcWThG_XajExr72TZROJHw5FZqHAdfb84bOnlc1UjccWdv4zafQ/s4886/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(76).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3263" data-original-width="4886" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2u_hiwGNqrAtcrp6FkXQg0gKvaw7vedt27ZuP_UGBqXW9e2M1MLqlBj6SYBNne5Tus-6qng6j-S4_q_34XR01V00jtEksllS_QE_AMdRmklxXrmYR7RDkfXKrOYo0SXJlq1WcwOmcWThG_XajExr72TZROJHw5FZqHAdfb84bOnlc1UjccWdv4zafQ/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(76).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JrXvsN7RNrBGTkPgHPkTQIOPOGCc4UjaUqZrzD-Jq9ZNCmrIHd-LrqGNtZFVC3IjLVnHco6zRESaGXLzvtKVLYSZtTgj31VI8d4LvsZnoh4htmoBjLMh5nAsbFs5KK7ourQdGqSEOaoFJX7sWBJ6UpYGoFUxaHgiu_PTlc8_mMLLRZvEKRzW-R7FRQ/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(79).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JrXvsN7RNrBGTkPgHPkTQIOPOGCc4UjaUqZrzD-Jq9ZNCmrIHd-LrqGNtZFVC3IjLVnHco6zRESaGXLzvtKVLYSZtTgj31VI8d4LvsZnoh4htmoBjLMh5nAsbFs5KK7ourQdGqSEOaoFJX7sWBJ6UpYGoFUxaHgiu_PTlc8_mMLLRZvEKRzW-R7FRQ/w268-h400/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(79).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09CUVOYpMVA2TY8cdI6wjGbBaV8BFo3l9F0woVtqT2oLJ4ZCl5oqHZXGeg10apsNo9Ky9KkrGzDAb0zWPWpn7UyNfbrzSkduX5kJNsrdcTH1fPhU3hc7Npvxwb_GL7a9On5lIW1dDyDmuOtq3Z9L_9GZOXw6NdW3k0Di6ozlgy1NE6WKyNLP0YM8R4Q/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(81).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09CUVOYpMVA2TY8cdI6wjGbBaV8BFo3l9F0woVtqT2oLJ4ZCl5oqHZXGeg10apsNo9Ky9KkrGzDAb0zWPWpn7UyNfbrzSkduX5kJNsrdcTH1fPhU3hc7Npvxwb_GL7a9On5lIW1dDyDmuOtq3Z9L_9GZOXw6NdW3k0Di6ozlgy1NE6WKyNLP0YM8R4Q/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(81).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkKA0Mt0ElJn1YxTjKsyo5MSZ01mOVXxCQBdCU4C9gdIo6nA2vYoAKPYfn_E3i9rmoNl_WqUrAC60WSg6iS5aKJNl2-1cDMnxcabUDuMEGEdLV6EqiAKKpg0SF8Rsip5SzYA45Guuj9pO5YZVl1X9YDtoLryaKzGq5PZtptnsPGSDFVO1b4meFkMY0A/s5608/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(82).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5608" data-original-width="3744" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkKA0Mt0ElJn1YxTjKsyo5MSZ01mOVXxCQBdCU4C9gdIo6nA2vYoAKPYfn_E3i9rmoNl_WqUrAC60WSg6iS5aKJNl2-1cDMnxcabUDuMEGEdLV6EqiAKKpg0SF8Rsip5SzYA45Guuj9pO5YZVl1X9YDtoLryaKzGq5PZtptnsPGSDFVO1b4meFkMY0A/s320/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(82).JPG" width="214" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCt7Af7WtaJ0I5xcskcdcIVO8pg3RVJl6aXWyLC_8nDa5La3VbGyuXJX4MNXTPsnY8wae5FS-4jwUBviMl2qiLNTbPV9GF2VQd3jH8KSpR8hUTUa7ImtY8mkFNJIgt6NZ6BiH6ERsqn4Tp6LraiaK99kKOpqB1mORWnpK9tdNX7WJE83gQqpLip2ggg/s4032/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(84).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbCt7Af7WtaJ0I5xcskcdcIVO8pg3RVJl6aXWyLC_8nDa5La3VbGyuXJX4MNXTPsnY8wae5FS-4jwUBviMl2qiLNTbPV9GF2VQd3jH8KSpR8hUTUa7ImtY8mkFNJIgt6NZ6BiH6ERsqn4Tp6LraiaK99kKOpqB1mORWnpK9tdNX7WJE83gQqpLip2ggg/s320/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(84).jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">We paused for a moment at the marker signifying the
end of the Trans Canada Trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Against
such as a vast and huge landscape it somehow seemed small and
insubstantial.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then again, I can’t
really imagine a marker that wouldn’t seem insubstantial against the vastness
that is Canada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We knew from the
beginning there wouldn’t be a cathedral or a certificate at the end of this
walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was, in many ways, simply a
walk from one coast to the other, from one ocean to another, and we had made
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a journey!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXfs16iUhRz6vKIkDhthfo2ZpZVAxiPWrLZmG1RF29-47a9RYuvakZ2Nf6SayWq1qRnm4cBITQFBdKjZbWw7iCLtONBWab6cDvp-b3v-JU9NKCbwzg2PZgYWVLGeszQtCRV-2gNmKBEtqADtP_KO8ieIwRFab9rBed8K_svKpFZW2f1KK2k0RoaaH2g/s5851/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(86).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3905" data-original-width="5851" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXfs16iUhRz6vKIkDhthfo2ZpZVAxiPWrLZmG1RF29-47a9RYuvakZ2Nf6SayWq1qRnm4cBITQFBdKjZbWw7iCLtONBWab6cDvp-b3v-JU9NKCbwzg2PZgYWVLGeszQtCRV-2gNmKBEtqADtP_KO8ieIwRFab9rBed8K_svKpFZW2f1KK2k0RoaaH2g/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(86).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOe1PQ0_3ID94SY_umvXlyWrcHazreeHLd-wzGbAsT0ctM3iPjMVcxICA5mh-uMwo8DhBUFXvrXBbn2N8BWoocPLXTz14USMfqxhadcCy8mIhxYkoBD3c8Byx1iyozTunxmmuVCDuFmx4MowffJDu_qFgw2RyD6n3xKLZvk8_Vsnfe8W_THqk_lYmyQ/s3596/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(85).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2401" data-original-width="3596" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOe1PQ0_3ID94SY_umvXlyWrcHazreeHLd-wzGbAsT0ctM3iPjMVcxICA5mh-uMwo8DhBUFXvrXBbn2N8BWoocPLXTz14USMfqxhadcCy8mIhxYkoBD3c8Byx1iyozTunxmmuVCDuFmx4MowffJDu_qFgw2RyD6n3xKLZvk8_Vsnfe8W_THqk_lYmyQ/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(85).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0j82JHmG3cNfdJ2GkzwmGr4w6kYghdNcFmr_q_0Bov9qmj51G-wbtuckJxodE6oL4U0GEzQLDltQP5-eFB6ZO9vT_svM5GbWYxT-fDnT2MHWBzikqhlGvCQjV4OcogNl7A-x31S9ywAJe_PI0xMKqEBn802hPQmG6S8fCDPf2QHq0AKfMbTcl4rwzQ/s3615/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(88).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2413" data-original-width="3615" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0j82JHmG3cNfdJ2GkzwmGr4w6kYghdNcFmr_q_0Bov9qmj51G-wbtuckJxodE6oL4U0GEzQLDltQP5-eFB6ZO9vT_svM5GbWYxT-fDnT2MHWBzikqhlGvCQjV4OcogNl7A-x31S9ywAJe_PI0xMKqEBn802hPQmG6S8fCDPf2QHq0AKfMbTcl4rwzQ/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(88).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXdgZTl6PXuqu_loeKw8l-y0Y04npQoHTN3rQlhFA5z89y7e9WzQNq_1bfVp0LsctYf9vWHMA_vvMMq6IbzUfScf-eUGLYju0L28dFj3u1A61ivEs9uCILBaSungqoh0mn5DC2rBT-5_stEyISsZ_ulXGaI7n-nrF69q0UUELULqGwKScXlU8ovcYRg/s3901/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(89).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2605" data-original-width="3901" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilXdgZTl6PXuqu_loeKw8l-y0Y04npQoHTN3rQlhFA5z89y7e9WzQNq_1bfVp0LsctYf9vWHMA_vvMMq6IbzUfScf-eUGLYju0L28dFj3u1A61ivEs9uCILBaSungqoh0mn5DC2rBT-5_stEyISsZ_ulXGaI7n-nrF69q0UUELULqGwKScXlU8ovcYRg/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(89).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">After a few minutes for reflection, for a few laughs,
and even a few tears we turned around and walked back towards downtown Victoria.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>True to form, the direct route back through
Beaconhill Park was several kilometres shorter than the route along the
coast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we approached the downtown
core we passed the residence of Canadian artist <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/emily-carr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Emily Carr.</a></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhs8nTsK_JXz4IuSREbN2oaIsvwj_T9KnkU23mAsa3O3HoAh0MmqXy9CcX_U9vLcsG9_IPDgnXcGR0VhUp0Jm2moGdqoH4c7MZQcNGg1iPh4C_VMtd9nKOSLtFgZ4J5FFcK5-XXCsSy_BkqPQNFIcgmFPiOuovvCwlckynx8HT7VbxLcfE2xp-knuwg/s6016/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(96).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJhs8nTsK_JXz4IuSREbN2oaIsvwj_T9KnkU23mAsa3O3HoAh0MmqXy9CcX_U9vLcsG9_IPDgnXcGR0VhUp0Jm2moGdqoH4c7MZQcNGg1iPh4C_VMtd9nKOSLtFgZ4J5FFcK5-XXCsSy_BkqPQNFIcgmFPiOuovvCwlckynx8HT7VbxLcfE2xp-knuwg/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(96).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUiMCDSmwhMoRzZ9JfvxZDGtragnTxBOB5IdA6J__rweL7UTUaulkD0ilet_93ZmFNCy0cVC_XSYJYemh_Svpj-QbA1CE5Kwmc4hL0tLL9OjC5z7rFH9PeQ_yOj_ff3nHZUK58SvtkXlEsZvo4UWNA9TSKNYp8Fm-B1KduszJuRKd_NweVebwm1lDAQ/s2452/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(95).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1637" data-original-width="2452" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUiMCDSmwhMoRzZ9JfvxZDGtragnTxBOB5IdA6J__rweL7UTUaulkD0ilet_93ZmFNCy0cVC_XSYJYemh_Svpj-QbA1CE5Kwmc4hL0tLL9OjC5z7rFH9PeQ_yOj_ff3nHZUK58SvtkXlEsZvo4UWNA9TSKNYp8Fm-B1KduszJuRKd_NweVebwm1lDAQ/w400-h268/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Victoria%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20(95).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></b> <br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">As we stood at the gate, looking across the garden to
the small cozy home of the familiar Canadian artist and poet, one of her
observations came back to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Without
doubt, this cross Canada journey, and they way we chose to do it, on foot and
striving to record and share our experiences, has been incredible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has given us a new perspective on our
country, from its landscapes, to its birds and wildlife, to its histories and
cultures, to the people who call it home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can’t yet explain fully or precisely what we’ve learned along the way,
but for now, the words of Emily Carr come to mind:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA">“It is wonderful
to feel the grandness of Canada in the raw, not because she is Canada, but
because she is something sublime that you were born into, some great rugged
power that you are part of.”</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63ZNE4mqLbLGm-Bb1pycmc3kU7BRcGUILQ_4QIVPM3sNEOIsjVMOhB8f52r2c7fERl1u1hLNunh4NLRTe5Tnhvm95mgcwspXQjrTdwBfGUhuoWWcGc3Kmu21sNt-wHoStsmQLW39FuX23s3vmWKVL08i-2QZsCA6AAmyotW3fkPwyyOR9Mz0LdQcXfQ/s3264/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Come%20Walk%20With%20Us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg63ZNE4mqLbLGm-Bb1pycmc3kU7BRcGUILQ_4QIVPM3sNEOIsjVMOhB8f52r2c7fERl1u1hLNunh4NLRTe5Tnhvm95mgcwspXQjrTdwBfGUhuoWWcGc3Kmu21sNt-wHoStsmQLW39FuX23s3vmWKVL08i-2QZsCA6AAmyotW3fkPwyyOR9Mz0LdQcXfQ/w400-h300/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Come%20Walk%20With%20Us.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Come Walk With Us, 2019 St. John's Newfoundland <br /></div> <br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-CA">Beyond these thoughts all I can say is : We did
it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In 556 days we have successfully trekked, documented,
photographed and shared 14,000 km of the Trans Canada Trail from the
Atlantic to the Pacific!</span></div>
<p></p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Victoria, BC, Canada48.4284207 -123.365644420.118186863821151 -158.5218944 76.738654536178842 -88.2093944tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-64218759846435130202023-04-18T09:56:00.002-04:002023-04-18T09:57:22.877-04:00Platinum Panda : 110% of Goal Reached<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Just over two weeks ago we signed to<b><a href="https://secure.wwf.ca/site/SPageServer?pagename=climb17_home" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> climb 1776 stairs (or 100 stories) for nature, wildlife, and birds up the CN Tower.</a></b><span> </span>When we registered we set a lofty goal of
striving to raise $1000 dollars to support WWF-Canada’s efforts to conserve and
protect endangered habitats as well as reverse wildlife loss.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCon6w_vy8O8V2rbd2soX0cQRpMTYLnM7J-RYEjY-dHTBW5TEXu2vW4FyCY9GxIGbSTpkoN7krVv-lK44c8Oc5uJo1V8MBQNYwPLRsmWLqGc3tfye0z8sQevmzKUxHWPxrAaeelvLasL7oBgJzwlY5rk2O0sToeWjuLq6kPg1c4nfuKE4KpLMndaRn4A/s4032/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="CN Tower Climb for Nature Toronto Ontario." border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCon6w_vy8O8V2rbd2soX0cQRpMTYLnM7J-RYEjY-dHTBW5TEXu2vW4FyCY9GxIGbSTpkoN7krVv-lK44c8Oc5uJo1V8MBQNYwPLRsmWLqGc3tfye0z8sQevmzKUxHWPxrAaeelvLasL7oBgJzwlY5rk2O0sToeWjuLq6kPg1c4nfuKE4KpLMndaRn4A/w300-h400/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(1).jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NNnBTj2hGKQLUzs1yYjZRvzIe3uQekISwWWqI0ZbBDPdtV9HIsEblCEQP_Htzz8zJsgrnOuKTbcjga9XnMMx5m2ie8rz49wf30yif_9sM3kdvT_PD4aoTbzBrvhKlKtgrxEfp-D9RkIgJFpgOlwoM6vHWW-WruxWCL8Xa-UX75OYQzG-k8pp_wKZYg/s4032/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(4).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Toronto Ontario Skyline." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NNnBTj2hGKQLUzs1yYjZRvzIe3uQekISwWWqI0ZbBDPdtV9HIsEblCEQP_Htzz8zJsgrnOuKTbcjga9XnMMx5m2ie8rz49wf30yif_9sM3kdvT_PD4aoTbzBrvhKlKtgrxEfp-D9RkIgJFpgOlwoM6vHWW-WruxWCL8Xa-UX75OYQzG-k8pp_wKZYg/w400-h300/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(4).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">This weekend we ventured up all 1776 steps and in fact
raised $1100 … or 110% … of our goal! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Having raised more than $1000 dollars we are deemed to be
“Platinum Pandas” and so were escorted to the base of the CN Tower to begin our
climb!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCi_e2p4lT8xPFnwiZUFI2raf7wJW46RG2UB_nlOOxfOj2jCC-M-EYIU-Cv2wk1J1CRwLNTxdVkC5Y7yAxnhEbiM3vQr8v5eHOjuwWI8SwAo5FRQG3RhLfQF3xUIVRqXyzvvkOKfZ5eVcnjtJFEUPxT3-Ui_MdOysiDdvw4PyUfUfpRuUsNm_B8NA5Tg/s3563/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(5).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Platinum Panda WWF Canada CN Tower Climb." border="0" data-original-height="2673" data-original-width="3563" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCi_e2p4lT8xPFnwiZUFI2raf7wJW46RG2UB_nlOOxfOj2jCC-M-EYIU-Cv2wk1J1CRwLNTxdVkC5Y7yAxnhEbiM3vQr8v5eHOjuwWI8SwAo5FRQG3RhLfQF3xUIVRqXyzvvkOKfZ5eVcnjtJFEUPxT3-Ui_MdOysiDdvw4PyUfUfpRuUsNm_B8NA5Tg/w400-h300/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(5).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoEcx3Xr6mChpjtV6bT-KFT2sWJCjVC2PxF8EoKkh5xXZge78uelzyG0IhAA4nxqzVECrWGjsUof0rysmq3Xl3Pc8_6g8XVng7qSpC6nKBorohuXGb07rtlyG11g68QAng3NfbuoIBDQp63w5Y5ChazBylM5VEzYj6dbyOJWAjdwhf6w9d-uWlrl-_Q/s4032/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(6).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sonya Richmond RCGS WWF Panda Tattoo." border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoEcx3Xr6mChpjtV6bT-KFT2sWJCjVC2PxF8EoKkh5xXZge78uelzyG0IhAA4nxqzVECrWGjsUof0rysmq3Xl3Pc8_6g8XVng7qSpC6nKBorohuXGb07rtlyG11g68QAng3NfbuoIBDQp63w5Y5ChazBylM5VEzYj6dbyOJWAjdwhf6w9d-uWlrl-_Q/w300-h400/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(6).jpg" width="300" /></a></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">While we certainly didn't set any speed records en route we were very happy with our slow and steady pace as well as our final time. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_b-ieaFjdZMACsyVd60Go3OrdcYWWVfEKnI3RNWZHp4Vy0rTXvWoEeRzh7URKpg3kAI8AZFE-5pddR9eowMjfzzpQ9BReYz9OfenwDDFgZzrQETneCyI6iW5a9cvpHXsAXkMI5EXTA5TdgECMrYEikn5Gjl49YU2tDlivfwB-zoVvIWLlRLzdmOKiA/s4032/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(8).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_b-ieaFjdZMACsyVd60Go3OrdcYWWVfEKnI3RNWZHp4Vy0rTXvWoEeRzh7URKpg3kAI8AZFE-5pddR9eowMjfzzpQ9BReYz9OfenwDDFgZzrQETneCyI6iW5a9cvpHXsAXkMI5EXTA5TdgECMrYEikn5Gjl49YU2tDlivfwB-zoVvIWLlRLzdmOKiA/w400-h300/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(8).jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOkvl99UW8IVdaYQf3Bw2nmzEnu108kAkF9PhjIb5djhbkAXQ1eYFPFkX1yoIJzXsmPzoUvw9gwjeBYVEMZUkhFGdmMC-KG5Mq47zhyn4ZcAML83j47wVky5LlgYAhhnkFBYcA6Kd8FAY558gdnwyUq2gWqF3_Y5jtxuf0NpVUrbNgnHGkzc0QBAZtw/s4032/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(7).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOkvl99UW8IVdaYQf3Bw2nmzEnu108kAkF9PhjIb5djhbkAXQ1eYFPFkX1yoIJzXsmPzoUvw9gwjeBYVEMZUkhFGdmMC-KG5Mq47zhyn4ZcAML83j47wVky5LlgYAhhnkFBYcA6Kd8FAY558gdnwyUq2gWqF3_Y5jtxuf0NpVUrbNgnHGkzc0QBAZtw/w300-h400/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(7).jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWJmDGA8zKolpmwZGe76mvi6Su2cNBX73NRneSdhONoC3fHt8vw9wnZUiQHjjyE6YZ-OyCxmSLkrKVJX6vlwBgc5XjnUQWxKfhssuQcSBOxUgvU5o1UvWwjGBzkddb-Fb66zslYmbl9ieoeRQVzK3EyHCVbZlAvw7ws7z7-7KuTnzgyKLHsXBLMkJqw/s4032/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(9).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWJmDGA8zKolpmwZGe76mvi6Su2cNBX73NRneSdhONoC3fHt8vw9wnZUiQHjjyE6YZ-OyCxmSLkrKVJX6vlwBgc5XjnUQWxKfhssuQcSBOxUgvU5o1UvWwjGBzkddb-Fb66zslYmbl9ieoeRQVzK3EyHCVbZlAvw7ws7z7-7KuTnzgyKLHsXBLMkJqw/w400-h300/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(9).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span><br /></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Thank you to everyone who has supported our 14,000 km trek
from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean on the Trans Canada Trail and who turned
out to support our fundraising efforts for <b><a href="https://wwf.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WWF-Canada</a></b>.<span> </span>Thank you also to those kind souls who have
emailed messages of encouragement for both our CN Tower Climb for Nature today
and for coming year as we venture the Arctic!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24WLAaW8Obs9w49sSz6Em0tO6grCBhOOSlea-zFNdimWiwjpFTF3XIkhCP0E8yfrRJxSlsKpQKQDBLFYDLk3gQWtsPxCEnlY6fYpq0YyGAPLzdwK0EvivCO1Svjn_I6KdbsbkpV9TO4CfFdEbCf5FpP4Fv-z9JgSZbiO4cO8O_iqsw1kyzC0sNPOxJA/s4032/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(11).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh24WLAaW8Obs9w49sSz6Em0tO6grCBhOOSlea-zFNdimWiwjpFTF3XIkhCP0E8yfrRJxSlsKpQKQDBLFYDLk3gQWtsPxCEnlY6fYpq0YyGAPLzdwK0EvivCO1Svjn_I6KdbsbkpV9TO4CfFdEbCf5FpP4Fv-z9JgSZbiO4cO8O_iqsw1kyzC0sNPOxJA/w400-h300/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(11).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtYheGcvzB4K-3sAu07U08D5NFK5_bmvloi8EOFSQc6-8OtI7rCdN0lgZ2rAu3M79d4YHStJzR_b61-ndSFPfjGBw404jwV47FKJLjRmiFqEGmsUDzX3fGqKyOrt4r9Ppepb9rHjccr0U7UJPXa2UtQwrd3GGmUva6dl4WnxA2yBX_8LRPmOtl_wIxw/s4032/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(13).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="WWF Canada Climb for Nature Shirt and Time." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrtYheGcvzB4K-3sAu07U08D5NFK5_bmvloi8EOFSQc6-8OtI7rCdN0lgZ2rAu3M79d4YHStJzR_b61-ndSFPfjGBw404jwV47FKJLjRmiFqEGmsUDzX3fGqKyOrt4r9Ppepb9rHjccr0U7UJPXa2UtQwrd3GGmUva6dl4WnxA2yBX_8LRPmOtl_wIxw/w400-h300/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(13).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-zT-CBJa3JsiIN-rR0Vfs9AfFxXM-XHmjcqDL0zqMDEPKLGl7u45-pueaq1WrF-IbSOY8A4g2J8o_xUviUimb3TMHRjIsRK_pAItbIpooUljv7S-1GNpmNyNEKxJ6BJ8vYToWZXAJ5lwIbchu7o7nWNgkHN2kqL6grXphjsV4JvMNbtazJW--FJROA/s1800/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(14).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Come Walk With Us CN Tower Climb Toronto." border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1800" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD-zT-CBJa3JsiIN-rR0Vfs9AfFxXM-XHmjcqDL0zqMDEPKLGl7u45-pueaq1WrF-IbSOY8A4g2J8o_xUviUimb3TMHRjIsRK_pAItbIpooUljv7S-1GNpmNyNEKxJ6BJ8vYToWZXAJ5lwIbchu7o7nWNgkHN2kqL6grXphjsV4JvMNbtazJW--FJROA/w400-h266/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(14).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">A return to the<b><a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Great Trail of Canada</a></b> is near! We are set to spend the next month getting back into shape before heading from Fort Saskatchewan to the Arctic. <br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Quick CN Tower Fact: Did you know?<span> </span>That Swans, like the Trumpeter swan, can fly
up to a height of 2,438 metres during migration, which is nearly four times the
height of the <b><a href="https://www.cntower.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CN Tower</a></b>!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0mMk-8G52RNFandkGgEYS-Cxr0Fgpu3-amZHusOUmm0zuTl8DG191o7Mq4pK8krTVUX-9So40JN-GSmh2fgJYzF1_zrtcFuH20TaYVcODUSWhk8Z1QHAohLtCirNiXTEpq3a1ovm3W2c8sFTFkYy0M6O7tz9n75VlK2TbA-solK6qmrhTMQN-_iTUA/s4032/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(10).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Stepped Up for Wildlife WWF CN Tower Climb." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0mMk-8G52RNFandkGgEYS-Cxr0Fgpu3-amZHusOUmm0zuTl8DG191o7Mq4pK8krTVUX-9So40JN-GSmh2fgJYzF1_zrtcFuH20TaYVcODUSWhk8Z1QHAohLtCirNiXTEpq3a1ovm3W2c8sFTFkYy0M6O7tz9n75VlK2TbA-solK6qmrhTMQN-_iTUA/w400-h300/WWF%20Canada%20CN%20Tower%20Climb%20for%20Nature%20Toronto%20(10).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">See you on the trail! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Remember to follow our entire adventure here : <a href="https://www.comewalkwithus.online/"><b>www.comewalkwithus.online</b></a></span></div>
<p></p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Toronto, ON, Canada43.653226 -79.383184315.342992163821151 -114.5394343 71.963459836178842 -44.226934299999996tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-76214189577278049342023-04-14T12:41:00.018-04:002023-04-15T16:06:12.346-04:00Trans Canada Trail Digital StoryMap<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA">As many of you know we have been working with the <b><a href="https://rcgs.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Royal Canadian Geographical Society</a></b> to transform our experiences on the <a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Trans Canada Trail
</b></a>exploring the nation into a Digital Story Map for classrooms.<span> </span>This winter we have spent hundreds of hours
at desks designing this story map with the information and photographs
collected from hiking more than 14,000 km from the Atlantic to the Pacific on
the Great Trail.<br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA">With only a short time left to go before we set back
out onto the TCT we thought we would share some of what we have been doing,
what the goals of the story map are, and how things are going.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKJqbkJKkf-kmQE-Wm9TbhqVs86Sn3FPIoBzFKT7qDFig3Ap1GD79V8U3YmBDpydOlwesli2rMwW8ExECJjIJZc1A-_wPJkHtNnKzrQmgNn941lQ8poTRVbo7zONdzov1DONHbtGMyigz-t4WkMtA1KOxzsKrZulzM-G3i1RhrlbSfCr7Vlm826wBkQ/s3557/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(11).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="RCGS Expedition Flag on Trans Canada Trail Thru Hiker Blog." border="0" data-original-height="2667" data-original-width="3557" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKJqbkJKkf-kmQE-Wm9TbhqVs86Sn3FPIoBzFKT7qDFig3Ap1GD79V8U3YmBDpydOlwesli2rMwW8ExECJjIJZc1A-_wPJkHtNnKzrQmgNn941lQ8poTRVbo7zONdzov1DONHbtGMyigz-t4WkMtA1KOxzsKrZulzM-G3i1RhrlbSfCr7Vlm826wBkQ/w400-h300/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(11).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-CA"></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Virtual Exploration
on the Trans Canada Trail</span></b></span></h2></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA">What would it be like to walk across the second
largest country on earth, on the longest recreational trail in the world?<span> </span>What would you bring with you? What would you
leave behind?<span> </span>What would you discover about
Canada's landscapes, cultures, and histories along the way?<span> </span>With the help of a <b><a href="https://rcgs.org/about/news-releases/announcing-the-2022-rcgs-research-grantees/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Royal Canadian Geographic Independent Research Grant</a></b>, the Come Walk With Us Expedition team has been hard
at work preparing a Story Map that will connect students with Canada's
wildlife, natural spaces, histories, and cultures and encourage active
community engagement through Citizen Science and volunteerism.<span> </span>Soon you will be invited to embark on a
virtual hike across Canada on the 28,000 km long Trans Canada Trail (formerly
the Great Trail) to experience what it is like to traverse this vast country on
foot.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fNXvVuSnIPOI_Q1f1uRFG1wiYNBQvR3p0D34jfEn7KU5GWxI2Lo0sNLjRPT3x7IILVDyDn_xRNqFyQBveqFzIhQeXz0ksKUZ80l6k10wVM4Sr19p0rG2Ep8Kys1g0oI9CJZLokObPyko5VeSjiU920V9ODKTX5ht5fd8WBUDjU8iJ4UrX2mWfNfzKw/s4513/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(34).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Story Map Digital Story Telling." border="0" data-original-height="3324" data-original-width="4513" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6fNXvVuSnIPOI_Q1f1uRFG1wiYNBQvR3p0D34jfEn7KU5GWxI2Lo0sNLjRPT3x7IILVDyDn_xRNqFyQBveqFzIhQeXz0ksKUZ80l6k10wVM4Sr19p0rG2Ep8Kys1g0oI9CJZLokObPyko5VeSjiU920V9ODKTX5ht5fd8WBUDjU8iJ4UrX2mWfNfzKw/w640-h472/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(34).JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Story Mapping
the Great Trail <br /></span></b></span></h2></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA">In November 2022, the Come Walk With Us Expedition
arrived at Point Zero in Victoria, BC.<span> </span>On
the 30<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Great Trail, they had just become the
first couple to walk, photograph, blog, and bird more than 14,000 km of the trail
between St. John's, Newfoundland and Victoria, British Columbia.<span> </span>With 'data collection' complete between the
Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the next step was to select stories from along the
trail that captured the unique landscapes, cultures, and histories of each
province and region.<span> </span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZNycvuYSDn24c1v9rhZ6VQ0j4veqJrm7YbYrcFn0ezYNRDGbG9U0lznC8J8DotwYqEIC-BmmQ0GCkh15tNWPAtpn0IKQKkyS_01AzElIQ8nNox2eMsBe2fPfdPMD_XGafqfiYgqQWqNJgIZRQJS1PZUVrBaegLwbZJe3UbSkoP6BAOnCv_J53xemww/s3508/Certificate%20-%20Dr.%20Sonya%20Richmond%20and%20Come%20Walk%20With%20Us.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digital Museums Canada Certificate Trans Canada Trail." border="0" data-original-height="2481" data-original-width="3508" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZNycvuYSDn24c1v9rhZ6VQ0j4veqJrm7YbYrcFn0ezYNRDGbG9U0lznC8J8DotwYqEIC-BmmQ0GCkh15tNWPAtpn0IKQKkyS_01AzElIQ8nNox2eMsBe2fPfdPMD_XGafqfiYgqQWqNJgIZRQJS1PZUVrBaegLwbZJe3UbSkoP6BAOnCv_J53xemww/w452-h320/Certificate%20-%20Dr.%20Sonya%20Richmond%20and%20Come%20Walk%20With%20Us.jpg" width="452" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA">Drawing from
750,000 photos and videos taken during the first four years on the trail, and over
800 daily blog entries, an educational and entertaining narrative began to take
shape over the winter months.<span> </span>Refining
their digital storytelling skills through certification with the <b><a href="https://www.digitalmuseums.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Digital Museums of Canada</a></b>, coursework and intensive research,
the team worked on effectively combining maps, images, text, and other media
into a compelling, interactive, and educational adventure suitable for students
in elementary and high school.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZPpv4_cYQzZpIywCI5m8rZBCFUYLhX5yhqcivxsxQojjqjg0kvIOefQE2IcCuqRxOtXfS9Kerl_njFyxPZJzll0RPAvaMF8z6_Ekovn3_AOH5hjyWPlhcb3tUPwgCNErlhjUEU_0lskIxF2567aA_BYGfc45kFMoGa-4SM_WyjE5L_t1z22kUIfW1A/s5564/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(53).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3153" data-original-width="5564" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZPpv4_cYQzZpIywCI5m8rZBCFUYLhX5yhqcivxsxQojjqjg0kvIOefQE2IcCuqRxOtXfS9Kerl_njFyxPZJzll0RPAvaMF8z6_Ekovn3_AOH5hjyWPlhcb3tUPwgCNErlhjUEU_0lskIxF2567aA_BYGfc45kFMoGa-4SM_WyjE5L_t1z22kUIfW1A/w559-h316/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(53).JPG" width="559" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrfW_h-A_tNAhYMcFcZcfmkPORsI_hvKa2D3TbtzxoHnswGA6ItaR_LJ5JlnXHvsnpK-DJ8u2EAxYYh6kttHgFZp30GbWAEwOotA5HbH378nj2zVztI3HfMv8Z0Ffj3KRa8c7keqxGrcjFNEW2M1IHbh9dbaMSagqgPkI9ibr4y0Em1MFcUvZsZUTog/s3433/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(54).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="RCGS Storymap Trans Canada Trail." border="0" data-original-height="2292" data-original-width="3433" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrfW_h-A_tNAhYMcFcZcfmkPORsI_hvKa2D3TbtzxoHnswGA6ItaR_LJ5JlnXHvsnpK-DJ8u2EAxYYh6kttHgFZp30GbWAEwOotA5HbH378nj2zVztI3HfMv8Z0Ffj3KRa8c7keqxGrcjFNEW2M1IHbh9dbaMSagqgPkI9ibr4y0Em1MFcUvZsZUTog/w440-h295/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(54).JPG" width="440" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVpSmBQ9uouTxIJEm4H0vKMWMTPRd3-2fdIxseJFvdOYjaayzIrp9Dg09qJvQLlQhrBI_WCQGzCC4jRnBLwDQQ00xLqC1-h_tRdz6sRBKoFaMKcmYen5SzkAPfYSg6VW4OyszjO8RnlMx_5g2mm7KwFJ09unI_RzRO_FYCpRtXJTnS5FtE-cAZKH0EQ/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(55).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Great Trail Storymap design." border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVpSmBQ9uouTxIJEm4H0vKMWMTPRd3-2fdIxseJFvdOYjaayzIrp9Dg09qJvQLlQhrBI_WCQGzCC4jRnBLwDQQ00xLqC1-h_tRdz6sRBKoFaMKcmYen5SzkAPfYSg6VW4OyszjO8RnlMx_5g2mm7KwFJ09unI_RzRO_FYCpRtXJTnS5FtE-cAZKH0EQ/w282-h421/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(55).JPG" width="282" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-CA">Virtual Adventure</span></b></span></h2></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA">Those who choose to explore Canada through this virtual
adventure will walk the <b><a href="https://www.niagarafallsinfo.com/niagara-falls-history/niagara-falls-municipal-history/the-chronicles-of-settlement-in-niagara/the-niagara-freedom-trail/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Freedom Trail</a></b> in Niagara, Ontario, learning about Black
history in Canada while following in the footsteps of escaped slaves seeking
freedom on the Underground Railroad.<span> </span>On
the banks of the Red River in Winnipeg, Manitoba young explorers will discover
M</span><span lang="EN-CA">é</span><span lang="EN-CA">tis culture and learn how the York boat shaped Canadian history at
Lower Fort Gary, a stronghold of the Hudson's Bay Company and the location
where the first Numbered Treaties were signed.<span>
</span>In Saskatoon, digital adventurers will stop at the <a href="https://wanuskewin.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Wanuskewin Heritage Centre</b></a> to learn about Plains Cree, and they will visit the sites of epic
battles fought during the Northwest Resistance while walking the<b> <a href="https://trailsof1885.ca/en/home/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trails of
1885</a></b><a href="https://trailsof1885.ca/en/home/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">.</a><span> </span>Heading west, they will discover
the creation story of the Ktunaxa People in the Rocky Mountain Trench, before
entering the temperate rainforests along the Pacific Ocean. In addition, from coast to coast to coast, virtual explorers will be able to learn about <b><a href="https://www.ibacanada.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Important Bird Areas </a></b>and essential Wildlife Habitats.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5S3WbQ_kb2SoJfvGQ0Op389zWgP1IZO3syYuPUkFU1v5oL3yZf6p6vNkZSLkXnN8sOzfJYguiJPPu-PtDuUUCO9WMskA3lqDl7951rTSddNjotvPvVyh9Cq89sFqvnaX0fGgSfHG8YYSRfWvfT4p8iQ-rMo-uGWYluuc6DMCsEfVgXMsSghSD0RsuTw/s5508/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(46).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Important Birding Areas." border="0" data-original-height="3677" data-original-width="5508" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5S3WbQ_kb2SoJfvGQ0Op389zWgP1IZO3syYuPUkFU1v5oL3yZf6p6vNkZSLkXnN8sOzfJYguiJPPu-PtDuUUCO9WMskA3lqDl7951rTSddNjotvPvVyh9Cq89sFqvnaX0fGgSfHG8YYSRfWvfT4p8iQ-rMo-uGWYluuc6DMCsEfVgXMsSghSD0RsuTw/w514-h345/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(46).JPG" width="514" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"></span><span lang="EN-CA"></span></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b>Call to Action</b></span></span></h2></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA">In addition to learning about the national pathway as well as the communities, cultures, histories and Important Bird Areas along the way Story Map users will be introduced to opportunities to volunteer, support and get involved in their own towns. This Story Map will not only educate but serve as a call to action for those wondering what simple steps they can take in their own communities to change the world. Whether that takes the shape of becoming involved in local projects or with local groups, volunteering in a community soup kitchen, or collecting data for Citizen Science people from across Canada will be shown how easy helping out can be. Highlights will include helpful hints, local initiatives, and projects such as <b><a href="https://www.bumblebeewatch.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bumble Bee Watch </a></b>and <b><a href="https://www.inaturalist.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iNaturalist </a></b>to enable anyone to get involved.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"><br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfRXDqEPdv8wxCl4St_-KDcNWE1gk9AcLKxUdcMmpnz3KDXKwhGtY4Cp7r9O9Fo2sKa3UPEaJWmANvHUm3ClB5KQKCVH8jSU6ZlNRSjBUi5eldDRGgdz8lUUrRwZkBiSTFooneE9ZnKpbjrR4j7v3Sf-zcoM4iC9tlcP_bPnY7Gm-_Uy_PustB0ExOQ/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(66).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Storymap design images." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqfRXDqEPdv8wxCl4St_-KDcNWE1gk9AcLKxUdcMmpnz3KDXKwhGtY4Cp7r9O9Fo2sKa3UPEaJWmANvHUm3ClB5KQKCVH8jSU6ZlNRSjBUi5eldDRGgdz8lUUrRwZkBiSTFooneE9ZnKpbjrR4j7v3Sf-zcoM4iC9tlcP_bPnY7Gm-_Uy_PustB0ExOQ/w400-h268/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(66).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjxso-_Ej4t80E05Xm_svptX2ra36CCfdThO0GGDkOS9hq6MQSslgxwYwj5vxnpyj-NdeQE-hWIpAAx6GTzH-BLSyUwcrNXNiT27AwS-uNbEufENsDMdrpcT0GR851yATHib0cb6_og67Yz0oVrcDqOujwIGrZJFu--azOcWxCOXh_pQBAmTZsHryPg/s5997/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(62).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Birds Canada Story Map Great Trail." border="0" data-original-height="3817" data-original-width="5997" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFjxso-_Ej4t80E05Xm_svptX2ra36CCfdThO0GGDkOS9hq6MQSslgxwYwj5vxnpyj-NdeQE-hWIpAAx6GTzH-BLSyUwcrNXNiT27AwS-uNbEufENsDMdrpcT0GR851yATHib0cb6_og67Yz0oVrcDqOujwIGrZJFu--azOcWxCOXh_pQBAmTZsHryPg/w400-h255/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(62).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-CA">What's Next?</span></b></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-CA"> <br /></span></b></span></h2></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA">This spring, the Come Walk With Us Expedition will
head northwards on the Trans Canada Trail from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
towards Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories.<span>
</span>When the stories from Canada's north are added next winter, the Story
Map will be ready to take virtual explorers from coast-to-coast-to-coast,
connecting Canadians to the landscapes, histories, and cultures of this vast
and beautiful country.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBs2DbvZukKc6it7Bjghs0_CA53XQa_HCP_UDMzgNOoWHeILeGYeQm0b8V8E2I3fwkwJ4IuGTVuq6XlkzRU6pBVsEX-u6um-Bfx9d1_KIKx4b_SToyxxmYNKnImto8-u8Kae3XkYPHv-i48pB8dtE73DtMtednOBmWiZWQJDuT5-dcZmRMk8ovL43Q8Q/s6016/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(42).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Come Walk With Us photographing Trans Canada Trail." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBs2DbvZukKc6it7Bjghs0_CA53XQa_HCP_UDMzgNOoWHeILeGYeQm0b8V8E2I3fwkwJ4IuGTVuq6XlkzRU6pBVsEX-u6um-Bfx9d1_KIKx4b_SToyxxmYNKnImto8-u8Kae3XkYPHv-i48pB8dtE73DtMtednOBmWiZWQJDuT5-dcZmRMk8ovL43Q8Q/w545-h365/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Story%20Map%20First%20Update%20(42).JPG" width="545" /></a></div></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA">See you on the trail! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA">Remember to follow our entire adventure
here : <a href="https://www.comewalkwithus.online/"><b>www.comewalkwithus.online</b></a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b> </b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPctXPqYrYxbkbKicTtlNFTeetByVpm9T2yhMcKy-SlfcrRQZWqde9289oDM3WmXTrkTwAVPzGbwNVLuFmNoi8b_Vw4WwZ2K-bGPBNhg3FKWDxpQWNs3ehqji0H2rydkbo-Akd6FDkvXkurXyKY14Dm-wpVWBx9SNVqtKrHfNw1b7pFYpwm8-LO5JLZQ/s1080/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20TCT%20Banner.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="1080" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPctXPqYrYxbkbKicTtlNFTeetByVpm9T2yhMcKy-SlfcrRQZWqde9289oDM3WmXTrkTwAVPzGbwNVLuFmNoi8b_Vw4WwZ2K-bGPBNhg3FKWDxpQWNs3ehqji0H2rydkbo-Akd6FDkvXkurXyKY14Dm-wpVWBx9SNVqtKrHfNw1b7pFYpwm8-LO5JLZQ/w640-h158/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20TCT%20Banner.png" width="640" /></a></div></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span lang="EN-CA"></span></div>
<p></p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-34423301180892433672023-04-10T13:40:00.003-04:002023-04-10T13:42:32.226-04:0070% there : CN Tower Climb for Nature<p style="text-align: left;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span>A week ago we signed
up </span>to climb 1776 stairs (100 stories tall) for nature, wildlife and
birds up the <b><a href="https://www.cntower.ca/" target="_blank">CN Tower</a></b>
supporting<span> </span><a href="https://wwf.ca/" target="_blank"><b>WWF-Canada</b></a>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Over the past 7 days we have been in training and daily <span> </span>climb over 2000 stairs in preparation of our
CN Tower climb.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLOD9xwJUIhFSRC0HI2hiD5EP2cT7HliwSwhx1-VX5GXwUztkEs9-P_srVcMJpvlW2V63yX1wQO94ofXBJqfxkCWlb1OAxWOBoLTWG35gyNXeVLz1w1vQrfCna0RLB2WrzJWhLtQfmIQgWqBBL7SwFmu6FXn4ghqLyrc1jRyyaOHuD2vyMBc5ODR4EA/s6016/TWO_1445.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sonya Richmond Eh Canada Travel." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmLOD9xwJUIhFSRC0HI2hiD5EP2cT7HliwSwhx1-VX5GXwUztkEs9-P_srVcMJpvlW2V63yX1wQO94ofXBJqfxkCWlb1OAxWOBoLTWG35gyNXeVLz1w1vQrfCna0RLB2WrzJWhLtQfmIQgWqBBL7SwFmu6FXn4ghqLyrc1jRyyaOHuD2vyMBc5ODR4EA/w400-h268/TWO_1445.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> </span> <br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">While we are doing our part, we are counting on you to help
us reach our fundraising goal. The money we raise with the help of your
generous support will go towards WWF-Canada's efforts to restore nature,
reverse wildlife loss and fight climate change. Together we can Regenerate
Canada.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The goal of our Climb for Nature is to raise <b>1000 dollars
for Nature</b> before heading back out onto the <b><a href="https://tctrail.ca/" target="_blank">Trans Canada Trail</a></b> as we venture to the Arctic in
2023! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEoAByKmkAQsX8snSRjMFK01-4Clkz0mhHhuLeqFrXXxXhOZ39OrWeLpJFHpzQg32tjEBiXRZJvxyc3-MD0RMOrJ4q9fb0lgoOrIB-fRXuhCCnyS6NAiTrwtD-e32NnHR-o-U5Ee1z9IUOnW1lRxyJ3uGmQ89Ai64uKLDa_RfDcP-4wdGZvYc0ZHcm2Q/s6016/FOR_6702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Come Walk With Us CN Tower Climb WWF." border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEoAByKmkAQsX8snSRjMFK01-4Clkz0mhHhuLeqFrXXxXhOZ39OrWeLpJFHpzQg32tjEBiXRZJvxyc3-MD0RMOrJ4q9fb0lgoOrIB-fRXuhCCnyS6NAiTrwtD-e32NnHR-o-U5Ee1z9IUOnW1lRxyJ3uGmQ89Ai64uKLDa_RfDcP-4wdGZvYc0ZHcm2Q/w268-h400/FOR_6702.JPG" width="268" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">In the last week we have raising <b>$700 or 70% of our
goal!</b><span> </span>Thank you so much for your
support.<span> </span>We are really hoping that in
the next 4 days before climbing the CN Tower to reach our goal of $1000 !</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgk9Nxdw5T0cUEjMdyq5NcszhKA0bSOykoUYCBqA4Bk4SzherP30vgo1tdo90KPPYjmV6vOnqK9GL9gbSjzBpZ3FQiJnY--q_HM-A935tZI8MZl6rdCEoy_bK_J3aP_vpes_MIBG1LwIDjNMwUG64C1Dj3DY3vRWJ1oiNYPKiUPYg3I8aChRmGhKSYg/s959/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="637" data-original-width="959" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgk9Nxdw5T0cUEjMdyq5NcszhKA0bSOykoUYCBqA4Bk4SzherP30vgo1tdo90KPPYjmV6vOnqK9GL9gbSjzBpZ3FQiJnY--q_HM-A935tZI8MZl6rdCEoy_bK_J3aP_vpes_MIBG1LwIDjNMwUG64C1Dj3DY3vRWJ1oiNYPKiUPYg3I8aChRmGhKSYg/w640-h426/Slide1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>Our Team Page is :</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://secure.wwf.ca/site/TR/CNTowerClimb/20172018CNTowerClimb?team_id=11420&pg=team&fr_id=1280" target="_blank">http://support.wwf.ca/goto/ComeWalkWithUs</a></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Thank you for your continued support! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">See you on the Trail</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><b>#ClimbersOfToronto</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<p></p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-37528400577705705062023-04-06T13:53:00.003-04:002023-04-08T10:48:39.907-04:00Atlantic to Pacific Connected : Victoria to Clover Point<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUnIQewEyxbj7qzNDlTnhvAqVCn6BscXTqysL_h7UxylJWZmk5mAHnY4xepIP_dm-O67h4zzmH2ZCQztATWTT-qTTRhJjTdFXiHK4iUQHP2McE1iqJXGOWKdZ5NZMO6u-_v8dLHoaIIyjqi0DGBKQIqFFFs1xA1C4fPcM44JTCq3klQdvbmy-AzckSA/s4032/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Victoria British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUnIQewEyxbj7qzNDlTnhvAqVCn6BscXTqysL_h7UxylJWZmk5mAHnY4xepIP_dm-O67h4zzmH2ZCQztATWTT-qTTRhJjTdFXiHK4iUQHP2McE1iqJXGOWKdZ5NZMO6u-_v8dLHoaIIyjqi0DGBKQIqFFFs1xA1C4fPcM44JTCq3klQdvbmy-AzckSA/w400-h300/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Today passed in a blur.<span>
</span>It wouldn't be accurate to say we woke up, but rather that we finally decided
it was time to go.<span> </span>Last night was mostly
sleepless, with so many thoughts, memories, and emotions circling around in our
minds despite our exhaustion. Seemingly random places, trail side encounters,
fleeting moments, struggles, triumphs, and surprises rose to the surface and
then faded once again.<span> </span>We lay in silence
as the hours passed, watching the orange glow of the streetlights play across
the ceiling as the wind swayed the branches outside our window.
</span></div><p></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Although we still hope to walk up north to Tuktoyaktuk, NT
on the <a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Trans Canada Trail</b></a>, we have spent so long focused on reaching Victoria,
BC that today felt like an ending.<span> </span>When
we return to the trail we will have a different destination, a different set of
expectations for what lies ahead, and a whole new set of challenges that we
haven't yet encountered or even begun to properly consider.<span> </span>In so many ways the walk north will be
something new.<span> </span>This part of our journey,
which has consumed our every waking moment both on and off the trail for the
past five years, is coming to an end.<span> </span>Today
we will have completed our journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, having
walked more than 14,000 km across a continent.<span>
</span>In many ways it is just too much to process in this moment.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Yesterday it took all our willpower not to simply complete
the final 5 km from downtown Victoria to Point Zero at Clover Point.<span> </span>Everything in us seemed to be screaming to
keep going, keep going, you’re almost there.<span>
</span>At the same time, we wanted to make this ending something special, not just
the end of day 555 on the trail.<span> </span>So, a
couple days ago we invited members of the <b><a href="https://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Victoria Natural History Society</a></b> to join us, as well as any others who might be in
the area and interested in celebrating with us. <span> </span>We had received a very enthusiastic response
from Diane, who has been following our hike since 2019, when we did a
presentation at the Public Library in Whiterock, BC.<span> </span>This was very exciting!<span> </span>However, since we provided very little
notice, and it was a weekday morning, we had no idea if anyone else would be
able to show up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">It was an unseasonably warm, gorgeous sunny day as we set
out for the <a href="https://www.leg.bc.ca/learn-about-us/visiting-the-legislature" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Legislative Assembly Buildings</b>
</a>in Downtown Victoria, which was the designated meeting point.<span> </span>When we reached the Centennial Fountain at
the base of the huge lawn leading up to the impressive buildings, we were overcome
with a sense of unreality.<span> </span>Several
tourists were posing for selfies at the fountain, and a school group on a tour
made its way around my dad, Sean, and I on their way to the fountain.<span> </span>For so many others around us, it was a
perfectly ordinary day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsJvEA2q0sQJvzWPHrCO96ado_Q8CWTbeeXujZ6Nfh3UXscx5IeKPvbuQ2Siz6qvYmfvHkvaCx2s5WCG4JfqNNKh-dv7A4r8t-WCKgZA3eAgQuKHNqozVFRVY7jJugxut8po0Bwh0smGg0zhgmFNZ6jPq-0XJHPhyfXzdL1FVT5rOVIpe6HFbHeaxkQ/s4102/Victoria%20Downtown%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20Alone%20for%20blog%20(8).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2738" data-original-width="4102" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsJvEA2q0sQJvzWPHrCO96ado_Q8CWTbeeXujZ6Nfh3UXscx5IeKPvbuQ2Siz6qvYmfvHkvaCx2s5WCG4JfqNNKh-dv7A4r8t-WCKgZA3eAgQuKHNqozVFRVY7jJugxut8po0Bwh0smGg0zhgmFNZ6jPq-0XJHPhyfXzdL1FVT5rOVIpe6HFbHeaxkQ/w400-h268/Victoria%20Downtown%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20Alone%20for%20blog%20(8).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Time seemed to have ground to a halt, but soon we spotted
Diane and struck up an interesting conversation.<span> </span>Slowly, others began to join our small
group.<span> </span>To our great surprise, a reporter
from CTV showed up.<span> </span>He had lots of
interesting questions, and after interviewing us each separately he teased us
for giving almost identical answers.<span> </span>To
be honest, I have no idea what I said, or whether it was even
comprehensible.<span> </span>Either way,
surprisingly, the reporter asked us to share our route, and proceeded to meet
us at various points along the way to get additional footage.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">And so, just after noon we set off amid a group of highly
enthusiastic naturalists and hikers.<span> </span>We
were both reminded of a cool, foggy, morning on the rugged coast of
Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula, when members of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/naturenl/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Nature Newfoundland</b></a> set off with us from <a href="https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/spear" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Cape Spear</b></a> in 2019.<br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtFyX0Ck-w9b-z6XGdWslDGcYcRGdfCmjf4YLnSbCAvMzdgrW3GNsJ1SJ2axrfNJ_Rt1Q9ncJ-n_tYzj7a2jC8n4nGBMpE73TJ7mj46G3vDUi_dSSkr9R3Y1IDbkMKjGW9132YPS7sW8AgnbTjDsM2lzjAHusOwp29MBclQrNNAGUHEVN1GGdbGD7MA/s1080/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Cape%20Spear%20Newfoundland%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="NatureNL Trans Canada Trail Cape Spear Newfoundland." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHtFyX0Ck-w9b-z6XGdWslDGcYcRGdfCmjf4YLnSbCAvMzdgrW3GNsJ1SJ2axrfNJ_Rt1Q9ncJ-n_tYzj7a2jC8n4nGBMpE73TJ7mj46G3vDUi_dSSkr9R3Y1IDbkMKjGW9132YPS7sW8AgnbTjDsM2lzjAHusOwp29MBclQrNNAGUHEVN1GGdbGD7MA/w320-h320/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Cape%20Spear%20Newfoundland%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cape Spear with Nature Newfoundland 2019</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeV0L3wQiqahuz6bsD620bwIqDBYN_pRZdJWhRkQwNjhRhQAwoN4tXog_2bg_pX6Yn6RlTwgXTvfOxqXl0C4fTGlVX4SnopbH3wQcDbmveltI6D-IwqhopvaDDNj2htHdEIY_RYhapjd114TiUfFnj7_G1ENpBxxCvG8QXB_Gv5bgtkoo6q5L6Xrre7g/s1200/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Cape%20Spear%20Newfoundland%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Come Walk With Us Cape Spear Newfoundland." border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeV0L3wQiqahuz6bsD620bwIqDBYN_pRZdJWhRkQwNjhRhQAwoN4tXog_2bg_pX6Yn6RlTwgXTvfOxqXl0C4fTGlVX4SnopbH3wQcDbmveltI6D-IwqhopvaDDNj2htHdEIY_RYhapjd114TiUfFnj7_G1ENpBxxCvG8QXB_Gv5bgtkoo6q5L6Xrre7g/w400-h300/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Cape%20Spear%20Newfoundland%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>First Steps on Trans Canada Trail with NatureNL, 2019</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaE2d88H55Kqb3FHg4xXPahmo3SQMAIzOTkDGLND58dNacJby-O8r3rLn3xmCHe1hN5rz1_R9jOmXVREZdE1rzo-ahL0D8QxjRMSuCE0Q1yN3nBTZgz_cItBvb-QlKBb_Yxp_m7-5_11vZbO44W36pUI6ZPHrN6lRC0DnM5IHq5-cuyR0oGw5DVtSkw/w400-h266/Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Cape%20Spear%20Newfoundland%20(4).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Cape Spear Newfoundland beginning Great Trail, 2019</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzycHPZ68WFQ1gw-Eg5KQfhM7KE2NBjLLU18lZ8M1QVkh9tEK40hwYSPQWCmHdOALS1aA0q_OM5EGI3FhVP-g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We can still
feel their energy, and hear the sounds of their cheers ringing in our
ears.<span> </span>The positive energy and enthusiasm
of the group who came to join us today will undoubtedly remain with us as well,
helping to bring this journey full circle.<span>
</span>It is also a strong reminder of what made this journey so special for us
– all those amazing people we met along the way.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gPFFN-1jUr2fqJhORrXAc34PnUS6NkfTHuxKX6JkWmcT_1kPETsrDvak3ov-hBRxRfXARA2RNGS4tfXsoK2liSziQOPJmzSkTz56e17gp82ltDgJyY6seP2Lg1eD0vSLFw_7htmIOABqBN89FjctQosCXZaF5uT6z37LXW_KXR8Ec06R1rnR4L2-3A/s2901/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(5).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Come Walk With Us Victoria Trans Canada Trail." border="0" data-original-height="2176" data-original-width="2901" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gPFFN-1jUr2fqJhORrXAc34PnUS6NkfTHuxKX6JkWmcT_1kPETsrDvak3ov-hBRxRfXARA2RNGS4tfXsoK2liSziQOPJmzSkTz56e17gp82ltDgJyY6seP2Lg1eD0vSLFw_7htmIOABqBN89FjctQosCXZaF5uT6z37LXW_KXR8Ec06R1rnR4L2-3A/w400-h300/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(5).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQ3seBk0MRC1UKMTe2i59X-dUEmmFTk8Opy6dMhHddVjNNtr0PkX0xAJSi0xtG7pkdOXniWM3PO4sYtsItlYEsARtYjzK4hubau9X1xvYZCah1RdHExgDNmyF85aRe3ft6ztU1aF8-WPc9PSeurcngzZvsh9g-Zrnp37lpqdJQRF4d55Khdpb8QKP_g/s5702/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(8).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5702" data-original-width="3806" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFQ3seBk0MRC1UKMTe2i59X-dUEmmFTk8Opy6dMhHddVjNNtr0PkX0xAJSi0xtG7pkdOXniWM3PO4sYtsItlYEsARtYjzK4hubau9X1xvYZCah1RdHExgDNmyF85aRe3ft6ztU1aF8-WPc9PSeurcngzZvsh9g-Zrnp37lpqdJQRF4d55Khdpb8QKP_g/w268-h400/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(8).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVGpMgCEFJsj_gIHbNjeSOgr-giOhQCxY858egdXFF8asbPEZ2saObn9kP1lA5rMxxFLThdp7gY3DK36UUkqB9dNYcyVBnpvcJfXlQU3QAvW92CimhrGmImb3-LEk1PufUls9zQTy_p9Yno8FDCrCYiJ3zEdjRbXzE8E6EZgWQxYhfQlJLBg29yOPAQ/s3021/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(10).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2266" data-original-width="3021" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVGpMgCEFJsj_gIHbNjeSOgr-giOhQCxY858egdXFF8asbPEZ2saObn9kP1lA5rMxxFLThdp7gY3DK36UUkqB9dNYcyVBnpvcJfXlQU3QAvW92CimhrGmImb3-LEk1PufUls9zQTy_p9Yno8FDCrCYiJ3zEdjRbXzE8E6EZgWQxYhfQlJLBg29yOPAQ/w400-h300/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(10).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iKI4QEoUFxjg6TUnGMjPvyqHQR14AxOL_ju-zLzlxccJf4I4GclFWX-F9DRKP8A1VoCX1Im_B6ml2pdTbx7qIx7wUIu7LaXX7iDGm-VaGkdrOv2m85q5qFewftq7weHW5xMH0Sz_dBI70G3Iy_quJE46x5_9eDK53O1aVajmOgUrbVgvij4D0Gndyw/s4344/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(17).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2900" data-original-width="4344" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iKI4QEoUFxjg6TUnGMjPvyqHQR14AxOL_ju-zLzlxccJf4I4GclFWX-F9DRKP8A1VoCX1Im_B6ml2pdTbx7qIx7wUIu7LaXX7iDGm-VaGkdrOv2m85q5qFewftq7weHW5xMH0Sz_dBI70G3Iy_quJE46x5_9eDK53O1aVajmOgUrbVgvij4D0Gndyw/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(17).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCB7VwvV8OG3qcHSZRvu-TngUVF2wJyQumz3S_cKQbWXeF3yYbV0K4orWKK4B8XmE0z6QH9w3Y8nqhHrTTMDYNgbzrwrkLVC-TRsy5kKdEC-utgYQdKUcbbZFyYUuw3skI52_XzHigCy-DInMhrkfD9kt_riiQhYV5Zs8PYn2cYSwNUANYj_bIXsRsA/s5844/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(27).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2114" data-original-width="5844" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCB7VwvV8OG3qcHSZRvu-TngUVF2wJyQumz3S_cKQbWXeF3yYbV0K4orWKK4B8XmE0z6QH9w3Y8nqhHrTTMDYNgbzrwrkLVC-TRsy5kKdEC-utgYQdKUcbbZFyYUuw3skI52_XzHigCy-DInMhrkfD9kt_riiQhYV5Zs8PYn2cYSwNUANYj_bIXsRsA/w640-h232/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(27).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpp7ci0xhq1EX6uyMqX3aeXI9Iywtjs8_fTA3gJrmNf_m0CU8l7p_4WI5xwMVEX6zoVHgGRJMC4IuBhLna2zfb0V3thbSAvDgd2uzw83HpHYNYSw9whHRe4GV9fD5CVz8bE8Kc_ujvDkXgS8XJzcvCqRhZfNVVgSSS0PcEzIwtcDNWVyDLyIPDOPXUNA/s2809/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(30).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Harbour Seal Victoria BC." border="0" data-original-height="1875" data-original-width="2809" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpp7ci0xhq1EX6uyMqX3aeXI9Iywtjs8_fTA3gJrmNf_m0CU8l7p_4WI5xwMVEX6zoVHgGRJMC4IuBhLna2zfb0V3thbSAvDgd2uzw83HpHYNYSw9whHRe4GV9fD5CVz8bE8Kc_ujvDkXgS8XJzcvCqRhZfNVVgSSS0PcEzIwtcDNWVyDLyIPDOPXUNA/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(30).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I usually try to be observant and take in what we see during
the day so I can share it in the blog later on.<span>
</span>However, despite the people we were walking with sharing some very interesting
information about the neighbourhoods and places we passed along the way, I remember
very little about those final few kilometres to Point Zero.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vaQEv9jK4FHehZ6SjOQzPOm1cAZyTZnEMzXqhBVwbsE0qREf9F7K4t2AzP_qD58l0DZ3C7e0F9JCX6mrH2LTsmSycrOCVvlbsw9h2XOQfIvAERcY5e05UVgh2Z4Iyu5_gDoVYcaEeaD_OVeI4qAsHfJKZ0TZ-3oXUtsw1d-Ut9FgPxTiqfhcQ0-x_Q/s6016/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(35).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sonya Richmond hiking Great Trail Victoria." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2vaQEv9jK4FHehZ6SjOQzPOm1cAZyTZnEMzXqhBVwbsE0qREf9F7K4t2AzP_qD58l0DZ3C7e0F9JCX6mrH2LTsmSycrOCVvlbsw9h2XOQfIvAERcY5e05UVgh2Z4Iyu5_gDoVYcaEeaD_OVeI4qAsHfJKZ0TZ-3oXUtsw1d-Ut9FgPxTiqfhcQ0-x_Q/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(35).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OxdUka6Y40sSPtvOje_wfZk-rVpicGlGyQC_nmfFlXJTJlyrYhtF6a_1xFUclcs3WTXH3h-dZzfVYQF3CmJ5pEy4eDR1qWakUP3Nppatnd9-C-IfDUUZT4kHuEIKDXc6CeKHOIfReShH3saIfO45jF9b4K2bThv2bt-qFJ038X8kOw9e_ORnE3xyTA/s5693/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(58).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5693" data-original-width="3801" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8OxdUka6Y40sSPtvOje_wfZk-rVpicGlGyQC_nmfFlXJTJlyrYhtF6a_1xFUclcs3WTXH3h-dZzfVYQF3CmJ5pEy4eDR1qWakUP3Nppatnd9-C-IfDUUZT4kHuEIKDXc6CeKHOIfReShH3saIfO45jF9b4K2bThv2bt-qFJ038X8kOw9e_ORnE3xyTA/w268-h400/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(58).JPG" width="268" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOPOmaPFNe4793rkOakrlAGbZoXNwUBfivyA4Go21Cw-VbDtVguuub85YQxZlXZLcmDtpA6EhB9JKpklBXNvZIKo1i00nTqWnSxOfljNeETMoFndW3G2oA-lGpldqqUUkjLYa58pvm2yP4zKPjXt0719aK4P4jhdsJt_BvadpUOUIacRcinEc9mWSdA/s6016/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(57).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Nature Victoria birding Trans Canada Trail." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAOPOmaPFNe4793rkOakrlAGbZoXNwUBfivyA4Go21Cw-VbDtVguuub85YQxZlXZLcmDtpA6EhB9JKpklBXNvZIKo1i00nTqWnSxOfljNeETMoFndW3G2oA-lGpldqqUUkjLYa58pvm2yP4zKPjXt0719aK4P4jhdsJt_BvadpUOUIacRcinEc9mWSdA/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(57).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYbPHYL8tEEFvo-uItWClQ4MMLEEiVgP3Ne8ndBxEZS8qawaCnmtuuhXKztnr-ug4dHuo-euMKE_wtQVrMnOq9nMXz9olc6dn9CDjOw6yygPtTqyoFQAJOt6CH0hVk4BpZWWZ9QtQGkT0zT1ig0-dg-dj7EgcsiJXfZpRA5RNWQSQNmue78T_ORcFoA/s6016/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(55).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYbPHYL8tEEFvo-uItWClQ4MMLEEiVgP3Ne8ndBxEZS8qawaCnmtuuhXKztnr-ug4dHuo-euMKE_wtQVrMnOq9nMXz9olc6dn9CDjOw6yygPtTqyoFQAJOt6CH0hVk4BpZWWZ9QtQGkT0zT1ig0-dg-dj7EgcsiJXfZpRA5RNWQSQNmue78T_ORcFoA/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(55).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Q8liZHR7gOqf2a4_67vT9DBm2KyAqq8dCTwNYplo2O-8cNs6B_FHreBSJU39PvxN4BpOwTuKnxQx7bnBHy-P-VvSwBzJ4KauHOLSEvbhwuWdBIaEI9YYosG6NSkYX0LVL4kGMUSP-iarai0lQH_me4BZj_kJYTZoNtyFb7G-Rzmaog9a9UWJv67mAg/s3053/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(33).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2039" data-original-width="3053" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Q8liZHR7gOqf2a4_67vT9DBm2KyAqq8dCTwNYplo2O-8cNs6B_FHreBSJU39PvxN4BpOwTuKnxQx7bnBHy-P-VvSwBzJ4KauHOLSEvbhwuWdBIaEI9YYosG6NSkYX0LVL4kGMUSP-iarai0lQH_me4BZj_kJYTZoNtyFb7G-Rzmaog9a9UWJv67mAg/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(33).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutqUQ-segd9i0F-PbslFKLcBtnqxzSQoyWLOdPtUdJGXC0AdeJilTTYE8YBA2tv3cBB5PBLadge47iFcT0uITGc2qdA2vGSEvVB45voVmJdeQczLQuA5o01avaPNDLRDxVwEnFAUzov3OVepmq5Tnvja9LQzqoCHHRxppSkP1U9PnL3dUgqk169SeBQ/s5863/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(60).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3915" data-original-width="5863" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutqUQ-segd9i0F-PbslFKLcBtnqxzSQoyWLOdPtUdJGXC0AdeJilTTYE8YBA2tv3cBB5PBLadge47iFcT0uITGc2qdA2vGSEvVB45voVmJdeQczLQuA5o01avaPNDLRDxVwEnFAUzov3OVepmq5Tnvja9LQzqoCHHRxppSkP1U9PnL3dUgqk169SeBQ/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(60).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQm6d6feJefoA_lYguNTvAIfdOPCVXpEakS3tvjC9LgfZLsFr4Zuc59_NJSCh_qXQhLIuIlBUQUIN8OPoyP5xmdMq7caigsbU-o4FsULi1nUJa7gBPDM92fsL1hg4DJ3ZyjZogsOXUAiBHTx4KkNScaIEBh_TlQtIDu_UvK0kwYbOwXLTKn9A1JpXjjA/s5819/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(61).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sonya Richmond Trans Canada Trail hiking blog." border="0" data-original-height="3883" data-original-width="5819" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQm6d6feJefoA_lYguNTvAIfdOPCVXpEakS3tvjC9LgfZLsFr4Zuc59_NJSCh_qXQhLIuIlBUQUIN8OPoyP5xmdMq7caigsbU-o4FsULi1nUJa7gBPDM92fsL1hg4DJ3ZyjZogsOXUAiBHTx4KkNScaIEBh_TlQtIDu_UvK0kwYbOwXLTKn9A1JpXjjA/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(61).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The trail took us out of downtown, through a series of treed neighbourhoods, and then right along the coastline of the Salish Sea.<span> </span>I remember passing Fisherman’s Wharf, with its
collection of colourful houseboats and floating cafés.<span> </span>A helicopter was taking off from the Canadian
Coast Guard facility as we sped past the Victoria cruise ship terminal.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7kZo5mCx2QQp0n9tib-Ic-54a5EyvD91jthysmKLL-ksjZfdkdGIRcrFKBbKGYy6Grtbwsj9kRgC1x5jgdLbfvPqxtAAfRXkbpa92VEYZhlWZ_UxXbdoQTJduXmYnayQrqn35LKiPtI8pwPQ0-QP5hTvnltAl4vGjUHj1s3VptNtX6AQdGKpCvndnw/s6016/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(71).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Come Walk With Us backpacking Trans Canada Trail." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY7kZo5mCx2QQp0n9tib-Ic-54a5EyvD91jthysmKLL-ksjZfdkdGIRcrFKBbKGYy6Grtbwsj9kRgC1x5jgdLbfvPqxtAAfRXkbpa92VEYZhlWZ_UxXbdoQTJduXmYnayQrqn35LKiPtI8pwPQ0-QP5hTvnltAl4vGjUHj1s3VptNtX6AQdGKpCvndnw/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(71).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHd1oTTc-WxMVQbX9bKd9HFGYd2aTfQ0cVvO2op7mBE5sVgxGRTzBiZHIc_l4lSDObJpwVkri7jRTI46lQjp0XTgBaabNvVgSlr0YE5BQgMe6YlTtcIAV3V_EKuon86lyfoLaDSIpY2b8EkLQswQQSCf7zPOOLLLfwHjm0sWmw8l1wObHylowI8zy9Jw/s5819/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(74).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3883" data-original-width="5819" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHd1oTTc-WxMVQbX9bKd9HFGYd2aTfQ0cVvO2op7mBE5sVgxGRTzBiZHIc_l4lSDObJpwVkri7jRTI46lQjp0XTgBaabNvVgSlr0YE5BQgMe6YlTtcIAV3V_EKuon86lyfoLaDSIpY2b8EkLQswQQSCf7zPOOLLLfwHjm0sWmw8l1wObHylowI8zy9Jw/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(74).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBa9N9mDPKTw6AoyRKkU31f2jaiAVa8RNLDGARxKVri7gpk2q4X00T6kJQ_Js1uEXIhEzVwqRMEOGYa4eW5Vgc9vzfTJks7mlhdzcgigfYJ8EuwhwdGTBdIcwhrV-YeVOS9pJZ7yZpzkEKUGZn0gcLj2fpNs_AEScPfIp7aiSxIuCdXfukPKxRytWSQ/s6016/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(79).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBa9N9mDPKTw6AoyRKkU31f2jaiAVa8RNLDGARxKVri7gpk2q4X00T6kJQ_Js1uEXIhEzVwqRMEOGYa4eW5Vgc9vzfTJks7mlhdzcgigfYJ8EuwhwdGTBdIcwhrV-YeVOS9pJZ7yZpzkEKUGZn0gcLj2fpNs_AEScPfIp7aiSxIuCdXfukPKxRytWSQ/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(79).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTLHR9NaoYLjEjv8HWm-kggC69ZLN3pC_fgCBV8AbXYcbr34yNVm37ebRKdu4qVw7tinWiTbHlLSZyJXXmwapmmIFo9L6s3MaeO8h-pcpwIgtNT1-LMVLkChiVSVX73BJj2ua62psFH63b5_UVfQZHjgfPuz75QAT6vHKoJhxyGOmUhazDuhBlWL_Kw/s6016/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(80).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mile Zero Victoria British Columbia Trans Canada Highway.." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTLHR9NaoYLjEjv8HWm-kggC69ZLN3pC_fgCBV8AbXYcbr34yNVm37ebRKdu4qVw7tinWiTbHlLSZyJXXmwapmmIFo9L6s3MaeO8h-pcpwIgtNT1-LMVLkChiVSVX73BJj2ua62psFH63b5_UVfQZHjgfPuz75QAT6vHKoJhxyGOmUhazDuhBlWL_Kw/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(80).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilx_Nwd5LYVk6SdXi9ef_cL-48lA40I12iag_EN9azds1U90mz2IeHfIbDqlQoLBKE_PkI0dBVERUYrK7f0zp9_oCMkjqwLWbeMPShXKFoKDe6xKIzDDJtwj-TKFzaZ_kN5Ioq1dQ2xyF88ozI-_fJ7di8HUeC2MQwJxZ9-6sqp-TJr5H1OLE0D5IFYQ/s2940/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(81).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1943" data-original-width="2940" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilx_Nwd5LYVk6SdXi9ef_cL-48lA40I12iag_EN9azds1U90mz2IeHfIbDqlQoLBKE_PkI0dBVERUYrK7f0zp9_oCMkjqwLWbeMPShXKFoKDe6xKIzDDJtwj-TKFzaZ_kN5Ioq1dQ2xyF88ozI-_fJ7di8HUeC2MQwJxZ9-6sqp-TJr5H1OLE0D5IFYQ/w400-h264/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(81).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As we came to the edge of Beacon Hill Park the reporter suggested
we detour across the road to the famous <a href="https://www.tourismvictoria.com/see-do/activities-attractions/statues-landmarks/mile-0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Mile
Zero Monument.</b><span> </span></a><span> </span>As we stood in front of the wooden sign for a
photo it felt surreal.<span> </span>While our journey
began at a Mile Zero marker outside the Railway Museum in St John’s, NL, this
Mile 0 was not for us.<span> </span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFROuA3VArOzEw5hFd61PNEcc-H9g6t5r02mbfi5kN5gM9P70l-lBt_adQjLUz8e4IQX0d0OJ1Z7cq1kDaauCyALgY9YMGPjeT0vzc-pXYjj3MLcE7aPjki9Dy1nQVjRWT2Snq1E4mmOPZbVGo1l4xAcg1S9RyDOpQ57myE7jfCMl_WXIbxPc9lu4YTg/s3264/Mile%20Zero%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Newfoundland.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mile Zero Trans Canada Trail Newfoundland." border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFROuA3VArOzEw5hFd61PNEcc-H9g6t5r02mbfi5kN5gM9P70l-lBt_adQjLUz8e4IQX0d0OJ1Z7cq1kDaauCyALgY9YMGPjeT0vzc-pXYjj3MLcE7aPjki9Dy1nQVjRWT2Snq1E4mmOPZbVGo1l4xAcg1S9RyDOpQ57myE7jfCMl_WXIbxPc9lu4YTg/w400-h300/Mile%20Zero%20Trans%20Canada%20Trail%20Newfoundland.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Trans Canada Trail Mile Zero Newfoundland, 2019<br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Rather, it stood
at the intersection of Douglas St and Dallas Rd, marking the ‘start’ of the
Trans Canada Highway, which stretches more than 8,000 km across Canada to the
Atlantic.<span> </span>At this point, the more direct
route sounded like a shortcut.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVeA9oSdo3SRVv9db4EEZOSdvwa9N8pj-B55LHTOTALnphCLqwTt_a_W-tqzz8rcR3v-z7VAtlYAnK_A0wygK7oofzamVKBNEBu_e9S65wy1xjaxgRUFh423-4PU6L6wpeFXer805XCWEn4Jw3ZnidunhniuYQXz72FGYHjoMh6H0uuM4q88CF1ZZJQ/s5566/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(86).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5566" data-original-width="3716" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVeA9oSdo3SRVv9db4EEZOSdvwa9N8pj-B55LHTOTALnphCLqwTt_a_W-tqzz8rcR3v-z7VAtlYAnK_A0wygK7oofzamVKBNEBu_e9S65wy1xjaxgRUFh423-4PU6L6wpeFXer805XCWEn4Jw3ZnidunhniuYQXz72FGYHjoMh6H0uuM4q88CF1ZZJQ/w268-h400/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(86).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv_yw143tjdTkcR5kyMYlNclQnRH7ocDc1xqkN_WEShuDxe4Q7Itm8twYC79MphH_CF3bqxxFEeTgF4T0JKBaQzhd-qOqR048hWVeJRFouoouXwr9MK5y7rk7nNqVfLZK3Fe_HOiYkrcQ9-ctYWSCy-ANlAZcDfo9FYvReA6X4hu-cxC_ufqnu0S-yA/s3129/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(83).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Great Trail Victoria BC hiking blog." border="0" data-original-height="2088" data-original-width="3129" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnv_yw143tjdTkcR5kyMYlNclQnRH7ocDc1xqkN_WEShuDxe4Q7Itm8twYC79MphH_CF3bqxxFEeTgF4T0JKBaQzhd-qOqR048hWVeJRFouoouXwr9MK5y7rk7nNqVfLZK3Fe_HOiYkrcQ9-ctYWSCy-ANlAZcDfo9FYvReA6X4hu-cxC_ufqnu0S-yA/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(83).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We still had a few steps left to reach Point Zero at Clover
Point, and they too passed in a blur.<span> </span>As
we approached the grassy point that stuck out into the water, more and more
members of the Victoria Natural History Society were waiting along the trail to
cheer us on.<span> </span>We made our way down a
long, off-leash dog park and before we knew it, we were standing at the side of
the parking lot, at the water’s edge, the open grassy park known as Clover
Point stretching out in front of us.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqUnyi4dril3av6ld2WOzQbGnnnVPyywGNbU68BZw1EQvX0grOWNeRART1SGxo5mus7B1ko-ZwziXRjgU9X0w6EvGgZhwERFdlSlr5cC9fSS5JDU6Q_d5PS1GYGg2FSH366G6emmk6CAdWbnLBmCinm7ObJ023YfkXN2phTI3WClRQ_AL9UForsif8A/s5351/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(87).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2165" data-original-width="5351" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqUnyi4dril3av6ld2WOzQbGnnnVPyywGNbU68BZw1EQvX0grOWNeRART1SGxo5mus7B1ko-ZwziXRjgU9X0w6EvGgZhwERFdlSlr5cC9fSS5JDU6Q_d5PS1GYGg2FSH366G6emmk6CAdWbnLBmCinm7ObJ023YfkXN2phTI3WClRQ_AL9UForsif8A/w640-h258/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(87).JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg611Kq8NLxw8S-c_l4LJBxBVwg8w4Ji846HCPOigqDc8qmaBliWUn0Yux6b6qU1AJsIaV0iinsISYlm5sPoT6Y1yS5f7vJrOry9T8SgoIUGWR-WQSe3RJnbwrj9Gfv6rCO3YtnpDIxQQKqgnYjNNKNWlY6sCpUevMGCDqZfRCuyT6BURY4wcebve5cbA/s5779/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(88).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3858" data-original-width="5779" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg611Kq8NLxw8S-c_l4LJBxBVwg8w4Ji846HCPOigqDc8qmaBliWUn0Yux6b6qU1AJsIaV0iinsISYlm5sPoT6Y1yS5f7vJrOry9T8SgoIUGWR-WQSe3RJnbwrj9Gfv6rCO3YtnpDIxQQKqgnYjNNKNWlY6sCpUevMGCDqZfRCuyT6BURY4wcebve5cbA/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(88).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_caQXrrM3oWaYqwWVHZEJqODWMNuxZsKW58bp5udaq3hrgBUK14rKmikEQTPfUCdIsNIeKwRljnPO68MwdGefWaf3RHcvcBEDy4COjWRxDnYUTCvG6dEUPXumkAElKVyXzVIml19XaJHyOxBzd2zlhm0u9Tmue35lsQZ8dA1-5bD0X830XDsd3KcMw/s2641/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(89).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1763" data-original-width="2641" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_caQXrrM3oWaYqwWVHZEJqODWMNuxZsKW58bp5udaq3hrgBUK14rKmikEQTPfUCdIsNIeKwRljnPO68MwdGefWaf3RHcvcBEDy4COjWRxDnYUTCvG6dEUPXumkAElKVyXzVIml19XaJHyOxBzd2zlhm0u9Tmue35lsQZ8dA1-5bD0X830XDsd3KcMw/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(89).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We turned down the boat launch to dip our hands in the
Pacific Ocean, finally marking the journey as complete.<span> </span>As luck would have it, when the reporter
asked us to dip our hands in again so he could retake the shot, the small waves
lapping the shore decided to retreat.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Zm9nX_puIoLNQYbbzuqzDMq4FPrrFh7f2orpTY92lDbpI-KC-M8InHIfdKzXhJ6tLfpUYle5WHvZIC4iS58BK_xkhZHKfT-4eIhMaynAWoLJOX8houif5UIplvf_s4ICM6gM4GszbfbCyXHVNN_ZJFSUDg74Jb6yzxHtV0Nq2naRHJXRoDfKcBF4Xg/s1755/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(90).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1321" data-original-width="1755" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Zm9nX_puIoLNQYbbzuqzDMq4FPrrFh7f2orpTY92lDbpI-KC-M8InHIfdKzXhJ6tLfpUYle5WHvZIC4iS58BK_xkhZHKfT-4eIhMaynAWoLJOX8houif5UIplvf_s4ICM6gM4GszbfbCyXHVNN_ZJFSUDg74Jb6yzxHtV0Nq2naRHJXRoDfKcBF4Xg/w400-h301/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(90).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXLRihVUqtpiZwFDycViOXw3TyHpCPH8Ymw-ZHXtQboqL-O48N1hnLA0-jImFvcqeDX42hevT6pcECumWGl1XCS03hyU2OCtvrO9MeH2dhw9WL1tIqlV-H8NMxYlRsEhrJHnOeIcTl_WWxjOTbEfdP0zxiuz6HhawOtlpr5EX91-WXxxHsPgGfxtY3Q/s3901/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(92).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2937" data-original-width="3901" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKXLRihVUqtpiZwFDycViOXw3TyHpCPH8Ymw-ZHXtQboqL-O48N1hnLA0-jImFvcqeDX42hevT6pcECumWGl1XCS03hyU2OCtvrO9MeH2dhw9WL1tIqlV-H8NMxYlRsEhrJHnOeIcTl_WWxjOTbEfdP0zxiuz6HhawOtlpr5EX91-WXxxHsPgGfxtY3Q/w400-h301/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(92).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKCDVdls__mg-mGIFrS-VBeLMMKwX6DQAAZXLdJHE9uEpAAXQDYvEAMy200dl1-rAAPddXaYYK0nS7ls28hAt0ZVu5DY80dgpSXgJzaxp481-OiR0trCDZQy2-ND19qDh658_WQ_M3vCnRWikvzOnQLkPr-d7ZUJI9iFezYGygKwTIScKafDhkYBqqA/s1946/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(97).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1460" data-original-width="1946" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpKCDVdls__mg-mGIFrS-VBeLMMKwX6DQAAZXLdJHE9uEpAAXQDYvEAMy200dl1-rAAPddXaYYK0nS7ls28hAt0ZVu5DY80dgpSXgJzaxp481-OiR0trCDZQy2-ND19qDh658_WQ_M3vCnRWikvzOnQLkPr-d7ZUJI9iFezYGygKwTIScKafDhkYBqqA/w400-h300/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(97).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xgKDoZ_gdlDfSbVoRDlTSELi7TxVjID9rfr38p14R77wmQXK12JvA78Zty3XnxJzr9LEArQG60PZri9JB1Fj55poIINYu67Jj8gnI8zY_JU9o-3D5rXgDo0OLL7D9gMhHEnge3uPQyVf9G9nzi-kc_StlbB4THCN-PXmNztLidn8L92aiqGXd6P-bg/s1112/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(101).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Come Walk With Us touching Pacific Ocean on Great Trail." border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="835" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xgKDoZ_gdlDfSbVoRDlTSELi7TxVjID9rfr38p14R77wmQXK12JvA78Zty3XnxJzr9LEArQG60PZri9JB1Fj55poIINYu67Jj8gnI8zY_JU9o-3D5rXgDo0OLL7D9gMhHEnge3uPQyVf9G9nzi-kc_StlbB4THCN-PXmNztLidn8L92aiqGXd6P-bg/w300-h400/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(101).jpg" width="300" /></a></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We
followed them down the rocky shore, leaning over and stretching our fingers as
far out as we could with our heavy packs on our backs.<span> </span>Predictably, when the waves surged back in
again they covered our shoes in cold, salty, foam and nearly caused me to
topple over.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sZazgGtIaT9kBaUuKzTt-P3y9ycRW3rcfj0MMFueSv__bHwjtXPn430VLH4iwb_5t8m1FpfCBXS9iCFiQVlfHHRKFuVgWPuCuDkrB_j1cnq0yhiDSM-GU4bHS0L72qQ-6UGubnFgdWF9xlYTp2vlbUYuDlsudIVnfYpT8Kd7ZFLTJ4zAU7kBHiYt6Q/s764/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(106).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="764" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sZazgGtIaT9kBaUuKzTt-P3y9ycRW3rcfj0MMFueSv__bHwjtXPn430VLH4iwb_5t8m1FpfCBXS9iCFiQVlfHHRKFuVgWPuCuDkrB_j1cnq0yhiDSM-GU4bHS0L72qQ-6UGubnFgdWF9xlYTp2vlbUYuDlsudIVnfYpT8Kd7ZFLTJ4zAU7kBHiYt6Q/w400-h301/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(106).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwySbXf1pWRmZap3aXU7muhLACEMjRti_K55CuB2s7gh6CnCGLvbeaWpfukb6HqZHErjpM5bcYApQu8DWjjyWjGzme3KCDbOPxQSfinLWfuNcv7HQlYFbCfLLtOyQefQurTgV9oUB0ykSM60MQxA_AMcqHmyfkprWylXX0uaS4wygZOMAQuBDU1GOmw/s2293/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(111).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Come Walk With Us Pacific Mile Zero Trans Canada Trail." border="0" data-original-height="1726" data-original-width="2293" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwySbXf1pWRmZap3aXU7muhLACEMjRti_K55CuB2s7gh6CnCGLvbeaWpfukb6HqZHErjpM5bcYApQu8DWjjyWjGzme3KCDbOPxQSfinLWfuNcv7HQlYFbCfLLtOyQefQurTgV9oUB0ykSM60MQxA_AMcqHmyfkprWylXX0uaS4wygZOMAQuBDU1GOmw/w400-h301/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(111).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Finally, we crossed the last few meters to the sign at the western
terminus of the Trans Canada Trail, which marked the end of our 14,000 km long
westward journey.<span> </span>My father had made a
large banner congratulating us, and some of our fellow hikers gathered around
for a photo.<span> </span>Standing there on the
gorgeous sunny November day, surrounded by fellow naturalists, birders, and
hikers was a moment to remember.<span> </span>We had
finally arrived!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Cde5RdURXJ78a5srEQHs7y0JG6EAKYyicIBokwRk9DlrRts3DIB9HWYvVSEhIkSwmZAMKxmTl_r9I_-HuMqej09TzW37nWzdA27GGLftAbz31dXRd1d1WMNHX-MVny5_2HkAM25Y2k0xIhGzKgX4vqWiWwbTAWvHUucyzVS_6u_Avm3tlhpGsFVS1w/s4032/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(112).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Cde5RdURXJ78a5srEQHs7y0JG6EAKYyicIBokwRk9DlrRts3DIB9HWYvVSEhIkSwmZAMKxmTl_r9I_-HuMqej09TzW37nWzdA27GGLftAbz31dXRd1d1WMNHX-MVny5_2HkAM25Y2k0xIhGzKgX4vqWiWwbTAWvHUucyzVS_6u_Avm3tlhpGsFVS1w/w300-h400/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(112).jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5MuZd-mDVT4eTqFQkf5i22AiAeTFBUzMdBWDJUVLA5mar2l59miSMaFDCCK7Y2YjsoHbYtHMuafUBgO32BzexMdYdntVwOByJtxseO5OJHgg_CkA2TO_8Rc-ZAa_rjblrEeejGpCAPObJK6fiSeX62JzPTGw7SrYjoIERWv6_yAQHoFQwLwGBb4tsQ/s2812/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(114).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1877" data-original-width="2812" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs5MuZd-mDVT4eTqFQkf5i22AiAeTFBUzMdBWDJUVLA5mar2l59miSMaFDCCK7Y2YjsoHbYtHMuafUBgO32BzexMdYdntVwOByJtxseO5OJHgg_CkA2TO_8Rc-ZAa_rjblrEeejGpCAPObJK6fiSeX62JzPTGw7SrYjoIERWv6_yAQHoFQwLwGBb4tsQ/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(114).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBEwwpN6oDnBO0oA-19gsUXQtxG-WXu8ahFQvkekFthjzPZLf3LuhSHGF0DqHwLzZCipMF5XNpS0me3_qozmcITOc_8Oh4k4gqtgk02A7rLU48YqIGSGe-7-YiKatKrPukH37QgVYE91fBr1fyRKzVP08Rs-TSQGBMlDuBm3j1bJusZLNuH_jJX-eXQ/s3821/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(133).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3821" data-original-width="2865" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBEwwpN6oDnBO0oA-19gsUXQtxG-WXu8ahFQvkekFthjzPZLf3LuhSHGF0DqHwLzZCipMF5XNpS0me3_qozmcITOc_8Oh4k4gqtgk02A7rLU48YqIGSGe-7-YiKatKrPukH37QgVYE91fBr1fyRKzVP08Rs-TSQGBMlDuBm3j1bJusZLNuH_jJX-eXQ/s320/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(133).jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVH-f5hlYxAoptqQ86ccjUBfyHBwJp-R2x-ius3yd452nn_I605-DUSqf5kbVrv2YghNgleH-fd7z5yF1nQR9lJ-jPn-gcNi9eWtWNc9sLNfqTVLnNAe8zAEr-Oj6PQy09iShmez_GhzQA3BxoaIFGZuixCfW0aXupgdLpuwrIBLJs5TvBz3QQAg5lDg/s2289/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(138).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2289" data-original-width="1716" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVH-f5hlYxAoptqQ86ccjUBfyHBwJp-R2x-ius3yd452nn_I605-DUSqf5kbVrv2YghNgleH-fd7z5yF1nQR9lJ-jPn-gcNi9eWtWNc9sLNfqTVLnNAe8zAEr-Oj6PQy09iShmez_GhzQA3BxoaIFGZuixCfW0aXupgdLpuwrIBLJs5TvBz3QQAg5lDg/s320/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(138).jpg" width="240" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgvpoWQNhwqOc8fRbvCrsekb1k4OgnFjBYP7fMfptQCHxAGwJLumDwHbf_aJ3hKA-k7QLfurityjOO1KcBxcowrT9ZRZ8s9FCdCopXiCCIXTi0U-V53o6WeQ4HwC4sYdcp5uaT4W097hSLTzxesE7hbm-d3v_-SGMai2ZW0eeYKGj-nssE23g4jcXQw/s4032/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(147).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Come Walk With Us Trans Canada Trail Hike4Birds." border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzgvpoWQNhwqOc8fRbvCrsekb1k4OgnFjBYP7fMfptQCHxAGwJLumDwHbf_aJ3hKA-k7QLfurityjOO1KcBxcowrT9ZRZ8s9FCdCopXiCCIXTi0U-V53o6WeQ4HwC4sYdcp5uaT4W097hSLTzxesE7hbm-d3v_-SGMai2ZW0eeYKGj-nssE23g4jcXQw/w300-h400/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(147).jpg" width="300" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN14zZR4o-p_TghGcqrmS-d-eAqEJaGqAmP34Zu0LXLkOpqP91CaB9LIEKknax4QMbwP-R0S8Y91AB5RWbZS8pHp1fYiX-8E_fFYBLrygqQb0qE28CA9_6Qvk02YlZqP5g9yaIhRrhHp1yS0wkXAQn0gdVZAiMgf2-ODYUpvtg2Yz-pBqm_qElzQqtTg/s1280/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(148).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1280" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN14zZR4o-p_TghGcqrmS-d-eAqEJaGqAmP34Zu0LXLkOpqP91CaB9LIEKknax4QMbwP-R0S8Y91AB5RWbZS8pHp1fYiX-8E_fFYBLrygqQb0qE28CA9_6Qvk02YlZqP5g9yaIhRrhHp1yS0wkXAQn0gdVZAiMgf2-ODYUpvtg2Yz-pBqm_qElzQqtTg/w400-h229/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(148).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We did another set of interviews, and chatted with the
people who had come to celebrate with us. Even amidst the excitement I couldn’t
help being distracted by a small group of Dunlin scuttling about on the rocks
along the shoreline.<span> </span>A Black Turnstone
was posing on a log nearby. As if on cue, we spotted a sign indicating we were
in the <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/migratory-bird-sanctuaries/locations/victoria-harbour.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird
Sanctuary</b></a>.<span> </span>Really, what better place
to finish the east-west portion of our #Hike4Birds than in a bird sanctuary?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIVxG-yprKUWwFV5MP-bACR52rqX-sH4gMPjBZGP8eEhqklFcQUIRElj69mxJruJ_wA0bWSd3ZNNCCW2wREVc7Hxmz0h_kFj76g7-fELsK7LuAALTy7Jf0dtRX-0TMeou8fZeL4pmicdyuqF8013as4q12ELDzh97mLGOh5wu5uxg56EQemdq5yfhEw/s5851/Victoria%20Downtown%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20Alone%20for%20blog%20(188).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Victoria Harbour Bird Sanctuary." border="0" data-original-height="3905" data-original-width="5851" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGIVxG-yprKUWwFV5MP-bACR52rqX-sH4gMPjBZGP8eEhqklFcQUIRElj69mxJruJ_wA0bWSd3ZNNCCW2wREVc7Hxmz0h_kFj76g7-fELsK7LuAALTy7Jf0dtRX-0TMeou8fZeL4pmicdyuqF8013as4q12ELDzh97mLGOh5wu5uxg56EQemdq5yfhEw/w400-h268/Victoria%20Downtown%20to%20Mile%20Zero%20Alone%20for%20blog%20(188).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Zhs3Q-ffoPADBn8m3I-0D_eeT4CdRti85C50ijlNxQumSLmZJ8mCvzjO-8pmwJAmvu0EvDzSlV7qyqyQSuug2SUB_l128O7o9UjIqsddQB2hJQDlvo9VjaiMqcqCGd5HXyHUHfDH4MZ2NwvNDZVWF84kLZKS0s9CH0H2fT-yVWycH1SZxdCaJ1D4xA/s2954/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(48).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1971" data-original-width="2954" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Zhs3Q-ffoPADBn8m3I-0D_eeT4CdRti85C50ijlNxQumSLmZJ8mCvzjO-8pmwJAmvu0EvDzSlV7qyqyQSuug2SUB_l128O7o9UjIqsddQB2hJQDlvo9VjaiMqcqCGd5HXyHUHfDH4MZ2NwvNDZVWF84kLZKS0s9CH0H2fT-yVWycH1SZxdCaJ1D4xA/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(48).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85K1e5514ZjE1ywl4j78a5cQETuDjKXr6YAUJrl-XDTbduqlUS5iBrWNFYlzLYRNfxin1tXMihk2P83bWGM49fL86PTpGBJYmlNfME8WYW1dOUeZQ_E0cRSrXn6AbqGZH3LPfSZKjM7kekZ7Tk2eqZRAeGSGzz7I9IrwsWkI2mOJcDLQUBMjT4kKQYA/s3372/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(162).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2251" data-original-width="3372" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85K1e5514ZjE1ywl4j78a5cQETuDjKXr6YAUJrl-XDTbduqlUS5iBrWNFYlzLYRNfxin1tXMihk2P83bWGM49fL86PTpGBJYmlNfME8WYW1dOUeZQ_E0cRSrXn6AbqGZH3LPfSZKjM7kekZ7Tk2eqZRAeGSGzz7I9IrwsWkI2mOJcDLQUBMjT4kKQYA/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(162).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We were absolutely delighted when members of the VNHS very
kindly and generously took us to lunch at a lovely pub near Beaconhill
Park.<span> </span>It is hard to believe that today
we became the first couple to walk and bird over 14,000 km of the Trans Canada
Trail between Cape Spear, NL and Victoria, BC together.<span> </span>We are the first duo to photograph and
document the entire length of the east-west portion of the trail, and to blog
the journey, taking over 750,000 photos and publishing over 780 blogs en
route.<span> </span>We also became the first people
to walk the trail for a cause – to engage youth with nature through birds and
Citizen Science, and to promote diversity in the outdoor recreation
community.<span> </span>And what a journey it has
been.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezH9ia01Ou5a-1laq1B5iYAkGbSVkUZHRd0C-GNkJ9v1L5o5qzAO8pNsicU0a4RZuv2uCb6qJay_-NGiqWRLu55nb6k0gmtZazLDVdeOA3I_TlzvJ2UOjVa94q4X8BAsQsrSgvAYUaDhAueiT7ZAV3U3sJvwlX-XJeSG5sWpxOKvBiuzEei2nOqS0FA/s4032/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(167).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezH9ia01Ou5a-1laq1B5iYAkGbSVkUZHRd0C-GNkJ9v1L5o5qzAO8pNsicU0a4RZuv2uCb6qJay_-NGiqWRLu55nb6k0gmtZazLDVdeOA3I_TlzvJ2UOjVa94q4X8BAsQsrSgvAYUaDhAueiT7ZAV3U3sJvwlX-XJeSG5sWpxOKvBiuzEei2nOqS0FA/w300-h400/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(167).jpg" width="300" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTl-MGZBFUXNtKsqtz9xOt-nrHzZi1E16BByISrtMBn6m2SL-hfekszwuBbUBUFWeErHwm7QLEer-XV9vxX1PW3qPteFcU5wkiMMMNhGDND1-aWrg9GFFpSiJfaObuH-V4M_bcJJ5o6HtR_P6odBWshjs3I66QuZPkBxDu5fF74x8aP1BRYeK9Ncb3w/s3710/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(165).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2794" data-original-width="3710" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcTl-MGZBFUXNtKsqtz9xOt-nrHzZi1E16BByISrtMBn6m2SL-hfekszwuBbUBUFWeErHwm7QLEer-XV9vxX1PW3qPteFcU5wkiMMMNhGDND1-aWrg9GFFpSiJfaObuH-V4M_bcJJ5o6HtR_P6odBWshjs3I66QuZPkBxDu5fF74x8aP1BRYeK9Ncb3w/w400-h301/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(165).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Looking around the table and listening to the conversations
about hiking, trails, and nature conservation on Vancouver Island, we realize
how much we have to be grateful for.<span>
</span>Without the generosity and random acts of kindness from strangers and
friends across Canada, we would never have made it this far.<span> </span>Without the hard work, dedication, and passion
of thousands of volunteers, the national trail we’ve been walking wouldn’t
exist.<span> </span>We come away seeing that the best
hope for stewardship of our birds, wildlife, and natural areas will come from
individuals and communities who value and fight for their local environment. We’d
like to say thank you to all those dedicated and passionate people who
supported us on our journey, and who are working so hard to protect our natural
environment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaNeRgl0qdn_aConYiwh0eNssRBhEQo6F7HwFaWtAWdV4Q78i267drW2aXfHab80URSYb9e1BWPfCu_HYh9YFTSiHDLn83tgSCEMhjI3i6x3zPMqtFwnNKn1MprZxi9TbDD-qPHlorwu7y8CZD5A_luUdIt3M6UKc2_xgF2Iyk7E3cEn2-bqNZJGM5g/s4032/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(167.5).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaNeRgl0qdn_aConYiwh0eNssRBhEQo6F7HwFaWtAWdV4Q78i267drW2aXfHab80URSYb9e1BWPfCu_HYh9YFTSiHDLn83tgSCEMhjI3i6x3zPMqtFwnNKn1MprZxi9TbDD-qPHlorwu7y8CZD5A_luUdIt3M6UKc2_xgF2Iyk7E3cEn2-bqNZJGM5g/w400-h300/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(167.5).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As this day draws to a close, we have few words to express
the moment or our feelings, and no way to succinctly summarize even a small part
of our journey.<span> </span>Perhaps it is
appropriate to revisit the words of Porter Fox, when he describes his journey
from the Atlantic to the Pacific in <i>Northland</i>:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-CA">“At sunset the sky
turned dark blue.<span> </span>I tried to remember
the colour of the stones, the cool air, the auburn sunlight touching my
forehead.<span> </span>I thought about the first day
of the trip ... and tried to memorize the dark spires, rounded massifs, and marshmallow
flanks of [clouds] ... I thought about all the parts of the northland – oceans,
rivers, lakes, plains, cities, reservations, and towns – and how they linked
from east to west. It was indeed its own territory: a forgotten belt of wild,
old ... [country] ... delineated by iron monuments, rock piles, and clear-cuts…and
realized that I could not capture the whole of the nation or their experience.”</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><i><span lang="EN-CA"> </span></i></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZLrCsn5004NBHK5WDNUZs1Os5IPEU4j03waifyQg01CFEC2fnb7MC4sT6hssXSxwe-7jwx9ZGapbd6ia7wJNtuXpgRWi0cK6M_tVa0hCX_XwdKj2gRqDtkd9XqPlX-QgPo3eTwTJi5mNILEuOTl62MXknp9W_0DKfdWmLtUMA67QnRLR4nC2oNJJYg/s5863/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(152).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sonya Richmond Pacific Ocean Trans Canada Trail." border="0" data-original-height="3915" data-original-width="5863" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZLrCsn5004NBHK5WDNUZs1Os5IPEU4j03waifyQg01CFEC2fnb7MC4sT6hssXSxwe-7jwx9ZGapbd6ia7wJNtuXpgRWi0cK6M_tVa0hCX_XwdKj2gRqDtkd9XqPlX-QgPo3eTwTJi5mNILEuOTl62MXknp9W_0DKfdWmLtUMA67QnRLR4nC2oNJJYg/w400-h268/To%20Mile%20Zero%20with%20Victoria%20Nature%20(152).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/ontario-couple-hikes-across-canada-in-556-days-in-hopes-of-inspiring-people-to-connect-with-nature-1.6168051" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ontario couple hikes across Canada in 556 days in hopesof inspiring people to connect with nature</a></b></p>
<p></p><p class="MsoNormal">See you on the trail! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 103.95pt;">Remember to follow our entire adventure here : <a href="https://www.comewalkwithus.online/"><b>www.comewalkwithus.online</b></a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></p>
</div>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Victoria, BC, Canada48.4284207 -123.365644420.118186863821151 -158.5218944 76.738654536178842 -88.2093944tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-30106015727951059062023-04-02T22:52:00.005-04:002023-04-03T09:59:02.967-04:00CN Tower Climb - For Nature and Birds<p style="text-align: left;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><div class="MsoNormal"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>WWF Canada Climb for Nature <br /></b></h2></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="http://www.comewalkwithus.online" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Come Walk With Us</a></b> has just signed to climb 1776 stairs (100 stories tall) for
nature, wildlife and birds up the <b><a href="https://www.cntower.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CN Tower</a></b>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So proud to step up for nature!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaK7U6OAVyKiEuIniiMme3J8-SJtcU4-itbcABqvIacAH9uSu8ifZaJOzLKpg3JOmnfSq4BwuI6G5zlyx5yda8jNr5QimxDdl2uKQrbJY0C6LMPa0tcq7nJ72f-DIj6ucH80TtzobNqo19zL2rW4Tp6TiLVLmKF1f9BgU_nVOOVmaCvtEwh5IA68xfgA/s564/CWF.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="564" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaK7U6OAVyKiEuIniiMme3J8-SJtcU4-itbcABqvIacAH9uSu8ifZaJOzLKpg3JOmnfSq4BwuI6G5zlyx5yda8jNr5QimxDdl2uKQrbJY0C6LMPa0tcq7nJ72f-DIj6ucH80TtzobNqo19zL2rW4Tp6TiLVLmKF1f9BgU_nVOOVmaCvtEwh5IA68xfgA/w400-h178/CWF.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">We are climbing the CN Tower this April to support
<a href="https://wwf.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>WWF-Canada</b></a>. We are totally up for the physical and fundraising challenge!
<p class="MsoNormal">While we are doing our part, we are counting on you to help
us reach our fundraising goal. The money we raise with the help of your
generous support will go towards WWF-Canada's efforts to restore nature,
reverse wildlife loss and fight climate change. Together we can Regenerate
Canada.</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdmdw7o2ShSLnqW8C-Pc0zd-QQU1XROn7JZSuSVTyUxz6hJzsj2HpV0ReINxmyUvg53HskeK_0Yg075oavDYJRIJTEKKx6eW3dZ-p7aTTOnbnXs79t-g5V2fjnxvR1clXr-yxVM1zNFRyAM0Clq62klPeOLbHkCtOhKQ8HkmSgGoNOWM1YYLYCoyZbw/s3300/2023-WWF-CN-TOWER-CLIMB-POSTERS-8_5X11_02.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Come Walk With Us CN Tower Climb." border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2550" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYdmdw7o2ShSLnqW8C-Pc0zd-QQU1XROn7JZSuSVTyUxz6hJzsj2HpV0ReINxmyUvg53HskeK_0Yg075oavDYJRIJTEKKx6eW3dZ-p7aTTOnbnXs79t-g5V2fjnxvR1clXr-yxVM1zNFRyAM0Clq62klPeOLbHkCtOhKQ8HkmSgGoNOWM1YYLYCoyZbw/w309-h400/2023-WWF-CN-TOWER-CLIMB-POSTERS-8_5X11_02.jpg" width="309" /></a></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The initial goal of our Climb for Nature is to raise <b>1000 dollars for Nature</b> before heading
back out onto the <b><a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trans Canada Trail</a></b> as we venture to the Arctic in 2023! </p><p class="MsoNormal">For the thousands of Canadians who have supported our 14,000 km trek from the Atlantic to the Pacific, who have hosted us en route, and who have sponsored our trek across Canada we call upon you for a small donation to WWF-Canada for Nature and Birds! </p><p class="MsoNormal">Together we have trekked across Canada, and now we can #Hike4Birds up the CN Tower! <br /></p><h3 class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><b>Our Team Page is :</b></h3></div><p></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="https://secure.wwf.ca/site/TR/CNTowerClimb/20172018CNTowerClimb?team_id=11420&pg=team&fr_id=1280" target="_blank">http://support.wwf.ca/goto/ComeWalkWithUs</a></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Always Remember that while we might be members of the Canadian Explorers Club, fellows of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, Canadian Adventure Seekers and have trekked across Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific - I very much doubt that we will be setting any speed records. However with resilience even the snail made it onto the Ark ... and so shall we reach our goal!<br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Thank you for your continued support! Our venture to the Arctic begins soon! <br /></p>
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwdvvAxuxfBtS9gw1hdGJu6cDAK4rGPBeuYifh9B0LS3KDfqd_AVyMZ6JR24VDAAQsdTe5X2VN8apYQ9aoUhSNV-ewOeejAEFqBC8nCuwWIcHXc3hVwOMHqf9E4nBGdW43qAxGi6h240Npzo1-HrcS7UWOBIX1lIydvhd7OmXb6XWXgKSTM9tAPJJHg/s1280/Daniel%20Baylis%20(33).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hike4Birds Trans Canada Trail." border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwdvvAxuxfBtS9gw1hdGJu6cDAK4rGPBeuYifh9B0LS3KDfqd_AVyMZ6JR24VDAAQsdTe5X2VN8apYQ9aoUhSNV-ewOeejAEFqBC8nCuwWIcHXc3hVwOMHqf9E4nBGdW43qAxGi6h240Npzo1-HrcS7UWOBIX1lIydvhd7OmXb6XWXgKSTM9tAPJJHg/w300-h400/Daniel%20Baylis%20(33).jpg" width="300" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<p class="MsoNormal">See you on the trail! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Remember to follow our entire adventure here : <a href="https://www.comewalkwithus.online/"><b>www.comewalkwithus.online</b></a></p></div><p>
</p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-6690175499098713682023-03-29T15:12:00.002-04:002023-03-29T15:30:38.228-04:00Come Walk WIth Us - The Camino Podcast<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywil-CKOnFGGNzaDUe2BH1t5fCFYcttu50KnXvL-gyD1ZUzgeEG0vTVaHS0q_xMREF0Se9LhEgfYzw7JDoGEbox89QjdFcQA7xHkkjZW_Wc8g-v8QmHZWwh_adq-y4zuadGv59TNwJQZ7RkbrBK4gAGfi5xELP5shSN4pP9Gjxui62iuHhbGX_OxxPw/s1080/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20on%20the%20Via%20Podiensis,%20France.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Come Walk With Us Camino de Sanitiago Podcast." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywil-CKOnFGGNzaDUe2BH1t5fCFYcttu50KnXvL-gyD1ZUzgeEG0vTVaHS0q_xMREF0Se9LhEgfYzw7JDoGEbox89QjdFcQA7xHkkjZW_Wc8g-v8QmHZWwh_adq-y4zuadGv59TNwJQZ7RkbrBK4gAGfi5xELP5shSN4pP9Gjxui62iuHhbGX_OxxPw/w640-h640/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20on%20the%20Via%20Podiensis,%20France.png" width="640" /></a></p><p></p><p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</xml><![endif]-->Given our experiences on 7 Camino routes in Europe, on 5 Canadian Caminos, leading a <b><a href="https://ourwalkalongthecaminodemadrid.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Birding the Way tour in Spain in 2022</a></b>, and our Camino
presentations we were found last year by Dave Whitson the talented individual behind the
popular <b><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-939742370" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Camino Podcast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></a></b>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">A couple of weeks ago we were honoured to be interviewed by Mr. Whitson for an episode of the
Camino Podcast about our time hiking and birding along the <b><a href="https://ourwalkalongtheviapodiensis.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Via Podiensis / GR65</a>,</b> one of the main Camino routes across France.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We hope you enjoy: </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-939742370/episode-66-the-via-podiensis-part-5-rocamadour?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Podcast Episode 66 - The Via Podiensis - Rocamadour</a></b><br /></p>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal">See you on the trail! </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Remember to follow our entire adventure here : <a href="https://www.comewalkwithus.online/"><b>www.comewalkwithus.online</b></a><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>
</p><p></p><p>
</p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0London, ON, Canada42.9849233 -81.245276814.674689463821153 -116.4015268 71.295157136178844 -46.0890268tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-40863171176966812642023-03-29T08:00:00.001-04:002023-03-29T15:12:59.948-04:00Letter of Congratulations - City of London Ontario<p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today we were honoured to receive a letter from the <b><a href="https://london.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">City of London</a></b> recognizing and congratulating us on hiking more than 13, 700 km across
10 provinces on the Trans Canada Trail. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The expedition photographer and <b><a href="https://rcgs.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Royal Canadian Geographical Society</a></b> photographer of Come
Walk With Us is Sean Morton who grew up in London attending Northdale PS, John
Paul II high school and the <b><a href="https://www.uwo.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">University of Western Ontario</a></b>.<span> </span>We also spent a great deal of time living
here and raising a younger family member.<span>
</span>Over the past three years off the trail we have again spent a great deal
of time back in London Ontario house sitting.<span>
</span>To have our efforts acknowledged and to be recognized as “achieving a
number of firsts as Ontarian and Canadian Naturalists, Conservationists, and
Explorers as well as hikers on the Trans Canada Trail” is amazing.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sean is amazed and humbled by having his efforts to
photograph and document the entire Great Trail from St. John’s Newfoundland to
Victoria BC to the Arctic Ocean acknowledged from his hometown and a city he
holds dear to his heart!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you so much for your support and congratulations! </span></span></div><p></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPL7Ce9fX1ILJcth8hYKOfWQV8iZUMdUVgq_8qgkNxn9bW-XkL-cHpZaE3nL__eBdpU210WmrSDGpu8fUJwfR1pmSqDerwAx3NXlY8dyFaP9HYoJYxCHCcNGexUQBlOMghf5B7cU6uBsBofqgmkT8k1o4B4a11LMZi7JUR8Ouw-AKVADkaviJgLj_aQ/s3292/City%20of%20London%20-%20Letter%20of%20Congratulations.jpg" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="City of London Come Walk With Us Trans Canada Trail." border="0" data-original-height="3292" data-original-width="2484" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPL7Ce9fX1ILJcth8hYKOfWQV8iZUMdUVgq_8qgkNxn9bW-XkL-cHpZaE3nL__eBdpU210WmrSDGpu8fUJwfR1pmSqDerwAx3NXlY8dyFaP9HYoJYxCHCcNGexUQBlOMghf5B7cU6uBsBofqgmkT8k1o4B4a11LMZi7JUR8Ouw-AKVADkaviJgLj_aQ/w482-h640/City%20of%20London%20-%20Letter%20of%20Congratulations.jpg" width="482" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">See you on the trail!
</span></span><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember to follow our entire adventure here : <a href="https://www.comewalkwithus.online/"><b>www.comewalkwithus.online</b></a></span></span> </p></div>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0London, ON, Canada42.9849233 -81.245276814.674689463821153 -116.4015268 71.295157136178844 -46.0890268tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-35211772334521943952023-03-27T18:27:00.004-04:002023-03-27T18:31:17.316-04:00Almost There … on the Galloping Goose : Langford to Victoria <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Our goal for
today was downtown Victoria, which was only 13 km from the hotel we stayed in
last night, and only 18 km from Point Zero, at Clover Point.<span> </span>When we walked our first <b><a href="https://ourwalkalongthecaminofrances.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Camino in Spain along the Camino Frances route</a></b>, trekking 800 km from
Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, we noticed
two types of reactions in our fellow pilgrims as we reached the end of The Way.<span> </span>Some hikers dramatically picked up their pace,
clearly driven by the excitement of reaching a destination that had previously
seemed unattainable on foot. Alternatively, others slowed way down, wanting the
journey to last as long as possible.<span> </span>We
definitely fell into the latter category, stopping every 5 km or less for a café
con leche, tortilla, or slice of Santiago cake and a chat with our fellow
hikers. <span> </span>Today we find ourselves in a
similar mood – now less than 20 km from the Point Zero marker at Clover Point, we
are suddenly in no hurry to reach it, despite a long, hard, exhausting season
on the trail and after 555 days spent on the <a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Trans Canada Trail</b> </a>over the last 4 years. <span> </span></span></div><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">So, after
enjoying the complimentary breakfast at the hotel, we set off around 8 am, and
promptly deviated from the Great Trail for a morning of history and birding.<span> </span>Our first stop was the <a href="https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/bc/fortroddhill" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Site of Canada</b></a>,
which was about a half hour walk from the hotel towards the coast.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzyUYn9mHUlQM_tlVmfhTCfWmRk1BiaCjR-GlY_CCDt0VRkRlc87YFn3V7bzKozNGFLgXtfOC0ljYL4EFQK-geMw6HLu4hMclUiAAgz3HPD6WDaaxI20-kql_F8dGBdJl1kB_83XvzjSGqbDk5xY_3Hc-h5tz5EmAayu84s9gfF8McKXia4xvMl3qsw/s4016/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fort Rodd Hill Victoria British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="2680" data-original-width="4016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzyUYn9mHUlQM_tlVmfhTCfWmRk1BiaCjR-GlY_CCDt0VRkRlc87YFn3V7bzKozNGFLgXtfOC0ljYL4EFQK-geMw6HLu4hMclUiAAgz3HPD6WDaaxI20-kql_F8dGBdJl1kB_83XvzjSGqbDk5xY_3Hc-h5tz5EmAayu84s9gfF8McKXia4xvMl3qsw/w400-h268/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBO8gN2CBmW5GXJp_o40bdYQcj4ION5480njysskmtT_5O7BUfsaF9IHFsqJ75ljccTGiKdvoZR6gh9gjMcmO0oOhIvLdRnu2vdJ59XOx2nASbRM8b-xrFaMA5k9NCKbQ_gohqocBHHc_d-b00FVlgnqZACVyE45_qHEu4etjNGH0xfhEGeTm-HcFkog/s6016/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBO8gN2CBmW5GXJp_o40bdYQcj4ION5480njysskmtT_5O7BUfsaF9IHFsqJ75ljccTGiKdvoZR6gh9gjMcmO0oOhIvLdRnu2vdJ59XOx2nASbRM8b-xrFaMA5k9NCKbQ_gohqocBHHc_d-b00FVlgnqZACVyE45_qHEu4etjNGH0xfhEGeTm-HcFkog/w400-h268/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The Fort Rodd
Hill National Historic Site is a 19<sup>th</sup> century west coast artillery fortress
located on the Colwood side of the Esquimalt Harbour.<span> </span>The British Royal Navy began using Esquimalt
Harbour in the 1840's, mostly as a place to anchor, stock up on fresh water,
and obtain lumber.<span> </span>However, when three
hospital stations were established there during the Crimean War (1854 -1856),
it became an active naval base.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3slUFXDLt4OcYJh-pfJ2xJ6U7uGkLH4xJMHlMsiFK9Jt42ReUbtc7xBTCPfR_4B6RNAIaELPgBDH0KSRDj8VfUDQ0GwWqDkHd8xjDt-YHzvK1s5PFZ4FNAiPgnggDVrtKbpv4i9jjMxLFvNRtq-IzcE_sZelCM4Vc69wNzFty3B1roZpeZKdj8AFIQ/s4032/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(3).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ3slUFXDLt4OcYJh-pfJ2xJ6U7uGkLH4xJMHlMsiFK9Jt42ReUbtc7xBTCPfR_4B6RNAIaELPgBDH0KSRDj8VfUDQ0GwWqDkHd8xjDt-YHzvK1s5PFZ4FNAiPgnggDVrtKbpv4i9jjMxLFvNRtq-IzcE_sZelCM4Vc69wNzFty3B1roZpeZKdj8AFIQ/w400-h300/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(3).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3roDeodxBTyvCtlTmJhmwZJ5x7R6OonpSHflO4hf52tIOccHl9jzXqzHN_rWyvQEF9F7p0OSKY9-Rr62IoFlBmyJexhhhy6A75y4w33PQV1JwguTAzyWcVkrVZgN5FHzyQwP17KEaN1qf9STYN3cJH2SqIlrC2jnqy_1wcYCtQCuY03y0e8SVqmtVwg/s6016/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(4).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3roDeodxBTyvCtlTmJhmwZJ5x7R6OonpSHflO4hf52tIOccHl9jzXqzHN_rWyvQEF9F7p0OSKY9-Rr62IoFlBmyJexhhhy6A75y4w33PQV1JwguTAzyWcVkrVZgN5FHzyQwP17KEaN1qf9STYN3cJH2SqIlrC2jnqy_1wcYCtQCuY03y0e8SVqmtVwg/w400-h268/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(4).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_62XrqJZqM14-nzAxZ0-ZDnb14IMeqWVhCmuAGCQINm9TXuDDP4T3V9F3bttH2MZT5R6gFNAaJxGAgMF-takNdtCBywxNqm3PVYmlEOu5GFybouHhQ_gdvCEkrfIMj0dCjN1mEiq2DAPZateiGD_R74FYudW-Y_jZMTzd0DHhGRGyWnbpHGmJ1LS83g/s6016/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(7).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_62XrqJZqM14-nzAxZ0-ZDnb14IMeqWVhCmuAGCQINm9TXuDDP4T3V9F3bttH2MZT5R6gFNAaJxGAgMF-takNdtCBywxNqm3PVYmlEOu5GFybouHhQ_gdvCEkrfIMj0dCjN1mEiq2DAPZateiGD_R74FYudW-Y_jZMTzd0DHhGRGyWnbpHGmJ1LS83g/w400-h268/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(7).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw42N2IrbV6Sg0Yb3q_eu_t631ruExHJSdI_Rb4gfeAe0RR30UH-e_Kayq4wXwJOvzmoiMAA4QodKL6wiQse61-o1bf-hQnU7Bld2xOVg0KCRZzVwdqzi1LPrSECarMRng7wFHXudTVEeMkOQ6QLLUBvJNKxpUg3vOTJKj4Xg-E_ZUHuFo2Z_UnOoGlA/s4032/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(8).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw42N2IrbV6Sg0Yb3q_eu_t631ruExHJSdI_Rb4gfeAe0RR30UH-e_Kayq4wXwJOvzmoiMAA4QodKL6wiQse61-o1bf-hQnU7Bld2xOVg0KCRZzVwdqzi1LPrSECarMRng7wFHXudTVEeMkOQ6QLLUBvJNKxpUg3vOTJKj4Xg-E_ZUHuFo2Z_UnOoGlA/w400-h300/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(8).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">In 1862, the
Royal British Navy relocated its Pacific Squadron from Chile north to Esquimalt,
BC which meant some form of defence was needed for the fleet and its support
buildings.<span> </span>An influx of miners to the
area during the Fraser River Gold Rush in 1858 exacerbated this need, as did
the armed standoff between Britain and the US during the San Juan Islands Pig War
of 1859 – 1871.<span> </span>However, it wasn’t until
after the Colony of Vancouver Island joined mainland British Columbia in 1866,
and then the Colony of British Columbia joined Canada in 1870 that formal fortifications
were constructed to defend the naval base.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYagojOZaaV7kU7eqL72ICHyx7FTnozPKzcWdqqA2ANNfVfRA0emOiDJ111otl2hmuv1f8l7UwoyMPnJEXZguXIE1LXzaWU0mH7MwuJsatIxUaolIMmcILhRldfn3PKDpypLHSHDmrrAU2I5Kn7C_RQ69cYFN1eONWFJI-NSVP5PaCarzlRzDmJH2ydg/s6016/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(13).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYagojOZaaV7kU7eqL72ICHyx7FTnozPKzcWdqqA2ANNfVfRA0emOiDJ111otl2hmuv1f8l7UwoyMPnJEXZguXIE1LXzaWU0mH7MwuJsatIxUaolIMmcILhRldfn3PKDpypLHSHDmrrAU2I5Kn7C_RQ69cYFN1eONWFJI-NSVP5PaCarzlRzDmJH2ydg/w400-h268/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(13).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oplK5qzKjYMjaE8m1ub9a4_psrEvVrZ4YGkIsCI0AAx0MB7XVTnG2NvERRZKCSA3YYfMU8LNdmBqjCxPj4vp4oVzODw3dX0t0joansgRmJr2tsbbNtH30giJdgOUXd97vX1IFXkY8ym4I5g6_uBEjvLj7h-y9DFkUt227Fhqp57j-_dWsXExBxk3ZA/s6016/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(14).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1oplK5qzKjYMjaE8m1ub9a4_psrEvVrZ4YGkIsCI0AAx0MB7XVTnG2NvERRZKCSA3YYfMU8LNdmBqjCxPj4vp4oVzODw3dX0t0joansgRmJr2tsbbNtH30giJdgOUXd97vX1IFXkY8ym4I5g6_uBEjvLj7h-y9DFkUt227Fhqp57j-_dWsXExBxk3ZA/w400-h268/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(14).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Eventually, the
British and Canadian governments reached an agreement, and between 1894 and
1897 two separate forts were constructed, one at Macauley Point, to defend
Victoria harbour, and the other at Rodd Hill, a bluff overlooking the narrow
entrance to Esquimalt Harbour.<span> </span>Over the
decades Fort Rodd Hill was considered an important part of North America’s defences even during WWII, having been upgraded to defend against air strikes
and torpedo attacks.<span> </span>Ultimately however none
of its guns were ever fired on an enemy.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyD3_Bd8CQS_q9-pRrGjKCS8uiVC3ImvsFklHrcF50HKn8N3jEKTQzcUelH1W-UqCKw1JLRjKMBoc75R435muhJz3X9qA0r4dSR-EtpkaUoyi1mN7FShC40G6RT_AYqNVRa9yhTdo_BZ5duCXSaUc5UqNKG048_bhhmLZRLviuRVEsmoeiaU6ORpu_w/s4032/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(9).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyD3_Bd8CQS_q9-pRrGjKCS8uiVC3ImvsFklHrcF50HKn8N3jEKTQzcUelH1W-UqCKw1JLRjKMBoc75R435muhJz3X9qA0r4dSR-EtpkaUoyi1mN7FShC40G6RT_AYqNVRa9yhTdo_BZ5duCXSaUc5UqNKG048_bhhmLZRLviuRVEsmoeiaU6ORpu_w/w300-h400/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(9).jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3Sst5W-C1WI6M3ilXnqfJKgWQj2vJcBYrdt3_7lnx8doy5HMUqZ1ZkGq6_hMV1KIXS76lnz8c0a2sue1fiuN0-rFRxZG8093bgOqcZjCXIij7wcq5ogwCZ0qRU90mQBan6Wzzxwef2CWu4LeCFG951JmAE60DYBrdju7MH5e1AEt0yMPnBhT5DQJlA/s4032/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(10).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3Sst5W-C1WI6M3ilXnqfJKgWQj2vJcBYrdt3_7lnx8doy5HMUqZ1ZkGq6_hMV1KIXS76lnz8c0a2sue1fiuN0-rFRxZG8093bgOqcZjCXIij7wcq5ogwCZ0qRU90mQBan6Wzzxwef2CWu4LeCFG951JmAE60DYBrdju7MH5e1AEt0yMPnBhT5DQJlA/w400-h300/Fort%20Rodd%20Hill%20Historic%20Site%20%20(10).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Although it was
an extremely blustery, damp, and cold morning, we enjoyed exploring the three
gun batteries, underground magazines, command centres, guard houses, barracks, and
searchlight emplacements.<span> </span>Interestingly,
history wasn’t the only thing that captured our attention – several
white-tailed deer were hanging out among the grove of rare Garry Oaks that
grows on the site. <br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl--ANKIESsPgdRqHhW4XJNvCrHAuVFgHCHMNjOu4eW9kQEGL3hCNFDSt0cr5nZo7_K_p5l6s6OPV3J85oUpWtWDDcaglGU95Sdz7r9CNIrLswt8Lg-TEf54Y1NRYzUJzcrekrY-__nT9D0eFsimHlUpbWKhfbmNOsH2QZLoFcg6z2YoumWlWUyc165g/s6016/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl--ANKIESsPgdRqHhW4XJNvCrHAuVFgHCHMNjOu4eW9kQEGL3hCNFDSt0cr5nZo7_K_p5l6s6OPV3J85oUpWtWDDcaglGU95Sdz7r9CNIrLswt8Lg-TEf54Y1NRYzUJzcrekrY-__nT9D0eFsimHlUpbWKhfbmNOsH2QZLoFcg6z2YoumWlWUyc165g/w400-h268/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(1).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTOqWBLtB5CbNHZrZrXJ8SBhOwTYexN6ulj04s7p_eukgVbDc9x_p9lR9cwyWSOxEptmgD4waQRxfi-kSB4hsAcOqftVpqsMPjYoGkoRyUpTqcVPtqj_V5xdgZMB1zuZPO-lAcBNATXt45DWtnMtaXZmLNdf8K7IC9ApwahEygVEOiCb8iR_JXTC1Gg/s6016/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeTOqWBLtB5CbNHZrZrXJ8SBhOwTYexN6ulj04s7p_eukgVbDc9x_p9lR9cwyWSOxEptmgD4waQRxfi-kSB4hsAcOqftVpqsMPjYoGkoRyUpTqcVPtqj_V5xdgZMB1zuZPO-lAcBNATXt45DWtnMtaXZmLNdf8K7IC9ApwahEygVEOiCb8iR_JXTC1Gg/w400-h268/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(3).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We slowly made
our way down to the shoreline, where the Fisgard Lighthouse stands on a small
rocky island.<span> </span>Built in 1860, it was the
first lighthouse on the west coast of Canada.<span>
</span>Its job was to guide vessels safely into Esquimalt Harbour.<span> </span>In 1897, shortly after construction of Fort
Rodd Hill was completed, its light was fitted with metal shutters on the landward
side, because concussions from the artillery guns cracked its glass.<span> </span>In 1928 the lighthouse was automated, and its
lamp was replaced with a battery powered electric light.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQscCyC2n2mdj7pO4U2N1Vwm2e1HExIRfNN9dSd4kgPzy3tSde8qc2fq4YeDgVtl4ajf1cIe2xtNUbyT5NBx6U1p_gG5y3_lMztJtPoAujr0xDGRb1v7vODv7wL-bU6ns_a6lcYKnlbprq3UReLlADKl04qCSzC3IsTWiDGTrgsOXD8EfYh-2HrD6nqw/s6016/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(4).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fisgard Lighthouse Victoria British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQscCyC2n2mdj7pO4U2N1Vwm2e1HExIRfNN9dSd4kgPzy3tSde8qc2fq4YeDgVtl4ajf1cIe2xtNUbyT5NBx6U1p_gG5y3_lMztJtPoAujr0xDGRb1v7vODv7wL-bU6ns_a6lcYKnlbprq3UReLlADKl04qCSzC3IsTWiDGTrgsOXD8EfYh-2HrD6nqw/w400-h268/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(4).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwU-0lGWDUtFFHL9m8Us77K-Y8C-bvQXvCU7S6oth0VjK07kDezc3hONYnYolG9hNf8-bdW4_GXnR8cf0zsxnepVjvyz89JHNvOBhX5HfMv63VJ5jL69BnEnP3nFDPYPnaoRvg5pNa2fJg1IN8iWdH0tXeUqlWWqYsP_PkfFHwtfxTn1Cm6GDIo0x_w/s6016/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(10).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXwU-0lGWDUtFFHL9m8Us77K-Y8C-bvQXvCU7S6oth0VjK07kDezc3hONYnYolG9hNf8-bdW4_GXnR8cf0zsxnepVjvyz89JHNvOBhX5HfMv63VJ5jL69BnEnP3nFDPYPnaoRvg5pNa2fJg1IN8iWdH0tXeUqlWWqYsP_PkfFHwtfxTn1Cm6GDIo0x_w/w400-h268/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(10).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As we climbed over
the rocky coast we were distracted by the antics of a Pacific Harbour Seal that
was floating, twisting, and lazing about in the waves just off shore. It was
joined by a small flock of Buffleheads that were bobbing up and down in the
slate gray waters.<span> </span>As we watched, they
were joined by a group of Barrow’s Goldeneyes.<span>
</span>To our delight, closer inspection of the dark brown rocks at the base of
the lighthouse revealed a group of Black Turnstones sheltering from the driving
wind as well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tRT591bgulQbQ90SwIK1WfujSheJysKqQ0OMxcSbPdpyZ12gl1Q-h0RuGSfCibeVXAEgnVVt2pdLZckGDVlP9mYkFuhLb4UDHBvQkuso_vgc2uYRpuyqxYT4GqukYJK5U_pn8uf48zmV923vLExjog98Lciun8zjuUuBdv8RcZtWVpmjonZmXMo-aw/s5723/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(13).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hike4Birds Victoria British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="3821" data-original-width="5723" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tRT591bgulQbQ90SwIK1WfujSheJysKqQ0OMxcSbPdpyZ12gl1Q-h0RuGSfCibeVXAEgnVVt2pdLZckGDVlP9mYkFuhLb4UDHBvQkuso_vgc2uYRpuyqxYT4GqukYJK5U_pn8uf48zmV923vLExjog98Lciun8zjuUuBdv8RcZtWVpmjonZmXMo-aw/w400-h268/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(13).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gB1CA94kV-1EAdTsj1MJipf6G2cjIYtTxr93L-htJwN0Lu5uyVwsVVhuxrj8tsEH6ZEBBNLqgGZFt-uFjIgMTecBseYDTcTf0JyRJIwb4FK48cJutJj9YJcV-GvCo2uuMZV0qGJ1NfPS7v_dOBkjnzgOSNNQpNS-MXnExaeLBpkr3e43-o2owt1neQ/s3701/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(5).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2471" data-original-width="3701" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5gB1CA94kV-1EAdTsj1MJipf6G2cjIYtTxr93L-htJwN0Lu5uyVwsVVhuxrj8tsEH6ZEBBNLqgGZFt-uFjIgMTecBseYDTcTf0JyRJIwb4FK48cJutJj9YJcV-GvCo2uuMZV0qGJ1NfPS7v_dOBkjnzgOSNNQpNS-MXnExaeLBpkr3e43-o2owt1neQ/w400-h268/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(5).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuE5K_lWuhQVHbH7w8VtkI_wv6vll3-zcjEHuvJ0PxZuBgSClfs8-xflItLgLEsJhBXwaZQqZl7jKpNVMaScsKxpNkbj1AcE5zVkW3_uzwVEGJLgRwlPLBkZKIdUXQJK_RQk2SqsHgZD3S0j3csANYYskZbHu630myFBsXt6FauFaNE8px26hTx_QfA/s2445/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(12).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1632" data-original-width="2445" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWuE5K_lWuhQVHbH7w8VtkI_wv6vll3-zcjEHuvJ0PxZuBgSClfs8-xflItLgLEsJhBXwaZQqZl7jKpNVMaScsKxpNkbj1AcE5zVkW3_uzwVEGJLgRwlPLBkZKIdUXQJK_RQk2SqsHgZD3S0j3csANYYskZbHu630myFBsXt6FauFaNE8px26hTx_QfA/w400-h268/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(12).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6e-IQSw37v8Isquf4RpJ3HJxtpDAxObz7tzTYSptMaH3lqSbeqor3tSQ8_N49MUwSLoQzqTh6HpHJVTxwEVL940tfUPpnPsS2V9COIw4nmj0rgEvG-6kHolHZOWY25a_ChXnRaLvPwCwN-DuwuFuGjRjNvaH4_mqJB0CgZDu7M1oUBzIVg45Y1sdwsQ/s1297/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(14).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="866" data-original-width="1297" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6e-IQSw37v8Isquf4RpJ3HJxtpDAxObz7tzTYSptMaH3lqSbeqor3tSQ8_N49MUwSLoQzqTh6HpHJVTxwEVL940tfUPpnPsS2V9COIw4nmj0rgEvG-6kHolHZOWY25a_ChXnRaLvPwCwN-DuwuFuGjRjNvaH4_mqJB0CgZDu7M1oUBzIVg45Y1sdwsQ/w400-h268/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(14).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9k72B9_5k-UHpGcGEsWfvFBWPsBS6QqsIbxDgS532azLnYVwryrJYPbtIndXScLLm4WI6JTPlRuFJ90KlQXe6ThxFBZhRd2yHw97uW6hW9LQW0B6y_XyxhxC0HaEiBmCUuoew8EdkddR_Pe27gB0uKGuA9oZm6DZ4_2IW9x2rBJ9mT3-DwVfzR3mcQ/s1754/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(7).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="1754" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9k72B9_5k-UHpGcGEsWfvFBWPsBS6QqsIbxDgS532azLnYVwryrJYPbtIndXScLLm4WI6JTPlRuFJ90KlQXe6ThxFBZhRd2yHw97uW6hW9LQW0B6y_XyxhxC0HaEiBmCUuoew8EdkddR_Pe27gB0uKGuA9oZm6DZ4_2IW9x2rBJ9mT3-DwVfzR3mcQ/w400-h268/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(7).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></div></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As we made our
way back towards the shelter of the bluff, we passed an historic plaque for a
Canadian Arctic Expedition that ran from 1913 – 1918.<span> </span>At that time, the steamship <i>Karluk</i> carried the first major Canadian
government scientific expedition to the Arctic.<span>
</span>Assisted by the Inuit, <b><a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vilhjalmur-Stefansson" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Canadian explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson</a></b> managed to locate and map unoccupied islands
in the High Arctic, and gather a wealth of botanical and geological samples
before the ship and half its crew were lost.<span>
</span>This expedition also greatly advanced the outside world’s knowledge of
the High Arctic.<span> </span>As we complete our
east-west trek, and look towards our own journey northward, it was interesting
to read about those who were among the first Europeans to make that journey.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslpQ_2BkNTu4XhpRBSHo4OM0TaheR4MTKwUcUI0ApH4pfQYc8wDSrJDEIPQHpAi43U1hdN9K2FIyf_jNTQcgSw6mYe6FxApxLYW3kLFRvIcW1oZVUKkklmDhcKaF0YzA9qlt0_1YHnwQuNcp_ZnR6NbXDgiqFzU3M_JcBc6FrA010TbgdUCqyQ3r5yg/s6016/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(16).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fisgard Lighthouse Victoria British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslpQ_2BkNTu4XhpRBSHo4OM0TaheR4MTKwUcUI0ApH4pfQYc8wDSrJDEIPQHpAi43U1hdN9K2FIyf_jNTQcgSw6mYe6FxApxLYW3kLFRvIcW1oZVUKkklmDhcKaF0YzA9qlt0_1YHnwQuNcp_ZnR6NbXDgiqFzU3M_JcBc6FrA010TbgdUCqyQ3r5yg/w400-h268/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(16).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8hIouWvOkGAyZ-MUn20JUHoeNbt9EUW6JcdCQAX7KZe_5f-gZs2h62BEAg9JuNnR6FEe3jt4SAORTOONTBFWY_7uKJHKLr06A3O1GMVkqgR7mglHzRsZyRGyPgxAfNkaNr-uZMSZ3uy1HGXYVnxWX8RGmKUUj3F7enUN1dK9zR-5aqH1blgefqa77w/s6016/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8hIouWvOkGAyZ-MUn20JUHoeNbt9EUW6JcdCQAX7KZe_5f-gZs2h62BEAg9JuNnR6FEe3jt4SAORTOONTBFWY_7uKJHKLr06A3O1GMVkqgR7mglHzRsZyRGyPgxAfNkaNr-uZMSZ3uy1HGXYVnxWX8RGmKUUj3F7enUN1dK9zR-5aqH1blgefqa77w/w400-h268/Fisgard%20National%20Historic%20Site%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Under cloudy
skies and through a biting wind we made our way back down to the road and out to
our next stop – the <b><a href="https://www.esquimaltlagoon.com/node/8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary</a></b>.<span> </span>The Esquimalt Lagoon
and Coburg Peninsula form a semi-enclosed tidal estuary where the mixing of
fresh and salt water are influenced by the ocean tides.<span> </span>Eelgrass, tidal marshes, and tidal meadows provide
habitat for a wide range of species, and it is a very popular location for
local birdwatchers.<span> </span>The roadway divides
the ocean from the lagoon, and the two environments offer opportunities to view
different groups of birds at any given time.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlhWkiocJppQ5rwEvXvJwTEugbmR9_lS8iRxwR1_ovt5fdDKBgBQb6hv4sOc4v0x-t-fCS0Vhvp0hYJoVC8q5SbJDypHCqXLYZ36Qex0Noec_AkYACA1MWGy0_NCmMkz5Tcwc_460N98I3AEh8VEtqEecJVKXlKbg94JnjuH1H817Dpip4v6OWC1DrA/s5057/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(52).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5057" data-original-width="3376" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlhWkiocJppQ5rwEvXvJwTEugbmR9_lS8iRxwR1_ovt5fdDKBgBQb6hv4sOc4v0x-t-fCS0Vhvp0hYJoVC8q5SbJDypHCqXLYZ36Qex0Noec_AkYACA1MWGy0_NCmMkz5Tcwc_460N98I3AEh8VEtqEecJVKXlKbg94JnjuH1H817Dpip4v6OWC1DrA/s320/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(52).JPG" width="214" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYTXhfveFQg0zblbTFh5YbzvCrJRZnbr4rfGaCEFkfUzKnPUGuI77z3EctXHw1vcwRIPQKsmN5rFq60Lj_uGZkYvczGzRvJjZr0BoMnQuxXS1FlqHF89R4N8dsNEISIeu5yFO4UotvmlnszenK8prgR2wd_Qx4T0JpNb2MCm1LUHS7_ieoEvs7NGbOg/s5066/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(54).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary." border="0" data-original-height="5066" data-original-width="3383" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYTXhfveFQg0zblbTFh5YbzvCrJRZnbr4rfGaCEFkfUzKnPUGuI77z3EctXHw1vcwRIPQKsmN5rFq60Lj_uGZkYvczGzRvJjZr0BoMnQuxXS1FlqHF89R4N8dsNEISIeu5yFO4UotvmlnszenK8prgR2wd_Qx4T0JpNb2MCm1LUHS7_ieoEvs7NGbOg/w214-h320/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(54).JPG" width="214" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCntHGc4LnRhc6h5ixH0M-Fgm7nKp1D_eA1sW2bTH0oN6YJPzR9HFuNXFnXYSNh24zq_nmxD3ookj1NO6GAOkJ9M1zgYuEq7scSaj3cSqDT-z0DGG7sFjluClbP3KOfAQwcZCMjpQSNlqQFL2YwZ4LuyuLqF0C4vPdLhGotx739IepnMONUKuX9DxGxg/s5556/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(53).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3709" data-original-width="5556" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCntHGc4LnRhc6h5ixH0M-Fgm7nKp1D_eA1sW2bTH0oN6YJPzR9HFuNXFnXYSNh24zq_nmxD3ookj1NO6GAOkJ9M1zgYuEq7scSaj3cSqDT-z0DGG7sFjluClbP3KOfAQwcZCMjpQSNlqQFL2YwZ4LuyuLqF0C4vPdLhGotx739IepnMONUKuX9DxGxg/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(53).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreIQ_A7Udsj-VnRWjlyreonSUU5yVOUqkccpKOwmY46Jtsksr6yG9mU2GQA-z8gqXrA4GRlZXaiPWnJz4P8r0zuQiDDhwiT1AHe4dV5RjvaP9_dJ_G-OSg07vZLHaCZ4sNIDW3AbzCsoTih4FMsTE41jH8-kJ2dyJ3y7i8LV4wjDNL1VIQ0397tYrZQ/s4032/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(55).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Esquimalt Lagoon Migratory Bird Sanctuary IBA BC." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjreIQ_A7Udsj-VnRWjlyreonSUU5yVOUqkccpKOwmY46Jtsksr6yG9mU2GQA-z8gqXrA4GRlZXaiPWnJz4P8r0zuQiDDhwiT1AHe4dV5RjvaP9_dJ_G-OSg07vZLHaCZ4sNIDW3AbzCsoTih4FMsTE41jH8-kJ2dyJ3y7i8LV4wjDNL1VIQ0397tYrZQ/w400-h300/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(55).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">In general, the
Esquimalt Bird Sanctuary is a fantastic place to see waterfowl, gulls,
shorebirds, and more.<span> </span>It was a very cold
and windy day when we visited, but we still managed to spot a few different
species. Glaucous-winged Gulls perched on the mossy rocks and played overhead
in the wind.<span> </span>A large pile of seed was
attracting a boisterous mixed flock of Mallards, Northern Pintails, Brewer’s
Blackbirds, and gulls.<span> </span>A pair of
Golden-crowned Sparrows was hopping quietly among the bright red leaves and
stems of the nearby bramble bushes, while a lone male Northern Shoveler
sheltered from the wind behind a rock at the water’s edge.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQw4ZD6g2ssByl0dSDX7dIciM_AAg9KkHL7b2BMRgpK6CMeYC-QvH9_PIyQxvsV1IadekQDNRXhKAIJSchMLnmt3AJkFBUUd4TPGOJhtgVO4GsD4bz_Ke-DQJgzzkx7MbJ1ZsV39PJYCbkPVgrVcl4ghF4E6jaexkwL238YZAo4VeFM3BFpJ-KqXUOoQ/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(59).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQw4ZD6g2ssByl0dSDX7dIciM_AAg9KkHL7b2BMRgpK6CMeYC-QvH9_PIyQxvsV1IadekQDNRXhKAIJSchMLnmt3AJkFBUUd4TPGOJhtgVO4GsD4bz_Ke-DQJgzzkx7MbJ1ZsV39PJYCbkPVgrVcl4ghF4E6jaexkwL238YZAo4VeFM3BFpJ-KqXUOoQ/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(59).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JZOO-foa3Iv9pN3Pdeaz-Y1HawVwxMMupJ7lkyfyNnyTMnePV8Rq_84wVBuIxsqn9cnoDHSSQYKnpWiSv9-kSZgGH0IqOdaNwtOehYfi86Nff4wtDhfHBfYIDYGWsgXJYTayCE8VOjM9WVEQY7XyIXryCZH_uf3158Ccf51q8lpUzCH5_C8bBWuGog/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(60).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3JZOO-foa3Iv9pN3Pdeaz-Y1HawVwxMMupJ7lkyfyNnyTMnePV8Rq_84wVBuIxsqn9cnoDHSSQYKnpWiSv9-kSZgGH0IqOdaNwtOehYfi86Nff4wtDhfHBfYIDYGWsgXJYTayCE8VOjM9WVEQY7XyIXryCZH_uf3158Ccf51q8lpUzCH5_C8bBWuGog/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(60).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQOHDaLXExzNzJ1gyOYdl-jvnW32wNkygJALGCeazJPhGSXIVGQfDN3aOSQ55eS3Mqhso7g0kJSt6aQOwv3GvgJMcTdXCRV_CdA-5bGkDWttS1j0dVp--HeIUTfxVA-TExA1MJgnBom03n2TG_KJx5SNp5TFJY8IV04oP2OAX6sLDIudQ-rUix5X2Ag/s3727/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(65).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2488" data-original-width="3727" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQOHDaLXExzNzJ1gyOYdl-jvnW32wNkygJALGCeazJPhGSXIVGQfDN3aOSQ55eS3Mqhso7g0kJSt6aQOwv3GvgJMcTdXCRV_CdA-5bGkDWttS1j0dVp--HeIUTfxVA-TExA1MJgnBom03n2TG_KJx5SNp5TFJY8IV04oP2OAX6sLDIudQ-rUix5X2Ag/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(65).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_z5HBUxUbdPCzAhBWM_0z8pgIpwsMNHT5yl3AyMZwcj3ZVCMHmaLwAF8Uo_UFJbyH2xfSfGQSiXquOUxXEXb1Pce04rAKF_M7L689HB-2nDYsYiO3HO7K5B8CRpM6L7BQJDUab-bTPylxAWaoq02dNOWY08X3W8y81UshJ6JpBdro8TkoMlgcaHHqA/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(67).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_z5HBUxUbdPCzAhBWM_0z8pgIpwsMNHT5yl3AyMZwcj3ZVCMHmaLwAF8Uo_UFJbyH2xfSfGQSiXquOUxXEXb1Pce04rAKF_M7L689HB-2nDYsYiO3HO7K5B8CRpM6L7BQJDUab-bTPylxAWaoq02dNOWY08X3W8y81UshJ6JpBdro8TkoMlgcaHHqA/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(67).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngx31QCBJoKAomUIezJfxI2oF0aw3SMozeoc8AbVsH4tKrmVOmf6QzjUP_bd54qNhjYi8eWQhy1vI0FLhtNYL2XYFh-KLlbdfP03EJpOooa1iG8a5pODvqaI3FuBkDp9dlzO5RMYeky5CgKjKhpLkbiwNtF63IcyMYA5U4Xg5EUDHoeUlJgx4uAsAvA/s3433/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(68).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2291" data-original-width="3433" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjngx31QCBJoKAomUIezJfxI2oF0aw3SMozeoc8AbVsH4tKrmVOmf6QzjUP_bd54qNhjYi8eWQhy1vI0FLhtNYL2XYFh-KLlbdfP03EJpOooa1iG8a5pODvqaI3FuBkDp9dlzO5RMYeky5CgKjKhpLkbiwNtF63IcyMYA5U4Xg5EUDHoeUlJgx4uAsAvA/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(68).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwrNedYSFeXEy8lOnRCBxW1o5mwGlagqbK-aONiN_4tDTTe47bgx68hbbAYHCvqUeHoQWydmcqIsdwAtsQd5qgIGjuMKRFthJEPqq-KM-5ne5oWIBnuwLyXW3s2P-3siIdV0KyFjPC_QcQGoAR_ST6M-jL_DhapUPl1CgO0nPSL9viaBUoPJX9VRREg/s3787/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(69).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2529" data-original-width="3787" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwrNedYSFeXEy8lOnRCBxW1o5mwGlagqbK-aONiN_4tDTTe47bgx68hbbAYHCvqUeHoQWydmcqIsdwAtsQd5qgIGjuMKRFthJEPqq-KM-5ne5oWIBnuwLyXW3s2P-3siIdV0KyFjPC_QcQGoAR_ST6M-jL_DhapUPl1CgO0nPSL9viaBUoPJX9VRREg/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(69).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Apparently the Shoveler was an unusual
visitor in the lagoon, and as a result it was the object of much attention from
locals.<span> </span>We heard the rough, raucous
calls of a Belted Kingfisher somewhere out over the lagoon, and overhead a Bald
Eagle majestically soared.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbgWG22QIbdYx-oJ-MhgZP1GmWxPtw_riioRjCLJtmxlV2f1hPwXHCuQKurXzko5EKURJmL8_7T_slTNlS0JLTmCurgLLYW7EqUxv-yxZMpu2lDvQuFvcSB_3AJCcjNnJO5nNUS8rdKrH7xkt3GG82PsmYdbSk6azCO-WB9NDgb8W3In48oSjufe04Q/s4780/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(57).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3191" data-original-width="4780" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhbgWG22QIbdYx-oJ-MhgZP1GmWxPtw_riioRjCLJtmxlV2f1hPwXHCuQKurXzko5EKURJmL8_7T_slTNlS0JLTmCurgLLYW7EqUxv-yxZMpu2lDvQuFvcSB_3AJCcjNnJO5nNUS8rdKrH7xkt3GG82PsmYdbSk6azCO-WB9NDgb8W3In48oSjufe04Q/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(57).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAapf_N7c36MxcGro4E6YlB2bBuIwuFCw0mIsRnAGrQB94aQpcgW_lcgwkk_6MpaTXvNmiRLNWtThtlwJTO_QRjBGVU3SsN5icnuC551A7gGD6glxTl5-UsSr8-qdxoOR54v0FNEeinZppIufDsc4_NQrhffPV4LX5KWyn0ttzwohSWAMbCBu0qRyvA/s5785/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(62).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5785" data-original-width="3861" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivAapf_N7c36MxcGro4E6YlB2bBuIwuFCw0mIsRnAGrQB94aQpcgW_lcgwkk_6MpaTXvNmiRLNWtThtlwJTO_QRjBGVU3SsN5icnuC551A7gGD6glxTl5-UsSr8-qdxoOR54v0FNEeinZppIufDsc4_NQrhffPV4LX5KWyn0ttzwohSWAMbCBu0qRyvA/w268-h400/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(62).JPG" width="268" /></a></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We spent quite
some time enjoying the lagoon, but eventually the cold wind prompted us to seek
the relative shelter of the trail.<span>
</span>Rather fittingly fora #Hike4Birds, the final kilometres of the Trans
Canada Trail into Victoria, BC were along <a href="https://www.gallopinggoosetrail.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>the
Galloping Goose Trail</b>.</a> <span> </span>In reality, the
rail trail wasn’t named after a bird. Instead, it was named after an unusual
gasoline powered railway car that transported mail and passengers between Sooke
and Victoria twice daily during the 1920s.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSa7-xfdJRr6hF9XjHCGqvEaBlzMMLQ1PhPBsINz_xH93CMXxvPhVHRQbEqRQR98IZYt2gw8JoVpklJ2fS5xbIvrOC5_BeYLQeGbtKjQZAMM5TwL9B5-VquiMUd7IX-GYELvSw3C3mNH5c4WAkEOvBIuDY6UeqI4Qa_dwV7VulEuabAmlVOEtaMaUW4A/s4841/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(26).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3232" data-original-width="4841" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSa7-xfdJRr6hF9XjHCGqvEaBlzMMLQ1PhPBsINz_xH93CMXxvPhVHRQbEqRQR98IZYt2gw8JoVpklJ2fS5xbIvrOC5_BeYLQeGbtKjQZAMM5TwL9B5-VquiMUd7IX-GYELvSw3C3mNH5c4WAkEOvBIuDY6UeqI4Qa_dwV7VulEuabAmlVOEtaMaUW4A/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(26).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY56b2hhl-cKEj_SYw1WCdljqTGY5p30VyINJJPg5V3DnpV4ikXcpk_-vnmy0IC1Yq4e3KxJxdpoP50gGWejMkwvJeHOb6toOKt4tBXxqZxGfUjDGvKS1C_p9Uk8emsC-TslFVWeTRGTxtwfgg0kwr_n1lm_2iN8uIwbTwAATqTTzAgCFoFY2vecYPLw/s3383/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(72).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Galloping Goose Trail Victoria British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="2259" data-original-width="3383" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY56b2hhl-cKEj_SYw1WCdljqTGY5p30VyINJJPg5V3DnpV4ikXcpk_-vnmy0IC1Yq4e3KxJxdpoP50gGWejMkwvJeHOb6toOKt4tBXxqZxGfUjDGvKS1C_p9Uk8emsC-TslFVWeTRGTxtwfgg0kwr_n1lm_2iN8uIwbTwAATqTTzAgCFoFY2vecYPLw/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(72).JPG" width="400" /></a></div> <br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Today, the rail
trail is a flat, paved, trail suitable for cycling, inline skating, jogging,
walking, and hiking.<span> </span>Apparently, it can
become quite busy during peak commuting hours, when many people from the
surrounding neighbourhoods make their way to school and work, but by late
morning we encountered only a few other people cycling and walking.<span> </span>Several fellow hikers stopped to chat and ask
about our large packs, and many had just heard about <a href="https://rcgs.org/between-sunsets-a-womans-solo-venture-across-canada/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Mel Vogel</b> </a>recently finishing the trail (just a few days ahead of
us).<span> </span>This prompted several to ask just
how many people were out walking this trail, as three suddenly must have seemed
like a crowd.<span> </span>Although we've spoken with
several people who have plans to head out in the coming year, we assured them
that the only coast-to-coasters we know of on the trail this year were Mel,
ourselves, and Bonnie Thornbury.<span> </span>Not too
crowded for a 28,000 km long trail!<span>
</span>Beyond this small group no one else is presently hiking the Great Trail
from coast to coast to coast.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQNSzcQnuYZyQDekBcN6gk7aQ-qOCoDSSQbTpaslwEUnzMqa-Po23Gq8b6_1ZRe7qKmZSQ2r_PgYmoYAcD3by1OQ4zU0lrG7Fc6OTseNmDpGPlZ7dTKC_shky9p4-AjZp_PXgBGbMcmWs8A7wsVk-6sWzPuHWIuSGmy-PjUDMgqYjzgJsTSTJFzlADg/s5438/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(73).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Galloping Goose Victoria." border="0" data-original-height="3631" data-original-width="5438" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQNSzcQnuYZyQDekBcN6gk7aQ-qOCoDSSQbTpaslwEUnzMqa-Po23Gq8b6_1ZRe7qKmZSQ2r_PgYmoYAcD3by1OQ4zU0lrG7Fc6OTseNmDpGPlZ7dTKC_shky9p4-AjZp_PXgBGbMcmWs8A7wsVk-6sWzPuHWIuSGmy-PjUDMgqYjzgJsTSTJFzlADg/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(73).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BOh6W-z3y4RF-kMwQLVdOZGTt-jLIYy5N4vU15o2sDBQyjjFz7agjM5LuAHfbnnPabP029tX1_HyWvRTk6Db0Rr4Hfk5E2ZBm78qo762vz9wSL77pjeioHpl17aGmJz1MhDhUzpDyHsMEUX7M-T_jlM8b4QEyjEMmYFg2TokvhfKPyVZLjI4VnPc9w/s5753/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(76).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Great Trail boardwalk BC." border="0" data-original-height="3841" data-original-width="5753" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BOh6W-z3y4RF-kMwQLVdOZGTt-jLIYy5N4vU15o2sDBQyjjFz7agjM5LuAHfbnnPabP029tX1_HyWvRTk6Db0Rr4Hfk5E2ZBm78qo762vz9wSL77pjeioHpl17aGmJz1MhDhUzpDyHsMEUX7M-T_jlM8b4QEyjEMmYFg2TokvhfKPyVZLjI4VnPc9w/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(76).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_xGTI-6i8MqWG9Jsj0X_wqu8gFGTUL0ZuS1CxbPiVqMuC7953vhV631QbJms0G5Kee55j-oUoMH719lzeFtoRFAjmwLeM6dopKoWb5hrS0yszLFOcSjJXHpa-mdtMsPk9qTJuPNXdKIa6tnE03XBv1sCtFdKIQ-gjy6ZcWmbsOS0Wu0e5MSbs7xgDw/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(77).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_xGTI-6i8MqWG9Jsj0X_wqu8gFGTUL0ZuS1CxbPiVqMuC7953vhV631QbJms0G5Kee55j-oUoMH719lzeFtoRFAjmwLeM6dopKoWb5hrS0yszLFOcSjJXHpa-mdtMsPk9qTJuPNXdKIa6tnE03XBv1sCtFdKIQ-gjy6ZcWmbsOS0Wu0e5MSbs7xgDw/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(77).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseAKMZK1qO_U5W0Ot4S-RgPJsaVNdQ62tltGiAHbWOkoQ7I5o0dsBtLs6Uuq-UH6Mi5VqMxee6FtyqkWUZvm99UcfnxQ11IaU_rXl8gW4UI8q_qmcHUVLr2xRMmqTb4JRBJPXaQ426LuhnNmlDVsbBgn9g5yzqjz3xiybk9iJK2K-0ZaKc87-AO3wSQ/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(80).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiseAKMZK1qO_U5W0Ot4S-RgPJsaVNdQ62tltGiAHbWOkoQ7I5o0dsBtLs6Uuq-UH6Mi5VqMxee6FtyqkWUZvm99UcfnxQ11IaU_rXl8gW4UI8q_qmcHUVLr2xRMmqTb4JRBJPXaQ426LuhnNmlDVsbBgn9g5yzqjz3xiybk9iJK2K-0ZaKc87-AO3wSQ/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(80).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As we approached
downtown Victoria, we made our way through green spaces, and along the edge of
modern subdivisions.<span> </span>Much of the time
the trail roughly paralleled the Trans Canada Highway.<span> </span>As the sun came out and began to warm the day
we were very grateful to approach the city on such a nice trail, well separated
from the traffic.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXCe9HvtW3tE4io5D7uewBKFYR31TysujhCIT5QXAIoSPyUEzXBVRau7ZjMcHgkMLWxJ3YnFQL5qzqYReiVpiTD2jSlxPSXhWDLAhyMip9Mn18d9obLysoYnABJwYKNXWgQV9OZFPEzlmLOdxKckazYOcGOl_j3dN_SumgycEciLclzLiZRkGq5Jblg/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(82).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Great Trail Victoria British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGXCe9HvtW3tE4io5D7uewBKFYR31TysujhCIT5QXAIoSPyUEzXBVRau7ZjMcHgkMLWxJ3YnFQL5qzqYReiVpiTD2jSlxPSXhWDLAhyMip9Mn18d9obLysoYnABJwYKNXWgQV9OZFPEzlmLOdxKckazYOcGOl_j3dN_SumgycEciLclzLiZRkGq5Jblg/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(82).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9r8j_TZ3EOtXGmYXqHkqEbPYnhSJkvupXWHCy9WxKq6CRmxlJufPqg8gjywzhunI9Fu6XVFeUulNT9YYglbs-_awOuONIVYdr7wcTMgu8IVwgyILRWeKRR0i_PmenHJE4tXB3Issk8a-W-DQAW2unuOcEovfXavRFRXPA9j2C0Wo9ZzkahWckWWiJFQ/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(83).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Hike Blog British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9r8j_TZ3EOtXGmYXqHkqEbPYnhSJkvupXWHCy9WxKq6CRmxlJufPqg8gjywzhunI9Fu6XVFeUulNT9YYglbs-_awOuONIVYdr7wcTMgu8IVwgyILRWeKRR0i_PmenHJE4tXB3Issk8a-W-DQAW2unuOcEovfXavRFRXPA9j2C0Wo9ZzkahWckWWiJFQ/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(83).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOitscC6QOnBx1wURdBbE6ANXG3mOqn6mqwSlmbwK3PXQFKesXgi2i8n0v8j2IK9_eItHyhj3ih0XOU1CjHA2aUsGBPeLQt6x53q0UeLYZcvmBBaMKizwtmfq78hlTgM5UzKglHsyTusoPUsa_5w57tJKdxpSRd7FW-WtoTJbi_8n_f90eHDc4ymB-w/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(86).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TCT hiking trail British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHOitscC6QOnBx1wURdBbE6ANXG3mOqn6mqwSlmbwK3PXQFKesXgi2i8n0v8j2IK9_eItHyhj3ih0XOU1CjHA2aUsGBPeLQt6x53q0UeLYZcvmBBaMKizwtmfq78hlTgM5UzKglHsyTusoPUsa_5w57tJKdxpSRd7FW-WtoTJbi_8n_f90eHDc4ymB-w/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(86).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAI3e58vf7XSnIOYZw20oVZmODLpbbpqXy_Yp03QrtIGok0pyERS1wr-E1B2_Hyt_zy_PPFK0uaVZ8XJe8DB8MmUpuEykqjV35drJOn5E1DYF6BKuwjsSLMSArN1-yNZH3Yywmhj5InMsDun9pdkq63Asp5c91559No-TyzrCtLihCiR_z3SaMYUAyPg/s5863/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(90).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3915" data-original-width="5863" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAI3e58vf7XSnIOYZw20oVZmODLpbbpqXy_Yp03QrtIGok0pyERS1wr-E1B2_Hyt_zy_PPFK0uaVZ8XJe8DB8MmUpuEykqjV35drJOn5E1DYF6BKuwjsSLMSArN1-yNZH3Yywmhj5InMsDun9pdkq63Asp5c91559No-TyzrCtLihCiR_z3SaMYUAyPg/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(90).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We made our way over
wooden trestle bridges and between mossy and treed embankments, soon
discovering that we were walking on part of a network of trails.<span> </span>The Galloping Goose Trail mostly followed the
old Canadian National Railway, while the <b><a href="https://visitorinvictoria.ca/en-rail-trail-victoria-bc-biking/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">E&N
Rail Trail</a></b> followed the abandoned line of the same name.<span> </span>Together these two partially overlapping
routes offer over 100 km of trails in the Greater Victoria Area.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Sy8kKw3NgqlKewCvc-rsuVIFrIA5brlILIDNgbW-sPIe8YViy21wktul88okBkqUjMADym2nq5nTdPZrg2-xjHDpKIbtQcqthvUzSDmxCm7iam7gGcOH5Q4qnDsDtAsDRzeZ0EynvcN4GQpbViYsr8VoIIfT2Dh_A9b7NCJsTOAV7UhFouZ7eQ0ITA/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(93).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Sy8kKw3NgqlKewCvc-rsuVIFrIA5brlILIDNgbW-sPIe8YViy21wktul88okBkqUjMADym2nq5nTdPZrg2-xjHDpKIbtQcqthvUzSDmxCm7iam7gGcOH5Q4qnDsDtAsDRzeZ0EynvcN4GQpbViYsr8VoIIfT2Dh_A9b7NCJsTOAV7UhFouZ7eQ0ITA/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(93).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXitlCZkPw8yqykD63R7Z7Cpf1joecGp4fzJJAOM3wsiUfuJeCKlR9jVGtn8zZHwd1wDl2keRBy5Jynhc9ba3VmxT8AdiwkM1bWrYgvSNeOIziNkKyDk2kZx_sWrINFXMTlg3CDRzK3OIyyNkIKPQp8gvz3DnEsZSe4KsYqUOlPdSfITxBfd1muPCZKg/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(94).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXitlCZkPw8yqykD63R7Z7Cpf1joecGp4fzJJAOM3wsiUfuJeCKlR9jVGtn8zZHwd1wDl2keRBy5Jynhc9ba3VmxT8AdiwkM1bWrYgvSNeOIziNkKyDk2kZx_sWrINFXMTlg3CDRzK3OIyyNkIKPQp8gvz3DnEsZSe4KsYqUOlPdSfITxBfd1muPCZKg/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(94).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsH5t5oB5k2eQgMrAw59n1upCyoMT2zohRt_NyuLQld_CcbjOaWfeBC571T2EjDcv_xv28kqR8Nkv_8oVtKAm7EPHFk88upTwrqeAQb0JESDpJ92jz1VIxEPKOA8p0WcdyHSVU5ZiLln7B9QfpmWfXR2JYoFium6HReXF5z_8KZVqjfrAZMxbGLRplw/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(99).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsH5t5oB5k2eQgMrAw59n1upCyoMT2zohRt_NyuLQld_CcbjOaWfeBC571T2EjDcv_xv28kqR8Nkv_8oVtKAm7EPHFk88upTwrqeAQb0JESDpJ92jz1VIxEPKOA8p0WcdyHSVU5ZiLln7B9QfpmWfXR2JYoFium6HReXF5z_8KZVqjfrAZMxbGLRplw/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(99).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As we began to
approach the outskirts of Victoria we enjoyed some beautiful views across the harbour.<span> </span>Treed neighbourhoods were reflected in the
mirror-like water in front of a backdrop of snow covered mountain peaks.<span> </span>To our delight, the sky was beginning to
clear as well, with patches of blue promising a beautiful afternoon.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aFDjH2M79khOm73mELbbW4IHuR_lHXxQSVT0tCY2jN8n6QX0IQIa0liifZ8QKUOkfMCI0VXODZcSuygIgPPnUVQwlQT7sIYf1WmA-Bnck0smB60lfzB1iIxFUtmBGxHhqLVsPBxMrT5RWrt5Gq30SVvubIdxIxZWi0kELVbaBuLQWl_-2SWJs-keXA/s5345/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(100).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3568" data-original-width="5345" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_aFDjH2M79khOm73mELbbW4IHuR_lHXxQSVT0tCY2jN8n6QX0IQIa0liifZ8QKUOkfMCI0VXODZcSuygIgPPnUVQwlQT7sIYf1WmA-Bnck0smB60lfzB1iIxFUtmBGxHhqLVsPBxMrT5RWrt5Gq30SVvubIdxIxZWi0kELVbaBuLQWl_-2SWJs-keXA/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(100).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTek24R57kPKH5GxTbWNGXK5zZt3LpnfLFRom1JPDkgpdgQRwNtes376_CZMcBFPT9nB6A_z4nY806L2lHKOONJ9wiQmt8-ig2TR0rEfR5d2Fe2lfzRsxak02hguRGJdjfQ9xwWSkRvuLBjsktJe9W_47F27RoM6kbo9JoJh9_uKRCH8wXPWdYXhJrWw/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(101).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTek24R57kPKH5GxTbWNGXK5zZt3LpnfLFRom1JPDkgpdgQRwNtes376_CZMcBFPT9nB6A_z4nY806L2lHKOONJ9wiQmt8-ig2TR0rEfR5d2Fe2lfzRsxak02hguRGJdjfQ9xwWSkRvuLBjsktJe9W_47F27RoM6kbo9JoJh9_uKRCH8wXPWdYXhJrWw/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(101).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mKlQU0QPqkjOLV0Ip8qHqSJ8RsXdGv7vuXxrINk2CvBjxxPgSUOv5inOojFGhXB4Fd2QrtCu9zO9uDFAxUs1Hmd15caAQH4q2ofvXEcyE0Hg6Nd_TGwJzaEjvok__jPBf85H7WX87XQRAWoVeUvmX6HTXiXNURl8MBG0Fk_zq698Yq2eGkeYCKlm5w/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(102).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="British Columbia Indigenous Art Trans Canada Trail." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mKlQU0QPqkjOLV0Ip8qHqSJ8RsXdGv7vuXxrINk2CvBjxxPgSUOv5inOojFGhXB4Fd2QrtCu9zO9uDFAxUs1Hmd15caAQH4q2ofvXEcyE0Hg6Nd_TGwJzaEjvok__jPBf85H7WX87XQRAWoVeUvmX6HTXiXNURl8MBG0Fk_zq698Yq2eGkeYCKlm5w/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(102).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UFfP0Q6y2gYOoO8JE6L6U1eAfl2ruY4q07rfw6B9FLscv-JHHZOKX1SHX0TlKQ--u6xh1AdBRo6A-Nfu5SaPXMPFvh4KihSl3-eYo2m0UiUNHYWP25G00jM23w4d4jd3uXKVLnfmarUNI_cLh-n3nk8oplWXjNaF1cUXPO8y5Cmxh6BvoRPauuwO0A/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(103).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8UFfP0Q6y2gYOoO8JE6L6U1eAfl2ruY4q07rfw6B9FLscv-JHHZOKX1SHX0TlKQ--u6xh1AdBRo6A-Nfu5SaPXMPFvh4KihSl3-eYo2m0UiUNHYWP25G00jM23w4d4jd3uXKVLnfmarUNI_cLh-n3nk8oplWXjNaF1cUXPO8y5Cmxh6BvoRPauuwO0A/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(103).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We paused for a
few minutes to take in a colourful trail-side mural called ‘Ascension.’ It was
created by a group of seven First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth to reflect
their relationship with reconciliation.<span> </span>The
images were representative of the artists’ ancestors, and interestingly included
many different representations of birds.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LM6v4A4zSjJD0OQRwCQzKBAJ2fQCQddNbHV-_lOxfNgYpdDxPDeLZZuGRH7qI3dn1blBWJTsZnIe23uKacpF8psNruMVsABZs61SfyFiGPrWnMke92E7_R2N2hz5OKRUKp7VOOr_TyC91c8_srz5utC1w56iSjUlGGzH4aoTy-kluEFFHSJlzOYCjA/s3292/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(104).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Galloping Goose Trans Canada Trail BC." border="0" data-original-height="3292" data-original-width="2198" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LM6v4A4zSjJD0OQRwCQzKBAJ2fQCQddNbHV-_lOxfNgYpdDxPDeLZZuGRH7qI3dn1blBWJTsZnIe23uKacpF8psNruMVsABZs61SfyFiGPrWnMke92E7_R2N2hz5OKRUKp7VOOr_TyC91c8_srz5utC1w56iSjUlGGzH4aoTy-kluEFFHSJlzOYCjA/w268-h400/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(104).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXOoBNIS-83vzNZ2Vo9DSycWu7ZGlOuc4--pcRFk4Wp3UTRXPnL_b2kQ9v4V3nK-wXVkSYWZ0MSwyqeZ5R0b0DZfgwQtPvAmTjdSe_8hEJAVWLWvYCf0at0MtjBkqMwBohouKZvGXpAQMMaVC72YvUnnbLoR49T36J-fFoU2bNnIc0PeYetT3ZuVgNA/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(107).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOXOoBNIS-83vzNZ2Vo9DSycWu7ZGlOuc4--pcRFk4Wp3UTRXPnL_b2kQ9v4V3nK-wXVkSYWZ0MSwyqeZ5R0b0DZfgwQtPvAmTjdSe_8hEJAVWLWvYCf0at0MtjBkqMwBohouKZvGXpAQMMaVC72YvUnnbLoR49T36J-fFoU2bNnIc0PeYetT3ZuVgNA/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(107).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9MpPIC9JEoUPfmLv_Ek2rh2x08bnHiHssT45TSOG_0SoUn-Bvtz-D9iYySh9JbF-fnuUJHeMnV0vgeLMttLbdMdJoMFv4HYpixxl6TEkoNfX9r-cyLokNrIx7J9LlGf13lKa2Ks5ET-FQrXC-ML_pGI154akcVgYfgTaPzsXmOz6nsjw-QFAmqgv3g/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(108).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY9MpPIC9JEoUPfmLv_Ek2rh2x08bnHiHssT45TSOG_0SoUn-Bvtz-D9iYySh9JbF-fnuUJHeMnV0vgeLMttLbdMdJoMFv4HYpixxl6TEkoNfX9r-cyLokNrIx7J9LlGf13lKa2Ks5ET-FQrXC-ML_pGI154akcVgYfgTaPzsXmOz6nsjw-QFAmqgv3g/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(108).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKIUQVkCNLoeTDxrABbv1E_AH8BHMqMtl_N0QcxBT3O4boR3KPlSHu1l9gjbLUra1iCN_slps2xb1tzu8uyF_ZBFd7RkPCbvd23EuWzzpEQrzlzKYy0qcgSUCKiK-brE8ArPJBSrDRiqjn4jgeQCahYz8Yt5agUKkNlsVjbkk3o6y3JM64kUOV7-BJg/s5847/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(109).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3903" data-original-width="5847" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKIUQVkCNLoeTDxrABbv1E_AH8BHMqMtl_N0QcxBT3O4boR3KPlSHu1l9gjbLUra1iCN_slps2xb1tzu8uyF_ZBFd7RkPCbvd23EuWzzpEQrzlzKYy0qcgSUCKiK-brE8ArPJBSrDRiqjn4jgeQCahYz8Yt5agUKkNlsVjbkk3o6y3JM64kUOV7-BJg/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(109).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNHMOU6SJwvgAKCWKcr6hYyTxRTksPysJ_sf2ZFEVcDf3e2AeHZK7VARTQrqzsr76rFvHx-M7c2G1vn4fjO7k-3GcBOwwyAl9i8DmWL3JgkqniPYclLxUtFfH-X0XdUM-IIA2jV4xSTIsc5SBuy55FxDV7tBq8MBzf2OVkdDjOFPNC05aNOAgsfx7Ew/s5491/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(110).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3665" data-original-width="5491" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZNHMOU6SJwvgAKCWKcr6hYyTxRTksPysJ_sf2ZFEVcDf3e2AeHZK7VARTQrqzsr76rFvHx-M7c2G1vn4fjO7k-3GcBOwwyAl9i8DmWL3JgkqniPYclLxUtFfH-X0XdUM-IIA2jV4xSTIsc5SBuy55FxDV7tBq8MBzf2OVkdDjOFPNC05aNOAgsfx7Ew/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(110).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As we got closer to
Victoria trail traffic began to pick up, with many people out walking, jogging,
and making their way along the paved and accessible trail in electric
wheelchairs.<span> </span>Trail art became more
prevalent, and we passed under a rounded bridge with a large mural painted on
the underside which was clearly inspired by Michelangelo’s ‘Hands of God and
Adam.'</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fGq7Uuas2DKMyNxZmQsNmnRmRo2-G1gSzGrUM1r0MieT7lS5GEVSXzs7jkaPNJbqH4d2HTGipMTQf-FL4CFR5Bk7IRBsN1FCh3Yx8LuzF3kA5wFmpzdTv2XpDDbAtX05P8GzBVhsaVDv3lbYSQOnElAIGVYKZxz0nEm_wSj-VM4j4KxeV9tTfHFv9A/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(111).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fGq7Uuas2DKMyNxZmQsNmnRmRo2-G1gSzGrUM1r0MieT7lS5GEVSXzs7jkaPNJbqH4d2HTGipMTQf-FL4CFR5Bk7IRBsN1FCh3Yx8LuzF3kA5wFmpzdTv2XpDDbAtX05P8GzBVhsaVDv3lbYSQOnElAIGVYKZxz0nEm_wSj-VM4j4KxeV9tTfHFv9A/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(111).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKbWB_MeBdchh707QgA8yH_w8ypa5N7NeEziLcuS8VwT2IMVmMr4PkCN4nwQcHTOfMHgj44chYKPL6kIbj1SUtiY7bPjaHRvv-ckdXZbZwbceDr64KSJUQzlssp1y2ycRVL3EMtt_iJS7zZfXEPkCYsdhgN5Yz-gqI6GW3P8p0zG5MyR8KqcS8fYb-w/s5369/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(113).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3584" data-original-width="5369" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKbWB_MeBdchh707QgA8yH_w8ypa5N7NeEziLcuS8VwT2IMVmMr4PkCN4nwQcHTOfMHgj44chYKPL6kIbj1SUtiY7bPjaHRvv-ckdXZbZwbceDr64KSJUQzlssp1y2ycRVL3EMtt_iJS7zZfXEPkCYsdhgN5Yz-gqI6GW3P8p0zG5MyR8KqcS8fYb-w/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(113).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO63h6u649A8nd5zIeCyNLO_7ZpLK3aTjtPL8YJvCDsVFF9d5j9fAv0CAwPcZLpgrCrYN3p6EndaJjchz4r015JwzqeSdnAtePG-22t2YHG4svb9gyQC2jbprWQKpC1p_CVAwodl_dhaIXq5C7_dU9TYCg7eDCFgBtbW8HRog7GbsMgglv6bhblFIjvg/s3962/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(114).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="3962" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO63h6u649A8nd5zIeCyNLO_7ZpLK3aTjtPL8YJvCDsVFF9d5j9fAv0CAwPcZLpgrCrYN3p6EndaJjchz4r015JwzqeSdnAtePG-22t2YHG4svb9gyQC2jbprWQKpC1p_CVAwodl_dhaIXq5C7_dU9TYCg7eDCFgBtbW8HRog7GbsMgglv6bhblFIjvg/w640-h178/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(114).jpg" width="640" /></a></div></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Our excitement
began to grow as we crossed the Selkirk Trestle, a long, curving, wooden pedestrian
bridge that spanned the inner Victoria Harbour.<span>
</span>We could see the homes, condos, and buildings of downtown Victoria
lining the waterway on all sides. It felt and sounded like we had finally
reached the last city on our westward trek.<span>
</span>We took a few moments to stop and scan for birds on the water, but
didn't spot any.<span> </span>Perhaps it was the
growing excitement of finally, finally reaching our destination that robbed us
of the patience to look for birds, and instead made us quicken our pace.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wxMm8m6NKoT8nkz4ARrWWQ4pf4mAYYiTtBGupWPc1DS62EXZvBIGAcyPmbV1VM-OUhB0S9J4fahyLYlp5tyErq6zX3o3JJ-twGtaF42Dbxdy1ynsi6XXqsZiK3xXO3SnzomUKdIyBYG_coJ_JR2Sqs6s0utdZu43U3-zIMzcxIhJ2i4QG3mHjIux1A/s4851/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(115).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3238" data-original-width="4851" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5wxMm8m6NKoT8nkz4ARrWWQ4pf4mAYYiTtBGupWPc1DS62EXZvBIGAcyPmbV1VM-OUhB0S9J4fahyLYlp5tyErq6zX3o3JJ-twGtaF42Dbxdy1ynsi6XXqsZiK3xXO3SnzomUKdIyBYG_coJ_JR2Sqs6s0utdZu43U3-zIMzcxIhJ2i4QG3mHjIux1A/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(115).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L492AvO3_hX0MHJ4jIQl1_6rtM25VbaJjHV5tKdEV7IjNbKfV7aVW5MS4gBGZsFUPPjvA4mF4yK_81y3vVHpOvMgitIsSWHxdorya01FcQhh0v5FJbXCd6TE4W6anLc0GTcF4msYBWzRftrHNx-audg10rH6Hais7_olynV32B53D1E8fZOXzSiEsA/s3401/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(116).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2270" data-original-width="3401" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9L492AvO3_hX0MHJ4jIQl1_6rtM25VbaJjHV5tKdEV7IjNbKfV7aVW5MS4gBGZsFUPPjvA4mF4yK_81y3vVHpOvMgitIsSWHxdorya01FcQhh0v5FJbXCd6TE4W6anLc0GTcF4msYBWzRftrHNx-audg10rH6Hais7_olynV32B53D1E8fZOXzSiEsA/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(116).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbI8mLf6-9h07-JRZnFTIiXPffcQFMQu0xOCCupFof0tihjAh1YBjPV_ychkh2Bn1gFyveWdY7c6DAkaazWNRyLrkzwtdFNjKRx053QFEILhPciCAkWLZWPUDFCSi95iO-6fNhkc3VPENY7tCM72KkyIoPExLuQt6NcE95ZGk_BxF7GAkSk0iCOCdt5Q/s2477/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(117).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1654" data-original-width="2477" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbI8mLf6-9h07-JRZnFTIiXPffcQFMQu0xOCCupFof0tihjAh1YBjPV_ychkh2Bn1gFyveWdY7c6DAkaazWNRyLrkzwtdFNjKRx053QFEILhPciCAkWLZWPUDFCSi95iO-6fNhkc3VPENY7tCM72KkyIoPExLuQt6NcE95ZGk_BxF7GAkSk0iCOCdt5Q/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(117).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">When we reached
the end of the long curving trestle bridge we came to the final Trans Canada
Trail pavilion we will encounter on this east-west trek.<span> </span>We have stopped at every single one of these we’ve
come to, and watched as slowly, so very slowly, the yellow circle marking our
current location has moved from one side of the continent to the other.<span> </span>It seemed like a lifetime ago that we stood at
the ‘Mile Zero’ marker in St. John’s, Newfoundland, with the entire adventure
still ahead, and the story as yet unwritten.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqjdmZBFbfASQgAUjOCogTQfGay1ZfvgtZzqI7gdLA7WxXiWwMImUWqZGUC7ueBcYpeQX5z8X1fVzD4eW74I6OKAt2qBOJaA9SwOGtdYwpH3uvaULcKitrbXqUlmbe0d0ORrZhzqMP4LmHrUwJ_JaagjBAbMyGK4pCJDZLd5higOd5YklWwz6tZtUPQ/s3553/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(118).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Come Walk With Us Victoria TCT BC." border="0" data-original-height="2665" data-original-width="3553" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvqjdmZBFbfASQgAUjOCogTQfGay1ZfvgtZzqI7gdLA7WxXiWwMImUWqZGUC7ueBcYpeQX5z8X1fVzD4eW74I6OKAt2qBOJaA9SwOGtdYwpH3uvaULcKitrbXqUlmbe0d0ORrZhzqMP4LmHrUwJ_JaagjBAbMyGK4pCJDZLd5higOd5YklWwz6tZtUPQ/w400-h300/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(118).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCIyozlNTfDGICI-CK5poYT-lSx7vrdup0djkyCk_XAbL5sdOF5mHrhdnVf9bbQ1dR7ev0YjiLbGRXx3QOztLW2ozuJxB8OOidwz8X1Ql2aj5pL11xjs960XwJ8CQY23SixFoIBvlomm2ye13-y7iavCOPaz4PRD5ltesxKbUaWz9ur6oAxCeveADaA/s4666/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(119).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2334" data-original-width="4666" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUCIyozlNTfDGICI-CK5poYT-lSx7vrdup0djkyCk_XAbL5sdOF5mHrhdnVf9bbQ1dR7ev0YjiLbGRXx3QOztLW2ozuJxB8OOidwz8X1Ql2aj5pL11xjs960XwJ8CQY23SixFoIBvlomm2ye13-y7iavCOPaz4PRD5ltesxKbUaWz9ur6oAxCeveADaA/w640-h320/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(119).JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We often take a
moment to read the inscriptions that the generous trail donors and supporters
have contributed to these pavilions.<span> </span>One
of these stood out to us today, which was left in loving memory of Wialong Dukszta.<span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>“May those who
walk this path,</b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>follow in the
footsteps of Witold’s wonder</b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>and love for life
and his respect for nature. </b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>May we forever hear
his voice in the wind,</b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>see his beauty in
the trees and flowers</b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>and feel his
spirit deep within our hearts. </b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><b> </b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Thank you,
Witold, for our living, loving memories.</b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Bless you
forever.<span> </span>Shine on bright star.”</b></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Thank you indeed
to Witold, his family, and the thousands of others across Canada who helped
build this trail.<span> </span>Thank you for the
living, loving, memories!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxCixFQrD_CQ26fD9IMmguWYRbczh4dDFb7N0B7Qm0cClI5BmeF87-NFa6PNKaT-yQWXwqyMKzjmhx_tTDsGQrsBnuycy8_UA3ykZMWnftUjAeW2Oej8FoS8SRWvH7p-K_H9ONN_fu-t54d7huRFDd_wBJsySY3boLEd273f1hooWGzGVNN6mbL6IWA/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(121).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxCixFQrD_CQ26fD9IMmguWYRbczh4dDFb7N0B7Qm0cClI5BmeF87-NFa6PNKaT-yQWXwqyMKzjmhx_tTDsGQrsBnuycy8_UA3ykZMWnftUjAeW2Oej8FoS8SRWvH7p-K_H9ONN_fu-t54d7huRFDd_wBJsySY3boLEd273f1hooWGzGVNN6mbL6IWA/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(121).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_N5ToTUtP9M2ZxdWoOO1TbrUXJ3bbjk5EX-02TmeC7ld5hzhLoczpaRnE3_DZICNlQVuc47utL_RtnjI8SJ2u26ZJGcwpVdt85hoPfF0Z7WRnLkQacKCApanoqYs_sr2Jam5corhhqUcJ7usktd-SoY2dnpTH4cD0N0Yxen7D4zKnluTilMKkFGzM5Q/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(124).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_N5ToTUtP9M2ZxdWoOO1TbrUXJ3bbjk5EX-02TmeC7ld5hzhLoczpaRnE3_DZICNlQVuc47utL_RtnjI8SJ2u26ZJGcwpVdt85hoPfF0Z7WRnLkQacKCApanoqYs_sr2Jam5corhhqUcJ7usktd-SoY2dnpTH4cD0N0Yxen7D4zKnluTilMKkFGzM5Q/w268-h400/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(124).JPG" width="268" /></a></div></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">From the
pavilion, the trail took us along the shoreline of the harbour, which was
bordered by colourful, high end condo buildings.<span> </span>As we walked, we noticed small wooden
boardwalks along the shoreline that served as stops for the Victoria Harbour
Ferry. A small fleet of pickle boats was zipping back and forth across the
harbour, some painted with the distinctive yellow and black checks of New York
City cabs.<span> </span>It seems the harbour ferry
system functions as a water taxi and bus system, as well as offering tours of
varying lengths to visitors.<span> </span>Although it
looked intriguing, we continued down our land trail.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZ54QAQ14rziNnKRy_F7ihMp1qGeWizl-0NnftC2TTYbZqULi5FUkfzbhR5BVb2MR-n-Fdi_6k03_-JkpHQcx_vhH2OiIJmTUM6YmWRKaJfNJGb4fXiARPxBpuJwQu8-tu5WqAvomq0bJRM_VTUaCDba94ZDN8xCjUi_ZUXs1r69ihGzMTJX1N_K0Jw/s3908/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(123).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2609" data-original-width="3908" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcZ54QAQ14rziNnKRy_F7ihMp1qGeWizl-0NnftC2TTYbZqULi5FUkfzbhR5BVb2MR-n-Fdi_6k03_-JkpHQcx_vhH2OiIJmTUM6YmWRKaJfNJGb4fXiARPxBpuJwQu8-tu5WqAvomq0bJRM_VTUaCDba94ZDN8xCjUi_ZUXs1r69ihGzMTJX1N_K0Jw/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(123).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As our path
rounded the waterfront another point of interest was the Point Hope
Shipyard.<span> </span>An historic plaque indicated
that it was the longest active shipyard site in the province.<span> </span>It was established in 1873, and in 1875 the
owners launched their first ship – the Royal City.<span> </span>Through the tall chain link fences we could
see several large boats sitting up on platforms, awaiting repairs, refitting, or
repainting.<span> </span>Knowing nothing about ships or
marine culture, our attention was captured by the marine railway turntable and
complex looking system to pull large ships out of the water.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktExFM5aohL3fPW7sD3ne4YxZMkCQq4P8tDrDr5Gnm86VuGD8FeWZMT2VH0uBE6cZU-DP9mhks1e8jyo8NURIu99lxspYcOW40V7tSaP0BaCmR48gp5j8hhUThXwaPfDV6rOgE2D6jkaIz4qxjqNrtlEhS78kw6aovwervh2TWKbJkykNrJdT2jZVrg/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(125).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktExFM5aohL3fPW7sD3ne4YxZMkCQq4P8tDrDr5Gnm86VuGD8FeWZMT2VH0uBE6cZU-DP9mhks1e8jyo8NURIu99lxspYcOW40V7tSaP0BaCmR48gp5j8hhUThXwaPfDV6rOgE2D6jkaIz4qxjqNrtlEhS78kw6aovwervh2TWKbJkykNrJdT2jZVrg/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(125).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkdWBUyjPPhxdggu5pc4FTi1gG1Fsikymf0LkN0-Sr4EWvvjbMnW3C4Uh9zoO4Hti6u_SHfMjjnEO17PjQzxvoIDWNoovj4UQ4HTQZhpE8D_D2laO28dxf2_Pj3cpWmV3M9oyCqZiG17jJgzmMDjxk7paiKRbH8PaI68b1vJBVIWl2TVevrM766ShEA/s3845/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(126).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2883" data-original-width="3845" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnkdWBUyjPPhxdggu5pc4FTi1gG1Fsikymf0LkN0-Sr4EWvvjbMnW3C4Uh9zoO4Hti6u_SHfMjjnEO17PjQzxvoIDWNoovj4UQ4HTQZhpE8D_D2laO28dxf2_Pj3cpWmV3M9oyCqZiG17jJgzmMDjxk7paiKRbH8PaI68b1vJBVIWl2TVevrM766ShEA/w400-h300/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(126).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Just as
interesting as the historic shipyard was the sign on its fence for the <a href="https://vicharbourbirds.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary</b></a>.<span> </span>Covering 30 km of Victoria’s coastline, the sanctuary
is home to around 270 bird species, including seabirds, waterbirds, and
shorebirds, which are present in especially high numbers in winter.<span> </span>This site also supports around 75 species of
plants and animals that are of provincial and/or federal conservation concern.<span> </span>When it was established in 1923 to control
the over hunting of Brant and other waterfowl, it became the first bird sanctuary
in Pacific Canada.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiir7GckfyjiAejPnfYhsefSLGxnbUhUWRol5sm_SMYjEejajXs8R12B_JfXdlN-d3nQIImTyXdWQB27SCcj_crnkfD1SQ2ga6k8u5-Wbqq0Ey9nqlTrqSkc9um_BUgu5VSiA9Ceaqoh7I4FZE514_ERCnA-F5Dox8MoqzLN3OemISkRoYG5RmeML68A/s5863/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(127).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Legislative Assembly of British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="3915" data-original-width="5863" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiir7GckfyjiAejPnfYhsefSLGxnbUhUWRol5sm_SMYjEejajXs8R12B_JfXdlN-d3nQIImTyXdWQB27SCcj_crnkfD1SQ2ga6k8u5-Wbqq0Ey9nqlTrqSkc9um_BUgu5VSiA9Ceaqoh7I4FZE514_ERCnA-F5Dox8MoqzLN3OemISkRoYG5RmeML68A/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(127).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As we rounded the
bend we got our first glimpse of the imposing <b><a href="https://www.leg.bc.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Legislative Assembly of British Columbia</a> </b>buildings that dominate
the Victoria waterfront.<span> </span>Our pace
quickened as we crossed the busy Johnson Street Bridge into downtown
Victoria.<span> </span>The bridge carried several
lanes of traffic, as well as pedestrian walkways on either side. There, waving
to us from the other walkway was my father!<span>
</span>We felt so incredibly lucky to have a welcoming committee waiting for us
at the end of this incredible journey!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_dc3HbzJxhKuA4wYwK1y9TRqZPEGFWAeCtOaBSmCFxa5jyX5o8P3ttIifKYtDBi8r7pNxkCmsPbmfacPNxtnCTr97s_k1AVsbNBGt8NOXQoxE452ALRYzcIZiHeMbERZzFWDFuo-yEUgYM09sbyjWg3MmCscS64lQIC4EdStjdwu-R2hQFZym_0MIg/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(128).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV_dc3HbzJxhKuA4wYwK1y9TRqZPEGFWAeCtOaBSmCFxa5jyX5o8P3ttIifKYtDBi8r7pNxkCmsPbmfacPNxtnCTr97s_k1AVsbNBGt8NOXQoxE452ALRYzcIZiHeMbERZzFWDFuo-yEUgYM09sbyjWg3MmCscS64lQIC4EdStjdwu-R2hQFZym_0MIg/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(128).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kvOGZ08JGsm2A79HDZPvgMc8wGDj3TxCqSgroZqj8F3mEQz8k-t9OQ3XtgjDKFdUbQ9oBkWSogRf31Ixj6f9-b3Qg2xPCX70JucLyGQNe0A-QhxIsCt1bgI7Q9L9pf7je3Gqv1mFcDZs6OqyrFtY3Ll4p5Im4bu1BrMuLnA6pjaZwAw-agcvu69nRA/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(129).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sonya Richmond Come Walk WIth Us Victoria." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7kvOGZ08JGsm2A79HDZPvgMc8wGDj3TxCqSgroZqj8F3mEQz8k-t9OQ3XtgjDKFdUbQ9oBkWSogRf31Ixj6f9-b3Qg2xPCX70JucLyGQNe0A-QhxIsCt1bgI7Q9L9pf7je3Gqv1mFcDZs6OqyrFtY3Ll4p5Im4bu1BrMuLnA6pjaZwAw-agcvu69nRA/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(129).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Together, the
three of us made our way to a coffee shop for a cold drink and a muffin.<span> </span>We had made it!<span> </span>What an incredible feeling!! <span> </span>Given that it took us less than 2 hours to
cover the short 13 km route it was still a little early to check into our
motel, so after our short break the three of us wandered the section of the
Trans Canada Trail that traces the highly developed waterfront.<span> </span>It took everything in our power not to simply
power on, continuing the last 5 km to the end of the trail.<span> </span>However, we have decided to leave those final kilometres until tomorrow, possibly sharing them with members of the <b><a href="https://www.vicnhs.bc.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Victoria Natural History Society</a></b> and
others we've invited from the area.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRTZOWw0ftYtd3e9q9zt-1Tu9stSPLgEtjVHP94H_D18AwyOig_RXXUCqYbIsYeukEd6khgzRbFUZnHZYy6EDEUrW7oG0x30COuVxsjo2K9tLOrnxaem1AcwxJ09vDqGIdbkLpa2Xo5ROYiK1pp25ubg6FXcjMV7GtkjaVTShNjUD6nblPjy90B2oZw/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(130).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRTZOWw0ftYtd3e9q9zt-1Tu9stSPLgEtjVHP94H_D18AwyOig_RXXUCqYbIsYeukEd6khgzRbFUZnHZYy6EDEUrW7oG0x30COuVxsjo2K9tLOrnxaem1AcwxJ09vDqGIdbkLpa2Xo5ROYiK1pp25ubg6FXcjMV7GtkjaVTShNjUD6nblPjy90B2oZw/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(130).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGE8O3tfEps8N1Dl2UCD0ZMxMVKZJAa7NLLqPPnQpjLL751eQ28UMaECTqJ-ichcS6CO7lLsJmxFLT0pEzlFERPYigIvd5rw_mFkftSqBSmRs20Tz4DA-gqfFUsuaWp6GvkSPb0N4Rbjb3TObL6V7_Yj8dR8m__hMR7NUx5D78I7myGsTUxRKwMzPI8w/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(131).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGE8O3tfEps8N1Dl2UCD0ZMxMVKZJAa7NLLqPPnQpjLL751eQ28UMaECTqJ-ichcS6CO7lLsJmxFLT0pEzlFERPYigIvd5rw_mFkftSqBSmRs20Tz4DA-gqfFUsuaWp6GvkSPb0N4Rbjb3TObL6V7_Yj8dR8m__hMR7NUx5D78I7myGsTUxRKwMzPI8w/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(131).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As
we were enjoying our break and catching up with family we received an email from a TCT Trail Builder and
member the provincial trail association who had driven to Victoria to meet us. He emailed letting us know that he had informed
the board of the Trans Canada Trail that we were about to complete our trek in
Victoria. He hoped that the TCT board members now in Victoria after flying out to personally
congratulate Mel Vogel would be also join Come Walk With Us as the first duo to complete the Great Trail, the first to photograph and document the entire pathway from the Atlantic to Pacific, and the first to hike it for a cause. While he had not gotten a response from them yet the possibility seems to be that they too might join us for our last 5 km on the Great Trail tomorrow. <br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dAPhjrCbJbyvkJZ0HJIGKh7tl8FhoARoKJ6HmPNnq5gaCYygO_1E5iNHiJcSVhzjDNwW5cpAtHxsoNNCkQCyY1eB9FgD4PQi6nuj_3kOlfrIATbt7p_MVPRoxONsSyk_7k6RXR5t7ECps8bscxtw4qabYXHbF26qRsMngs8JGT4knLgXZkjbMPDXTA/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(133).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1dAPhjrCbJbyvkJZ0HJIGKh7tl8FhoARoKJ6HmPNnq5gaCYygO_1E5iNHiJcSVhzjDNwW5cpAtHxsoNNCkQCyY1eB9FgD4PQi6nuj_3kOlfrIATbt7p_MVPRoxONsSyk_7k6RXR5t7ECps8bscxtw4qabYXHbF26qRsMngs8JGT4knLgXZkjbMPDXTA/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(133).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As the day proceeded we received hundreds of emails of congratulations of our impending achievement.<span> </span>So much kindness and support for our
#Hike4Birds from regular Canadians from coast to coast to coast still amazes us
even after 4 years of exploring this incredible country! Kindness and kind
words in this busy world are such wonderful gifts to receive.<span> </span>We have been blessed by so many people and so
many communities throughout our time on the Trans Canada Trail that we are both often
left speechless. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWg7_nm3JerAQPCoAr4RcLZJdjN3KirfifDIBo0ADdukVXsA_JRzQI1HpxV99oTZ39ymlJeqkxSOKldysg7YpZ_-YmVH0-YulsshikgaYUP2agjd5j4iPv1TbmTmy_9ubbCcOoywD_yfa9gbtXntU51Fbvz0ll-Yb8KuigQ4anInrJKhQAA8K-n5aVLA/s4032/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(132).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWg7_nm3JerAQPCoAr4RcLZJdjN3KirfifDIBo0ADdukVXsA_JRzQI1HpxV99oTZ39ymlJeqkxSOKldysg7YpZ_-YmVH0-YulsshikgaYUP2agjd5j4iPv1TbmTmy_9ubbCcOoywD_yfa9gbtXntU51Fbvz0ll-Yb8KuigQ4anInrJKhQAA8K-n5aVLA/w300-h400/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(132).jpg" width="300" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As we wandered
through downtown we spotted an historic plaque for Fort Victoria.<span> </span>Apparently, all that is left of the Hudson’s
Bay Company Fort that was built in 1843 are the metal docking rings fastened to
the rocky shoreline.<span> </span>When the Oregon
boundary was drawn along the 49<sup>th</sup> Parallel in 1846, Fort Victoria
became the HBC’s Pacific fur trade headquarters.<span> </span>Ships brought goods from a wide network of
forts across the continent, and loaded up with exports principally bound for Alaska,
California, and Hawaii. In 1849 the first Legislative Assembly of the<b><a href="https://opentextbc.ca/preconfederation/chapter/13-8-the-island-colony/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Colony of Vancouver Island</a></b> met in Fort
Victoria, but by 1864 the last building had already been removed. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Jvhizg85-gv22rczbsXjDE52z-fmFEOi-O-MKQkzDTRybuF0gCBNK8yyrgDuniMYWsrSskPfWUpB-R2okJNyBcF0uEFe3GPwNwIEiKGgHDVkvqFrxTH3JaB6bc9S9oKFYMV5AknxMGwpr1bHWTSZQYCExuYcpycxbcDBMxKSfkmtTPh8MqJumSuaag/s4990/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(136).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3331" data-original-width="4990" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Jvhizg85-gv22rczbsXjDE52z-fmFEOi-O-MKQkzDTRybuF0gCBNK8yyrgDuniMYWsrSskPfWUpB-R2okJNyBcF0uEFe3GPwNwIEiKGgHDVkvqFrxTH3JaB6bc9S9oKFYMV5AknxMGwpr1bHWTSZQYCExuYcpycxbcDBMxKSfkmtTPh8MqJumSuaag/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(136).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We also passed
the Old Victoria Customs House, an unprepossessing looking two story red brick
building in the Second Empire Style.<span> </span>It
was built in 1875 by the new Federal Government after Confederation to regulate
trade in the West Coast’s busiest port.<span>
</span>It also helped establish Victoria as a major commercial centre,
especially during the Klondike Gold Rush in 1898, when thousands of miners had
to stop there to obtain licenses before continuing north in search of their
fortunes.<span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxTAqVoM3svWGJv1X_0qNZk-m-NojmI5sgoq1q-A5ntglVSyGws3QN7w57bJ33AsqvoYzEZkob0qDM2LF0ddPEyJ8hViIGbNXz303dXKHUwAPCk-u0oUgAEDhjkdXXyFAhKBOgIXbx4bjFDXt2CABWYLJL0StDQ-hZPL_csS3-xesG5OWbeYbFeRU5g/s5342/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(134).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3566" data-original-width="5342" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxTAqVoM3svWGJv1X_0qNZk-m-NojmI5sgoq1q-A5ntglVSyGws3QN7w57bJ33AsqvoYzEZkob0qDM2LF0ddPEyJ8hViIGbNXz303dXKHUwAPCk-u0oUgAEDhjkdXXyFAhKBOgIXbx4bjFDXt2CABWYLJL0StDQ-hZPL_csS3-xesG5OWbeYbFeRU5g/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(134).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Another historic
plaque informed us that Old Downtown Victoria took shape during the mid-19<sup>th</sup>
century when it developed into an important port and major commercial centre linking
the Interior of British Columbia to the Pacific Rim.<span> </span>It was established on land originally
occupied by the Lekwungen and WSÁNEĆ First Nations.<span> </span>The HBC built Fort Victoria in 1843, and from
there it became a major commercial centre, growing to encompass what is now the
oldest surviving Chinatown in Canada and the second oldest in North America
(after the Chinatown in San Francisco).<span> </span>Named
after Queen Victoria, it is one of the oldest cities in the Pacific Northwest. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJ-t0vlnZfc6wPfv_ytBLC8-bO6d3-ySXDmqAFYHaqHrrtK_SIx-ag5kImGgbPzvMZFkiVXVuY2Dcqh_O41UZLrG3m7eq7Na5rTzggOD-wrMDxdv7Qz5rEbDDZ8CyyignPquDVBp5jQoCOeKS6eJuWt13tKvrZjqAxQennnE190cx3GHQT8IMDOlGLg/s4494/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(137).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Great Trail Victoria British Columbia hiking blog." border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4494" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJ-t0vlnZfc6wPfv_ytBLC8-bO6d3-ySXDmqAFYHaqHrrtK_SIx-ag5kImGgbPzvMZFkiVXVuY2Dcqh_O41UZLrG3m7eq7Na5rTzggOD-wrMDxdv7Qz5rEbDDZ8CyyignPquDVBp5jQoCOeKS6eJuWt13tKvrZjqAxQennnE190cx3GHQT8IMDOlGLg/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(137).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Today, Victoria
is the capital of British Columbia, and it has a population of just over 90,000
people.<span> </span>It has been nicknamed the
‘Garden City’ and is frequently ranked in the top 20 cities in the world for
best quality-of-life.<span> </span>Its main
industries are technology, tourism, and federal and provincial government
services.<span> </span>As we made our way along its
streets in the late afternoon sunshine, it was easy to see why so many people
enjoy living here.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTyutvGa5Q-YLe-KKP1324YilcKVKBigWmpTYUHD-pjnFb4Et-P5gsVg6nsSDkXi_vplpsCl7e_KCcv13Gt6FyGIHyD1zoh0jHXhBUfZeJIH5-4vZWYhaLShbvDs5KZ1cTwPb6TOfPRT9WKyK1-RE78aC4i81SmA0z8WHsljpeyp2IjBmBL6WrhVefQ/s6016/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(138).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Victoria parliament legislative buildings at night." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTyutvGa5Q-YLe-KKP1324YilcKVKBigWmpTYUHD-pjnFb4Et-P5gsVg6nsSDkXi_vplpsCl7e_KCcv13Gt6FyGIHyD1zoh0jHXhBUfZeJIH5-4vZWYhaLShbvDs5KZ1cTwPb6TOfPRT9WKyK1-RE78aC4i81SmA0z8WHsljpeyp2IjBmBL6WrhVefQ/w400-h268/Langford%20to%20Victoria%20Downtown%20for%20blog%20(138).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">After checking
into our motel and eating a hurried dinner we went out for another walk to see
the city at the night.<span> </span>With the end so
near in sight, there were simply too many thoughts circling around in our heads
to sit still.<span> </span>Questions keep arising that we have no
answers for.<span> </span>Did you achieve what we set
out to do?<span> </span>How have our goals shifted as
we've hiked the last 14,000 km? Was it 'worth it'? Have our efforts made a
difference?<span> </span>This isn't the end of trek,
just the completion of the east-west portion, so why does it feel like an
ending? And the question that has been plaguing us for many months now - what's
next?<span> </span>As we made our way through the
cool night air it was hard to believe that tomorrow we will walk the final 5 km
to Point Zero at Clover Point, finally reaching the western end of the
trail.<span> </span><span> </span>Four years ago when we set out I couldn’t
even conceive of reaching this goal, tomorrow tie the Atlantic and Pacific
together! With time, patience, and determination anything is possible.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Almost there... <br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">See you on the trail! </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember to follow our entire adventure here : <a href="https://www.comewalkwithus.online/"><b>www.comewalkwithus.online</b></a></span></span></p>
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<p></p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Victoria, BC, Canada48.4284207 -123.365644420.118186863821151 -158.5218944 76.738654536178842 -88.2093944tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-61647365667625831992023-03-26T13:20:00.000-04:002023-03-26T13:20:44.965-04:00Sunshine Coast Congratulations for Come Walk With Us <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">A couple of days ago we received an amazing letter of
Congratulations for the Achievements of Come Walk With Us from the Mayor of the
District of Sechelt British Columbia Mr John Henderson!</span></div><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">As many know our family has lived in Sechelt for over twenty
years – <b><a href="https://www.sunshinecoastcanada.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Sunshine Coast</a></b> is a place we love and have been inspired by.<span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">To receive recognition from the Mayor’s office is humbling
and bolsters our goals of continuing on along the <b><a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trans Canada Trail</a></b> to the
Arctic.<span> </span>In particular the Mayor
highlighted our goal of inspiring environmentalism and citizen science
participation.<span> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">In particular the Mayor of Sechelt felt that our “walk
across Canada is a testament to your perseverance, determination, and
commitment to a better future for us all.”<span>
</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">We are both deeply honoured by the recognition for the
efforts put into our <b><a href="http://www.comewalkwithus.online" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">#Hike4Birds</a></b> from a community we love so much and
continue to hope that our outreach, blog, and photographs continue to inspire
Canadians. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqmgfx_0ikbprl5dBXs9dAdDl_S3C0hh0GlKcnl9WhhjXr40GgD7Kq8gasrKda7BNnu39szzzzTyq_PEyqhBPRT8oJdpH77PtA_9Y1io9b1OkqXtIc0braG641HtqyWwdqBU9DUWrA1R-G_DJGgOuNl1OHW0fT1QCb92ebDIcCUnItu1PMalIdG579w/s3280/Sechelt%20BC%20Letter%20of%20Congratulations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sunshine Coast British Columbia Trans Canada Trail Letter." border="0" data-original-height="3280" data-original-width="2552" height="704" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqmgfx_0ikbprl5dBXs9dAdDl_S3C0hh0GlKcnl9WhhjXr40GgD7Kq8gasrKda7BNnu39szzzzTyq_PEyqhBPRT8oJdpH77PtA_9Y1io9b1OkqXtIc0braG641HtqyWwdqBU9DUWrA1R-G_DJGgOuNl1OHW0fT1QCb92ebDIcCUnItu1PMalIdG579w/w547-h704/Sechelt%20BC%20Letter%20of%20Congratulations.jpg" width="547" /></a></span></div><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">See you on the trail! </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Remember to follow our entire adventure here : <a href="https://www.comewalkwithus.online/"><b>www.comewalkwithus.online</b></a></span> <br /></p></div>
<p></p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Sechelt, BC, Canada49.4741736 -123.754560121.163939763821155 -158.9108101 77.784407436178839 -88.5983101tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-21139187688736244052023-03-12T14:32:00.008-04:002023-03-12T14:34:05.421-04:00Congratulations from Bruce Trail Conservancy<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr">Very grateful to have our <b><a data-attribute-index="0" href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/hashtag/?keywords=hike4birds&highlightedUpdateUrns=urn%3Ali%3Aactivity%3A7027374182476759040">#Hike4Birds</a></b> recognized by the amazing Bruce Trail Conservancy - those amazing individuals responsible for Ontario's stunning <b><a href="https://brucetrail.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bruce Trail</a></b>!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr">Both Sean Morton and myself have been members of the BTC for a long time, we served as Land stewards for the Dopko Property for year, and are end to end trekkers having completed the Bruce Trail from Niagara Falls to Tobermory.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr">In addition over the years we have won photography competitions at the BTC...</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-7KZWf1IDkYqHl5zVa1GQoIXkS-gWH-K5xEguBof6gd2QVO-09k4q4kOkkDOS1Uiqd4N3RrmsdvnnBnxQvpljNwEjLvTmJjI7d7zb88zOzmg5k5_QB9JLw8OoSPr66pGX_6rHSjyjobHqUxIWcAL_zgbKHCdAFn4YuN_i9AqBYngdMDQbq062tqPVw/s552/2015%20-%20BTC%20Magazine%20Summer%20-%20Cover%20image.jpg" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="552" data-original-width="420" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-7KZWf1IDkYqHl5zVa1GQoIXkS-gWH-K5xEguBof6gd2QVO-09k4q4kOkkDOS1Uiqd4N3RrmsdvnnBnxQvpljNwEjLvTmJjI7d7zb88zOzmg5k5_QB9JLw8OoSPr66pGX_6rHSjyjobHqUxIWcAL_zgbKHCdAFn4YuN_i9AqBYngdMDQbq062tqPVw/s320/2015%20-%20BTC%20Magazine%20Summer%20-%20Cover%20image.jpg" width="243" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bwFyaLdrWmzpT_c6kv-1OhvZhIAkzr4i96GJQiX4xKuUviZCySACZXZ571QRZLjibVzfjPMLMRGra0ZzHzOL822wTyEq8u65VXNhab67rhzUtYtVJQ6kGuXegzkrT5K5DnEAzQdu0HSjmdqgXNbLl1mKZSYb9fxgSJe3aYSmkiyssBVoLMF6MuWmsA/s4000/2017%20-%20Bruce%20Trail%20-%20Sonya%20-%20IMG_7988.JPG" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bwFyaLdrWmzpT_c6kv-1OhvZhIAkzr4i96GJQiX4xKuUviZCySACZXZ571QRZLjibVzfjPMLMRGra0ZzHzOL822wTyEq8u65VXNhab67rhzUtYtVJQ6kGuXegzkrT5K5DnEAzQdu0HSjmdqgXNbLl1mKZSYb9fxgSJe3aYSmkiyssBVoLMF6MuWmsA/s320/2017%20-%20Bruce%20Trail%20-%20Sonya%20-%20IMG_7988.JPG" width="240" /></a></span></div></div><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIj0H9QviPpzC6VeocP8O1bA_9MFD5qqR-2SccUD116pG6bV96WPx4N5gMBm9A3SARYE7PIBb0cl6XjpA7l5WE4bPPOGh3-FyEouLU4RU0EzE0OjZiinwreajE5CutIvJaUpiBgGweDxMrf13SLEq_YNegGCsqzFMDS4q5HUgv7rSdcyRlEVdXbNn0g/s4000/2016%20-%20Landscape%20-%20Nor%20-%202nd.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHIj0H9QviPpzC6VeocP8O1bA_9MFD5qqR-2SccUD116pG6bV96WPx4N5gMBm9A3SARYE7PIBb0cl6XjpA7l5WE4bPPOGh3-FyEouLU4RU0EzE0OjZiinwreajE5CutIvJaUpiBgGweDxMrf13SLEq_YNegGCsqzFMDS4q5HUgv7rSdcyRlEVdXbNn0g/w400-h300/2016%20-%20Landscape%20-%20Nor%20-%202nd.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDUc5EJnCDNbwWt6fmA-4DP-XViBgzj7NVOBRi9OHzWNbKT4JFronPH5-a7RXTwCllzn6QAXtdYs5FCTJPfIxTUjqB9T1mcV8mBY6_O2whH4kYzx3tFd9TCdEf3eVY5DCq2OcdVSeyukIrIMlwDSB_jMyziVclXYKz6YbVKApd1zWJTMolqdd3wUmag/s6016/Reflecting%20Pond.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDUc5EJnCDNbwWt6fmA-4DP-XViBgzj7NVOBRi9OHzWNbKT4JFronPH5-a7RXTwCllzn6QAXtdYs5FCTJPfIxTUjqB9T1mcV8mBY6_O2whH4kYzx3tFd9TCdEf3eVY5DCq2OcdVSeyukIrIMlwDSB_jMyziVclXYKz6YbVKApd1zWJTMolqdd3wUmag/w400-h268/Reflecting%20Pond.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div></div></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr">...and even designed the original<b><a href="https://www.iroquoia.on.ca/index.php/2022/10/04/steeltown-stomp-individual-photos/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Steeltown Stomp</a></b> Hamilton Hike patch. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXTGLunmOb2bx38hz-lS19AG5Ctq5VgipnyK71iO7WDJEsnTpT_vYvlbOtwitZ6vIvMY6IRz7F8UHsaH0ooKY3dWhDTGx9wKRz_vzBebfZi15pwyJh5MhXKDp1-Y0zL14_ZB7ZXQnyz8XSoz8Ay5cEJaXFH3qqgDwttNPZNsd6cFIEIJAV7zIjpnrwA/s3022/Steeltown%20Stomp%20Patch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3022" data-original-width="3021" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXTGLunmOb2bx38hz-lS19AG5Ctq5VgipnyK71iO7WDJEsnTpT_vYvlbOtwitZ6vIvMY6IRz7F8UHsaH0ooKY3dWhDTGx9wKRz_vzBebfZi15pwyJh5MhXKDp1-Y0zL14_ZB7ZXQnyz8XSoz8Ay5cEJaXFH3qqgDwttNPZNsd6cFIEIJAV7zIjpnrwA/s320/Steeltown%20Stomp%20Patch.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr">Members
of the Bruce Trail joined us in almost every region of Canada including Newfoundland, New Brunswick, PEI, Ontario, Saskatchewan and British Columbia while we ventured more than
14,000 km from the Atlantic to the Pacific on the <a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Trans Canada Trail </b></a>
over the past four years!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr">Our time on the Bruce Trail did much to refine and shape us before setting out onto Canada's Great Trail, just as their goal of "preserving a ribbon of wilderness for everyone" is central to our own message of ensuring that Nature is accessible to everyone. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr">In their letter the CEO of the BTC praised us for our "incredible achievement" of trekking more than 14,000 km across Canada and for our "deep commitment to raising awareness about the importance of connecting people with nature." Noting that we are ambassadors for hiking and an "example of how people can responsibly connect with natural landscapes and cherish the many species that thrive within them."</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr">We are humbled by your encouragement and support!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4d9llFg-d71Os0RzHg9gXZ40SjD4nKS48fJbwuR_dBt-3x8jy-dj0GT2Qv026Ax0zIM0KuHwXxDdv1k8U1xh729de3mB756R-hBg8nKQCyIVQuBEwP5498eGD-QAWZ-40YpTTnS_rLpwmKOijmqL1dxRkrFeE1hP9v8Nfbx7zVEw82db72But_yemhA/s3264/Bruce%20Trail%20-%20Letter%20of%20Congratulations.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bruce Trail Letter Trans Canada Trail." border="0" data-original-height="3264" data-original-width="2552" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4d9llFg-d71Os0RzHg9gXZ40SjD4nKS48fJbwuR_dBt-3x8jy-dj0GT2Qv026Ax0zIM0KuHwXxDdv1k8U1xh729de3mB756R-hBg8nKQCyIVQuBEwP5498eGD-QAWZ-40YpTTnS_rLpwmKOijmqL1dxRkrFeE1hP9v8Nfbx7zVEw82db72But_yemhA/w500-h640/Bruce%20Trail%20-%20Letter%20of%20Congratulations.jpg" width="500" /></a></div></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">See you on the trail! </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember to follow our entire adventure here : <a href="https://www.comewalkwithus.online/"><b>www.comewalkwithus.online</b></a></span></span></p></div>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, Canada43.2549988 -79.077261614.944764963821157 -114.2335116 71.565232636178848 -43.9210116tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-75206288899883726532023-03-09T11:37:00.002-05:002023-03-10T19:43:57.994-05:00Endurance Test: Shawnigan Lake to Langford <div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This morning began at 6:30 am, when we woke up in our cozy
loft room and helped ourselves to a delicious breakfast of granola, yogourt,
berries and freshly brewed coffee.<span> </span>The
hour we spent catching up on correspondence, writing notes for the blog, and
planning the day's walk felt leisurely and luxurious, standing in direct
contrast to the damp, frosty tent that has greeted us for so many mornings
these past few months.<span> </span>At 8 am we went
downstairs to meet our incredibly kind and generous hosts, who not only offered
to drive us back to the trail, but also packed us a lunch of boiled eggs and
fruit!<span> </span>In addition, during the ride back
to the trail, we were gifted with detailed information about the day's hike,
which turned out to be spot on.<span> </span>We are
always incredibly grateful for advice from locals, and continually amazed by
how precisely some people are able to recall the details of trails they've
hiked or cycled in the past.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7CeR1tUKM_L8gK76MiJyTGG6clstYO_5rPJtH41W8YlO8qTdiJwf7Y7rzjkz6HLqPPPIWVr3OnX4PfPA93c6BuCcs-xvlYwRo3tMj5VXivS6QRvP37RpBGiTNFiAcB2on1Hs5zCkajlh0TFNOaaCW8DWUnweJw5laf3bmoZFuNx2ATJBK8rxKXxYVQ/s5211/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cowichan Valley Trail Hiking British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="3479" data-original-width="5211" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc7CeR1tUKM_L8gK76MiJyTGG6clstYO_5rPJtH41W8YlO8qTdiJwf7Y7rzjkz6HLqPPPIWVr3OnX4PfPA93c6BuCcs-xvlYwRo3tMj5VXivS6QRvP37RpBGiTNFiAcB2on1Hs5zCkajlh0TFNOaaCW8DWUnweJw5laf3bmoZFuNx2ATJBK8rxKXxYVQ/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Back on the <a href="https://www.cvrd.ca/121/Cowichan-Valley-Trail" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Cowichan
Valley Trail,</b></a> we made our way along the western shore of <a href="https://www.tourismcowichan.com/explore/about-cowichan/shawnigan-lake/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Shawnigan
Lake</b></a>.<span> </span>It was a gorgeous walk, but
somewhat disappointingly we didn't really see much of the lake.<span> </span>Surrounded by a pleasant tunnel of enormously
tall green trees, we periodically caught glimpses of large homes and cottages
on the lake side, crossed small access roads, and occasionally saw evidence of
the extensive logging operations that were taking place in the hills farther
west of us. Although uneventful, we were grateful for that first stretch of
trail, because the flat terrain and relative lack of distractions allowed us to
make good progress. As the day progressed and the going got tougher, this
turned out to be a real blessing.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcQ7akWvsvBxgk2z4rN_ez-WMEktmgr9gcwbfKVVPNnotA73Sza4N6_nW1TiorJPrHW3XVrp9XnAcpNwgXaDv-WyjRSoT5C9iVFyMoGK1BxxCwKlTGUcguQZqk2fqZpGaVox6j99wFya3mtxvlZeMuKxmVyp4ycVKV9AWAKv4MTHve7Id3W8UWbLTCg/s4900/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4900" data-original-width="3271" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcQ7akWvsvBxgk2z4rN_ez-WMEktmgr9gcwbfKVVPNnotA73Sza4N6_nW1TiorJPrHW3XVrp9XnAcpNwgXaDv-WyjRSoT5C9iVFyMoGK1BxxCwKlTGUcguQZqk2fqZpGaVox6j99wFya3mtxvlZeMuKxmVyp4ycVKV9AWAKv4MTHve7Id3W8UWbLTCg/w268-h400/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(2).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLtoUGpE9ZE7SfHdoqZCEvS_VQ28UzUHhLdUZHpaSb9IHLkzGtvStyzaJdWy68Mw91stzBHBws09YVmZnb2O06Mt8vfAjF8D-2Lxq2Si2KhtasEHgt1WVlxQuCR9KNWpsk53RQfadscNssefK-MJUtudNdy35Wg78uS5ivFBWGUX2xZGEjnNlvyNKsg/s5590/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(6).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3731" data-original-width="5590" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLtoUGpE9ZE7SfHdoqZCEvS_VQ28UzUHhLdUZHpaSb9IHLkzGtvStyzaJdWy68Mw91stzBHBws09YVmZnb2O06Mt8vfAjF8D-2Lxq2Si2KhtasEHgt1WVlxQuCR9KNWpsk53RQfadscNssefK-MJUtudNdy35Wg78uS5ivFBWGUX2xZGEjnNlvyNKsg/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(6).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After a short stint along Sooke Lake Road, we picked up the rail
trail again and began our final push towards the outskirts of Victoria and the
end our east-west trek across Canada.<span>
</span>Momentarily confused as to whether we were actually on the <b><a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trans Canada Trail</a></b> when we left the
road, we looked around for some markers.<span>
</span>A sign at the trailhead proclaimed that “This trail is challenging and
not suitable for all ages and abilities.<span>
</span>Hike … within your limits.”<span> </span>Although
we hadn't encountered this particular warning yet, the gist of it seemed
consistent with the nature of the Great Trail, so we headed off down the treed
pathway for our next adventure.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJSjOldbySfq4HEmwbVA2W8ZVeZo6SRIeFodjCzNPHD5jUsi2iCbXpQn-QofJGCsEV58iszi3Zb3MitgbD88ZwJg-kKBrVjq-SrK3fw-nROONneg1oAeEOiyT2xz6AHztET_L1-GP0hYAT1tJDR0OFsqILHm3Z9YpqgFsernXhpeEzSrKUMBs0i-Lwg/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(7).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJSjOldbySfq4HEmwbVA2W8ZVeZo6SRIeFodjCzNPHD5jUsi2iCbXpQn-QofJGCsEV58iszi3Zb3MitgbD88ZwJg-kKBrVjq-SrK3fw-nROONneg1oAeEOiyT2xz6AHztET_L1-GP0hYAT1tJDR0OFsqILHm3Z9YpqgFsernXhpeEzSrKUMBs0i-Lwg/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(7).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlTZXscmW6WhJjdGOVQdqSwGEoWmUu3dqM8fEmh3cJwemVPVA--Ngph7y12anTvxmPpkdER3N6w9TMw0TsQlFV2LDAYy66hcVXPAkot0C0Xzo6Ru4TG-51NIWNiRw5F0AX63YfTxk_FryePjV34N9UXk6MxumXGxd501ODT1ajo6RgAFMc79rl3gOvw/s5847/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(9).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Vancouver Island BC." border="0" data-original-height="5847" data-original-width="3903" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlTZXscmW6WhJjdGOVQdqSwGEoWmUu3dqM8fEmh3cJwemVPVA--Ngph7y12anTvxmPpkdER3N6w9TMw0TsQlFV2LDAYy66hcVXPAkot0C0Xzo6Ru4TG-51NIWNiRw5F0AX63YfTxk_FryePjV34N9UXk6MxumXGxd501ODT1ajo6RgAFMc79rl3gOvw/w268-h400/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(9).JPG" width="268" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Almost immediately the wide, gravel path began winding and
undulating through steep, forested hills.<span>
</span>Apart from the steep climbs and descents the going wasn't too difficult
– just constant in the effort required.<span>
</span>Regardless the trail itself was very well established, maintained and
signed. Although the frost of the past few days was absent, it was a cool,
overcast morning, which made the climbing much more pleasant.<span> </span>After spending a few days on a straight rail
trail, we felt like the meanders provided a newfound sense of excitement,
daring us to discover what lay around the next corner.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExGB434iAB6xg0bNcEkJMyMaQspJDjDsjatZF5cEegHLuf7u1WddeC-9mp1PeItTudmxZ1P5tsA8ykRTiWWuZWKnekPMJpt8_e-zGEY1x-xI-vpJcf-h_1Wvvmw9bGRD56ix3y01I0gFoQKGZ8fUaARagsrLVjKNGAZtDTRcIUGtn2YbFPaJHEdLwew/s5288/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(11).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Malahat Nation sign Trans Canada Trail." border="0" data-original-height="5288" data-original-width="3530" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgExGB434iAB6xg0bNcEkJMyMaQspJDjDsjatZF5cEegHLuf7u1WddeC-9mp1PeItTudmxZ1P5tsA8ykRTiWWuZWKnekPMJpt8_e-zGEY1x-xI-vpJcf-h_1Wvvmw9bGRD56ix3y01I0gFoQKGZ8fUaARagsrLVjKNGAZtDTRcIUGtn2YbFPaJHEdLwew/w268-h400/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(11).JPG" width="268" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Soon we came to a sign indicating that we were entering
property owned by the <a href="https://malahatnation.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Malahat Nation.</b></a><span><a href="https://malahatnation.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a> </span>The Malahat First Nation is a Coast Salish
First Nations government of the Saanich People (WSANEC) located on southeastern <b><a href="https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/vancouver-island" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Vancouver Island</a>.</b><span> </span>The
Malahat First Nation is also a member of the Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council.<span> </span>The ancestral languages spoken by the Malahat
are Hul̓q̓umín̓um̓ and SENĆOŦEN, and they inhabit land that is extremely rich
in natural resources.<span> </span>The Malahat First
Nation is now extremely active in attempting to restore depleted species
following years of over fishing and land settlement in the 18th through 20th
centuries.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxGX7geTnYHaJ7gu5U3yXF1teCCOxz26xLzQQMq8XxqvleQ4z8sbToZhBO0qon7ARPt0a-ZUWLyrk05cyVwHBvEXS9Lq6f82kY4cpy3UqrnDuo5LHI4ZixfrOodlJomj0-qKAhSxEVMnMWxe8y8Sktwkcw38Psh5WMU3alWrJPRSk2AxLIPSfEovimg/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(13).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Great Trail path Vancouver Island." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRxGX7geTnYHaJ7gu5U3yXF1teCCOxz26xLzQQMq8XxqvleQ4z8sbToZhBO0qon7ARPt0a-ZUWLyrk05cyVwHBvEXS9Lq6f82kY4cpy3UqrnDuo5LHI4ZixfrOodlJomj0-qKAhSxEVMnMWxe8y8Sktwkcw38Psh5WMU3alWrJPRSk2AxLIPSfEovimg/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(13).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Moving forward, we realized the trail was bisecting an
enormous clear cut.<span> </span>Huge tree stumps
stood like unwanted leftovers in a wasteland of churned up earth, roots, and
discarded tree tops just beyond a thin band of greenery bordering the
trail.<span> </span>Signs protesting the proposed
creation of a nearby race track suggested that rather than being left to
regenerate, the peaceful forest might soon be further transformed by
encroaching civilization.<span> </span>We could only
imagine that the B&B's in this region are now facing an uncertain
future.<span> </span>Although the trail itself
remained a beautiful green corridor, it was clear we were approaching a developed
area.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vLNLDCO9Qup4TjQHIf2fAf-Qh_0NdCfiEQh22v-Fppl8jGhKNcZERahLBIdY3UuzdCidsIAbMSX6q5w5pBwy1tOaVhqViJxtYGIMP3GsxY3zRqMd1jqWtDO6JgPRfB8MCWZxDwwC2KHQ4vMpGRKlJZ4O6u5Kn6bkRkxIQqmJvrOHhh7eGXQljkE_LA/s5693/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(14).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Shawnigan Lake BC." border="0" data-original-height="5693" data-original-width="3801" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vLNLDCO9Qup4TjQHIf2fAf-Qh_0NdCfiEQh22v-Fppl8jGhKNcZERahLBIdY3UuzdCidsIAbMSX6q5w5pBwy1tOaVhqViJxtYGIMP3GsxY3zRqMd1jqWtDO6JgPRfB8MCWZxDwwC2KHQ4vMpGRKlJZ4O6u5Kn6bkRkxIQqmJvrOHhh7eGXQljkE_LA/w268-h400/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(14).JPG" width="268" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Eventually the forest closed in around the trail once again,
and we found ourselves crossing several small wooden trestle bridges.<span> </span>A definite highlight in this section was
coming to the colourful and beautifully carved <a href="https://www.cowichanvalleycitizen.com/news/yos-totem-pole-now-stands-sentry-on-trans-canada-trail-in-malahat-nation-territory/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Yos Totem Pole</b>.</a><span> </span>This
relatively squat totem (around 3 m tall?) was created in 2017 to commemorate
completion of the 20 km Malahat Connector section of the Trans Canada Trail,
which runs between the south end of Shawnigan Lake at Sooke Lake Road and the
Humpback Reservoir in Langford, at the edge of Greater Victoria<b>.</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> </b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipS2ku7_2Hg8ePHDzAuVnZMdCj_5j3NSXWhVa_vgEuLo0OpvacBn7BlIlLTfJ7KwNsoHZ41zFZHVRG71xaExKvS9PqwGDqOvnOppehgECL77ZgLHgAiojt2i5xSl4pUjED4oFDeOcw86HqVQXMsjCl1CrZLB67c0MjvdjjhNlk8_8_5EJxGnTn5jKgw/s4796/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(15).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yos Totem Pole Trans Canada Trail BC." border="0" data-original-height="4796" data-original-width="3201" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipS2ku7_2Hg8ePHDzAuVnZMdCj_5j3NSXWhVa_vgEuLo0OpvacBn7BlIlLTfJ7KwNsoHZ41zFZHVRG71xaExKvS9PqwGDqOvnOppehgECL77ZgLHgAiojt2i5xSl4pUjED4oFDeOcw86HqVQXMsjCl1CrZLB67c0MjvdjjhNlk8_8_5EJxGnTn5jKgw/w214-h320/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(15).JPG" width="214" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lK9AvFRga1xk-FR1aviYwdckIgybpA7NuafVjLYUNHI7d3A75TLdLi3wlcqA8VU_pNJ7dLXBH687AiqTxf31frt1kUTrXOxXYzmKPFXNqR2e7CE6ZYZb42qLmJ7abVRC1sgEm12U3j1Zb-FW7doYI7N_3B5mEMvtK0hyBT6FJrA76H6TShb4nvS4lw/s3516/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(17).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yos Totem Pole Trans Canada Trail British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="3516" data-original-width="2347" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7lK9AvFRga1xk-FR1aviYwdckIgybpA7NuafVjLYUNHI7d3A75TLdLi3wlcqA8VU_pNJ7dLXBH687AiqTxf31frt1kUTrXOxXYzmKPFXNqR2e7CE6ZYZb42qLmJ7abVRC1sgEm12U3j1Zb-FW7doYI7N_3B5mEMvtK0hyBT6FJrA76H6TShb4nvS4lw/w214-h320/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(17).JPG" width="214" /></a></div></div></b><span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The central figure is a thunderbird, which stands tall with
a salmon under each wing.<span> </span>A Sasquatch
stands on the opposite side of the pole, gazing off into the forest.<span> </span>The Yos Totem Pole was the result of
collaboration between master carvers Moy Sutherland Jr. from the Tia-o-qui-aht
First Nation (Tofino), John Marston from the Stz’uminus First Nation
(Chemainus), and various Malahat Nation youth.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzk7QppfsIKHAKNY83IZQ1ZBzEJf0Zt3peWPwObeu2EB4-1Xif6LFKeg7600GYu3sofKLbBrQRC6g0qxIh-UrYdkmoj3XLE45jwi2qsqa0WRR0vuwL5ZsvAYSmgNKUO-XQANMO6-Kg2WOkXRBK1gNCgakwFVDYIc8H6vGxbFziFJ7gfvssCD_li3KqOQ/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(18).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzk7QppfsIKHAKNY83IZQ1ZBzEJf0Zt3peWPwObeu2EB4-1Xif6LFKeg7600GYu3sofKLbBrQRC6g0qxIh-UrYdkmoj3XLE45jwi2qsqa0WRR0vuwL5ZsvAYSmgNKUO-XQANMO6-Kg2WOkXRBK1gNCgakwFVDYIc8H6vGxbFziFJ7gfvssCD_li3KqOQ/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(18).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGR5N9Gse3UkQ8PbzmvdFFxVqWRtIcMqArdOlBSQK0RDB-Ya1_f_pf3XZYPUhDc045vlBE7oU741VIbPPhMI84rZ8xVl10OJ3G1wFuRIdgl4qI1zEVuLGhSbuZbPrCsBDXQ1yIQ5KKfRcQBroux_AFYyo87bPbtjjMYqfDKdBfh3TNNj2AGDhIV6-7Pw/s5753/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(20).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5753" data-original-width="3841" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGR5N9Gse3UkQ8PbzmvdFFxVqWRtIcMqArdOlBSQK0RDB-Ya1_f_pf3XZYPUhDc045vlBE7oU741VIbPPhMI84rZ8xVl10OJ3G1wFuRIdgl4qI1zEVuLGhSbuZbPrCsBDXQ1yIQ5KKfRcQBroux_AFYyo87bPbtjjMYqfDKdBfh3TNNj2AGDhIV6-7Pw/w268-h400/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(20).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3NCpaK76NemJtZivAXYXTOg3a1H0TYz4p7YmlNVo5U9rpyzznN8_NoBQxZUdzdfhaH04X7xVRV8M-VhgOMZLrh80QATnARSKQ623Lt5pW-y0D5279lVe1J_JMWC46b-4zl_UnUPndu-5Li7XL3ocKcO2dvHKdaPUlkc1pp8jDVXSIk1zIXr9Vcw8uA/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(21).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3NCpaK76NemJtZivAXYXTOg3a1H0TYz4p7YmlNVo5U9rpyzznN8_NoBQxZUdzdfhaH04X7xVRV8M-VhgOMZLrh80QATnARSKQ623Lt5pW-y0D5279lVe1J_JMWC46b-4zl_UnUPndu-5Li7XL3ocKcO2dvHKdaPUlkc1pp8jDVXSIk1zIXr9Vcw8uA/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(21).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After this point the trail began to climb in earnest as we
made our way up toward the Stebbings Road Park and Community Forest.<span> </span>The constant climbing was tiring, but we were
trekking through gorgeous coniferous forest, and the views began to open up as
we ascended.<span> </span>The sun was making a concerted
effort to break through the lines of fluffy grey clouds that streaked the sky
as we approached Stebbings Rd.<span> </span> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-K8hAJARR80eqI-OgPxF6xoAGUnrJqiKGD8at7xgi5wJiepSoCz60ifhE_LXrh6eTR_5zuFf_utsxnIyFKWYZ2RUiMplN70N_X-HIJC250FCbZ6nEBPJbg9pfA3NVj4Rw3fNOlh9hulu-zH6pUYOl_Ez2X3-jGTv5bc0AAfJElEt_9FbRpmJJRXKRYQ/s3377/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(41).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Banana Slugs Great Trail." border="0" data-original-height="2255" data-original-width="3377" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-K8hAJARR80eqI-OgPxF6xoAGUnrJqiKGD8at7xgi5wJiepSoCz60ifhE_LXrh6eTR_5zuFf_utsxnIyFKWYZ2RUiMplN70N_X-HIJC250FCbZ6nEBPJbg9pfA3NVj4Rw3fNOlh9hulu-zH6pUYOl_Ez2X3-jGTv5bc0AAfJElEt_9FbRpmJJRXKRYQ/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(41).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHVh5QfkQDmJvtxgyg_E4CGjU_gQl4RsvfrYjHs2NCJO05hcSovZlF5jQqtmHKWMe1mbE6YmINZG_CT109QElNIFK6BLZbu6Gf834xUD2tx5i-gKNmWt72UXn6q0PYuMPXx6bjm6bgJKTxFPgXCDcg0ueQ1pq138zqcKkJ02rgYX0tRXAsyLMyd-RxA/s4032/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(42).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Come Walk With Us photographing TCT." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlHVh5QfkQDmJvtxgyg_E4CGjU_gQl4RsvfrYjHs2NCJO05hcSovZlF5jQqtmHKWMe1mbE6YmINZG_CT109QElNIFK6BLZbu6Gf834xUD2tx5i-gKNmWt72UXn6q0PYuMPXx6bjm6bgJKTxFPgXCDcg0ueQ1pq138zqcKkJ02rgYX0tRXAsyLMyd-RxA/w400-h300/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(42).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98RcFyH4V4ScEesi7W7uc1G_XGh8jr0UlfKGFkuJRzsK0etM95E7cyNDwOMOD4UWqlH-kddbzHZb7mR-SlvmnQI1GQ303ny7-6BXL7CaEVgqtbO0wdaepnXRkS0HCPvt7xWPL-k7pPlhhAPFyV8kcjhQAM7mTr6to1-VDLq0WoIug2GNf7AaGPNEbrg/s4032/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(43).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Slugs Nature Trans Canada Trail." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98RcFyH4V4ScEesi7W7uc1G_XGh8jr0UlfKGFkuJRzsK0etM95E7cyNDwOMOD4UWqlH-kddbzHZb7mR-SlvmnQI1GQ303ny7-6BXL7CaEVgqtbO0wdaepnXRkS0HCPvt7xWPL-k7pPlhhAPFyV8kcjhQAM7mTr6to1-VDLq0WoIug2GNf7AaGPNEbrg/w400-h300/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(43).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Although
our attention was captured by the constant climbing, and the views that were
promised by our elevated position, the smaller things also vied for attention –
like the huge banana slugs slowly slithering across the trail!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7p4NfkNANIlfMXCPijYKSRR8udqy-m2yaZsBiig9LKitNJhDDBwsO8kquvfgaMHTNtxzFYpWKwZox4URVTy7rUUVs7izq9yhesGr2qiXkR356hHUYSb6Q_W3emu1SWUyWY77UJ5fxqC3emGZqOb7eyYeoVfbI46oRZqK9YSSlp8zLBq4g77X6wza5RQ/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(24).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7p4NfkNANIlfMXCPijYKSRR8udqy-m2yaZsBiig9LKitNJhDDBwsO8kquvfgaMHTNtxzFYpWKwZox4URVTy7rUUVs7izq9yhesGr2qiXkR356hHUYSb6Q_W3emu1SWUyWY77UJ5fxqC3emGZqOb7eyYeoVfbI46oRZqK9YSSlp8zLBq4g77X6wza5RQ/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(24).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixj7sWyPHLlWOf-W_S7jC9IqQwQfwGdi9sKMy03OhxqCrAdxV-Epv6zMg-qrSpX3X0jtv89EHvusxxWaz65sITQM8fMTCDuW-CYAdgsOuWxphEHFGkym-O8sRhnbF486LBY8GUX1Fn5t9_YnxbK9l89tqYGjLrNjF-c_-NEie6RCFk33UjeazDW5XGIg/s3657/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(25).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2441" data-original-width="3657" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixj7sWyPHLlWOf-W_S7jC9IqQwQfwGdi9sKMy03OhxqCrAdxV-Epv6zMg-qrSpX3X0jtv89EHvusxxWaz65sITQM8fMTCDuW-CYAdgsOuWxphEHFGkym-O8sRhnbF486LBY8GUX1Fn5t9_YnxbK9l89tqYGjLrNjF-c_-NEie6RCFk33UjeazDW5XGIg/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(25).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxQrvvVYs7ekZH-XBlu5Hg2dC3be5I_-OK6C5-ORWOliiOzZ7uiyF7BxiHrLRxc-D3lWbyRwpgm7IvFKS0a7KG1arhaLoVZabiCByc-OnpB_vYju2-XxgT-6xyHzEmaqQelMWyPsg7bu3gyEtckT3OYbpziKo9NHa3z7Bhyiz4hclm3nSpZ50GEK5Gw/s3110/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(26).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Common Ravens birds Trans Canada Trail BC." border="0" data-original-height="2076" data-original-width="3110" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxQrvvVYs7ekZH-XBlu5Hg2dC3be5I_-OK6C5-ORWOliiOzZ7uiyF7BxiHrLRxc-D3lWbyRwpgm7IvFKS0a7KG1arhaLoVZabiCByc-OnpB_vYju2-XxgT-6xyHzEmaqQelMWyPsg7bu3gyEtckT3OYbpziKo9NHa3z7Bhyiz4hclm3nSpZ50GEK5Gw/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(26).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Above us a pair of Bald Eagles perched in a tree, their
plaintive, keening voices carrying through the still, expansive landscape.<span> </span>They were joined by the distant calls of a
group of Common Ravens whose voices echoed across the hills around us.<span> </span>A little farther along we came to a pair of
these elegant looking and highly intelligent black birds arguing with each
other over a morsel of food.<span> </span>Somehow
their voices seemed to be an inseparable part of this landscape.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrqu-YtLNr9DhSYTsryRMvL_NYdHyZjGp1An4L8L8pp_ax_xvNH4QeV-_6cpfBiV-D1oNDixtbfmFob6RuY1gK71yRfmHPwn9Y_CL4wFAZoTtV40kSUnRFHu9Oi6ouJC1_MdHxGpnI3NQz3UmWnHMaq5FQW8gtka7_pw5-O_sxBxoyRtX3qier1b0Ug/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(27).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrqu-YtLNr9DhSYTsryRMvL_NYdHyZjGp1An4L8L8pp_ax_xvNH4QeV-_6cpfBiV-D1oNDixtbfmFob6RuY1gK71yRfmHPwn9Y_CL4wFAZoTtV40kSUnRFHu9Oi6ouJC1_MdHxGpnI3NQz3UmWnHMaq5FQW8gtka7_pw5-O_sxBxoyRtX3qier1b0Ug/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(27).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_swLk5wkGi6MaZ4d22FMMajEah7xvkE7lz3KqdbJHqd9hn0xVzYHZpSYZew3wcmzS0pIy0vSq7VTXBegyKrKXswuhQQR-Onp7mir2fCiVBV8jmcqgaEnUp4iG6dL71FVxzgjWVyTiU9MaewAcX7Yt09C6uTLBtEM0I5E5qeMVnmnzSofbOSQ7axnJA/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(33).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sonya Richmond hiking Great Trail BC." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_swLk5wkGi6MaZ4d22FMMajEah7xvkE7lz3KqdbJHqd9hn0xVzYHZpSYZew3wcmzS0pIy0vSq7VTXBegyKrKXswuhQQR-Onp7mir2fCiVBV8jmcqgaEnUp4iG6dL71FVxzgjWVyTiU9MaewAcX7Yt09C6uTLBtEM0I5E5qeMVnmnzSofbOSQ7axnJA/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(33).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLOTlbhklehED31IUhasWYQIFwJXtyim9lNdXWF31bsxAR6XcYTZHPZnrBNCAjrjXEb8gVogQy0ozCLy8bYplHE8s0IoxCV8Kz6qIgxOhWczf1G7BUS17Fwf8HMr4zSj-7oMIzDYTNTUOzHeIJlhaqYEQMAMEpLBIHTpdleR9JxBHTdyGxuMazUVgOw/s3751/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(34).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2813" data-original-width="3751" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLOTlbhklehED31IUhasWYQIFwJXtyim9lNdXWF31bsxAR6XcYTZHPZnrBNCAjrjXEb8gVogQy0ozCLy8bYplHE8s0IoxCV8Kz6qIgxOhWczf1G7BUS17Fwf8HMr4zSj-7oMIzDYTNTUOzHeIJlhaqYEQMAMEpLBIHTpdleR9JxBHTdyGxuMazUVgOw/w400-h300/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(34).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLadlxnimJ1fTrwOG7zNCKuShGF4hXPHlhgp8YEj2ixqntuIUup76CWtDN677TGCd7WGbQM3v9rFIl0SrsNmfR1gj4URwZveb9sxsFQeuVkxZQP5Sd8h06In-E8hUWxrKilbKtnrSEzDrBo34snr3ghhac3a5GQyk0m7yb-WnsNxq6xVXfowKVofWRwA/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(36).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLadlxnimJ1fTrwOG7zNCKuShGF4hXPHlhgp8YEj2ixqntuIUup76CWtDN677TGCd7WGbQM3v9rFIl0SrsNmfR1gj4URwZveb9sxsFQeuVkxZQP5Sd8h06In-E8hUWxrKilbKtnrSEzDrBo34snr3ghhac3a5GQyk0m7yb-WnsNxq6xVXfowKVofWRwA/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(36).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLzHdkjkgWb-C9UACnsN3S09FAt415WzxmGbWZZnW-n4xyxlMsNcm5w6C0I6OMnlzZAB356PzUHhdwXoMCA_6wEwD37Gvc4IiXqPO51HRremBdH39kFtqDpidVSYecfMsQDNumBX9jRyE_T3pMA1sNXrzCaH26-TMv6nk6fCmfKAIPaMP72cOHgPJuQ/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(39).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLzHdkjkgWb-C9UACnsN3S09FAt415WzxmGbWZZnW-n4xyxlMsNcm5w6C0I6OMnlzZAB356PzUHhdwXoMCA_6wEwD37Gvc4IiXqPO51HRremBdH39kFtqDpidVSYecfMsQDNumBX9jRyE_T3pMA1sNXrzCaH26-TMv6nk6fCmfKAIPaMP72cOHgPJuQ/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(39).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We crossed the paved road, which seemed to lead up into a neighbourhood of large and well spaced homes that must have enjoyed fantastic
views.<span> </span>At this point the trail began
switch-backing in earnest.<span> </span>As we made
our way steadily up the Malahat Ridge we soon began to enjoy stunning views out
over the Juan de Fuca Strait towards the <b><a href="https://olympicpeninsula.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.</a></b><span> </span>Across a blanket of thick fluffy clouds that
hovered over the waterway below us, the snow capped peaks of a mountain range
poked up, appearing in great detail.<span> </span>It
was impossible not to take a few moments to admire the stunning scenery.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tJk46FbbxiWxj7mmzjDuPbaK5M7uJFdE61vBn8QSAQMrDblR_AOq8IepWMWo9zLPVNcD8ozKwfjFxxTv26gXvzwY4fTsuvgWLR-fOU9sjDtEexRbWlG5RL8ZV78XZBXNwxyd_HcaG1lqvpgpm4d_tGoJiRwNNy-XdRQXGEZRspza5-FnROt8HRtALg/s5863/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(45).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5863" data-original-width="3915" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8tJk46FbbxiWxj7mmzjDuPbaK5M7uJFdE61vBn8QSAQMrDblR_AOq8IepWMWo9zLPVNcD8ozKwfjFxxTv26gXvzwY4fTsuvgWLR-fOU9sjDtEexRbWlG5RL8ZV78XZBXNwxyd_HcaG1lqvpgpm4d_tGoJiRwNNy-XdRQXGEZRspza5-FnROt8HRtALg/w268-h400/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(45).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VwfCyAI9kJj-TUfr72hSxULdkRAAhuHZyzKuinOVjqFv6O0BmevPgbW0I3eZt0cl4zc6GCYImIh4xPvNkIeV2Z99yVsC_9k_8dS6sBi7tqOT1MjUnAUEkbewIp1EYvycrCgP1cNUfcdOOSfoeQJK_RJfNic81rzlsz52dreC-AAcMh6sQFsW2cEAIw/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(47).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VwfCyAI9kJj-TUfr72hSxULdkRAAhuHZyzKuinOVjqFv6O0BmevPgbW0I3eZt0cl4zc6GCYImIh4xPvNkIeV2Z99yVsC_9k_8dS6sBi7tqOT1MjUnAUEkbewIp1EYvycrCgP1cNUfcdOOSfoeQJK_RJfNic81rzlsz52dreC-AAcMh6sQFsW2cEAIw/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(47).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjjn9iQ15kDmJdoPgEQukOwBsZWGwGG3UOxDJQHYm9onXQ6B9kExRspbYtV1dqjMqpVxYsCFDyPOSSAmJ_GQOKGfSPvFWEa1miQfUAt79QT4AXLGoHXleY0zSO8Rsua7a5HznBN7JJGEEp3HklTdQvZLJD_npq1F_np2LKnp8qA3y4UO0ggBE7xjzIg/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(51).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjjn9iQ15kDmJdoPgEQukOwBsZWGwGG3UOxDJQHYm9onXQ6B9kExRspbYtV1dqjMqpVxYsCFDyPOSSAmJ_GQOKGfSPvFWEa1miQfUAt79QT4AXLGoHXleY0zSO8Rsua7a5HznBN7JJGEEp3HklTdQvZLJD_npq1F_np2LKnp8qA3y4UO0ggBE7xjzIg/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(51).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmneKJGRVRF5jiU08FFaQNRxSJi4k4nnCJzaJBFAIvKh2F_lDc1m6DSIfUNtq4mudwXCJsbzxhA4x7JklYCVd0RQbhm5FD7y-eTDMKuHmXoqTXrhbBMLtDXDt42fyjBqPh4V12wf244pba2MFr1KRC6KFGZ861eVZj-R4M9qcEuOzFBEfRustsQGImRg/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(52).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmneKJGRVRF5jiU08FFaQNRxSJi4k4nnCJzaJBFAIvKh2F_lDc1m6DSIfUNtq4mudwXCJsbzxhA4x7JklYCVd0RQbhm5FD7y-eTDMKuHmXoqTXrhbBMLtDXDt42fyjBqPh4V12wf244pba2MFr1KRC6KFGZ861eVZj-R4M9qcEuOzFBEfRustsQGImRg/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(52).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we emerged onto the road again we had a choice – to follow
the cycling route on the paved surface of the road, or to divert onto a narrow
footpath that continued to climb steeply up a forested ridge.<span> </span>We decided to keep true to the walking trail,
and soon found ourselves scrambling up a very steep slope.<span> </span>Patches of trees were interspersed with tall
grasses and large exposed boulders.<span> </span>As
we huffed and puffed our way up the hill the phone rang.<span> </span>It was my father, asking about final
arrangements to come meet us Victoria, BC the day after tomorrow!<span> </span>This was extremely exciting news, but I felt
a little like Walter in ‘The Secret Life of Walter Mitty’ when he tries to
answer his phone while climbing in the Himalayas and says ‘I’m gonna keep this
short. I have to make oxygen choices.’</span><b style="font-family: inherit;"> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQ6OLlc2lmCV18nFbhrXA4Z1ySGoEWp_dUb-neY5caY0YomfXIC5IwWFFqKqM4DQ13nHxvWktj0EwIDh9mS7c3ai7V9OspuvyrAQb_ITnnW2ySGIF4wWN4yrx_pzXCWBUEPwNXw0NmykYhmEL0qTsiKpib4qMY4TH4dLOxVEMgoFyHCQRz8FAIyCHTQ/s650/Walter%20Mitty%20oxygen%20choices.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="650" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQ6OLlc2lmCV18nFbhrXA4Z1ySGoEWp_dUb-neY5caY0YomfXIC5IwWFFqKqM4DQ13nHxvWktj0EwIDh9mS7c3ai7V9OspuvyrAQb_ITnnW2ySGIF4wWN4yrx_pzXCWBUEPwNXw0NmykYhmEL0qTsiKpib4qMY4TH4dLOxVEMgoFyHCQRz8FAIyCHTQ/w466-h245/Walter%20Mitty%20oxygen%20choices.jpg" width="466" /> </a></div></b><b style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Walter Mitty "Oxygen Choices" </span><br /></div></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After our short, steep scramble we emerged onto an open
plateau from which the views were truly spectacular.<span> </span>It felt like we were perched on top of the
world, looking down on a landscape partially hidden by the clouds below us.<span> </span>Slowly, we continued on down the forested gravel
trail, soon passing through a set of tall red metal gates outside a water
treatment plant and coming to a welcome sign for the <a href="https://www.crd.bc.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-trails/find-park-trail/sookehills-wilderness" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Sooke Hills Wilderness Regional Park.</b> </a></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiVGnVEYNs_u1fTALJ6noXBlRx58UgmVfE1bu8lCRGE9BX6_Ap8PuLyCXkWwcAFmQ46GEsFaMyn_XMI6DPvDSEnK3IEHD_OsaL5GouAdqtunIwdXWCQI9-u9U4yH1NMFaL2E8zM4hCaBYo4eYO6TWIlM772t6GsyGckZIWLCDwzCLij11zOvmXJE14w/s3339/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(56).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sean Morton and Sonya Richmond on Great Trail." border="0" data-original-height="2504" data-original-width="3339" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLiVGnVEYNs_u1fTALJ6noXBlRx58UgmVfE1bu8lCRGE9BX6_Ap8PuLyCXkWwcAFmQ46GEsFaMyn_XMI6DPvDSEnK3IEHD_OsaL5GouAdqtunIwdXWCQI9-u9U4yH1NMFaL2E8zM4hCaBYo4eYO6TWIlM772t6GsyGckZIWLCDwzCLij11zOvmXJE14w/w400-h300/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(56).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASLG480u74DnQErtcPz6Vu6q6q7bvyCG7EhdQB25tKjQ1H1q-sEY1bbLnsC7bimIEafLCc4RJ-Yksol4JRnL_zs6cQp_pCes71KZU11igD28GVbjtOg9cOQkva8WhTLIWmeEv6w_PmpXRcy1NT0HqgpNWLQfl7qFRlgHc0Yo3RMCC8nkJ1stmQK0i0A/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(58).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASLG480u74DnQErtcPz6Vu6q6q7bvyCG7EhdQB25tKjQ1H1q-sEY1bbLnsC7bimIEafLCc4RJ-Yksol4JRnL_zs6cQp_pCes71KZU11igD28GVbjtOg9cOQkva8WhTLIWmeEv6w_PmpXRcy1NT0HqgpNWLQfl7qFRlgHc0Yo3RMCC8nkJ1stmQK0i0A/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(58).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszVg7Trvj_BZ9H8qfJYdmF9AU6WusfmXg1FmskqB-eBEBDrex_TW047TlnQ6tUvQBWQLeAUcrcrRgPmDHua2Mu0-8jlSAaoTdmBteK2EQAYyY6dIzDiwjzsleSBsPWzHcaAUBGPPP3sN9Jfj4DLR8OLDnmHKPz7H8f-Ubs6cG_aCSwiA6X46PQc_hwg/s5832/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(60).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1714" data-original-width="5832" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszVg7Trvj_BZ9H8qfJYdmF9AU6WusfmXg1FmskqB-eBEBDrex_TW047TlnQ6tUvQBWQLeAUcrcrRgPmDHua2Mu0-8jlSAaoTdmBteK2EQAYyY6dIzDiwjzsleSBsPWzHcaAUBGPPP3sN9Jfj4DLR8OLDnmHKPz7H8f-Ubs6cG_aCSwiA6X46PQc_hwg/w640-h188/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(60).JPG" width="640" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Sooke Wilderness Park consists of two separate parts
that are located on either side of the Goldstream catchment, and it provides a
buffer to the Greater Victoria Area water supply catchment.<span> </span>The 13 km of trail in the park offer fantastic
opportunities for hiking, cycling, and in places horseback riding, but they are
classified as challenging, partially because they include grades of up to 16%
and immersion in wilderness.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTWwkig6eEIv8l3PMe7DPXVAfr_n1MX8dJVeF8_zpC7swgN1dJT9WMPDZ4Qgty2ShgTOeYnRqgmdptpy1T-Z7gnw7RY-TG3J57mtjfLgZCAc8zNYpE6wJmdEHRa3XkLPBUUGhIo5TETzNdsR-RMiM6P82R8dPrpglaQXqKBTTyfvyLRJb6Nle-gUZDA/s3323/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(62).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2218" data-original-width="3323" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTWwkig6eEIv8l3PMe7DPXVAfr_n1MX8dJVeF8_zpC7swgN1dJT9WMPDZ4Qgty2ShgTOeYnRqgmdptpy1T-Z7gnw7RY-TG3J57mtjfLgZCAc8zNYpE6wJmdEHRa3XkLPBUUGhIo5TETzNdsR-RMiM6P82R8dPrpglaQXqKBTTyfvyLRJb6Nle-gUZDA/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(62).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXjdqQ3J0BSMUb839INVKzA9CRdIkH1QWKRanxGSKwuQX9_dek6ILw2ZULIFCLdcZsGfBRMkoJP_CKSmDynf5x3mtWW6qRZMp6FcsePMhmHHI8TSqfCWrgTLzysPQCnLir-C8MMlaYXZBhRUam8za1wYnyi28GF9ojk-1BlBqDvIQivXrJ2pKssgtWQ/s5293/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(64).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5293" data-original-width="3533" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvXjdqQ3J0BSMUb839INVKzA9CRdIkH1QWKRanxGSKwuQX9_dek6ILw2ZULIFCLdcZsGfBRMkoJP_CKSmDynf5x3mtWW6qRZMp6FcsePMhmHHI8TSqfCWrgTLzysPQCnLir-C8MMlaYXZBhRUam8za1wYnyi28GF9ojk-1BlBqDvIQivXrJ2pKssgtWQ/w268-h400/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(64).JPG" width="268" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We followed the steep and winding wide gravel pathway
through the woods, taking note of signs warning of ‘limited visibility’ and
‘avoid excessive speed’ on the steep slopes.<span>
</span>Although we were already in the outskirts of the Greater Victoria Area,
we felt like we were immersed in remote wilderness. Enormously tall trees
bordered the trail on both sides, and no sounds of civilization reached us among
the lush, mossy, forested, rolling hills. I am not sure we have ever approached
a larger city in Canada in such a natural region or beautiful fashion!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCqZ1Hy2u2yni2jkw7gcDl-T1unEcg3VC6W32lryUmmF5lqDOuHjo0Ml6Ki5dc57ZjtR_SeoUaP14CIzdW6_CsuGVDij-KmRBf-JkzHcMuIDL_NO6Yi_msyXX-4ZRoCvoujJx5IOG9lcy-imSgBanaHc7olBA49BVzRyY_RxW9LiO19ySsIjhKNE_ug/s4875/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(65).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4875" data-original-width="3254" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCqZ1Hy2u2yni2jkw7gcDl-T1unEcg3VC6W32lryUmmF5lqDOuHjo0Ml6Ki5dc57ZjtR_SeoUaP14CIzdW6_CsuGVDij-KmRBf-JkzHcMuIDL_NO6Yi_msyXX-4ZRoCvoujJx5IOG9lcy-imSgBanaHc7olBA49BVzRyY_RxW9LiO19ySsIjhKNE_ug/w268-h400/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(65).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XX8WeLGJ0rtlxMLr1jgkznhsEK1DCWqaRgwFtdR3fs9nHeZaAbyeanKEODtNnTJkgYA9U9eOB3_IOPuCUUkJ8dukQmPKBSbFyHfUtLmzI_rrpQ0X4-1ErVea6AvzHGF08_FvIeOZwdFbMcLOEaGGqGSYSpPzayHCs6qSFqg5JdEsEXV4Hd4seFxIcw/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(66).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4XX8WeLGJ0rtlxMLr1jgkznhsEK1DCWqaRgwFtdR3fs9nHeZaAbyeanKEODtNnTJkgYA9U9eOB3_IOPuCUUkJ8dukQmPKBSbFyHfUtLmzI_rrpQ0X4-1ErVea6AvzHGF08_FvIeOZwdFbMcLOEaGGqGSYSpPzayHCs6qSFqg5JdEsEXV4Hd4seFxIcw/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(66).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbC2lpj7Wh0qYIvXYpvOrgAJH31CQ7GTAMgaDO9vaSdFQ4KhA1B4dLR3jCEjyb9w3sqRencjZe_QUaKld8R9b9SXgFNIlAU2EQ0YikGpZaPgpM5XNGk1UAVMGEODCJCM_nEAHEhHevd3W2XwqKbUShQrgZuEUd1e8bf1z-7WfAEWgxbEloeFPBPZ-Gw/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(67).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnbC2lpj7Wh0qYIvXYpvOrgAJH31CQ7GTAMgaDO9vaSdFQ4KhA1B4dLR3jCEjyb9w3sqRencjZe_QUaKld8R9b9SXgFNIlAU2EQ0YikGpZaPgpM5XNGk1UAVMGEODCJCM_nEAHEhHevd3W2XwqKbUShQrgZuEUd1e8bf1z-7WfAEWgxbEloeFPBPZ-Gw/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(67).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UNycAllXOV4D8WEQVUB8pdrXCigKlMlCsPvHtktfnZbSolzyRpqSoV-2jDKFVB_yZwQlVQxhjiqp2LkDhIwXof3lPRxOWkKtM5Yx2FhGlwywFz-NgeCHgFB9WbPqE0OIB3G4QM1cc-lRKAZPEqD3iHu36a4BipvkHv5WtNFW1qidq-fNBXbP7zFEiw/s5519/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(69).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Giant Pacific Coast trees Come Walk With Us TCT." border="0" data-original-height="5519" data-original-width="3685" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0UNycAllXOV4D8WEQVUB8pdrXCigKlMlCsPvHtktfnZbSolzyRpqSoV-2jDKFVB_yZwQlVQxhjiqp2LkDhIwXof3lPRxOWkKtM5Yx2FhGlwywFz-NgeCHgFB9WbPqE0OIB3G4QM1cc-lRKAZPEqD3iHu36a4BipvkHv5WtNFW1qidq-fNBXbP7zFEiw/w268-h400/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(69).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvw3YltzCGAgpG87ahYuetTiU4FLacQ607zizHNBM-vgLHMWuTO4GWEPtg-dGrNOBKWss55vCZztiFTTWGZhr11or4JhP66vDPwOslaPtQZb_GGKn9mnp326loCcR45WSFXl-7Xc89Bk1D6BW4HWbGHdzFvYZcyEO08TUgZapN034J4G5JM3XwCmym3Q/s5787/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(70).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3863" data-original-width="5787" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvw3YltzCGAgpG87ahYuetTiU4FLacQ607zizHNBM-vgLHMWuTO4GWEPtg-dGrNOBKWss55vCZztiFTTWGZhr11or4JhP66vDPwOslaPtQZb_GGKn9mnp326loCcR45WSFXl-7Xc89Bk1D6BW4HWbGHdzFvYZcyEO08TUgZapN034J4G5JM3XwCmym3Q/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(70).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After a few kilometres of trekking through this
larger-than-life landscape, we were in for a huge treat!<span> </span>A burst of silent, soft movement flashed
through our peripheral vision, bringing us to a sudden stop.<span> </span>At first we couldn’t tell where the movement
had come from, or even be sure we hadn’t just imagined it.<span> </span>Even though we both kept a sharp lookout as
we proceeded cautiously around a curve on the trail we were only a few meters
away when we suddenly spotted a lovely Barred Owl perched on a branch
overhanging the path<b>!</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b> </b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5nr2nxsTRhuS5jn_AQNdWv4S4LqEdRQtWoAYISW7Ybq4cEVsDmPDdskdmqRNy4p__-XplvOqaZIt0qzt8maz7TEcul0eZVWeUMOquGcDepQ_p0mgLMeLlSnnX0r5WCfgg01duBx_g0OMoxDFgIRWHvTpfBEVq0JCwTMO5CU5wAAK3ksQ0yUiG_C66Q/s4029/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(72).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Barred Owl Trans Canada Trail British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="4029" data-original-width="2689" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5nr2nxsTRhuS5jn_AQNdWv4S4LqEdRQtWoAYISW7Ybq4cEVsDmPDdskdmqRNy4p__-XplvOqaZIt0qzt8maz7TEcul0eZVWeUMOquGcDepQ_p0mgLMeLlSnnX0r5WCfgg01duBx_g0OMoxDFgIRWHvTpfBEVq0JCwTMO5CU5wAAK3ksQ0yUiG_C66Q/w268-h400/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(72).JPG" width="268" /></a></div></b></span><b style="font-family: inherit;"> <br /></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We crept along, trying to give it space and avoid disturbing
it.<span> </span>When we felt we were a respectable distance
away Sean got out his zoom lens and took a few photos.<span> </span>As we watched, the majestic owl suddenly
huddled up, pulled its head in, ruffled it feathers, and then abruptly coughed
out a pellet!<span> </span>The look of disgust on its
feathered face afterwards when it screwed shut its eyes and shook its head was
priceless.<span> </span>Perhaps it was a little gross,
but what a rare moment in the life of an owl to witness in nature!</span><b style="font-family: inherit;"> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"> </b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQLA81cNT8SAaDlYSM5rrGzrOIUYvQ73lcs7uPL7On01OsTa8rbsn0ikjVaXKgImfZjrqi8SA85DzZw9XP7TgAOWoYEB6SMdmUyjje7Jeym_CnyWGpI-rSiL1y5fm9epwiJO5I2dIRRFUspkaNRwPIbBAvmp3LucqBItTl-idvZzV-O3Pbqm4Tf6l3Q/s4348/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(76).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4348" data-original-width="2903" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQLA81cNT8SAaDlYSM5rrGzrOIUYvQ73lcs7uPL7On01OsTa8rbsn0ikjVaXKgImfZjrqi8SA85DzZw9XP7TgAOWoYEB6SMdmUyjje7Jeym_CnyWGpI-rSiL1y5fm9epwiJO5I2dIRRFUspkaNRwPIbBAvmp3LucqBItTl-idvZzV-O3Pbqm4Tf6l3Q/s320/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(76).JPG" width="214" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH28f8TzE1NOAjCZ9GEF0oi1lNmnKo1tCS8hbx0kUhLtRIpmuA-4bopFq7ihBAGaNqfCVhmZd-hdWComsYnWNOUBrVtglpX82LofbPsQA6TAif3XieANoZB99rVY3mHvaiXyxVnuAlcQpo1V7MEOZ5BDAFDUXwqA8I_0tu5f7gmamZ_P1p5NrNLRdn4Q/s4239/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(79).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4239" data-original-width="2830" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH28f8TzE1NOAjCZ9GEF0oi1lNmnKo1tCS8hbx0kUhLtRIpmuA-4bopFq7ihBAGaNqfCVhmZd-hdWComsYnWNOUBrVtglpX82LofbPsQA6TAif3XieANoZB99rVY3mHvaiXyxVnuAlcQpo1V7MEOZ5BDAFDUXwqA8I_0tu5f7gmamZ_P1p5NrNLRdn4Q/s320/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(79).JPG" width="214" /></a></div></div><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Mx-Og-LrAGL9VcgQJ77rWBwmQnBi3B61Ba8kEaKaY3HsWu23ydeUl4Txj_bNTNQGV1EOxKyb_tmT6FGGMEnBgdxsCoATTIWvqDBcNF_k0cA0Gyv8XTKJpRGCipYVAWsk1LPQ8CKXPZy2SHrYnv6WP45Z9Ha8jJEY1oVJGj4ttoto_c1idft3AUjKUA/s4609/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(80).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Barred Owl Great Trail hiking path British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="3077" data-original-width="4609" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Mx-Og-LrAGL9VcgQJ77rWBwmQnBi3B61Ba8kEaKaY3HsWu23ydeUl4Txj_bNTNQGV1EOxKyb_tmT6FGGMEnBgdxsCoATTIWvqDBcNF_k0cA0Gyv8XTKJpRGCipYVAWsk1LPQ8CKXPZy2SHrYnv6WP45Z9Ha8jJEY1oVJGj4ttoto_c1idft3AUjKUA/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(80).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Filled with excitement by this very special encounter, we
set off down the trail once again.<span> </span>Soon
we arrived at the 41 m suspension bridge over the Goldstream River.<span> </span>The crossing felt relatively stable as we
made our way along, 6 m above the waterway, which resembled a small stream more
than an active river.<span> </span>The waterway got
its name during a mini gold rush in the 1860’s, when it was dubbed Gold Stream.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just past the suspension bridge was a small wooden viewing platform
overlooking a tiny waterfall in Waugh Creek.<span>
</span>It was a wonderfully mossy spot, with very beautiful scenery, but the
stream was almost completely hidden by the dense vegetation surrounding
it.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCNwGy_y2cLt8WNtZcSTIfXS6hDNs3ZmoTxgQWrmerb6eBBq500FRVMuEyie0HTLGt4CGAsIMST1c4yfcUbQwVBICVnkNH1wxfJQDNXZMS8DORCRggjSowjCdrcCXj65IXRU7Fv-FvL1Cs6xhHRBAmhrd6ujDVKYAO4kpFMq_8eDQUseKwgRpZR-7sA/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(81).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCNwGy_y2cLt8WNtZcSTIfXS6hDNs3ZmoTxgQWrmerb6eBBq500FRVMuEyie0HTLGt4CGAsIMST1c4yfcUbQwVBICVnkNH1wxfJQDNXZMS8DORCRggjSowjCdrcCXj65IXRU7Fv-FvL1Cs6xhHRBAmhrd6ujDVKYAO4kpFMq_8eDQUseKwgRpZR-7sA/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(81).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sGu6R9TDLYzFG7UCXRYigWklScSQyQtvam98oeKIEuycfGPyTaCgwQXALs8pewFuCdHVPMzIxd5TXICP6vbsBF0vqPPx5NI8RB9IN5tb9bQuoVgGGPTCGMEOGYUEQYji45hoWwrJ6VNjAogG33F5NYfBFWWGa1FoDkLPuaSDn2ugvfr9YReuPfaO3Q/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(82).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9sGu6R9TDLYzFG7UCXRYigWklScSQyQtvam98oeKIEuycfGPyTaCgwQXALs8pewFuCdHVPMzIxd5TXICP6vbsBF0vqPPx5NI8RB9IN5tb9bQuoVgGGPTCGMEOGYUEQYji45hoWwrJ6VNjAogG33F5NYfBFWWGa1FoDkLPuaSDn2ugvfr9YReuPfaO3Q/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(82).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTuNOOV_ru7bWBFvraaChrjV4e88gR9-TR60TAYCad16XAG6J_V38xUS7GFKj57EECEdenRn1MIcPK0HHjTjyIB2zZZeSpTinGEisLTNQbUb7YBFBj_waxZ0T4ZhLwOhyH3YNvXJ605H_LMuTWJAU9u9_5GUxyDbKp0OVzYeMYNzeKXe5R-xmIbGyQw/s4394/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(84).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TCT Sookie Hills Wilderness Area BC." border="0" data-original-height="2934" data-original-width="4394" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTuNOOV_ru7bWBFvraaChrjV4e88gR9-TR60TAYCad16XAG6J_V38xUS7GFKj57EECEdenRn1MIcPK0HHjTjyIB2zZZeSpTinGEisLTNQbUb7YBFBj_waxZ0T4ZhLwOhyH3YNvXJ605H_LMuTWJAU9u9_5GUxyDbKp0OVzYeMYNzeKXe5R-xmIbGyQw/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(84).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0JsK8RtZsq18qd7bbVgavjuL2INyrvE5X-6W99S1uFIpBzXRJYYESmBlhmWZzaxbe8RND5I8g3gdWy_NI_rR6vnzdYeyzzWrqYD8UfUkoL3_SnIryS6qv5AXa3nQ2KJmBGmA4lrrkcdCESqqetSgpY8twBmGaNwZ_D0jLRG__Smrru-hg21j4MI9sw/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(85).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo0JsK8RtZsq18qd7bbVgavjuL2INyrvE5X-6W99S1uFIpBzXRJYYESmBlhmWZzaxbe8RND5I8g3gdWy_NI_rR6vnzdYeyzzWrqYD8UfUkoL3_SnIryS6qv5AXa3nQ2KJmBGmA4lrrkcdCESqqetSgpY8twBmGaNwZ_D0jLRG__Smrru-hg21j4MI9sw/w268-h400/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(85).JPG" width="268" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCVsUAtcHzAYYY9n3uR-iiddr-puOKvHV5EPDv3cgzHmR9AeTCdk2NeAvdhOX2AUBQuAva8SzgFcbWMGS0xkoHbswpPImtYcpSSdonefeSEKbIx5oSe7SPJkc7MpQz45IkGHItgOZEsSMHS8aq1Wk7sXosF5dkGOLCYrc_iKkoMu4aEhFnXwM3FlvWg/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(87).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCVsUAtcHzAYYY9n3uR-iiddr-puOKvHV5EPDv3cgzHmR9AeTCdk2NeAvdhOX2AUBQuAva8SzgFcbWMGS0xkoHbswpPImtYcpSSdonefeSEKbIx5oSe7SPJkc7MpQz45IkGHItgOZEsSMHS8aq1Wk7sXosF5dkGOLCYrc_iKkoMu4aEhFnXwM3FlvWg/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(87).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpj2BTgIK-XUZs5FkruwBakxCoud4V7Ycgw5jQ3opX1_hdEoW8twLL8wJ8NMxxeBd7V7CFZnQHX8DRx2cXeQZLUtxpm3OcMfLJJ17BjlAEOayk__Q7U2bp3zm5tL5FNt1JCb2aiyFCA7QFPRNet7CnM1e_EJG_z6MT52puvuK28CJiRST12HSEw20nUg/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(86).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpj2BTgIK-XUZs5FkruwBakxCoud4V7Ycgw5jQ3opX1_hdEoW8twLL8wJ8NMxxeBd7V7CFZnQHX8DRx2cXeQZLUtxpm3OcMfLJJ17BjlAEOayk__Q7U2bp3zm5tL5FNt1JCb2aiyFCA7QFPRNet7CnM1e_EJG_z6MT52puvuK28CJiRST12HSEw20nUg/s320/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(86).JPG" width="214" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCVsUAtcHzAYYY9n3uR-iiddr-puOKvHV5EPDv3cgzHmR9AeTCdk2NeAvdhOX2AUBQuAva8SzgFcbWMGS0xkoHbswpPImtYcpSSdonefeSEKbIx5oSe7SPJkc7MpQz45IkGHItgOZEsSMHS8aq1Wk7sXosF5dkGOLCYrc_iKkoMu4aEhFnXwM3FlvWg/s320/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(87).JPG" width="214" /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> <br /></span></span></div></div></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Not long after this point we came to an obstacle that had
been causing us some worry throughout the day.<span>
</span>We knew that a trail closure lay ahead which was the result of a recent
landslide and an unstable slope.<span> </span>Since
there wasn’t really any official route around the obstruction, we had been
desperately hoping we would be able to make our way around it on the abandoned
railway tracks.<span> </span>Luckily for us, the
‘closure’ was nothing more than a slightly damp 50 m section of trail at the
foot of a slide, and it was clear many people had walked and ridden their bikes
straight through it on the abandoned railway tracks.<span> </span>We very happily followed in their footsteps
and easily made our way around the obstacle.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZ_t4aiq-YUttsXvCGudoyUPvt1Ozm9l79hDfEdL_5GsBtFkYlnmuyuUFIiLnD7MZ223hw6GGS5ZVwGeafdoYPIWabuxyKqCaRgmRu5Dbz_t7GIjwObHgIM9kAkLrlOrJ6ctlF62ytBiTX4nhUIxYy8tNsXJ91jeskHIS6JKLLkHJFMxM4j4DcB-14w/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(89).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZ_t4aiq-YUttsXvCGudoyUPvt1Ozm9l79hDfEdL_5GsBtFkYlnmuyuUFIiLnD7MZ223hw6GGS5ZVwGeafdoYPIWabuxyKqCaRgmRu5Dbz_t7GIjwObHgIM9kAkLrlOrJ6ctlF62ytBiTX4nhUIxYy8tNsXJ91jeskHIS6JKLLkHJFMxM4j4DcB-14w/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(89).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0oJRTcvUR-WZvGMsUj_LE8U0gKwMYywNeY8Ap9fQqJhE1QN3jgy79ba7vI1zyCFVCOEHNp7_wv9Utr3QqhXqMMRsuwWa3KVBawryEtEuB53a-74D3sYLbOklBC1xRvxxdS2eZIoz_mmjjdbERaPkx_AQJzEfcEqKbgyz-z3u9_xFhnkJ-W2hbZ849w/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(91).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0oJRTcvUR-WZvGMsUj_LE8U0gKwMYywNeY8Ap9fQqJhE1QN3jgy79ba7vI1zyCFVCOEHNp7_wv9Utr3QqhXqMMRsuwWa3KVBawryEtEuB53a-74D3sYLbOklBC1xRvxxdS2eZIoz_mmjjdbERaPkx_AQJzEfcEqKbgyz-z3u9_xFhnkJ-W2hbZ849w/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(91).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vfmELyyweRA75GRJ4TBh1icl7ygpbrWyv9l8_HP50ZC-amSEhSyGLEdAosKK-78K-lJc1uVW3B_OF8TFs5iNoQckPnx3uwcqwk6p1Fdzd9pEDrEnae-rP5AdmXBrmwQZLMflOJ7UKgBKmY6VR1dJWgYtRKTgtXRs0cky6GyV_XXzoU8NsODzEdAAUA/s4909/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(92).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3277" data-original-width="4909" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vfmELyyweRA75GRJ4TBh1icl7ygpbrWyv9l8_HP50ZC-amSEhSyGLEdAosKK-78K-lJc1uVW3B_OF8TFs5iNoQckPnx3uwcqwk6p1Fdzd9pEDrEnae-rP5AdmXBrmwQZLMflOJ7UKgBKmY6VR1dJWgYtRKTgtXRs0cky6GyV_XXzoU8NsODzEdAAUA/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(92).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtfbZrWKfPSJ0seW02Lgk5wFIwdWCiuIs5FR2wadbsZy2dKqoe50Lrn6aKmOlZhWx7mCHhUO_YeCytBSY4vjFLWg_KHKQj-WiYsMFsqCXNh7I7bt7tXAIH_NcutuE50nZV1F3tKAtOC4ZwLzq1zNoKbkQUm6YWqmx2n9zhmb1j9Xv5ueh8wjKAUwB4g/s5847/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(93).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3903" data-original-width="5847" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtfbZrWKfPSJ0seW02Lgk5wFIwdWCiuIs5FR2wadbsZy2dKqoe50Lrn6aKmOlZhWx7mCHhUO_YeCytBSY4vjFLWg_KHKQj-WiYsMFsqCXNh7I7bt7tXAIH_NcutuE50nZV1F3tKAtOC4ZwLzq1zNoKbkQUm6YWqmx2n9zhmb1j9Xv5ueh8wjKAUwB4g/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(93).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another section of very hilly, windy trail eventually took
us around the Humpback Reservoir, and then out to a parking lot near the water
filtration plant. The small forested reservoir looked like it could be a good place
for waterfowl, but with the exception of two skittish Mallards at the far side
of it, we didn’t spot any.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yUPSAkg11FfaRBu-E1CYno4FhtmqmPOdx2f_5FLt5NxiKuZsd7o0bmmg6arLkvV39zdk0F2uzUfsvqVEvw9duMRXdThuEYP8C3H-qdaxhc17ob_sJGxLcdMxR4kV_4k9mUYPswY52u1Ei1QO04lHgfHbPN1AQffxyEmBG2UewuST9pk6kJfXs4P0Ew/s5076/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(94).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5076" data-original-width="3388" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4yUPSAkg11FfaRBu-E1CYno4FhtmqmPOdx2f_5FLt5NxiKuZsd7o0bmmg6arLkvV39zdk0F2uzUfsvqVEvw9duMRXdThuEYP8C3H-qdaxhc17ob_sJGxLcdMxR4kV_4k9mUYPswY52u1Ei1QO04lHgfHbPN1AQffxyEmBG2UewuST9pk6kJfXs4P0Ew/w268-h400/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(94).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5ot2jETmAtXNQhWQzNaBE6TGXt_UVDNtYZq6EF9TQ6rokEVljtncnPnQPZoR_XFKkRxiQ12i9iK-EJ1Hh4pN3IQ45B8BCmgcjQ5BQgu4EeN1oQ6obbrt0xSYJuT8fSdsZwXYYJfpJHmQI_vdy4rP2Qf9LlGCSGmUdyuXoU46OLAr4wkVHUQi8VQOEA/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(95).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5ot2jETmAtXNQhWQzNaBE6TGXt_UVDNtYZq6EF9TQ6rokEVljtncnPnQPZoR_XFKkRxiQ12i9iK-EJ1Hh4pN3IQ45B8BCmgcjQ5BQgu4EeN1oQ6obbrt0xSYJuT8fSdsZwXYYJfpJHmQI_vdy4rP2Qf9LlGCSGmUdyuXoU46OLAr4wkVHUQi8VQOEA/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(95).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCavP2S9eG1ECw7uIHe2yFFeMNYf_8y_lTIt8v2TVSvlupukpsYJh0Dvrx3tiZggEMemMqlfRn-cpUv6WfonBqlB71BT9niNIuu7SjApRuwQHcfX3VOaOOofAA-fefWHuW7vsw-LB97-vAhSIIR5sUpjN1KCCx-2qnq4_gvRWxCxkvc8b-yl9ZSaMQ1Q/s4032/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(96).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCavP2S9eG1ECw7uIHe2yFFeMNYf_8y_lTIt8v2TVSvlupukpsYJh0Dvrx3tiZggEMemMqlfRn-cpUv6WfonBqlB71BT9niNIuu7SjApRuwQHcfX3VOaOOofAA-fefWHuW7vsw-LB97-vAhSIIR5sUpjN1KCCx-2qnq4_gvRWxCxkvc8b-yl9ZSaMQ1Q/w400-h300/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(96).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEVzwNnvCvBpCxR5I8KJixQyGxtGu3hwYyFywmvSau7t_ZSC0vP2ast3g2r_QvAoqMwMo7Yxc1cIw-oWZ0usIxSuRBMmEAl5WCQ4HAqDqXxnlrBiMY9Y-dTukxoD1BBM3QzzR4oo8gM89tdz9rtHjaDnLsVKLZk8BzSlktFkslhMDIu5YH6FStPZMYw/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(97).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vancouver Island Trails sign TCT BC." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEVzwNnvCvBpCxR5I8KJixQyGxtGu3hwYyFywmvSau7t_ZSC0vP2ast3g2r_QvAoqMwMo7Yxc1cIw-oWZ0usIxSuRBMmEAl5WCQ4HAqDqXxnlrBiMY9Y-dTukxoD1BBM3QzzR4oo8gM89tdz9rtHjaDnLsVKLZk8BzSlktFkslhMDIu5YH6FStPZMYw/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(97).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">An historic plaque by the water treatment plant informed us
that the land we were standing on had once been occupied by a 30 acre farm
owned by the Payne family.<span> </span>Their house,
which was called ‘Mountain View’ enjoyed a spectacular view of nearby Mount Wells.<span> </span>From 1913-1915 the house became a social hub
for the workers who were building the reservoir.<span> </span>Although the house no longer stands, the reservoir
and mountain are now part of a huge protected area which acts as a buffer for
Victoria’s drinking water supply.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZVibNePZwJfT8cRh_lDSSyyAkC2juGkLgnUq_EY1nrjB3kONtpMy70jtJEGAHSok5h2W9Sd8L6MLeERPzYSJ7f99UCbSZeIsAjgjLSD2nOQNHDA4IP9dqZnp-0CAmhA42w1ND0p733VZzH2IRmbP3HI3qq_8Z_BOsp5GNT7nZYil0DigKuula26N9Q/s3088/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(99).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2061" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZVibNePZwJfT8cRh_lDSSyyAkC2juGkLgnUq_EY1nrjB3kONtpMy70jtJEGAHSok5h2W9Sd8L6MLeERPzYSJ7f99UCbSZeIsAjgjLSD2nOQNHDA4IP9dqZnp-0CAmhA42w1ND0p733VZzH2IRmbP3HI3qq_8Z_BOsp5GNT7nZYil0DigKuula26N9Q/s320/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(99).JPG" width="214" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyfhC3FufnwCNQ1u_DBvW7QN8tUsBm6UrLLF-sSUXclXExKdyxLRpunbPa4xHf1qX8qM3zIbV2SRUPxwJ2r9aMyFSniRVbGyZjtqx85B-0dxZSoXUEYSfh29e9IovBFo6YmBACvg5Ihb8es5jLKHoVZF--Z50gdBOMoqgtycWUAv9Avn0tcRNOqTNqw/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(98).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Your Trail Your Journey TCT." border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyfhC3FufnwCNQ1u_DBvW7QN8tUsBm6UrLLF-sSUXclXExKdyxLRpunbPa4xHf1qX8qM3zIbV2SRUPxwJ2r9aMyFSniRVbGyZjtqx85B-0dxZSoXUEYSfh29e9IovBFo6YmBACvg5Ihb8es5jLKHoVZF--Z50gdBOMoqgtycWUAv9Avn0tcRNOqTNqw/w214-h320/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(98).JPG" width="214" /></a></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZioW-QKRpWYwSiGZix46kK5_uuXKZ3ZSRGjhtm1XzZo0iJ0RF-lpX-ZAN4WGm22WCB3Y2ySr5VJXtYuI-RxIAx1DzPTv9lP0T1koxl7HU5iCcQhHm4qrCaGrmNTaSxM_uVMMXKit9tf9ux-OkFKDzEHFAfAGm6oa2WoT5TZhGOya6ATjRYb8drTbKoA/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(100).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZioW-QKRpWYwSiGZix46kK5_uuXKZ3ZSRGjhtm1XzZo0iJ0RF-lpX-ZAN4WGm22WCB3Y2ySr5VJXtYuI-RxIAx1DzPTv9lP0T1koxl7HU5iCcQhHm4qrCaGrmNTaSxM_uVMMXKit9tf9ux-OkFKDzEHFAfAGm6oa2WoT5TZhGOya6ATjRYb8drTbKoA/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(100).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDOs-jD3vUHXYsWwSo-c6d8UQ2HxvyHm9fC-HS6nUoFw4W1qyEy-Ci6TRgfUFTE1rxPzgsjJ4LCZb2RCEgxtPOvy5rBxpr9ZuHCioi3saqo6IzOO7Epfx76M5AT51IjD08bPLSVc3dN422Kmcs5ZvgysBBsMzrtErgQUh6-63LMC-8R7T0Q_Xz-cE1w/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(101).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDOs-jD3vUHXYsWwSo-c6d8UQ2HxvyHm9fC-HS6nUoFw4W1qyEy-Ci6TRgfUFTE1rxPzgsjJ4LCZb2RCEgxtPOvy5rBxpr9ZuHCioi3saqo6IzOO7Epfx76M5AT51IjD08bPLSVc3dN422Kmcs5ZvgysBBsMzrtErgQUh6-63LMC-8R7T0Q_Xz-cE1w/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(101).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEiCnKiPXNddOndIMJeXHI3dzdc6YRbzCFOivwV12p7pKloUEbBxe1oBRJNuE-Z6pWAK9IV2bhPw2wnJ9YFz2nZ5pmL52MlyvmXOUsoCmbgdkxWbYAegWS2Gg8B_04Ooftkq1GuOL10cO40izy_NWkiFpTaYf6K_EoYV828DE17FQLUtGwTi1ER_iMA/s6016/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(103).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEiCnKiPXNddOndIMJeXHI3dzdc6YRbzCFOivwV12p7pKloUEbBxe1oBRJNuE-Z6pWAK9IV2bhPw2wnJ9YFz2nZ5pmL52MlyvmXOUsoCmbgdkxWbYAegWS2Gg8B_04Ooftkq1GuOL10cO40izy_NWkiFpTaYf6K_EoYV828DE17FQLUtGwTi1ER_iMA/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(103).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The parking area was also the trailhead for the Summit Trail
through the 123 hectare Mount Wells Regional Park.<span> </span>This wilderness area sits on the edge of the
strangely named ‘Sea to Sea Green Blue Belt’ Apparently the 325 m summit offers
spectacular views over <b>Juan de Fuca
Strait</b>, Victoria, and the Sooke Hills.<span>
</span>As it had been a very long day already, we didn’t stop to check it out.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIWbfS1ivu-3PkaNJFzJIlSQKrFMfviRIrGzrg5isouvgFWmtDx7khuhVjyT_Au9Mwk0MwxpuTXGvchDipEel2LIQ4Pu5fj77lmsB-EEQu0QYSKjSeMLx9USxQ_ujxtcKbdCjHwmNPNQ9aIQpiU_84Bf3HUPjLAibksO6pPCHrin06Acy9v5dOUuQwg/s5130/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(104).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Langford Victoria BC." border="0" data-original-height="3424" data-original-width="5130" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIWbfS1ivu-3PkaNJFzJIlSQKrFMfviRIrGzrg5isouvgFWmtDx7khuhVjyT_Au9Mwk0MwxpuTXGvchDipEel2LIQ4Pu5fj77lmsB-EEQu0QYSKjSeMLx9USxQ_ujxtcKbdCjHwmNPNQ9aIQpiU_84Bf3HUPjLAibksO6pPCHrin06Acy9v5dOUuQwg/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(104).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Instead, we followed the road into the outskirts of <a href="https://langford.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Langford</b></a>.<span> </span>Even so close to the end of our hike, we
found construction, when the sidewalk was partially closed during construction
of a new neighbourhood.<span> </span>We soon diverted
into a forested area on a paved cycling route, which took us past the <a href="https://www.jordielunnbikepark.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Jordie Lunn
Bike Park</b>,</a> and along the edge of the<b> </b>Langford Gravity Zone and Nature Park. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGybpxHr4o5P-9BVt9KDYyfR3VdVt83zHF9LDUSfDZCVwNmEh0nTJmkE1yqrmVSkEsdi_6ZzEIq8msDjTPzHbQX55cam4hex0iZWxC-NUvGZD5iriTN3y-UCZiV1kiR7Grq4wxCKj1ejJsu6-wVwook6FBD2hb3K1v6m4ZObTGNVYj9h4hrNPqS-Z2Vw/s4527/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(106).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Langford British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="3022" data-original-width="4527" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGybpxHr4o5P-9BVt9KDYyfR3VdVt83zHF9LDUSfDZCVwNmEh0nTJmkE1yqrmVSkEsdi_6ZzEIq8msDjTPzHbQX55cam4hex0iZWxC-NUvGZD5iriTN3y-UCZiV1kiR7Grq4wxCKj1ejJsu6-wVwook6FBD2hb3K1v6m4ZObTGNVYj9h4hrNPqS-Z2Vw/w400-h268/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(106).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Gk4J1nx8OzAqcjLZZyK5JLkov-Cm1l-SI0JAAJHf_DhtVfYPKVFKeAgBydsmwTR2THj3FO7fWBSpZsWLvStUmDfN_4_B0UNFsluVO8CnKpskFV4FV0b1_crV3Kr_VI_oPLg_xD05JCuJWUfImEr465yPTxt8YBMP5okrEMitJanlA_bKO-yjYxGfIA/s2252/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(110).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Galloping Goose Rail Trail E&N TCT BC." border="0" data-original-height="2252" data-original-width="1504" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Gk4J1nx8OzAqcjLZZyK5JLkov-Cm1l-SI0JAAJHf_DhtVfYPKVFKeAgBydsmwTR2THj3FO7fWBSpZsWLvStUmDfN_4_B0UNFsluVO8CnKpskFV4FV0b1_crV3Kr_VI_oPLg_xD05JCuJWUfImEr465yPTxt8YBMP5okrEMitJanlA_bKO-yjYxGfIA/w268-h400/Shawnigan%20Lake%20to%20Langford%20to%20blog%20(110).JPG" width="268" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As the light began to fade, we made our way along the
cycling trail that wove onward through several parks and green spaces.<span> </span>As we walked to the hotel in the gathering darkness
the realization hit us – we have now reached the outskirts of Victoria.<span> </span>The end of what once seemed like an incomprehensibly
long east-west journey is now so very, very close. Only about 25 km away in fact.<span> </span>It is a completely surreal feeling!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tomorrow we will - fittingly for a #Hike4Birds - follow the <b><a href="https://www.gallopinggoosetrail.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Galloping Goose Trail </a></b>into Victoria!<br /></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tonight will be filled with lots of reminiscing, lots of old
stories, and lots of memories.<span> </span>Time and
distance have flown past so quickly since Cape Spear and St. John’s
Newfoundland.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_kWCVISfZpu6E6VUvrDIvygwOiTBVrJ57Uzp_r7fETVyVym7Y8zRgsTf_s9MeYf6rsOKIWrueonNLmUUcrWs3zKzSbAlsaDSsjPsI1SNk6MJ74d8Lh5kL-TzHiV8HyRUID5rcbeRBXxuCqDxylBlp62y1uZaikELuVio58hNGu1_9yBSDVtyseEcmg/s3264/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Great%20Trail%20NFLD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Come Walk With Us Trans Canada Trail NFLD." border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="3264" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_kWCVISfZpu6E6VUvrDIvygwOiTBVrJ57Uzp_r7fETVyVym7Y8zRgsTf_s9MeYf6rsOKIWrueonNLmUUcrWs3zKzSbAlsaDSsjPsI1SNk6MJ74d8Lh5kL-TzHiV8HyRUID5rcbeRBXxuCqDxylBlp62y1uZaikELuVio58hNGu1_9yBSDVtyseEcmg/w400-h300/Come%20Walk%20With%20Us%20Great%20Trail%20NFLD.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>St. John's NFLD, 2019 Day 1 Trans Canada Trail</i><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div></span></span>See you on the trail!
<p class="MsoNormal">Remember to follow our entire adventure here : <a href="https://www.comewalkwithus.online/"><b>www.comewalkwithus.online</b></a></p>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><p style="text-align: left;">
</p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Langford, BC V9B, Canada48.447462599999987 -123.495633720.137228763821142 -158.65188369999998 76.757696436178833 -88.3393837tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-69285454255423272562023-03-05T01:48:00.015-05:002023-03-10T19:42:00.706-05:00Returning Eastward : Lake Cowichan to Shawnigan Lake <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday we walked 30 km west to Cowichan Lake, and today
we walked 38 km back east down the long, narrow Cowichan Valley, completing
what will be our last major eastward push on our 'westward' trek across Canada
on the <a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Trans Canada Trail.</b></a><span><a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> </a> </span>After a short and restless night we were up
and ready to head out into the frosty morning air by 7 am.<span> </span>Each morning now it feels like winter is
drawing one step closer, and during our brief stop at<a href="https://www.timhortons.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <b>Tim Hortons</b></a> for a breakfast of coffee and muffins a friendly and
talkative fellow patron assured us that today it wouldn't rain - it would snow
instead.<span> </span>As it turned out there was no precipitation
until much later in the day - something we were very grateful for.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2pPsqeGp4Q9vXK_2h2A7npXeizm6nVIYrdijwlSlrPJKEkgqHE53GRPbCu_2dmX_X4EriVK0qx_GcVmMHwIc8SDG_qA3yJkugsAUenE_dzVxoKOqxzg8tuCqPOjY4F_L2rl5PSaEWyoxUm8Sm9BP5t16ebWWoKFRNvjWI4PKfKaBtUHu_WTCG_m34w/s3908/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(1).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Western Terminus Trans Canada Trail." border="0" data-original-height="2609" data-original-width="3908" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2pPsqeGp4Q9vXK_2h2A7npXeizm6nVIYrdijwlSlrPJKEkgqHE53GRPbCu_2dmX_X4EriVK0qx_GcVmMHwIc8SDG_qA3yJkugsAUenE_dzVxoKOqxzg8tuCqPOjY4F_L2rl5PSaEWyoxUm8Sm9BP5t16ebWWoKFRNvjWI4PKfKaBtUHu_WTCG_m34w/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDbAqgPZDpsbeFdusTqOI_ib6g0rn-_DXxSB9w4yJA6Dfgd-y41X83CxM_-VP1-LXQ6HPf7IQ6jYB4A66W2tfTSoPd2m7mV5EEghPmSVNFkIJjjJfUpP-rZd5U2lAA2_-L0TfjG0TiHw1mFO1AO7BcyJ_z0qv4W4xbLj44_9I1hyj-Z9d54R3stlgXQ/s5858/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(2).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Vancouver Island BC." border="0" data-original-height="3911" data-original-width="5858" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimDbAqgPZDpsbeFdusTqOI_ib6g0rn-_DXxSB9w4yJA6Dfgd-y41X83CxM_-VP1-LXQ6HPf7IQ6jYB4A66W2tfTSoPd2m7mV5EEghPmSVNFkIJjjJfUpP-rZd5U2lAA2_-L0TfjG0TiHw1mFO1AO7BcyJ_z0qv4W4xbLj44_9I1hyj-Z9d54R3stlgXQ/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(2).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1D_5L1kHqd_rZwaBJnJthocN7Mw7wY8taVkCH3kvrsCvnxmeN4jCWmyUBxHBLuO-RnjEVVP7XKFOjSKZOnbDzgwQpuglDPf6ufG653t6DCyAWh-AHuHWm_HdJhE7QEIxOSvcuueWS9LAkHzDxtM9JnPIcqpgVHctjDPMpQiubRuxSme6i1BiH9Xh2A/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(3).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS1D_5L1kHqd_rZwaBJnJthocN7Mw7wY8taVkCH3kvrsCvnxmeN4jCWmyUBxHBLuO-RnjEVVP7XKFOjSKZOnbDzgwQpuglDPf6ufG653t6DCyAWh-AHuHWm_HdJhE7QEIxOSvcuueWS9LAkHzDxtM9JnPIcqpgVHctjDPMpQiubRuxSme6i1BiH9Xh2A/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(3).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We retraced our steps through the small and charming town,
enjoying a gorgeous sunrise of light pinks and yellows above the surrounding
mountains.<span> </span>As we crossed the wooden pedestrian
trestle bridge over the famous Cowichan River, a delicate mist was rising from
the dark waters below us. <span>This
heritage river flows east from its headwaters at Cowichan Lake, over the Skutz
Falls, and through Marie Canyon before reaching Cowichan Bay. It lies at
the centre of <a href="https://bcparks.ca/cowichan-river-park/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Cowichan River Provincial
Park</b>,</a> which is home to hundreds of animal species, including a native and
endangered Vancouver Island ermine, as well as over 200 species of birds.
During the summer, the park is a popular spot for swimming, canoeing,
white-water kayaking, tubing, fishing, camping, and hiking.</span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4b7v9O2teBFOS8emQkEUkL21gGwBj6gpIYDfX_Oyv2fzNGzWwO6JL8genbaDdg_GFKZRAJxlav4aeWMfD2mcVjfeAFEk8sj2hW8n3XSH6s_yVoIJSOv6cw7dflHVitHmzpkPEjTiKz90h6unQ2KlTsPdhMAbGihmOKp0KCLgJB5x1V785TWKvm8nilA/s4406/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(5).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2941" data-original-width="4406" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4b7v9O2teBFOS8emQkEUkL21gGwBj6gpIYDfX_Oyv2fzNGzWwO6JL8genbaDdg_GFKZRAJxlav4aeWMfD2mcVjfeAFEk8sj2hW8n3XSH6s_yVoIJSOv6cw7dflHVitHmzpkPEjTiKz90h6unQ2KlTsPdhMAbGihmOKp0KCLgJB5x1V785TWKvm8nilA/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(5).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7VF7AhqnbRgJn_IN6u0Zeeq5yGD2PNmCSQUo-SP9FsZKHEs82qmfAhaFVkBCrVKkid5qoXz06uyacdrxnGoocWZ154HqpzhezYS7ekiYv9vHzQ792rM4lPYcuqFqDSZcqsqAEzbnJdI_svIiRwFc89YO0Gabz_AHcPI7F027EuV6H-mgyYrSEVXZFg/s5299/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(6).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3537" data-original-width="5299" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7VF7AhqnbRgJn_IN6u0Zeeq5yGD2PNmCSQUo-SP9FsZKHEs82qmfAhaFVkBCrVKkid5qoXz06uyacdrxnGoocWZ154HqpzhezYS7ekiYv9vHzQ792rM4lPYcuqFqDSZcqsqAEzbnJdI_svIiRwFc89YO0Gabz_AHcPI7F027EuV6H-mgyYrSEVXZFg/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(6).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8oukADehWkTGRyJYiw10ZNE19RoRVTIPefEe_OMOk8GBiBOhmFtLbpAmwIUStjA1mn7zfqRBVgcEd88QjFwNiBRLtDCJWk30PHfjenMg3ejzan8xiyceKaGFDxB6R4yHztP4sYopJ96M6fSUcJKi7Qg4WTPqotSdZuXiT2jcFUwutn14ZllWOoh6gw/s4218/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(7).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2816" data-original-width="4218" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj8oukADehWkTGRyJYiw10ZNE19RoRVTIPefEe_OMOk8GBiBOhmFtLbpAmwIUStjA1mn7zfqRBVgcEd88QjFwNiBRLtDCJWk30PHfjenMg3ejzan8xiyceKaGFDxB6R4yHztP4sYopJ96M6fSUcJKi7Qg4WTPqotSdZuXiT2jcFUwutn14ZllWOoh6gw/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(7).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MnjdrVoX0Y7cJG6Wzje2xU0A0p8I03aCBi1JKK-dLMR7lTyyrxVWuS-4-blktW7g09IDakhc3WjKlisgLwQRza2E7bvHfvlc3V7SwiyeEwHw_kW0DEuH4SkaylRNepxBvsXQrUfqCxMsU8gW02lPxWTpURqKi3Fh1DnQQ5DIS7Pa4COW6d1QRSbLBA/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(8).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cowichan Valley Trail sign Vancouver Island TCT." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2MnjdrVoX0Y7cJG6Wzje2xU0A0p8I03aCBi1JKK-dLMR7lTyyrxVWuS-4-blktW7g09IDakhc3WjKlisgLwQRza2E7bvHfvlc3V7SwiyeEwHw_kW0DEuH4SkaylRNepxBvsXQrUfqCxMsU8gW02lPxWTpURqKi3Fh1DnQQ5DIS7Pa4COW6d1QRSbLBA/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(8).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A short jaunt through quiet city streets quickly brought us
back to the treed corridor of the <b><a href="https://www.cvrd.ca/121/Cowichan-Valley-Trail" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cowichan Valley Rail Trail.</a></b><span> </span>For much of our eastward trek today the wide,
flat, gravel rail trail followed the river, and unlike yesterday, we were close
enough to see the water at several points today.<span> </span>For example, about an hour into our walk, we
crossed over the 70.2 Mile Trestle Bridge.<span>
</span>The wooden footbridge spanned not only the main Cowichan River, but also
a restored side channel.<span> </span>Off-channel
areas such as side channels, wetlands, and alcoves form naturally during stream
migration, and they provide essential spawning and rearing habitat for coho and
chum salmon, as well as cutthroat trout.<span>
</span>They also provide flood relief, and wintering habitat for a variety of
different fish species.<span> </span>The 2.5 km long
side-channel at the 70.2 Mile Trestle was formed in 1990 from an oxbow in the
river after a major winter flooding event. Restoration work was done in 1993 to
ensure that adequate water flow fed the oxbow to provide high quality fish
habitat, and the channel now has the capacity to support 20,000 coho smolts,
800 steelhead smolts, and tens of thousands of chum fry every year.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLT_MkWnE6sNFi5X8YldYCPk2d_cjW5qbO8PwVcFQqnG84ouw5Vte4qTdwTKcTqCD3rDeKHSq-cypNJbDH-NKhofLYhiG4IrYiVC0rOn8W1zNPU1EJ7vkkXQydONh1DyRam4EV6ds_FcFTFeNwpeUw96rqYQgZZbSeQtpw5W1RHTHSulf3IVmM5Ykew/s4595/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(9).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3067" data-original-width="4595" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLT_MkWnE6sNFi5X8YldYCPk2d_cjW5qbO8PwVcFQqnG84ouw5Vte4qTdwTKcTqCD3rDeKHSq-cypNJbDH-NKhofLYhiG4IrYiVC0rOn8W1zNPU1EJ7vkkXQydONh1DyRam4EV6ds_FcFTFeNwpeUw96rqYQgZZbSeQtpw5W1RHTHSulf3IVmM5Ykew/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(9).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHISVHdgxzcVoUqoQTfdLQTEzdDUVvkzRgzhTqJ2HKPD97sK_M52NxtOIAv7uae47XvFVSaaFsv026uwuvrKUG3juK193vWz3Gzn6diw8qokl4_gfrnAQDQel-jr9nQjbKg2t6mF-5yvYqiKwsjUCX0vVmyfJuFWca5wg-01B31yGLbUjNtcBH9q40GA/s3459/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(10).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2309" data-original-width="3459" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHISVHdgxzcVoUqoQTfdLQTEzdDUVvkzRgzhTqJ2HKPD97sK_M52NxtOIAv7uae47XvFVSaaFsv026uwuvrKUG3juK193vWz3Gzn6diw8qokl4_gfrnAQDQel-jr9nQjbKg2t6mF-5yvYqiKwsjUCX0vVmyfJuFWca5wg-01B31yGLbUjNtcBH9q40GA/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(10).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYQVQj9ChBZFbgdaSn7Qq7cDyCIQ4qlpyDeRosQ2rTNprbq6f6cTTQAvx1JtbP8RD74XDSsAZ7nLCQE0sw4-4GeKYQbQBgdt6lRJ0TKhZyT_UBUoKgx25M5VBtj2AlxA1F9auSnHReMhwV_e8Zi129DYmncp8R8hvyAM01C8KbS0FR2459CAAicU2wQ/s3513/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(13).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Cowichan Valley BC." border="0" data-original-height="2345" data-original-width="3513" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYQVQj9ChBZFbgdaSn7Qq7cDyCIQ4qlpyDeRosQ2rTNprbq6f6cTTQAvx1JtbP8RD74XDSsAZ7nLCQE0sw4-4GeKYQbQBgdt6lRJ0TKhZyT_UBUoKgx25M5VBtj2AlxA1F9auSnHReMhwV_e8Zi129DYmncp8R8hvyAM01C8KbS0FR2459CAAicU2wQ/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(13).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We continued down the wide, flat rail trail, walking through
a tunnel of greenery, seemingly always advancing towards the light ahead.<span> </span>As the golden light of the sun began to set
the forest aglow, we stopped often to admire the lush green moss that festooned
the branches and stumps of the rainforest around us, and to soak up the
peaceful, quiet, atmosphere exuded by the enormously tall trees around us.<span> </span>Soon we crossed the boundary into the
Cowichan River Provincial Park and came to the parking lot for the Skutz Falls
Day Use area.<span> </span>It was full of cars, and a
steady stream of more visitors was arriving to enjoy the beautiful
morning.<span> </span>A network of footpaths led off
from parking area, but although we were tempted to explore the falls area, we
had a long walk today and didn't feel like we could take the time to deviate.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoIhzJBzCveU3symoxW4fX9aYN8BQNts2tO6BcAyhRh_xz9WSfAknHrTppUsf2RUpTu3N-JNRGDJehNSFGy2FrWDN0Ynq6vXAHd6hhWicBYPEZjtzWorzyJoRc5C6-ssMiy743JqEgk23tYEicu1qxfomgihD6uLd3FAlABJYJ4gG6MEeeiXc3PUPdw/s4324/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(15).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Great Trail forest pathway British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="2886" data-original-width="4324" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdoIhzJBzCveU3symoxW4fX9aYN8BQNts2tO6BcAyhRh_xz9WSfAknHrTppUsf2RUpTu3N-JNRGDJehNSFGy2FrWDN0Ynq6vXAHd6hhWicBYPEZjtzWorzyJoRc5C6-ssMiy743JqEgk23tYEicu1qxfomgihD6uLd3FAlABJYJ4gG6MEeeiXc3PUPdw/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(15).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZu2Lk-42u-Ma1WSKjSANiyHmRHSgBkb3t0Ozr-np2yuMIPG2H1oY11Sh4DFb5kqoTajUcwbYDHqB1yV1iyP2GsnNU5Ka77ccuWhjQ8iiUT69p3969E6Wxoy8Dk8HvbjtOC-g88e1H5JKd9-aaWSeLpsz5rO-aPRRXbqXUHjB7V4FrC-njRhvMLEsyYQ/s4032/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(16).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZu2Lk-42u-Ma1WSKjSANiyHmRHSgBkb3t0Ozr-np2yuMIPG2H1oY11Sh4DFb5kqoTajUcwbYDHqB1yV1iyP2GsnNU5Ka77ccuWhjQ8iiUT69p3969E6Wxoy8Dk8HvbjtOC-g88e1H5JKd9-aaWSeLpsz5rO-aPRRXbqXUHjB7V4FrC-njRhvMLEsyYQ/w300-h400/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(16).jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQn2yfzwpNBr-4kDwTHezdU9MR6YYlQgWjsIM8coUT0dSXISgLDCjWR35skSbr8HS7h6P6vNeZqEbT1CgXgJ4uov5GaAxWOIc5ohRmKq3nT-1Ql9Sccubb3fjYxfgTWYZM3SRj2_mVvIYlx18wGxOJOTcIQvnFN9aTSqXf2t3AElKHrIuCMFUiXLHZQ/s5033/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(17).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3359" data-original-width="5033" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQn2yfzwpNBr-4kDwTHezdU9MR6YYlQgWjsIM8coUT0dSXISgLDCjWR35skSbr8HS7h6P6vNeZqEbT1CgXgJ4uov5GaAxWOIc5ohRmKq3nT-1Ql9Sccubb3fjYxfgTWYZM3SRj2_mVvIYlx18wGxOJOTcIQvnFN9aTSqXf2t3AElKHrIuCMFUiXLHZQ/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(17).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgz7itvbrL2aTYhhVRTHWbuSA0A_2Dyz83jP2plfTfvqHDc5AoiU09fONDHYHlDOf_mvfuxO_QierjoD54gDYz1JF_YJPdKkZEQt67RHWK-9HRJVhfqCKCFzW9kSxTJV8c8CO-X_U5RiIjUbED7NFPJqNSjLe4FcbP3XhEud4Auaq2enmx0zVkHvgnjw/s3818/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(19).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2549" data-original-width="3818" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgz7itvbrL2aTYhhVRTHWbuSA0A_2Dyz83jP2plfTfvqHDc5AoiU09fONDHYHlDOf_mvfuxO_QierjoD54gDYz1JF_YJPdKkZEQt67RHWK-9HRJVhfqCKCFzW9kSxTJV8c8CO-X_U5RiIjUbED7NFPJqNSjLe4FcbP3XhEud4Auaq2enmx0zVkHvgnjw/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(19).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBOKkswg4X_inx8LM__8muXEizgE3M1jq60HTG4SFJqmAbC5783wKZHd8o4nzCLTjhlnuv3lcl5DxfGfqlOkUxkyKrSYzvfsF0_04Zi5sy52iResxDDZW6PNO6UaDwEanBrAijKp_OxSyg7QQwA-MwXK1A9uEyiwibT7O3N5msuq_vQ4RTjB_BTR8JA/s4236/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(20).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cowichan Provincial Park TCT path BC." border="0" data-original-height="2828" data-original-width="4236" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBOKkswg4X_inx8LM__8muXEizgE3M1jq60HTG4SFJqmAbC5783wKZHd8o4nzCLTjhlnuv3lcl5DxfGfqlOkUxkyKrSYzvfsF0_04Zi5sy52iResxDDZW6PNO6UaDwEanBrAijKp_OxSyg7QQwA-MwXK1A9uEyiwibT7O3N5msuq_vQ4RTjB_BTR8JA/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(20).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Soon we arrived at the 66 Mile Trestle, which spanned the
deep river canyon high above the swirling blue waters of the river.<span> </span>We took a break at the picnic tables located
beside the river, listening to the rush of the nearby water as we sat under the
tall trees.<span> </span>A couple of fishermen were
on the bridge, scouting the waters from above, and when we eventually crossed
the wooden trestles we could also spot several huge salmon spawning in the fast
moving waters far below.<span> </span>More
impressively, humans weren't the only ones out fishing on the river this
morning.<span> </span>As we sat at the picnic tables
a pair of Bald Eagles flew low overhead, following the course of the river and occasionally
emitting one of their distinctive keening calls.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfSPozBpsj2K89KG3m9zOqIdcg16je_SKWngOuidBXNDtfyC0NihX9ol0qBHq-JMg8vo-KXN8laycO_blzEk0gtooUERVo0TJt7NQKhESnoj_LMU_DJVF7attfQr4k2dY6_-g_Q7mGIuPg4RcNJSarz_1kNuKnW3sbWyzN4FxL6pIOlloS1oVe0MJqw/s4032/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(23).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Come Walk With Us Cowichan Valley BC." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfSPozBpsj2K89KG3m9zOqIdcg16je_SKWngOuidBXNDtfyC0NihX9ol0qBHq-JMg8vo-KXN8laycO_blzEk0gtooUERVo0TJt7NQKhESnoj_LMU_DJVF7attfQr4k2dY6_-g_Q7mGIuPg4RcNJSarz_1kNuKnW3sbWyzN4FxL6pIOlloS1oVe0MJqw/w400-h300/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(23).jpg" width="400" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrE09nHPrqzrOZPBoG-UDUY9_CTDS4NFfCZ-_Jb7ArsiG59O6qRSb6Bs8LjxzxJXhwIw6-alrO37sccUpvlwPE7_cuKVdZlm7oozV96jJwPCXVInZplgItnvaLBzsNTJfZz0tNldcOp0nG2W_EHoguaGJ1E9DyRoURmI_ivK6Ki5lgmk5TNJeGNwBZAg/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(21).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Great Trail river crossing British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrE09nHPrqzrOZPBoG-UDUY9_CTDS4NFfCZ-_Jb7ArsiG59O6qRSb6Bs8LjxzxJXhwIw6-alrO37sccUpvlwPE7_cuKVdZlm7oozV96jJwPCXVInZplgItnvaLBzsNTJfZz0tNldcOp0nG2W_EHoguaGJ1E9DyRoURmI_ivK6Ki5lgmk5TNJeGNwBZAg/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(21).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XIVdbwhAAJHUznVxPlwvK2jNCx3UAN06lQjyRMEY7wdLjH97z8_FcTpah8fY9Mcxj_UgtDzhgmLceAIwqqjyoFguWGu_PytZ-8PzNJjE7pl2jmZVJai-0dYqhAxzFFBtEVrEZn1nEstK-ynb_zE14ttK9BLxNt6j3WPkYoKRAZPxYQbZf0-wLrNa9A/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(25).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XIVdbwhAAJHUznVxPlwvK2jNCx3UAN06lQjyRMEY7wdLjH97z8_FcTpah8fY9Mcxj_UgtDzhgmLceAIwqqjyoFguWGu_PytZ-8PzNJjE7pl2jmZVJai-0dYqhAxzFFBtEVrEZn1nEstK-ynb_zE14ttK9BLxNt6j3WPkYoKRAZPxYQbZf0-wLrNa9A/w268-h400/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(25).JPG" width="268" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimf6dZFQ0Z6hp2hGFGCB1Q_cCIAnHkefcui4uXNSVIqnR09YHucD3VT09nSluJQaP8G7LjsINwuAtm21gN8PycNywobBBWMmzS0V1-KyJ4gjfsc8BAeRiUhEOHL2mkjYN-5B2_TQAEKmjAiTTFi_83aFdYd_RusKIkBQwBiyEA2zuXZObxjciI7heNaA/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(26).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sonya Richmond Trans Canada Trail British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimf6dZFQ0Z6hp2hGFGCB1Q_cCIAnHkefcui4uXNSVIqnR09YHucD3VT09nSluJQaP8G7LjsINwuAtm21gN8PycNywobBBWMmzS0V1-KyJ4gjfsc8BAeRiUhEOHL2mkjYN-5B2_TQAEKmjAiTTFi_83aFdYd_RusKIkBQwBiyEA2zuXZObxjciI7heNaA/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(26).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMNpeuyjClra6kTuvmAs1a80TPl1Z5XkzVCp4O3pq4z8oGq9mtRndkw__XqAWpNLsfV14h5Z76_7THGn27ZUtwPJkjdIVQtFHw9ONGVM2U8EXjIidavUSolo_2LLgu5r8LGB8npMREpvczf5fs3uzttmteNk9pP9pdzvU1v5rFkrJEsy0q9LynqMD3w/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(29).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihMNpeuyjClra6kTuvmAs1a80TPl1Z5XkzVCp4O3pq4z8oGq9mtRndkw__XqAWpNLsfV14h5Z76_7THGn27ZUtwPJkjdIVQtFHw9ONGVM2U8EXjIidavUSolo_2LLgu5r8LGB8npMREpvczf5fs3uzttmteNk9pP9pdzvU1v5rFkrJEsy0q9LynqMD3w/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(29).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">The guidebook had left us slightly concerned about the
condition of the trail in the section that passed through the provincial park,
but to our relief it was in perfect condition throughout.<span> </span>Nevertheless, our progress was somewhat slow
as we repeatedly stopped to take in our surroundings.<span> </span>The rainforest of North America's west coast
is something that defies description.<span>
</span>The trees are on a different scale, much larger than anything we've seen
in the rest of Canada.<span> </span>Some of the tree
species in this area reach heights of 50 - 60 m (roughly the height of a 12-13
story building), and they are more than 100 years old.<span> </span>Until you've stood in the midst of these
forest s, felt the presence of the ancient giants that grow there, inhaled the
fresh, oxygen-rich air, and experienced the vibrant life that bursts forth from
the mosses, ferns, shrubs, and the earth itself, you can't begin to really
imagine what it is like.<span> </span>As we followed
the rail trail through the Cowichan River Provincial Park we were surrounded by
a very beautiful tract of forest, and we couldn't help but stand in awe of
it.<span> </span>We felt like we could be on a
mythical fantasy quest like the one undertaken in<b> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lord of the Rings</a>.</b></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoY7SpQDmFuDr5NU8MTVNFGNIygxLfMe8a1T5u6Ktnp6XBye4IWRR2yhttDL9RdfB8Htcj_mPgzzyBSCknp8uRuizGOFn53ZAGnXFpl88-wO9EHGYM4npozviS9wT7Uvcmv3SHevJv_LLTBGe1gTQHC6aCv-LoSczQ4AvUvSqqssIpDZ8N9X8UiU5rA/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(34).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoY7SpQDmFuDr5NU8MTVNFGNIygxLfMe8a1T5u6Ktnp6XBye4IWRR2yhttDL9RdfB8Htcj_mPgzzyBSCknp8uRuizGOFn53ZAGnXFpl88-wO9EHGYM4npozviS9wT7Uvcmv3SHevJv_LLTBGe1gTQHC6aCv-LoSczQ4AvUvSqqssIpDZ8N9X8UiU5rA/w268-h400/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(34).JPG" width="268" /></a></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitU4x3RS1xDB-gnBcnV11FhI7LBZ_5DUvI8kjU5nHeN1NlB-eoa_yDZSKte3b7MumhnwktbETSQFKWbWx0LVuvsF1BBTr-XafAhAFyZutH9y9VQXEP4JMhBFyegCVv1NPfeIDBnEr1Ahep20N1jXUou5ZBrI6DsS46OR-GWI-4Bdza8kiQD-HIeEIwJw/s5187/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(37).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Cowichan Valley." border="0" data-original-height="3463" data-original-width="5187" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitU4x3RS1xDB-gnBcnV11FhI7LBZ_5DUvI8kjU5nHeN1NlB-eoa_yDZSKte3b7MumhnwktbETSQFKWbWx0LVuvsF1BBTr-XafAhAFyZutH9y9VQXEP4JMhBFyegCVv1NPfeIDBnEr1Ahep20N1jXUou5ZBrI6DsS46OR-GWI-4Bdza8kiQD-HIeEIwJw/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(37).JPG" width="400" /></a></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZORRYQtyGo2zxIbf4RMpjPjF5JPk9g3suGoAQJ8nGsJXJioyZxNkzQAy0RaYsJnoddHJO9sYxJUZ9tU36vRjo0URh3gzz2fWvVfMdMSmVqgKfjIQqSk59pN3QtctVrcL_uvYSJf25eRJda0dlRsAefuWEyPUlyLWpAQpsMZf_ZKBy9Hys3VoqbuU0A/s5488/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(42).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5488" data-original-width="3664" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZORRYQtyGo2zxIbf4RMpjPjF5JPk9g3suGoAQJ8nGsJXJioyZxNkzQAy0RaYsJnoddHJO9sYxJUZ9tU36vRjo0URh3gzz2fWvVfMdMSmVqgKfjIQqSk59pN3QtctVrcL_uvYSJf25eRJda0dlRsAefuWEyPUlyLWpAQpsMZf_ZKBy9Hys3VoqbuU0A/w268-h400/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(42).JPG" width="268" /></a></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGjmJhElmIdhgNpT-xuySbwKzzYiGQY5nZJAYgofvrBGDWAzF_hsVevIZMeVG32jvGbsI8Hb4YQC5-jrn3Aq8d1I6Ss3xZHertdwZDfXB9AenPqCXufb0FKYcBh4qdngFR671yMRHe-eRqk1YgQuPivfNDb0gl8GxEDZQxTBxRB-gJh1D4MoTi937Yw/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(45).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGGjmJhElmIdhgNpT-xuySbwKzzYiGQY5nZJAYgofvrBGDWAzF_hsVevIZMeVG32jvGbsI8Hb4YQC5-jrn3Aq8d1I6Ss3xZHertdwZDfXB9AenPqCXufb0FKYcBh4qdngFR671yMRHe-eRqk1YgQuPivfNDb0gl8GxEDZQxTBxRB-gJh1D4MoTi937Yw/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(45).JPG" width="400" /></a></b></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even though the sunshine was filtering down through the
trees, the air was still crisp and cold, and in the slightly more open sections
of trail a thick layer of frost still coated the grasses, leaves, and
berries.<span> </span>Frost formed in the damp sea
air seems to have a curious density to it, while also forming very long,
feathery, sharp, strands.<span> </span>We stopped
several times to enjoy the patterns it made as it clung to the last of autumn's
plump red berries, and outlined the over- sized deciduous leaves blanketing the
forest floor.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKsDU9ME3JBq3RFvDllHLdoYNqIZxYhxp24HSelfd71Cqnj763whn9JisjKSISSx9DnQg22gfMXqOaBORDUO7cEKRNUqL2UAk6j3A3ATIqwyCgH8-Y4agaY9etghlbyNvTGX7tbsksBULMod13PEhpCuSzsdZFxjhYhGQ_erhuILh1FDKj8azPmFUuA/s4475/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(47).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2987" data-original-width="4475" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNKsDU9ME3JBq3RFvDllHLdoYNqIZxYhxp24HSelfd71Cqnj763whn9JisjKSISSx9DnQg22gfMXqOaBORDUO7cEKRNUqL2UAk6j3A3ATIqwyCgH8-Y4agaY9etghlbyNvTGX7tbsksBULMod13PEhpCuSzsdZFxjhYhGQ_erhuILh1FDKj8azPmFUuA/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(47).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxKwIpmfNJfVPlGML_ZLj17gPdOE6W5BA5BNaLP7Q4uk4Zrr-W-LeKSfH-_DfBYK1KJyMh5k0GJXMFGpzt_qh53RhN66Qlv6QIyBEyW7Uz3UcPSuh3ZHsmKyF9beigZiTZmbi_rqvR2qiriDR4zjvL11cO7rya3OjAEgk8Ytd-QN2aGN_o8mvwwDY_Q/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(49).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxKwIpmfNJfVPlGML_ZLj17gPdOE6W5BA5BNaLP7Q4uk4Zrr-W-LeKSfH-_DfBYK1KJyMh5k0GJXMFGpzt_qh53RhN66Qlv6QIyBEyW7Uz3UcPSuh3ZHsmKyF9beigZiTZmbi_rqvR2qiriDR4zjvL11cO7rya3OjAEgk8Ytd-QN2aGN_o8mvwwDY_Q/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(49).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaWJe639i8qvxXoHbKz0da4OvMP980p6XS12Gep_nrBh-6E9djRz87Sj8Mo3MSV21lJZPnl4hyESpdoW2Y3D3Lzl6Q28F22gpjGZFdo0Ihu8hTu_4weAnr6P5xhVG_luAQDqsvAivTyVQx_wS3XNVmkTvnxj984-LZjlV3XQvOFYhFqLCvMtwlX-RHw/s3788/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(51).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2841" data-original-width="3788" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFaWJe639i8qvxXoHbKz0da4OvMP980p6XS12Gep_nrBh-6E9djRz87Sj8Mo3MSV21lJZPnl4hyESpdoW2Y3D3Lzl6Q28F22gpjGZFdo0Ihu8hTu_4weAnr6P5xhVG_luAQDqsvAivTyVQx_wS3XNVmkTvnxj984-LZjlV3XQvOFYhFqLCvMtwlX-RHw/w400-h300/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(51).jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWY53WhwLkFcvxSJNu5wOyeCMEtEgprOEL50gZOAfrge5erdGtmoeltne8KPNW98WucrioFpbkqyxxQr5W5Ks_rv7R1RU0E1ObRUsRFdpfUtICJSlFwLQZnx-jETzDnLKKtgDbjRtMCMeDf5mPYpHY0mQISiCnMHsj5M1rF5mXgb0N1JXLXGB0CIFx6w/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(52).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail bridge BC." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWY53WhwLkFcvxSJNu5wOyeCMEtEgprOEL50gZOAfrge5erdGtmoeltne8KPNW98WucrioFpbkqyxxQr5W5Ks_rv7R1RU0E1ObRUsRFdpfUtICJSlFwLQZnx-jETzDnLKKtgDbjRtMCMeDf5mPYpHY0mQISiCnMHsj5M1rF5mXgb0N1JXLXGB0CIFx6w/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(52).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Vjbr07e7Lr4vy_FIK4RCyOPO6m3yZe7PmAVUBa101qRBZs0dKkWAxEpmtBcRdhLU2QB-28vqTyTR75QnE_4N_1rDXRS-k2bA0ZCCytKTZa3ad8b88_TokeVOcKbgiW1VhlSv93V1jwq5gC4A9zzpTExrpuDqMw1kNYMWqzuyb3teFeFj0EZbE5P-qw/s4032/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(55).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Vjbr07e7Lr4vy_FIK4RCyOPO6m3yZe7PmAVUBa101qRBZs0dKkWAxEpmtBcRdhLU2QB-28vqTyTR75QnE_4N_1rDXRS-k2bA0ZCCytKTZa3ad8b88_TokeVOcKbgiW1VhlSv93V1jwq5gC4A9zzpTExrpuDqMw1kNYMWqzuyb3teFeFj0EZbE5P-qw/w400-h300/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(55).jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Around 1:30 pm we came to the <b><a href="https://wikimapia.org/16025471/Holt-Creek-Trestle" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Holt Creek Trestle Bridge</a></b>,
causing us to dub this the 'day of trestle bridges.'<span> </span>The Holt Creek Trestle was originally built
by the CPR railway in the 1922, but it was refit by the Trans Canada Trail in
2001.<span> </span>It is now a very impressive bridge,
its wooden supports extending far down into the river canyon below.<span> </span>This bridge is located adjacent to the <a href="https://www.cvrd.ca/210/Glenora-Trails-Head-Park" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Glenora Trails Head Park</b>,</a> which is
considered to be the eastern gateway to the Cowichan River Provincial
Park.<span> </span>The Glenora Trails Head Park is a
small green space tucked into the trees which features parking, a playground, a
small zip line, which was in constant use by a group of enthusiastic children
as we hiked past, a picnic shelter, a washroom building, and a caretaker
residence.<span> </span>Although it was very tempting
to stop for a break, we still had another 15 km or so to hike in order to reach
Shawnigan Lake, and we only had about 2 hours of daylight left, so instead of
stopping we picked up our pace.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9ZtK6gQ3vrTx-Q8_Su28aDbP0wGvRyyu24jlbN5NpFvVBV31jYwSf8qau55Kk42A5HTmZsN9HDCiSQI9uundMf0NKYw68cD1zW7jmwMLVnTL1qCotbhnHPRhTnhUwRxK2jHEUwJaGc5-7A_PH23NcYHil2qn6bsJfeh_pEa5HA21ql8rMidCRsSkcw/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(57).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail forest path BC." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9ZtK6gQ3vrTx-Q8_Su28aDbP0wGvRyyu24jlbN5NpFvVBV31jYwSf8qau55Kk42A5HTmZsN9HDCiSQI9uundMf0NKYw68cD1zW7jmwMLVnTL1qCotbhnHPRhTnhUwRxK2jHEUwJaGc5-7A_PH23NcYHil2qn6bsJfeh_pEa5HA21ql8rMidCRsSkcw/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(57).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJk8raP9y9jXdE1VsaDp9FA9RLWGqc95cVuxC90RahVIv_c50zEwFlxiPdrjweIOAaDhrvBCDjsom-YFM6Qk3r3T2FJJJP591_NqmVjtA4BMLda_D4in7zJSSSO8aj32VErBsCs8CUJm4CYD4v9K0-IH24UjNfAlI04KiGXJyxxjTJXZCx-aWbFM1NQ/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(60).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJk8raP9y9jXdE1VsaDp9FA9RLWGqc95cVuxC90RahVIv_c50zEwFlxiPdrjweIOAaDhrvBCDjsom-YFM6Qk3r3T2FJJJP591_NqmVjtA4BMLda_D4in7zJSSSO8aj32VErBsCs8CUJm4CYD4v9K0-IH24UjNfAlI04KiGXJyxxjTJXZCx-aWbFM1NQ/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(60).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEojhR4Zg_rJTel-LaFF7mNwN3NT_MNTdGFSRXXnjHKJ9h0wB5rU661-WQc7Heuwj8kMFN4by8InUU6-HOjcTjrDq9X_bthDwX1yFecUA6Nb6INWyCleJv4iI8MKXnbNG3Yl5JCD-QfQrD9RJPHVMr1b0XSHSNj6K9ylTDWXamV3BAdYPXjtHXyw1HhA/s2874/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(62).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2874" data-original-width="1918" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEojhR4Zg_rJTel-LaFF7mNwN3NT_MNTdGFSRXXnjHKJ9h0wB5rU661-WQc7Heuwj8kMFN4by8InUU6-HOjcTjrDq9X_bthDwX1yFecUA6Nb6INWyCleJv4iI8MKXnbNG3Yl5JCD-QfQrD9RJPHVMr1b0XSHSNj6K9ylTDWXamV3BAdYPXjtHXyw1HhA/w268-h400/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(62).JPG" width="268" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQuoUB_5E47UTx1Osw8UOrzyNjtv0kDCy5C3IrGRMeWWdoKlb8SelaUJw3-aAz8DssiYj2SrNdxUivvkXIGVrbwzvb4taAkbT8_w6q7n05idei3EfnAHmHnR-TfXpu3KxK6Kn06zX5Zmh7A9G2899_tQrHHINyfeFB5vEe_cTDE7vlOGQMrLVDDYUvA/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(65).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQuoUB_5E47UTx1Osw8UOrzyNjtv0kDCy5C3IrGRMeWWdoKlb8SelaUJw3-aAz8DssiYj2SrNdxUivvkXIGVrbwzvb4taAkbT8_w6q7n05idei3EfnAHmHnR-TfXpu3KxK6Kn06zX5Zmh7A9G2899_tQrHHINyfeFB5vEe_cTDE7vlOGQMrLVDDYUvA/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(65).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96racgtvGk2G0V9HtfVlGsCYoP9OMmRTT5_oa5Um39pH4xP8QPo5Mll3YiAMyQ4VMU6fCMsicyZRxv5wA5j7delibkdl9CaEZNkBbocWoHqFiVSYoHEVzTgjdgEuHnu9-QYL22DK4u5X7PAtWs3reNXVvJwFNOjZumSQkNFnYWOigkWE6RCafr08XEQ/s5647/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(67).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail fall British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="3769" data-original-width="5647" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg96racgtvGk2G0V9HtfVlGsCYoP9OMmRTT5_oa5Um39pH4xP8QPo5Mll3YiAMyQ4VMU6fCMsicyZRxv5wA5j7delibkdl9CaEZNkBbocWoHqFiVSYoHEVzTgjdgEuHnu9-QYL22DK4u5X7PAtWs3reNXVvJwFNOjZumSQkNFnYWOigkWE6RCafr08XEQ/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(67).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Just after the Holt Creek Trestle the trail passes through
the tiny conjoined communities of Deerholme and Glenora. These are small
farming communities nestled into the Cowichan Valley, which primarily consist
of vineyards and small farms, with rural and residential neighbourhoods making
up the rest.<span> </span>They are known for their
fine artists and artisans, wine-tasting tours, and opportunities to view exotic
farm animals, including llamas, emus, ostriches, alpacas, and peacocks.<span> </span>The name 'Glenora' is Scottish in origin,
meaning 'Golden Valley.'<span> </span>For us, a slightly
depressing aspect of reaching this town was that it is located only 4 minutes
southwest of the town Duncan by car.<span> </span>We
had hiked nearly 60 km over two days since leaving Duncan!<span> </span>However, by now we have come to embrace the
idea that this quest is about the journey and not the destination, and the
Cowichan Valley Trail certainly makes the journey a pleasure.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5chA9eJcGtnSep5FY0IKnFdYMmdzJ6armeVQBv_PbOx8c9YCR5Rv7WLy7J9Fdy0YzDrjxohxE5lf_2rS41WX4fpDFyjrW6xxRe5EmGeA3zMoAoDrrS-hhg9kI3xGnzQ-QdqrTkGejCnuQsWC6bl6T9DPzUB6TNhAiwIaSDFthcIFOqarn5E-4GgAPTw/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(69).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5chA9eJcGtnSep5FY0IKnFdYMmdzJ6armeVQBv_PbOx8c9YCR5Rv7WLy7J9Fdy0YzDrjxohxE5lf_2rS41WX4fpDFyjrW6xxRe5EmGeA3zMoAoDrrS-hhg9kI3xGnzQ-QdqrTkGejCnuQsWC6bl6T9DPzUB6TNhAiwIaSDFthcIFOqarn5E-4GgAPTw/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(69).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcoe4lRBLxyL3qw08Q9ZNM2BG1RpYtVztnWm56DPV5uvWPmLKYHryI4lqJ_RR6Qk-oVB9nHD2xRjlzVwPXv4i0tXk8ZrOnTPkjotev1fn8zXE-7qJhb8LOXt77-mvrb5EPz2hLVYhSpZdZetWMZPBmwpTS6sWwnNeadrrmtIoTN2_bmSgDql-9ND4BA/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(73).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcoe4lRBLxyL3qw08Q9ZNM2BG1RpYtVztnWm56DPV5uvWPmLKYHryI4lqJ_RR6Qk-oVB9nHD2xRjlzVwPXv4i0tXk8ZrOnTPkjotev1fn8zXE-7qJhb8LOXt77-mvrb5EPz2hLVYhSpZdZetWMZPBmwpTS6sWwnNeadrrmtIoTN2_bmSgDql-9ND4BA/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(73).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO37GVtqjU9v4nNGSVr-VguApSuQvtt51z--1J0GDRnUiXTJwykNPdUIqvDMHRKbxcTYH-EJLrpa_aCGpGvlcXiNOZ9quKjhaa7Gy678m0iGweHedQ3B96bhbkwT-h9VBkSpapvAnn28hrijqxuywnP8c_bwfWpjSS3PEL2-sbkfblRPlknaHNgvsnEw/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(77).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO37GVtqjU9v4nNGSVr-VguApSuQvtt51z--1J0GDRnUiXTJwykNPdUIqvDMHRKbxcTYH-EJLrpa_aCGpGvlcXiNOZ9quKjhaa7Gy678m0iGweHedQ3B96bhbkwT-h9VBkSpapvAnn28hrijqxuywnP8c_bwfWpjSS3PEL2-sbkfblRPlknaHNgvsnEw/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(77).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQT17zFjDE77Hru20NNM0O0XRy4w-c2JvA-9b6T2vScP0i3pit-F2TDt-kYbu-k4n4Jfj3WXZvBTlaxCFE2hhqX5Pcpbc7b6vtnqmiI1Yu9IgeZtPWdCCFglpDbKf3p6_c6Byr0nk5bn-5X-XPAoLlwkODAKO0MwkFBzzBXo8hP5mpkrCQAHHCR8qeA/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(79).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Great Trail Canada British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQT17zFjDE77Hru20NNM0O0XRy4w-c2JvA-9b6T2vScP0i3pit-F2TDt-kYbu-k4n4Jfj3WXZvBTlaxCFE2hhqX5Pcpbc7b6vtnqmiI1Yu9IgeZtPWdCCFglpDbKf3p6_c6Byr0nk5bn-5X-XPAoLlwkODAKO0MwkFBzzBXo8hP5mpkrCQAHHCR8qeA/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(79).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9nkOe_v_g-8Rjqx_QYY7WST5VpLo3BMjIS1QvUJSstsOYSqaN9Mss5AS4tJt2guvPe2Dd9urPjoTFSdVrYUNmrWTfoS2wCSg388AwO_XkVqx_ktYZ8BaWFrBTLKSuAe_fjq8g1SoDGAxKgu84G2EvW4UK2qAJiGUz9O3bZVUcnOL2uuTCPI3Xf6wfQ/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(80).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9nkOe_v_g-8Rjqx_QYY7WST5VpLo3BMjIS1QvUJSstsOYSqaN9Mss5AS4tJt2guvPe2Dd9urPjoTFSdVrYUNmrWTfoS2wCSg388AwO_XkVqx_ktYZ8BaWFrBTLKSuAe_fjq8g1SoDGAxKgu84G2EvW4UK2qAJiGUz9O3bZVUcnOL2uuTCPI3Xf6wfQ/w268-h400/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(80).JPG" width="268" /></a></span></div><p></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For us, signs of civilization around Deerholme and Glenora
included crossing a small road that came with a warning of active logging in
the area, the presence of small stone cairns and some cheerful rock art along
the trail side, and several other walkers out for an afternoon stroll on the
trail.<span> </span>The landscape around us opened up
a little to make space for several small farms.<span>
</span>Thick billows of white smoke from a brush pile in one the yards rose
into the air, reminding us of cozy fireplaces lit to the keep the winter chill
at bay.<span> </span>It felt like a peaceful and
quiet rural community, but we soon found ourselves surrounded by quiet trees
and forest once again.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mKMMD2nGtfRTmYIb0qdzeKTyfKaRg9KNQnATCeE06o-naaVWGtVUIP2xuLoSrCa84nSiqv3lIEy1betbIR2JEeik_brYHXnaf0l9LPZUorNN7ce_-IVVRv5S7reZ9wPiRN5Rng8C9jlzfNKKQvscE-ph-0sQ3RuWlur__b7ORpfNcgFRExRiXWCOmQ/s5753/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(85).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3841" data-original-width="5753" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0mKMMD2nGtfRTmYIb0qdzeKTyfKaRg9KNQnATCeE06o-naaVWGtVUIP2xuLoSrCa84nSiqv3lIEy1betbIR2JEeik_brYHXnaf0l9LPZUorNN7ce_-IVVRv5S7reZ9wPiRN5Rng8C9jlzfNKKQvscE-ph-0sQ3RuWlur__b7ORpfNcgFRExRiXWCOmQ/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(85).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59XXsn9Ks2AoT99q79UvYl6omrjolGt_EyKv3yKc1s0Fg1XpwaR4ILXEcRvOcVeHGu1ww_vpQjGhlxmz8rIMpIZzL51Yt6QB2zFcXp5AasuGc4P-twvPA1S60utxg-lqR5_yLAz9OjDKobmgG1EXtjfLV8wfVSy_aNkI3SJ_7iMztxBQ5_OkZn96_7g/s3046/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(86).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2033" data-original-width="3046" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj59XXsn9Ks2AoT99q79UvYl6omrjolGt_EyKv3yKc1s0Fg1XpwaR4ILXEcRvOcVeHGu1ww_vpQjGhlxmz8rIMpIZzL51Yt6QB2zFcXp5AasuGc4P-twvPA1S60utxg-lqR5_yLAz9OjDKobmgG1EXtjfLV8wfVSy_aNkI3SJ_7iMztxBQ5_OkZn96_7g/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(86).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFWBpNgbeNHI_YnL32isxfy-3c708N4N-ZB1zPFFM0boJWPjJV03YEE2H77-L6FlcCna_bAcrKl46UBFfBf8sFN_t5pYljbrF8XglwacQpy0EAvKD4jDbghgnXt1k-5rRB7CTN2twTv9u2Wk6oCRcY-EGgJJjASUExUoV8g7iFfEhsbnZdBtoNvExBA/s5064/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(92).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3381" data-original-width="5064" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipFWBpNgbeNHI_YnL32isxfy-3c708N4N-ZB1zPFFM0boJWPjJV03YEE2H77-L6FlcCna_bAcrKl46UBFfBf8sFN_t5pYljbrF8XglwacQpy0EAvKD4jDbghgnXt1k-5rRB7CTN2twTv9u2Wk6oCRcY-EGgJJjASUExUoV8g7iFfEhsbnZdBtoNvExBA/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(92).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8sjH8virquT5T2dR96T5uz_Tn3MZDfaI6dzMykPV8bz9hRT-MyLQH5rfUj14Cjk0zsMRCeaQOOVAqYbf-BZ71-vbM41ahQFARl4KNp4bAGzH2sBoUtn9qFYu5KiAJ9N3Uid4d4LB0P2dxRb3U3bARptHs209pAcgpuUhNv36C_Y5oSxt5Be1asuXQw/s5465/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(93).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5465" data-original-width="3648" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8sjH8virquT5T2dR96T5uz_Tn3MZDfaI6dzMykPV8bz9hRT-MyLQH5rfUj14Cjk0zsMRCeaQOOVAqYbf-BZ71-vbM41ahQFARl4KNp4bAGzH2sBoUtn9qFYu5KiAJ9N3Uid4d4LB0P2dxRb3U3bARptHs209pAcgpuUhNv36C_Y5oSxt5Be1asuXQw/w268-h400/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(93).JPG" width="268" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7nCaUDWACcz-qiUNhD674wsKt5535XHF7Q6aBQ-fpNYkbHapdH1qhPsJzltBeqvQZywNqFhs8nfbidnBvM7DaK3S3ElecCtr70v_hHDNAB3xKngWGWl2gwXhlWg0A_oVv-_MlN__DAvJJQyOwJkTtMdp8d3ox9-mzlDkxzulO5DkknWOeViOt3jTfw/s2643/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(94).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1764" data-original-width="2643" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY7nCaUDWACcz-qiUNhD674wsKt5535XHF7Q6aBQ-fpNYkbHapdH1qhPsJzltBeqvQZywNqFhs8nfbidnBvM7DaK3S3ElecCtr70v_hHDNAB3xKngWGWl2gwXhlWg0A_oVv-_MlN__DAvJJQyOwJkTtMdp8d3ox9-mzlDkxzulO5DkknWOeViOt3jTfw/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(94).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptVgaHGdioj1T0Hpn4TvWps7hN08fPgp58YXOUA9r2ZhvM_GfxXOdFpY_shFpPGbVbAoRO7tjtjESunrNmh3n_sLWD1dUIZKtiPslUQybCmbUHr-D5V3z2SBoE8coO7DEJyX5I5eifssV6a3zt_qoVnxnl8TJBsWz18CRCnrO8T-uvZHuQehr92OEcA/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(96).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiptVgaHGdioj1T0Hpn4TvWps7hN08fPgp58YXOUA9r2ZhvM_GfxXOdFpY_shFpPGbVbAoRO7tjtjESunrNmh3n_sLWD1dUIZKtiPslUQybCmbUHr-D5V3z2SBoE8coO7DEJyX5I5eifssV6a3zt_qoVnxnl8TJBsWz18CRCnrO8T-uvZHuQehr92OEcA/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(96).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">When we finally reached the famous<a href="https://www.cvrd.ca/1379/Kinsol-Trestle" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> <b>Kinsol Trestle Bridge</b></a> the light was fading extremely fast.<span> </span>The Kinsol Trestle is one of eight trestle
bridges along the <a href="https://www.cvrd.ca/121/Cowichan-Valley-Trail" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Cowichan Valley Rail
Trail</b>,</a> and it is by far the longest and most spectacular.<span> </span>Indeed, it is one of the tallest
free-standing wooden trestle bridges in the world, spanning an impressive 187 m
over the Koksilah River 44 m below it.<span>
</span>Benches, a picnic area, a kiosk and pavilion, toilet facilities, viewing
platforms, and a parking lot were all located at the end of the historic Kinsol
Trestle, which we instantly recognized from many different promotional
materials on the Trans Canada Trail.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Id6C4pVmRYgRUp2Oj83Vyb_T5KCBPnVmwbrOCzIuutW3rocjJVM_XLkKy6Q2yCG-MQmm_mwYKr4sI01gtwOMgZbltcDAyKYev8AU4XOcw9FIV1stCug4g3eldmK6bznwJBZRZybYGyaSY0Yda5VoeBFDZM0mrLUOrcBFXUhHw7snBr5l6gJaYRAsVA/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(100).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kinsol Trestle Information pavilion." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Id6C4pVmRYgRUp2Oj83Vyb_T5KCBPnVmwbrOCzIuutW3rocjJVM_XLkKy6Q2yCG-MQmm_mwYKr4sI01gtwOMgZbltcDAyKYev8AU4XOcw9FIV1stCug4g3eldmK6bznwJBZRZybYGyaSY0Yda5VoeBFDZM0mrLUOrcBFXUhHw7snBr5l6gJaYRAsVA/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(100).JPG" width="400" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6RmP7PZCyDOKl0-7QoxCGQEbeCqeHx_X3jbDfgjlXpnUBC_ujjRrNPBxmdjLLN1sZSv5NdalIePFextWd_g86mAkik97llCfQpfyiGsebVp9RGUfZLLqCeeU1m_KIU_RF-shO37omVeOac8pA9vm2aGEUcQTcfMIF2xfTUxplhdGqYUvJnhIMSq2gw/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(97).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6RmP7PZCyDOKl0-7QoxCGQEbeCqeHx_X3jbDfgjlXpnUBC_ujjRrNPBxmdjLLN1sZSv5NdalIePFextWd_g86mAkik97llCfQpfyiGsebVp9RGUfZLLqCeeU1m_KIU_RF-shO37omVeOac8pA9vm2aGEUcQTcfMIF2xfTUxplhdGqYUvJnhIMSq2gw/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(97).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;">Wooden trestle bridges were built by railway companies
across North America, and the Kinsol Trestle is a noteworthy example.<span> </span>It was designed by engineers and built by
loggers and local farmers, forming an essential component of a railway system
that was critical to the early economic development of Vancouver Island.<span> </span>In particular, the railway was essential for
transporting timber from the central parts of the island to the mills along its
coast.<span> </span>Work on the bridge began just
before WWI, but progress was delayed until 1919, after the war ended.<span> </span>Construction was completed in 1920, and in
1922 the Canadian National Railway launched a twice-daily passenger service
from Victoria to Cowichan Lake in a gas engine motor car known as the Galloping
Goose.<span> </span>However, with the growth in
popularity of the automobile, rail passenger traffic quickly dwindled, and
service was suspended in 1931.<span> </span>Forestry
activity in the Cowichan Valley also began to decline in the 1960's, and on
June 20, 1979 the last train crossed the Kinsol Trestle.<span> </span>It is now a pedestrian bridge, open to
hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxnPkFC4li4wb1pI2zsKtYBXyB7MxwgF4-krSaAUCaVYZZnWgQCpxBOLWuqHPaobQcpEDOmeSDiDfkL8QmCe26gQ2RNeibqvKDgulx8gCLuR9uHDaouyOG-DmsoUZZ5spikiFU7tvBo-hAVhKkgNhvOnm6RqZqRyjar2Ftx1ugqlsqqC3crQ0OH9y2Q/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(99).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kinsol Trestle Great Trail BC." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLxnPkFC4li4wb1pI2zsKtYBXyB7MxwgF4-krSaAUCaVYZZnWgQCpxBOLWuqHPaobQcpEDOmeSDiDfkL8QmCe26gQ2RNeibqvKDgulx8gCLuR9uHDaouyOG-DmsoUZZ5spikiFU7tvBo-hAVhKkgNhvOnm6RqZqRyjar2Ftx1ugqlsqqC3crQ0OH9y2Q/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(99).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrdj0PJBxtITK7o0cI_8BTnAS-pi6b0BTJPKS4Mn8biNxXuSlCVxeJ7QHj6aKQkfx2-AlQEWLv78TCuFrA7dyxSsdPZKTQQOOPl3_xq5EBdPocu2w9DN3HUa7lbv1povprvxB0Qp4MgxR9cQUQI2TCAQjDvbLnAjy11SdbbQgZIlZG2PzeUVNY3JARw/s6016/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(101).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kinsol Trestle Trans Canada Trail BC." border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrdj0PJBxtITK7o0cI_8BTnAS-pi6b0BTJPKS4Mn8biNxXuSlCVxeJ7QHj6aKQkfx2-AlQEWLv78TCuFrA7dyxSsdPZKTQQOOPl3_xq5EBdPocu2w9DN3HUa7lbv1povprvxB0Qp4MgxR9cQUQI2TCAQjDvbLnAjy11SdbbQgZIlZG2PzeUVNY3JARw/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(101).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippuanzrvImBe7LHZIATcRPf6QVshm8BT2z8eL9syxS7fCesqiETKCSc9JG_DDXYW4GY-4MqKoL4pqawIjZJRevsEU3k7NNw_9kZCN13kNUz87xd_Bzmxm7SGM7fBt1Ay7cALp0cjD2_A9IcE-A6zan-6qzCN7gxBzhMFlez2D0Y4ZoLgJ6gyvqeNYOA/s4032/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(103).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEippuanzrvImBe7LHZIATcRPf6QVshm8BT2z8eL9syxS7fCesqiETKCSc9JG_DDXYW4GY-4MqKoL4pqawIjZJRevsEU3k7NNw_9kZCN13kNUz87xd_Bzmxm7SGM7fBt1Ay7cALp0cjD2_A9IcE-A6zan-6qzCN7gxBzhMFlez2D0Y4ZoLgJ6gyvqeNYOA/w400-h300/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(103).jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">The Kinsol Trestle was clearly a popular spot
with locals, and quite a few people stopped to chat as we took a few minutes to
read the interpretive signs and admire the long graceful curve of the
bridge.<span> </span>It was quite an amazing
experience to cross over the river, so far below, on such an impressive
structure.<span> </span>The Koksilah (Xwulqw’selu)
River originates on the slopes of Waterloo Mountain, southwest of Shawnigan
Lake.<span> </span>It flows eastward for
approximately 44 km before emptying into the Cowichan Estuary.<span> </span>Its name is believed to have originated from
the Hul'qumi'num word for horse corral, a fact noted in the journal of Robert
Brown, a settler in the region in the mid 1880's.<span> </span>He also described the river as being rich in
minerals, marble, coal, copper, and gold.<span>
</span>Today the river is in recovery as its population of stealhead slowly
re-grows after being severely over-fished in the 1980's</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Soon after we crossed the bridge the light
faded, leaving us to follow the feint outline of the rail bed through a
darkness that was almost completely impenetrable.<span> </span>After camping for many months we've grown
accustomed to moving about in the darkness without needing to use a head
lamp.<span> </span>However, the sky was overcast, a
light spitting rain had begun to fall, and the trees on either side of the
trail were so tall and dense that we could see almost nothing on either side of
us.<span> </span>It is quite a rare thing in our
modern world to find such complete darkness, so while it was a bit difficult to
navigate in some ways, we chose not to use our headlamps, but rather to enjoy
the rare treat.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipz6MCXbV-PlUPrnRyj9bK52YbVNL-1XkJBB1fO9quemrTdH6m94BXjZ9KqvtxvA7dBcMCGFVZ2RIiuON0h_9l_0CppHNiuE0K47sAm_nFLnz5KAqrDEW9IdOQePHWOBoTSOcs6_bgwwHSiWDY8qCivM5Y_V5gjwZCNOMwBdzwvDkvkY2CUaII9ugo_Q/s5150/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(104).JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cowichan Valley Rail Trail Vancouver Island." border="0" data-original-height="3438" data-original-width="5150" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipz6MCXbV-PlUPrnRyj9bK52YbVNL-1XkJBB1fO9quemrTdH6m94BXjZ9KqvtxvA7dBcMCGFVZ2RIiuON0h_9l_0CppHNiuE0K47sAm_nFLnz5KAqrDEW9IdOQePHWOBoTSOcs6_bgwwHSiWDY8qCivM5Y_V5gjwZCNOMwBdzwvDkvkY2CUaII9ugo_Q/w400-h268/Lake%20Cowichan%20to%20Shanigan%20Lake%20to%20blog%20(104).JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Unfortunately, what had seemed like a treat
on the trail quickly became a liability when we eventually turned onto the road
leading into <b><a href="https://www.tourismcowichan.com/explore/about-cowichan/shawnigan-lake/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Shawnigan Lake</a></b>.<span> </span>It was a
narrow, winding road that Google maps indicated lead nowhere.<span> </span>However, an almost constant stream of fast
moving cars was coming down it, the occupants likely on their way home from
work.<span> </span>The headlights were blinding, and
since there was no ditch to dive into and many, many blind corners, we could
only pray with each passing car that the drivers would see us in time and we
wouldn't be hit.<span> </span>A light drizzle began
to fall as we made our hair raising detour into town, reducing visibility even
further.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Eventually we spotted the glowing sign of the
Lakehouse at Shawnigan up ahead, a restaurant and bar situated on the shores of
a lake that was completely invisible to us in the darkness.<span> </span>Unfortunately, the establishment was rather
high end, but the staff was incredibly nice to us, letting us sit at the end of
the bar with our wet clothes and large packs while we consumed a couple of
delicious veggie burgers.<span> </span>With few other
options, we had booked a B&B in Shawnigan Lake for the night, which was a good
10 km off the trail.<span> </span>Since it was
raining, pitch black outside, and getting later by the minute we decided to
take a taxi the remaining distance to our accommodations.<span> </span>To our dismay, we soon discovered that the
taxi service was mostly theoretical, consisting of a single driver that was
only available when it was convenient to him, and clearly dinnertime was not
one of those times.<span> </span>When I phoned the
B&B to let them know we were going to arrive considerably later than we had
originally indicated, the owner very kindly and generously offered to come and
pick us up.<span> </span>It was the very best kind of
trail magic, and after nearly 40 km of hiking, the last bit in the darkness and
rain, we were incredibly grateful.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">The village we passed through, which was
shrouded in darkness and completely hidden to us, is known for its rugged
beauty, and the 7 km long lake after which it is named.<span> </span>In summertime it is a popular spot for
vacationing, fishing, swimming, and sunbathing.<span>
</span>Apparently, the village itself consists of gift shops, galleries,
eateries, and the </span><a href="https://shawniganlakemuseum.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">Shawnigan Lake Museum</span></b></a><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://shawniganlakemuseum.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>,</b></a> which features the
work of<b><a href="https://www.gallery.ca/collection/artist/ej-hughes" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> E.J. Hughes</a></b>, a famous landscape artist.<span>
</span>Sadly, we saw none of this during our much too brief visit.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">The B&B turned out to be absolutely
gorgeous, with our quarters tucked into a spacious, airy loft above the garage
with its own entrance.<span> </span>The hosts were
amazing, giving us lots of information about the trail, which included a
warning about the hills we will apparently encounter tomorrow.<span> </span>This was unexpected, as we had naively
assumed that the rail trail would continue, with its 2% or less grade right
into Victoria.<span> </span>They shared a wealth of
information, and even offered to provide us with a lunch, and to drive us back
to the spot on the trail where we had left it earlier today.<span> </span>It felt like we had been showered with
kindness.<span> </span>Really, what more could we ask
for?<span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">See you on the trail! </span></span></p>
<h2><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;">Remember to follow our entire adventure here
:</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"> <b><a href="https://www.comewalkwithus.online/">www.comewalkwithus.online</a></b></span></span></h2>
<p></p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Shawnigan Lake, BC V0R, Canada48.6511793 -123.644996120.340945463821157 -158.80124610000001 76.961413136178848 -88.4887461tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-59920920712330019912023-03-04T23:28:00.000-05:002023-03-04T23:28:16.933-05:00The Western Terminus : Duncan to Lake Cowichan<p style="text-align: left;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">Today we began
with the feeling that the world is not without a sense of humour. For more than
550 days, as we walked from <b><a href="https://parks.canada.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/spear" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cape Spear,
NL</a> </b>to Vancouver, BC on the <b><a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trans Canada Trail</a></b> our goal lay to the west.<span> </span>However, during that time we spent so much
time walking north and south that we hiked more than twice as far as someone
driving the Trans Canada Highway would have travelled between those two
points. Since leaving Nanaimo our goal has been to the south, so
naturally, now we will spend today walking 30 km due west and tomorrow walking
38 km back east. Sometimes all you can do is laugh. At least it was
a gorgeous walk today, which ended with a pleasant surprise.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95Kp_qVOkGSFjLX08qoJ7y3eOLnp2jtD7VySnok07SF66vkWbom3UMytehg7FfM0LAlK98DBZ7ZMeENGpeUGGc7pSwF7N33hqA5nL6M_dKmN6Qyf5tGW9uuREkS7JTIgi8qMA3kimipW8QVnZM6DCNznlIK3v7wiVESV2A2Csrg0DUVfP4s4SwcObmg/s5319/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3550" data-original-width="5319" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh95Kp_qVOkGSFjLX08qoJ7y3eOLnp2jtD7VySnok07SF66vkWbom3UMytehg7FfM0LAlK98DBZ7ZMeENGpeUGGc7pSwF7N33hqA5nL6M_dKmN6Qyf5tGW9uuREkS7JTIgi8qMA3kimipW8QVnZM6DCNznlIK3v7wiVESV2A2Csrg0DUVfP4s4SwcObmg/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGv84EvF2eD__iAcHjsnJRqiUypmzrxkPr4VYuui0vY1CdafCejKT3H2EsPRLz0Od64Lb8F044ZNYX9ndAioCTUzD7egNee3G1eF3-H4LbUH777CL7Lcy0vIX964Bstao7eOqF-k1eodbSAYzCVckCFc2UwBwpOLUisFHFAXq36nEKHE8_MUhKU1ksg/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGv84EvF2eD__iAcHjsnJRqiUypmzrxkPr4VYuui0vY1CdafCejKT3H2EsPRLz0Od64Lb8F044ZNYX9ndAioCTUzD7egNee3G1eF3-H4LbUH777CL7Lcy0vIX964Bstao7eOqF-k1eodbSAYzCVckCFc2UwBwpOLUisFHFAXq36nEKHE8_MUhKU1ksg/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(4).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiBz9wF8Jf7cW4fYTxof6hgZXaaq72DUfRUnFYuF2EiUUyVrr5Lw34E5SETJRgpHtrEGzOV7YgT1XK4XO3fNxEgIpjPkfm8b9ooMkWxYi9RpDRiLvaGaKP0yEddDpLkoOrmFtynRBsO3qKStzZdK0NkPqvQxWjZ5IIwMgY1IdqvRU3XCmmDPwgXSNew/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiBz9wF8Jf7cW4fYTxof6hgZXaaq72DUfRUnFYuF2EiUUyVrr5Lw34E5SETJRgpHtrEGzOV7YgT1XK4XO3fNxEgIpjPkfm8b9ooMkWxYi9RpDRiLvaGaKP0yEddDpLkoOrmFtynRBsO3qKStzZdK0NkPqvQxWjZ5IIwMgY1IdqvRU3XCmmDPwgXSNew/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(5).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
Last night was not a restful one, with the thin walls and large gaps around the
door of our motel room doing little to mask the sounds and smells of our neighbours, or the comings and goings of their clients. By 7 am we set off
in search of sustenance, finding a refreshing breakfast of coffee and muffins
at Java World to lend us energy for the day. Feeling much refreshed we
headed out into the clear, frosty, morning, crossing Duncan once again to pick
up the <a href="https://www.cvrd.ca/121/Cowichan-Valley-Trail" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Cowichan Lake Trail. </b></a>
The city was busy with kids heading to school and people commuting to work as
we climbed back up through the city streets, weaving towards the cycling path.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcRX3h3XUwwNpxS9G-_v0UPBm1WJ2vqqq-n3XfQvq0U3XKbo3pq30oWnD7RXDpXUuZFR_aOUB70J1le6MDDGhW_BUI92YAoskuKbUN1231TKJi2jBlHwsAJpTAjateugGADqIwRzfD71hYhBwdAnB0QdoK14KSaaHBEpo0EvqlTLntE3w-p0LsyVG2w/s5884/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3927" data-original-width="5884" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUcRX3h3XUwwNpxS9G-_v0UPBm1WJ2vqqq-n3XfQvq0U3XKbo3pq30oWnD7RXDpXUuZFR_aOUB70J1le6MDDGhW_BUI92YAoskuKbUN1231TKJi2jBlHwsAJpTAjateugGADqIwRzfD71hYhBwdAnB0QdoK14KSaaHBEpo0EvqlTLntE3w-p0LsyVG2w/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(8).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RcWN5S9YyQp4JwNwvnxCWOfu62wqjs8FCfFGHTHxX-BciLJxmAuHhboHBxegD8OQRQoxXlfun-LbSAlCSGHp_9JODpks8ub8AKmcwYDRaT3juS15nRXU6uwaHJgwGWII93BHJ62qCyFtSSLBpBqlhmgRzjORPaF8RaMR-y5iFL9gilyB1CiM6FkSJQ/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RcWN5S9YyQp4JwNwvnxCWOfu62wqjs8FCfFGHTHxX-BciLJxmAuHhboHBxegD8OQRQoxXlfun-LbSAlCSGHp_9JODpks8ub8AKmcwYDRaT3juS15nRXU6uwaHJgwGWII93BHJ62qCyFtSSLBpBqlhmgRzjORPaF8RaMR-y5iFL9gilyB1CiM6FkSJQ/w268-h400/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(12).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
We were glad to turn back onto the wide, flat, crushed stone dust trail and
take a step away from the bustle of the town. Almost immediately we were
surrounded by lush green ferns and undergrowth, and a canopy of very tall trees
towered high above our heads. As we crossed a wooden bridge over a small
stream we heard the iconic calls of a Common Raven sounding through the quiet
forest. A carpet of fall leaves still blanketed the trail, their colours
beginning to fade, and their scent one of fresh, damp, earth. Although we
could still hear the sounds of civilization in the distance, and see the homes
that backed onto the green space we were following, it felt like we had been
transported to another world.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeX5aYv_KGXJU1JdjGi58YgjnVpZKrjy-j8R4ZO7TyW4F-L0Wi1yEopVLCyKJMNmh1kT22E4137yPwORmOTW7uVDNjnsm4NIBUeQVinVTSZ9feeIDwryWUJxWLnfVuEntN9qee13cH8RZnHHeKKR6w6JHAUgiycJsX_L9GPHTBi_yRSCQAz71J6fMXQ/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(13).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSeX5aYv_KGXJU1JdjGi58YgjnVpZKrjy-j8R4ZO7TyW4F-L0Wi1yEopVLCyKJMNmh1kT22E4137yPwORmOTW7uVDNjnsm4NIBUeQVinVTSZ9feeIDwryWUJxWLnfVuEntN9qee13cH8RZnHHeKKR6w6JHAUgiycJsX_L9GPHTBi_yRSCQAz71J6fMXQ/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(13).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm5RJWWEy03RG6rYJSnup4ll36bSn1hPGbrURu06OumsAS9tilfNPloXwNs_KpGKPm9hRM1RV_Rjebhzos_LZMWGkTiWHYoYPU1BQVxvoS1CxDsNx673ys6w5E7ArjhogUDHMyJId81qbMOZMyWGwlj9S03Zt1HOIb3Oln4ncGnAELbDfTu5Wobw3zQ/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibm5RJWWEy03RG6rYJSnup4ll36bSn1hPGbrURu06OumsAS9tilfNPloXwNs_KpGKPm9hRM1RV_Rjebhzos_LZMWGkTiWHYoYPU1BQVxvoS1CxDsNx673ys6w5E7ArjhogUDHMyJId81qbMOZMyWGwlj9S03Zt1HOIb3Oln4ncGnAELbDfTu5Wobw3zQ/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(15).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXoYqaEYeOicY2ScNHTWJy8uv4UaZ9qwplH9T_jtWN-qZihzsm2O5hb1QrPzhrObc1CtZVqlBIksOmpKjw6G3CTZs4SpnciswHXug5N_NoeoNk6_2lEGvF5iEre7mhLsxyOMujt6IlgtgztqDmA_TTmM0L7G3L0D-eiXrpIFX39MsirUA0TJmaPBzmSw/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(17).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXoYqaEYeOicY2ScNHTWJy8uv4UaZ9qwplH9T_jtWN-qZihzsm2O5hb1QrPzhrObc1CtZVqlBIksOmpKjw6G3CTZs4SpnciswHXug5N_NoeoNk6_2lEGvF5iEre7mhLsxyOMujt6IlgtgztqDmA_TTmM0L7G3L0D-eiXrpIFX39MsirUA0TJmaPBzmSw/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(17).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
For the first few kilometres we met quite a few people on the trail out walking
their dogs, jogging, and enjoying the peaceful forest. Quite a few
stopped to chat, but the farther we got from the town the quieter it became,
and soon we found ourselves alone on the peaceful rail trail, walking through a
tunnel of green. It felt like we were always moving towards the light,
sometimes passing between dark, densely packed trunks of conifers, at other
times traversing lines of loosely spaced, skinny, white alder trunks, and in
between tunnelling through rounded corridors of shrubs.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAvm_YKMcDexriW3kAi7JOcVrwi28BEaVPrJDJjnPpYQOC5FaYeN-VRpqZ8KI_NNk_ery82qYLt0CF8UKEmZIKCIoVfl8RW-GhzVuUv9KXDTCu1Jp-3U9FoKUjZnvYFpyrBt6qMOCEsQ17yL5BwLZs_vY3uCS8eKdNHJKJOFQZC-fi8ppGh9ZioO2mg/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(20).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLAvm_YKMcDexriW3kAi7JOcVrwi28BEaVPrJDJjnPpYQOC5FaYeN-VRpqZ8KI_NNk_ery82qYLt0CF8UKEmZIKCIoVfl8RW-GhzVuUv9KXDTCu1Jp-3U9FoKUjZnvYFpyrBt6qMOCEsQ17yL5BwLZs_vY3uCS8eKdNHJKJOFQZC-fi8ppGh9ZioO2mg/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(20).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4txo2cOhOXaZBmTC65f9SozUkjDCdzmxk6Ry-7NUtZJicdeWeLyte6AHWhORmTaj3ogsu4eXJDsnJQtg2ZD1diyVj7C3EGstjZzhUqouzv2JPU6iHmr_m53wA5QGXV5TkDluNd4hS4YLugTfw38dcEFzxS6L5hznXHCT4WWkDRSfi_MRiLU-9PP46Mw/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(36).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4txo2cOhOXaZBmTC65f9SozUkjDCdzmxk6Ry-7NUtZJicdeWeLyte6AHWhORmTaj3ogsu4eXJDsnJQtg2ZD1diyVj7C3EGstjZzhUqouzv2JPU6iHmr_m53wA5QGXV5TkDluNd4hS4YLugTfw38dcEFzxS6L5hznXHCT4WWkDRSfi_MRiLU-9PP46Mw/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(36).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW99xusn3cMmeqYqddHEYXJlw_1T0a-xJ9z8stLYqRpxAcw1qIRYRb7Lxm9we4CWxZ29NCuvnNb5BFt8-oXWTVCPbaZrNT2zyfaUpAP6SjeaThMhZ7ipESxhUeposjqi0y54tZ-DMElyEno9x9qSxbggvA8TPnQDk_gK0Ffpx-BMA1nfySPNnbhM8nCg/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(37).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW99xusn3cMmeqYqddHEYXJlw_1T0a-xJ9z8stLYqRpxAcw1qIRYRb7Lxm9we4CWxZ29NCuvnNb5BFt8-oXWTVCPbaZrNT2zyfaUpAP6SjeaThMhZ7ipESxhUeposjqi0y54tZ-DMElyEno9x9qSxbggvA8TPnQDk_gK0Ffpx-BMA1nfySPNnbhM8nCg/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(37).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3k5zEUNJY7YbaDTBHt19RTodtoYZ9VSyQGvclqTKbsOlebLREJcIebYdWwMupZW2iSmL2uisawRLWY63qinAva6eEjvFDPNPgzvxofWKEUlnwYDlGo8Ce46H2FukO_Ia6B4q9yEod3w-IU0YjjVpcv2kPVS5Mxkym0p-xeTYBWNlwIY_v8Mm1Vg1QLg/s3694/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(40).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2466" data-original-width="3694" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3k5zEUNJY7YbaDTBHt19RTodtoYZ9VSyQGvclqTKbsOlebLREJcIebYdWwMupZW2iSmL2uisawRLWY63qinAva6eEjvFDPNPgzvxofWKEUlnwYDlGo8Ce46H2FukO_Ia6B4q9yEod3w-IU0YjjVpcv2kPVS5Mxkym0p-xeTYBWNlwIY_v8Mm1Vg1QLg/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(40).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMtUg82kIPlBkPkY78y02K1W95K3dx0oVgeEL4QjpuXquz_jc1yHSKmUMWeaZ8Xb_JRFOenO7uTSugUC_jQw_6hiQdTejbWCKFhnIu2BmwZ0stYbpLt0e8wWfgPsh0qG3AVKtO9SZMfOXGmNxcHCT2ScEoqtCm_Azs67cKDdcwVOtAAnAz5qxuZrGrA/s4991/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(41).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3332" data-original-width="4991" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMtUg82kIPlBkPkY78y02K1W95K3dx0oVgeEL4QjpuXquz_jc1yHSKmUMWeaZ8Xb_JRFOenO7uTSugUC_jQw_6hiQdTejbWCKFhnIu2BmwZ0stYbpLt0e8wWfgPsh0qG3AVKtO9SZMfOXGmNxcHCT2ScEoqtCm_Azs67cKDdcwVOtAAnAz5qxuZrGrA/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(41).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
As we progressed we noticed that distance signage had appeared on the trail,
apparently counting down in increments of 5 km to some as yet unknown point -
likely Cowichan Lake, our destination for the night. This type of signage
always feels like a mixed blessing - it is nice to know you are making
progress, but as the day goes on and it seems to take longer and longer to
reach the next marker, it can become increasingly dispiriting. However,
as we passed the 23 km marker we were feeling energetic and ready to take on
the day.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhB1AyjUEk_ZFC_YcOc4heaRGLo1Qkx6uLYUQCahcWzmzouS0WC862i-i0dcEbrOixjCxbOLWmL3sSWaQjW-aZM8dKtzfIxYbZ4A684DtW3MDakG1wV7K9gbDpXZOfILxn6lAFg1Mm5DfKQkoyZUoDlP9FUCdhOZnT28AFeAZBKubp2Nt4zQmAIGjXA/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(43).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhB1AyjUEk_ZFC_YcOc4heaRGLo1Qkx6uLYUQCahcWzmzouS0WC862i-i0dcEbrOixjCxbOLWmL3sSWaQjW-aZM8dKtzfIxYbZ4A684DtW3MDakG1wV7K9gbDpXZOfILxn6lAFg1Mm5DfKQkoyZUoDlP9FUCdhOZnT28AFeAZBKubp2Nt4zQmAIGjXA/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(43).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjGFiksV6Rvu3f67DvN-iuGjFQJmX7Ka0dijQJyV_VERvVKqLpxM4OkwKDm6K9ezier1vPqRMoZ2fGz9-G6Q8PiN9ougc_tRY4O3SSc-Uf9iDpT2v2mrabNxGIwgVOTJ-yS3ZMzo58ue5bcwGEB0_73igHhwo8PcE8_6h3dZpZBlOICYJZljdgcYP8Q/s3763/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(45).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2512" data-original-width="3763" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjGFiksV6Rvu3f67DvN-iuGjFQJmX7Ka0dijQJyV_VERvVKqLpxM4OkwKDm6K9ezier1vPqRMoZ2fGz9-G6Q8PiN9ougc_tRY4O3SSc-Uf9iDpT2v2mrabNxGIwgVOTJ-yS3ZMzo58ue5bcwGEB0_73igHhwo8PcE8_6h3dZpZBlOICYJZljdgcYP8Q/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(45).JPG" width="400" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">A little before noon we came to an interesting historical site, although we
didn't realize its full significance until afterwards. A modest metal
archway marked the entrance to a quiet drive leading up a forested slope and
out of sight. Apparently, what lay just beyond the trees was 3.8 acres of
open green space that housed the <a href="https://heritagebc.ca/chinese-canadian-location/old-hillcrest-chinese-cemetery/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>Old
Hillcrest Chinese Cemetery</b></a>. The land is situated just north of the
old E&N Lake Cowichan Subdivision Railway, and it used to be owned by the
Hillcrest Lumber Co. According to online resources, the cemetery was
founded in 1944, when Wah Sing Chow and Sue Lem Bing asked the local mill
owner, Carlton Stone, to set aside some land as a burial ground for Chinese
workers. Chinese labourers performed many dangerous jobs in the forestry
industry, including working as loggers, chain pullers, saw fillers, and
mill workers. At the time, Chinese people living in Canada faced many
restrictions. Among other things, men were prohibited from marrying, so
when they passed away there was often no family in the country to take care of
their remains. The mill owner agreed to provide land that could be used
as a burial ground, and it now holds the remains of 127 Chinese Canadians
buried between 1945 and 1968. The site is currently being taken care of
by the Duncan Chinese Community Association.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4jNs5KHeuBT5mLgYb6EWJ44PerdSHfjvMCVgoXqfzXDCW3Rj4waHnBTUx6tVc7HLEQWg62OxdMvipNOa-K6lW_r6VcLjnsfU0qBlnaX8lBffH-UnjQLX-4gELtg1e4RLTDGgDGZzYo0OxNk6h1s8OvHXNV-PWl2S_zlRaUAUelxCLvoX9tbjubPqBA/s2883/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(53).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1925" data-original-width="2883" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4jNs5KHeuBT5mLgYb6EWJ44PerdSHfjvMCVgoXqfzXDCW3Rj4waHnBTUx6tVc7HLEQWg62OxdMvipNOa-K6lW_r6VcLjnsfU0qBlnaX8lBffH-UnjQLX-4gELtg1e4RLTDGgDGZzYo0OxNk6h1s8OvHXNV-PWl2S_zlRaUAUelxCLvoX9tbjubPqBA/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(53).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41cwfbyVTznqMg95pK1xqRqpsAuxu6VnWfIuH8_0dIfxnDJdi-ilVHGNBlJQIVbmcddusnxMwdGmAP3yI0FLyEfzvdXgLgWGyWZnH2tB_T3ePt_MYNDzdyCWxEp49wDbt8-hzUBoOmgpE3NNMC29FI6tanb2iS04c4oe1bPg3J3ASmCjScC6RH2IQUg/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(63).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj41cwfbyVTznqMg95pK1xqRqpsAuxu6VnWfIuH8_0dIfxnDJdi-ilVHGNBlJQIVbmcddusnxMwdGmAP3yI0FLyEfzvdXgLgWGyWZnH2tB_T3ePt_MYNDzdyCWxEp49wDbt8-hzUBoOmgpE3NNMC29FI6tanb2iS04c4oe1bPg3J3ASmCjScC6RH2IQUg/w268-h400/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(63).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTClnZpo8dsgjLzshG5rAVs9v7VZt_XwWxui9beR9ZveCF2-2lnspFoe-mcr9-8id6rSCW92TZZ9rVwm-QLnfUAN96-afy0UMuI4fZArZ16fm7TY_54ZUyzjXW1if_gFEMH6Iqp4jqTqDcmr5h99Lvry57QzPUmzq-8TftcE6T25t01XDkIL0LjQIJiQ/s4679/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(72).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3123" data-original-width="4679" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTClnZpo8dsgjLzshG5rAVs9v7VZt_XwWxui9beR9ZveCF2-2lnspFoe-mcr9-8id6rSCW92TZZ9rVwm-QLnfUAN96-afy0UMuI4fZArZ16fm7TY_54ZUyzjXW1if_gFEMH6Iqp4jqTqDcmr5h99Lvry57QzPUmzq-8TftcE6T25t01XDkIL0LjQIJiQ/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(72).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaxdw6SvKPfI56rbQeIfcrLNCRyfpyK2n3Xfr1EVN9ifI75Wffneami_kd81q55lhRsGGX7sqXQiZ_ttLSGRV_nW0lsJVM-D0TDeRmzRJBwvOHGI6rEMo4bU1jaP_xnlPLnxBmwSoTlJ_G44Lq06uYtk_nVe7fk13PTKz3WhoIk-hENDlt6pCm3YMBg/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(74).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNaxdw6SvKPfI56rbQeIfcrLNCRyfpyK2n3Xfr1EVN9ifI75Wffneami_kd81q55lhRsGGX7sqXQiZ_ttLSGRV_nW0lsJVM-D0TDeRmzRJBwvOHGI6rEMo4bU1jaP_xnlPLnxBmwSoTlJ_G44Lq06uYtk_nVe7fk13PTKz3WhoIk-hENDlt6pCm3YMBg/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(74).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">
After this interesting discovery, we continued down the forested rail trail,
enjoying the fresh air and sunshine as we progressed through the tunnel of
greenery. About half an hour later we came to another historically
interesting spot. A faint footpath wound off into the trees on the edge
of the trail, its entrance marked by a wooden box filled with information
sheets that was affixed to a tree trunk, and a small sign reading "Yellow
Fir Lumber Co. Site. Destroyed in fire Sep 8, 1923.
Railcars." There was also a hand-made wooden owl attached to a tree
trunk, and a collection of small figurines, creating the appearance of a
memorial. Inside the wooden box was a lovely, hand illustrated journal
and visitor's log, which offered some interesting comments and pieces of
advice.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5G3kZLndzGA716yld0DZwgjSU7Qrc-M-Qvf9rFLvj7uSrtF07D4W2q42BDmp5t87kXJy2pt2FsC5dzG7c6pCdvbM4CeliicZL82S5ulpAdhyOKa38ZV1tMBPcOHykPVNWydB8hMFe5bOd269EEy2-cLSMCRXeZMbPJ-RZ8tU9HMv7DCqIYMZUBtukjg/s3403/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(69).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrmqiawcIZ2-x4vEgRFfAU9Ksx0QmkD0gasFESv7zbjx1XxRiBiZq8Bt2yXfB5dlIn4vl5sp4ihEgw3lWOlsdnY7kOgN4IeIAq_OMbGd6ND-tklD3C6ElGuJPMwOdO5sqdEbG-4SfIqOeH4Ic4cE6lUUGMuMggCZHHtUMoDJWRrHDmZu6bDjVy075wQ/s3637/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(70).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3637" data-original-width="2728" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNrmqiawcIZ2-x4vEgRFfAU9Ksx0QmkD0gasFESv7zbjx1XxRiBiZq8Bt2yXfB5dlIn4vl5sp4ihEgw3lWOlsdnY7kOgN4IeIAq_OMbGd6ND-tklD3C6ElGuJPMwOdO5sqdEbG-4SfIqOeH4Ic4cE6lUUGMuMggCZHHtUMoDJWRrHDmZu6bDjVy075wQ/s320/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(70).jpg" width="240" /></a><img border="0" data-original-height="3403" data-original-width="2552" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5G3kZLndzGA716yld0DZwgjSU7Qrc-M-Qvf9rFLvj7uSrtF07D4W2q42BDmp5t87kXJy2pt2FsC5dzG7c6pCdvbM4CeliicZL82S5ulpAdhyOKa38ZV1tMBPcOHykPVNWydB8hMFe5bOd269EEy2-cLSMCRXeZMbPJ-RZ8tU9HMv7DCqIYMZUBtukjg/s320/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(69).jpg" width="240" /></div></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">
The printed pages of the info sheets indicated we had arrived at the site of
the Hillcrest Lumber Co. mill. Scattered throughout the forest along the
trail bed were the remains of the concrete foundations for company cottages,
the office building, the kiln, and other structures associated with the mill.
Most evident to us were the remains of a railway car located some distance from
the trail, which had a large tree growing up through the centre of it. The mill
was destroyed by fire in 1923, and the remains of the operation were moved to
Mesachie Lake in 1942. Similar to our hike on the <a href="https://tourismrossland.com/business-listing/columbia-western-rail-trail/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b>C&W Rail Trail</b></a> after Castlegar, where little evidence of the
once thriving railway and lumbering communities along the tracks remained, we
were once again struck by the power of nature to reclaim the land. I have
to admit it was a comforting feeling to think that the signs of our passing
will one day fade away.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjIeVTkor-08yQDnq_1vEltkMYfRQ-jJeq5LEJm1HCXcf4mQ5w-8mVlv90wNf1tHzuHWmnXJQ5n4dfU6GKsd94wdqaHk0uArRE7fqSd2UpLJE2gPxfl_ZMhu0V-cE8yj1xFzJNH5lg6tl8oGGK6JOnwr9y57_MgFlnFQSHVHPjm6TPDsUKAHOvMQz8A/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(79).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEjIeVTkor-08yQDnq_1vEltkMYfRQ-jJeq5LEJm1HCXcf4mQ5w-8mVlv90wNf1tHzuHWmnXJQ5n4dfU6GKsd94wdqaHk0uArRE7fqSd2UpLJE2gPxfl_ZMhu0V-cE8yj1xFzJNH5lg6tl8oGGK6JOnwr9y57_MgFlnFQSHVHPjm6TPDsUKAHOvMQz8A/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(79).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOP1UiskkRMbFT0Hc1jQavl0Tt_kVKvdF-RFA9TRsODn-dYz-DUVZgcybhjLKE1VDFV3Z0nSCfQ2lkEWFzNe-6_Cqc7x4CnbB2ay_qal3tRz3FBmXiww3-e4a9pNej-myRpbrMcwHwSbyJf262gViiVf5nHuQvwa7Qkw42dxe2s5EDAaozwpatDWzlA/s4715/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(81).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3148" data-original-width="4715" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkOP1UiskkRMbFT0Hc1jQavl0Tt_kVKvdF-RFA9TRsODn-dYz-DUVZgcybhjLKE1VDFV3Z0nSCfQ2lkEWFzNe-6_Cqc7x4CnbB2ay_qal3tRz3FBmXiww3-e4a9pNej-myRpbrMcwHwSbyJf262gViiVf5nHuQvwa7Qkw42dxe2s5EDAaozwpatDWzlA/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(81).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7ObRsO3XaCOJahPzerGFGN_h_bOUylW3a2S9mfFPKR2pJGOMNiMyuRlRRN_AJ095Htfy6-opGttbCxGz0zNI5yjq-kybdK1O9DZ0GGmzP2kd9X794kDQAe6vusl3bMF4BJBBG7cYKDjmDvvF1-ELP86k8KdDetJMbtN20Q4TXrEG1uER1kzHrGQdWw/s4032/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(82).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic7ObRsO3XaCOJahPzerGFGN_h_bOUylW3a2S9mfFPKR2pJGOMNiMyuRlRRN_AJ095Htfy6-opGttbCxGz0zNI5yjq-kybdK1O9DZ0GGmzP2kd9X794kDQAe6vusl3bMF4BJBBG7cYKDjmDvvF1-ELP86k8KdDetJMbtN20Q4TXrEG1uER1kzHrGQdWw/w400-h300/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(82).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaVHB_ZA1Y2Ss8LwZBU1L7WKTE7Cz76HoHYnT9hBG_QwVAow3nknGSUa_1FsfWPK8elvwSc2CGKqAFEfvRin08rblB7y-WifaNdHVFxR6-PmYxN6mky7pNNU-qJX1XcNM-2A6xsJ7z8M1cMPpb7eSYkKi3vmVy8h_dsZ3un7RhETyQjjlsXH82maSaQ/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(84).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTaVHB_ZA1Y2Ss8LwZBU1L7WKTE7Cz76HoHYnT9hBG_QwVAow3nknGSUa_1FsfWPK8elvwSc2CGKqAFEfvRin08rblB7y-WifaNdHVFxR6-PmYxN6mky7pNNU-qJX1XcNM-2A6xsJ7z8M1cMPpb7eSYkKi3vmVy8h_dsZ3un7RhETyQjjlsXH82maSaQ/w268-h400/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(84).JPG" width="268" /></a></div></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">
As the day progressed we continued down the treed corridor, loosely following
the course of the Cowichan River, for which the valley was named. The
river is designated as both a BC Heritage River and a Canadian Heritage River,
and it is internationally recognized for its wild salmon and steel head
fishery. However, in recent years low water levels have threatened the
salmon run. Due to climate change there is no longer sufficient snowpack
on the surrounding mountains to keep the rivers flowing throughout the summer,
and repeated droughts on the West Coast have exacerbated the situation in
recent years. There are reports that in 2014 some of the salmon eggs and
juveniles had to be trucked down the river to the sea to keep the run alive.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYUku-kX5drzz5yKuF3h2Gut7vyt0_tVO0fckOr1ViilEMUVAGFxAuMpo1WkeWez9yzzWKBUW51aLyOlyUrtJ4l_iIT9FHfziUxR3uEOKultKuN32-kfKOFwPj8YSdQjPAz_LW_rAvOab0U8c6FvDUyaTPCVPWL3HEJHyhzaRXCeb9HD8jWssowdtWw/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(88).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYUku-kX5drzz5yKuF3h2Gut7vyt0_tVO0fckOr1ViilEMUVAGFxAuMpo1WkeWez9yzzWKBUW51aLyOlyUrtJ4l_iIT9FHfziUxR3uEOKultKuN32-kfKOFwPj8YSdQjPAz_LW_rAvOab0U8c6FvDUyaTPCVPWL3HEJHyhzaRXCeb9HD8jWssowdtWw/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(88).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUx_gTkvQGaSxSsnddLPtOYNHc3yno0UwOoJA8ZEgwjF2hc-b97k2tdd-8XXVFFhKNjF87tFi_hRv6SZIUQf4sTNw1H9hcmZOsxhw74qp5da3gR27Xb0gOu4sCecbv14lPKy_AsN_FBk74No06lQHoasEeTEYothgIiabaXXYA2fkcal5MgtWiL7xnA/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(89).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUx_gTkvQGaSxSsnddLPtOYNHc3yno0UwOoJA8ZEgwjF2hc-b97k2tdd-8XXVFFhKNjF87tFi_hRv6SZIUQf4sTNw1H9hcmZOsxhw74qp5da3gR27Xb0gOu4sCecbv14lPKy_AsN_FBk74No06lQHoasEeTEYothgIiabaXXYA2fkcal5MgtWiL7xnA/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(89).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIl80Tb09qsGNlzuw8gwcdLXVMldPZPWyt7Rjr2sVFDFibidAR-kwYFgETA5WuNFxxiqouZ9DpWMHtqDu4uKEbgnMOu-WpB8MXn_CbksK-3TddAp8rLp8FVeN5QvytR3oqV07bP-tZsRunwWvmOHhB5KyDFrlLovEbq-T3j3xwSjMe5DlkJptVu9qdw/s4032/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(97).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOIl80Tb09qsGNlzuw8gwcdLXVMldPZPWyt7Rjr2sVFDFibidAR-kwYFgETA5WuNFxxiqouZ9DpWMHtqDu4uKEbgnMOu-WpB8MXn_CbksK-3TddAp8rLp8FVeN5QvytR3oqV07bP-tZsRunwWvmOHhB5KyDFrlLovEbq-T3j3xwSjMe5DlkJptVu9qdw/w300-h400/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(97).jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVoJp9rh8VTeBFLXaRk7vDpVq0WSJMmS2s4zNnf73lAGASMTQ0LprwWwA2ev-JsMjVsMpghVUSra6r8gH01VlF8mK7SGiQBZUVrV_00Zj7kXn__TKlDy2mU-_X1OXRGYyfkJdA06-R9AbT_LUuSRIBLC-ihDb366h0qv0sE_MJPUrkNKJGIRZ4gkmwQ/s5061/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(98).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3378" data-original-width="5061" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxVoJp9rh8VTeBFLXaRk7vDpVq0WSJMmS2s4zNnf73lAGASMTQ0LprwWwA2ev-JsMjVsMpghVUSra6r8gH01VlF8mK7SGiQBZUVrV_00Zj7kXn__TKlDy2mU-_X1OXRGYyfkJdA06-R9AbT_LUuSRIBLC-ihDb366h0qv0sE_MJPUrkNKJGIRZ4gkmwQ/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(98).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">
Although we didn't see much evidence of the river today, we passed a turnoff
for Mayo Lake Park in the early afternoon. This is a popular fishing spot
for locals, and likely would have made a good spot to take a break.
However, we decided against making the diversion, because we only had a few
hours of daylight left, and still quite a long way to go.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNbq5lkCcm25t38cXFiZoO0qM3AAZgVCatsiVIxKEO3tYNyNaCvj4GyAxP_SAKZk2eRIA-DFAfl86aFbHZEnpVSEjDLwKSDpx0FVapjME6nzMK1CTOkFXOGKoUC0iVAo7dcHMnfqIzqdQYrZYp2AwXaOHlGf-yTg5KKXcrZFcw5zj8kOWNfuz6HFCtUA/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(100).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNbq5lkCcm25t38cXFiZoO0qM3AAZgVCatsiVIxKEO3tYNyNaCvj4GyAxP_SAKZk2eRIA-DFAfl86aFbHZEnpVSEjDLwKSDpx0FVapjME6nzMK1CTOkFXOGKoUC0iVAo7dcHMnfqIzqdQYrZYp2AwXaOHlGf-yTg5KKXcrZFcw5zj8kOWNfuz6HFCtUA/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(100).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcDxg9BCQ6Np8Bjj13HH_MFUuGs4fDGTxqIlY0A1PgEhBuTwDFkqQiqL0VGz5hjYr4oMn63HdDz9OGadK8TwGvFlAa2-49X3vHVGsot-OOE46wYoyZVWz17bMxPkImAsU1DsZvR84DdHNIEe18sgJiFetE-zRKIpFs0NnnH0dlejNwkFqQr8EaEloKg/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(105).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfcDxg9BCQ6Np8Bjj13HH_MFUuGs4fDGTxqIlY0A1PgEhBuTwDFkqQiqL0VGz5hjYr4oMn63HdDz9OGadK8TwGvFlAa2-49X3vHVGsot-OOE46wYoyZVWz17bMxPkImAsU1DsZvR84DdHNIEe18sgJiFetE-zRKIpFs0NnnH0dlejNwkFqQr8EaEloKg/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(105).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhut2R1AaQGy1W9x8k2xgMUhFCFH40LWzKqaHSZkCr40C-NI-2ZKFo8rDKezREsnI2KQUknrcNJxu6YNCAR-iD8miXTfwU3gJ9jbgs3es1C0FFxvTg5a4Mch9S-DZ0Ri0b4vzPOkoTvZ8nsyf19qFzrIdWBLW-xwLSR_B8L3g-6Kz_6AQR-X0wilVDu2A/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(109).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhut2R1AaQGy1W9x8k2xgMUhFCFH40LWzKqaHSZkCr40C-NI-2ZKFo8rDKezREsnI2KQUknrcNJxu6YNCAR-iD8miXTfwU3gJ9jbgs3es1C0FFxvTg5a4Mch9S-DZ0Ri0b4vzPOkoTvZ8nsyf19qFzrIdWBLW-xwLSR_B8L3g-6Kz_6AQR-X0wilVDu2A/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(109).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">
It was clear that Lake Cowichan is a rather long town, extending down the
length of the valley. For the last few hours of our hike we could hear a
busy road beside us, and homes began to line both sides of the trail. In
some places greenery had been deposited over back fences to pile up on the
trail sides, and we even spotted a carved pumpkin at one point, its frosty grin
reminding us that Halloween was now long past.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQF5KYR1kDX2t_kDiK8e61tI0tPjynDqtT7dbTeWgcfhp2UiMiHVLR8LQs0orf0Xs14hUMcbmYZ7dhAnIYij2UWuBANruJUjpvx9ElAtr_Dqnh7Yf2ajDNWCl42KX-4tXl2U-jZW8wZy0ir48YJa0NXMDDnzLm41ivRIm1aRongpbu0_ikDuASwg1aXA/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(111).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQF5KYR1kDX2t_kDiK8e61tI0tPjynDqtT7dbTeWgcfhp2UiMiHVLR8LQs0orf0Xs14hUMcbmYZ7dhAnIYij2UWuBANruJUjpvx9ElAtr_Dqnh7Yf2ajDNWCl42KX-4tXl2U-jZW8wZy0ir48YJa0NXMDDnzLm41ivRIm1aRongpbu0_ikDuASwg1aXA/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(111).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaySrNghNNAD1BFlLa5QexfL78oAprt0WYIg-26iDMxCC7uUVHD08V_dUbTzw9dBN2rxiVqNVKHrNINcExjGVM6ASMiOnYiMtFD8k5kZLwEc7YWFQxR1pvjWtUSM4sBuCjfB1B2gwn9LEHT4viAPTX8Q5sXtxFRKTItAXIE9o7WV5lD7ELTaJszlatg/s3261/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(112).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2177" data-original-width="3261" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaySrNghNNAD1BFlLa5QexfL78oAprt0WYIg-26iDMxCC7uUVHD08V_dUbTzw9dBN2rxiVqNVKHrNINcExjGVM6ASMiOnYiMtFD8k5kZLwEc7YWFQxR1pvjWtUSM4sBuCjfB1B2gwn9LEHT4viAPTX8Q5sXtxFRKTItAXIE9o7WV5lD7ELTaJszlatg/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(112).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtt4jkSUNwnL25SpEg5PuSKA1j0hKu40N0XT0IeiXtcoCoXMKcwKzgZLUatcht8GQhzomOGD0kT-49-RW0swwiJ66FKuBIcD3E1B5tGb2a_vee5YL9eLZRwR0IFJeZiaK6VLkCqVq-LWI3UBx-a5cCDDrPToElNLqbKM1-VmAQ64KiQEeqGbqf3mIuTg/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(115).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtt4jkSUNwnL25SpEg5PuSKA1j0hKu40N0XT0IeiXtcoCoXMKcwKzgZLUatcht8GQhzomOGD0kT-49-RW0swwiJ66FKuBIcD3E1B5tGb2a_vee5YL9eLZRwR0IFJeZiaK6VLkCqVq-LWI3UBx-a5cCDDrPToElNLqbKM1-VmAQ64KiQEeqGbqf3mIuTg/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(115).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">
</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">
Other evidence of civilization also became apparent when the trees gave way and
we could see the heavily logged slopes of the valley walls beyond. The
hills were lit by the late afternoon sunshine, and bands of light began to set
the forest around us aglow. Recently, my mother has developed an intense
fascination with mosses, learning as much as she can about them, observing them
closely, drawing them, and including them in the children's book she is writing
and illustrating. Perhaps because of this we paid extra attention to the
deep, lush, blanket of moss that covered the logs, stumps, and tree trunks
around us, and dripped from the branches above. The coastal rainforest is
lush and vibrant, and as we approached Lake Cowichan we found ourselves in a
very beautiful forested area.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTPd1IbjyGaz_QjSm64FzR7ZDTIOAkpvXCunR8bArVhUehyTA0iZF6caJ8kLCkkZCGDDStacBQz8_u_QkUR-az7-_pCZlBv4Czk2GiMmtOoTViB1A6jSMR7OaSOrg_P1K2SAPo_S3S6K7xoT6_0uZTdrFvSBj-FHGivKnzrwomqAAj-ppnndX4bl8YQ/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(122).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTPd1IbjyGaz_QjSm64FzR7ZDTIOAkpvXCunR8bArVhUehyTA0iZF6caJ8kLCkkZCGDDStacBQz8_u_QkUR-az7-_pCZlBv4Czk2GiMmtOoTViB1A6jSMR7OaSOrg_P1K2SAPo_S3S6K7xoT6_0uZTdrFvSBj-FHGivKnzrwomqAAj-ppnndX4bl8YQ/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(122).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjRd4hQDNmLic0Vr6Hzw0D4H9hx6kL_i4D9bYzHqH_XfJK7G3qvWrTCMhTwmjPKO5981_gTbmw-W6P1u_iZ_QGqgnBijd96PFCuq3vZTfvRiWhAiO-gRZWMW8mdBxB7MqmpWZ36hf-U4PLmFcCJmyhgfr84otYdAKlAGJYhqc479h4_eBod2Fb79qag/s4102/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(120).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2738" data-original-width="4102" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjRd4hQDNmLic0Vr6Hzw0D4H9hx6kL_i4D9bYzHqH_XfJK7G3qvWrTCMhTwmjPKO5981_gTbmw-W6P1u_iZ_QGqgnBijd96PFCuq3vZTfvRiWhAiO-gRZWMW8mdBxB7MqmpWZ36hf-U4PLmFcCJmyhgfr84otYdAKlAGJYhqc479h4_eBod2Fb79qag/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(120).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKj3YhBU2jkX7zJ00PP4I5GTeJxxpg0I2AZ-WaD2x3fGGb0xifBKdKfrwweblqBnJPLZp4QPWlD7AeQv1eODwYovXqKFIcbiPRqwI3M-5-x1V1yzt8YOlPIp35ADXLlPxdSkd0GAcnx1WDAd9cqy_a0Lj4qq8Ok_HQHcGXJkj2C1Nm8Czy5yzDlbNmQ/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(129).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDKj3YhBU2jkX7zJ00PP4I5GTeJxxpg0I2AZ-WaD2x3fGGb0xifBKdKfrwweblqBnJPLZp4QPWlD7AeQv1eODwYovXqKFIcbiPRqwI3M-5-x1V1yzt8YOlPIp35ADXLlPxdSkd0GAcnx1WDAd9cqy_a0Lj4qq8Ok_HQHcGXJkj2C1Nm8Czy5yzDlbNmQ/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(129).JPG" width="400" /></a></div> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">Eventually we emerged onto the streets of the town of Lake Cowichan, which is
located on the shores of Cowichan Lake at the spot where the Cowichan River
begins. The water body is 30 km long and 4 km wide at its widest point,
and it is the second largest body of water on Vancouver Island. There are
several communities along the shores of the lake, many of which are popular
fishing and vacationing spots in summer. At one time the valley was a
major centre for logging operations, but as the forestry industry shifted and
the railway lines were transformed into transportation corridors and the Cowichan
Valley Trail, tourism and art became more important to the local economy.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXXvFCpDM-lxdhUM2KRu7Jy0LxIqnlXvpVaxDXO2cHK1TI8BePvUC57LwhMRybLbCw_o3q-n8yQnVJpaTnGgdrYRAxKxH7q6pa5Za5J5q144RtxrcVy6p5tlDoCdGsARsrPE1bJek90K3OvT4yBTn3YB8Bl7XMn-E0GD3PZ2xXLWknqWReu7H9vTXXg/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(134).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4016" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXXvFCpDM-lxdhUM2KRu7Jy0LxIqnlXvpVaxDXO2cHK1TI8BePvUC57LwhMRybLbCw_o3q-n8yQnVJpaTnGgdrYRAxKxH7q6pa5Za5J5q144RtxrcVy6p5tlDoCdGsARsrPE1bJek90K3OvT4yBTn3YB8Bl7XMn-E0GD3PZ2xXLWknqWReu7H9vTXXg/w268-h400/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(134).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-2oKp_dLxYkQMJ8rCWlwyRiah1NI22ggYkVsDncnvxEVQ9gIGla1D8D94zFZoXOkRSgFRanhohnYPhNdFnVVv4oXOHWEes_QLZQZgxxVJPeo53xODwe0vAKejVWMtuQKuXgCLgkJnL5qNaP3w0t7aYCQyBZbh_m_KINPeIqt1YqeE5ktneHztQvyug/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(135).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-2oKp_dLxYkQMJ8rCWlwyRiah1NI22ggYkVsDncnvxEVQ9gIGla1D8D94zFZoXOkRSgFRanhohnYPhNdFnVVv4oXOHWEes_QLZQZgxxVJPeo53xODwe0vAKejVWMtuQKuXgCLgkJnL5qNaP3w0t7aYCQyBZbh_m_KINPeIqt1YqeE5ktneHztQvyug/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(135).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXQMPJ4titq_2IGyklnDWw9BsNvGZocjXP0M4ISaFpR6guNzwHsMMr4CXc8Xhyez6sxCKMVTG3aQFTC5qPuYASIECeksiFTmDPZidA5gwTtQfybxmqhqG7v43Km4E27WiX_sgBPNq9BlR7Xtl0fAuy8smA4Qv9UMMVdvmxamJhM2GJdgT7dioc2E5Xw/s3841/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(136).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2564" data-original-width="3841" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXQMPJ4titq_2IGyklnDWw9BsNvGZocjXP0M4ISaFpR6guNzwHsMMr4CXc8Xhyez6sxCKMVTG3aQFTC5qPuYASIECeksiFTmDPZidA5gwTtQfybxmqhqG7v43Km4E27WiX_sgBPNq9BlR7Xtl0fAuy8smA4Qv9UMMVdvmxamJhM2GJdgT7dioc2E5Xw/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(136).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2N6MfJGyZ2cPX2Mdjvbs57VdyeOVtrQ_Ao7A7hFY4xsyPq3SSEMCLVnS7_s0lDueuQYRBdZMOMi9-u5IMYMYtIT7nq7UGIT5O9IXRFgfTCDUDx9JTt5oz_kKkkXOQ1fWh-ybq2x4lTOh_iwMolWoiOSfKIKDJOnVUKyqPFmyazE2HJOvV1WYt93-3A/s4032/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(140).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lake Cowichan welcome sign trail." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_2N6MfJGyZ2cPX2Mdjvbs57VdyeOVtrQ_Ao7A7hFY4xsyPq3SSEMCLVnS7_s0lDueuQYRBdZMOMi9-u5IMYMYtIT7nq7UGIT5O9IXRFgfTCDUDx9JTt5oz_kKkkXOQ1fWh-ybq2x4lTOh_iwMolWoiOSfKIKDJOnVUKyqPFmyazE2HJOvV1WYt93-3A/w400-h300/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(140).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
We followed the rail trail across a trestle bridge over the Cowichan River,
emerged into a neighbourhood, and then found ourselves at an unexpected landmark
- the Western Terminus of the Trans
Canada Trail! A beautiful wooden pavilion marked the western most
point on the trail, and as we stopped to read about local history on the
plaques inside the pavilion we felt like this should be the end of the
trail. How could we be at the western most point and still have 3-4 more
days of walking left? You'd think by this point we would have learned not
to ask these questions. Either way, it felt like yet another milestone
reached, and it was extra sweet, because it was an unexpected one!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQIJgQ9hLg1qDABTQrtOlw8eM2sDqQr3AI_UsNFuttobqmXZFWStveMr4lKBH0U_1FgJZZ3yKAEWhO5c8cgxa4fkAS97dX3rXlaLc8phQzH8vdiajXU4Wv3mmxXJWIf6gJw-jodtRc1ZdSbRkSscwVoIF6upPxMlr2ApILieTW9WyrxSGxqhpBjq1xg/s3637/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(141).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3637" data-original-width="3452" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQIJgQ9hLg1qDABTQrtOlw8eM2sDqQr3AI_UsNFuttobqmXZFWStveMr4lKBH0U_1FgJZZ3yKAEWhO5c8cgxa4fkAS97dX3rXlaLc8phQzH8vdiajXU4Wv3mmxXJWIf6gJw-jodtRc1ZdSbRkSscwVoIF6upPxMlr2ApILieTW9WyrxSGxqhpBjq1xg/s320/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(141).JPG" width="304" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmWafyLIKoGtoOX63psVjIQbbOQ2Wj6OwrrxULoxIDH7uxenNQRcmXDKe2v5aTgI47B9_t8YFk1qMMKtvbTIjl0PZX183aZKBfINpM__6F06R2VEdCdLmkKo0753m3K3EPqUiKN37834rOIDZ0Seq9zZJbJ4C9VS5Rol2WUrexRonZWlRUNtiyUrSYg/s5858/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(144).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3911" data-original-width="5858" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdmWafyLIKoGtoOX63psVjIQbbOQ2Wj6OwrrxULoxIDH7uxenNQRcmXDKe2v5aTgI47B9_t8YFk1qMMKtvbTIjl0PZX183aZKBfINpM__6F06R2VEdCdLmkKo0753m3K3EPqUiKN37834rOIDZ0Seq9zZJbJ4C9VS5Rol2WUrexRonZWlRUNtiyUrSYg/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(144).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hTcRwSQownfAriXiZ-ymg_GACP5oTvaKSJ5zcxfcogsKa_B0GxniM_iSs8M1O9zrr_aFiDy1f5v22fzvkGFlfxwZA2O4kimekggPIAKpULSJGf_ScghdApCdNrdMnYqy8ojwre5vdu2FuixmV53o6UmVNJ2nbnMQR0OcyziFym2mmF_kijvuRhDM2g/s3908/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(139).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="TCT Western Terminus Lake Cowichan British Columbia." border="0" data-original-height="2609" data-original-width="3908" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hTcRwSQownfAriXiZ-ymg_GACP5oTvaKSJ5zcxfcogsKa_B0GxniM_iSs8M1O9zrr_aFiDy1f5v22fzvkGFlfxwZA2O4kimekggPIAKpULSJGf_ScghdApCdNrdMnYqy8ojwre5vdu2FuixmV53o6UmVNJ2nbnMQR0OcyziFym2mmF_kijvuRhDM2g/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(139).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMOjNpa2NOZS94QsISVbrGKMnoF2Mo5KOdC3n7CF9ibig0BLhRxu1eCjUeSZD_Ooi29U-Nek3vWpsF11liDwyrOZTqCbULXG2JE7hXuHyvK4MvIRXHFeVLB1DBqAHlJrop6SqX_eT_RioHRVTBabjJIH8S8WGpPW378wKY_EzrhlWr4c9CAAM-vgqWg/s5858/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(144).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Great Trail Western Terminus Lake Cowichan BC." border="0" data-original-height="3911" data-original-width="5858" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMOjNpa2NOZS94QsISVbrGKMnoF2Mo5KOdC3n7CF9ibig0BLhRxu1eCjUeSZD_Ooi29U-Nek3vWpsF11liDwyrOZTqCbULXG2JE7hXuHyvK4MvIRXHFeVLB1DBqAHlJrop6SqX_eT_RioHRVTBabjJIH8S8WGpPW378wKY_EzrhlWr4c9CAAM-vgqWg/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(144).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dulcZBr1HOxaMbUslgpqLqH2XqUcWQwfPrcPW0EUKnr2aGsPmY5qp7xfoCYCW06MHlTAm1mD4625nBeMtlZrLd2X81buh9gIWUZRcyV3um_kPiVMG2qFvGtTSZO147RXpdRrhnC4NaZ4lolqCf0_EEVFlRZqkYgGIIfDbbyfl9VGaTS_E94VTFPOdQ/s3106/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(147).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trans Canada Trail Western Terminus Lake Cowichan BC." border="0" data-original-height="2329" data-original-width="3106" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dulcZBr1HOxaMbUslgpqLqH2XqUcWQwfPrcPW0EUKnr2aGsPmY5qp7xfoCYCW06MHlTAm1mD4625nBeMtlZrLd2X81buh9gIWUZRcyV3um_kPiVMG2qFvGtTSZO147RXpdRrhnC4NaZ4lolqCf0_EEVFlRZqkYgGIIfDbbyfl9VGaTS_E94VTFPOdQ/w400-h300/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(147).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
We still had some time left before we could check into the motel, so we
wandered down to the shores of the lake, stopping to explore Saywell Park.<span> </span>In 2013 the Cowichan Lake and River
Stewardship Society began some truly impressive restoration work along the
shoreline of the waterways.<span> </span>The process involved
removing the invasive Himalayan blackberries that had colonized much of the
riparian area, and then planting more than 1,000 native plant species within
200 m of the shoreline.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0r9HUADHOPQVOMOkiyhgpSWPtVe3-1QENL60r8oCboRVUhHJF8JTgFIE6guYRKQ2tS7c1fvZysZko9hR-769NaCMBaZcGDrRAvNFcGLT--NDaPEg0GnMlleOIjg5umaMRf4Qx9tuy4b9XFRpwwbU0132GGLLrY6GlrES_T1o0DI8q0KBMreJt5eR_LQ/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(151).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0r9HUADHOPQVOMOkiyhgpSWPtVe3-1QENL60r8oCboRVUhHJF8JTgFIE6guYRKQ2tS7c1fvZysZko9hR-769NaCMBaZcGDrRAvNFcGLT--NDaPEg0GnMlleOIjg5umaMRf4Qx9tuy4b9XFRpwwbU0132GGLLrY6GlrES_T1o0DI8q0KBMreJt5eR_LQ/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(151).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">A dock was also
installed to provide safe access to the river without disturbing the sensitive
riparian habitat.<span> </span>The work was done by
volunteers, including local school groups, providing another great example of
the difference individuals can make to conservation of natural spaces.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmRDXHJExti12nEbzki2tjJ9E8amDn5d9AzhJEJWCgj4PxiMR_ZyDYfHdYfv3vdl1W8vuSHYhkYqmg8jXtlPodF5I88Liu_8XnTy9EOKUHqKlb2YohS8WkDEOnp4xeKuZVG6Q6X8dm6KG73f3RFBfeb0uiac1okPjVL84ETdsWfBsIhFrb-rgvB7G3A/s4032/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(162).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmRDXHJExti12nEbzki2tjJ9E8amDn5d9AzhJEJWCgj4PxiMR_ZyDYfHdYfv3vdl1W8vuSHYhkYqmg8jXtlPodF5I88Liu_8XnTy9EOKUHqKlb2YohS8WkDEOnp4xeKuZVG6Q6X8dm6KG73f3RFBfeb0uiac1okPjVL84ETdsWfBsIhFrb-rgvB7G3A/w400-h300/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(162).jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">From the park we
made our way into the Town of Lake Cowichan.<span>
</span>The region is known by the Coast Salish People as Kaatza, or the Land
Warmed by the Sun, and it was indeed a relatively warm afternoon as we explored
a little.<span> </span>On the charming main street we
came to Ohtaki Park, a small and neatly landscaped green space that celebrated
the twinning of Cowichan Lake with the Japanese city of Ohtaki in 1989. An
outdoor art exhibit adjacent to the park told the history of logging in the
area in a series of carved wooden panels hung in kiosks around a circular brick
courtyard.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_dofQUCj2fCG_kio579HGNi1Y4xh29VXDaapdBVJSlJuCVQSTuEmCLDmZa3Nu9MOOf66VCW7QMDYDMifA0DVlLNwOpes2hoI33Gli1yIHx6wgJpx3QI3Wgxpi7hPa_37Ud_mRz7iifv7Yvr--b-xSnvFClXFYpilJXcIrzEN2YnqB35vyNI2ukQZzA/s6016/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(163).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4016" data-original-width="6016" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT_dofQUCj2fCG_kio579HGNi1Y4xh29VXDaapdBVJSlJuCVQSTuEmCLDmZa3Nu9MOOf66VCW7QMDYDMifA0DVlLNwOpes2hoI33Gli1yIHx6wgJpx3QI3Wgxpi7hPa_37Ud_mRz7iifv7Yvr--b-xSnvFClXFYpilJXcIrzEN2YnqB35vyNI2ukQZzA/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(163).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br />
Nearby, a carved wooden totem pole, which atypically included a round hole near
the top stood watch. The Ts'uubaasatx Pole was raised in 2015, and it
reflects the past, present, and future. Figures on the pole represent the
different time periods, with the future looking towards the library, signifying
that knowledge is the way forward. The mountains and the lake are also
depicted, and the hole represents a nearby cave that is filled with quartz crystals.
The cave has huge spiritual significance to the Ts'uubaasatx People, and at
certain times of year it comes alive when the sun fills it with light.<span> </span>The artwork in the downtown suggested impressive
local talent and a willingness to celebrate and embrace different cultures in
the area.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yswfuDpHV3EK9lwMRUo5N_JhHKkqGfFGh7HCMcKLTFGCqYROd4d4YmODumd9fgnTki_yQGLaA68uqM48FDRFf7MwWGgz7gpwgWghHN5ja6FhHoDI-Io3VOiMPEXd0e0szREPribtFAccpcvZjSo9eyz0Tt74qq5hWhdrZFhs7j2nRErIF9xbvHfWJA/s3927/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(164).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3927" data-original-width="2621" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_yswfuDpHV3EK9lwMRUo5N_JhHKkqGfFGh7HCMcKLTFGCqYROd4d4YmODumd9fgnTki_yQGLaA68uqM48FDRFf7MwWGgz7gpwgWghHN5ja6FhHoDI-Io3VOiMPEXd0e0szREPribtFAccpcvZjSo9eyz0Tt74qq5hWhdrZFhs7j2nRErIF9xbvHfWJA/w268-h400/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(164).JPG" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNCbbEiYfu_8nebUY-geFd9RBmRSsFug6RLnMoV9c4vwHVCgM1Gs0BDlmUHLqSmWiieQodlLvtaS2pN7aOfg24FBHJObZK6D6B6ftY3ak8qaQVDcH76SWk0GH1Czi587fo2HK06lgCd8xHPZkrAKR-o4dUEDXMSqMTOZjlhKR-Xngu9BVxcqSoJWN3w/s3916/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(166).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2614" data-original-width="3916" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNCbbEiYfu_8nebUY-geFd9RBmRSsFug6RLnMoV9c4vwHVCgM1Gs0BDlmUHLqSmWiieQodlLvtaS2pN7aOfg24FBHJObZK6D6B6ftY3ak8qaQVDcH76SWk0GH1Czi587fo2HK06lgCd8xHPZkrAKR-o4dUEDXMSqMTOZjlhKR-Xngu9BVxcqSoJWN3w/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(166).JPG" width="400" /></a></div></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">
<br />
After exploring briefly, we stepped into Ed's Coffee House for a warm drink and
some delicious chocolate squares.<span> </span>It was
wonderful to sit down in the warm, cozy, place and our backpacks ensured that
we were soon part of a lively discussion involving all of the other customers
in the cafe.<span> </span>We thoroughly enjoyed the
creative and artistic atmosphere, although we were certainly glad to be
visiting during the off season, as the 'resort prices' of even very modest
accommodations would have far exceeded our budget during the summer months.<span> </span>As the sun began to set behind the hills and
turn the sky to pink, we made our way to the motel, bringing one of our last
days on the Trans Canada Trail this season to an end.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_2rOkcoJHzsrgW2ZrpD8Z_NhyEr5XlAGtC5Z92XswZe4IiUUlrOR1s805D28B8lXTpKH_MNoRQNV8U3EJMgpYU1CjDcTlm4HJ-IOo-vQKenVwjG1dh8E3Y0P0Aph8OufsQhHGwRMTo5cjFfIQSVWuEBJOKVDd_6i_XxIe_OViUka4OfHhttk1PMEOw/s3855/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(168).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2573" data-original-width="3855" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_2rOkcoJHzsrgW2ZrpD8Z_NhyEr5XlAGtC5Z92XswZe4IiUUlrOR1s805D28B8lXTpKH_MNoRQNV8U3EJMgpYU1CjDcTlm4HJ-IOo-vQKenVwjG1dh8E3Y0P0Aph8OufsQhHGwRMTo5cjFfIQSVWuEBJOKVDd_6i_XxIe_OViUka4OfHhttk1PMEOw/w400-h268/Duncan%20to%20Lake%20Cowichan%20for%20blog%20(168).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">See you on the trail! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN-CA" style="font-family: inherit;">Remember to follow our entire adventure here : <a href="https://www.comewalkwithus.online/"><b>www.comewalkwithus.online</b></a></span></span></div>
<p></p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Lake Cowichan, BC, Canada48.8258118 -124.05416720.515577963821151 -159.210417 77.136045636178835 -88.897917tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-33389452471365607412023-03-04T22:10:00.003-05:002023-03-10T19:32:00.867-05:00Norfolk County - Certificate of Accomplishment<p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today we received a special delivery from <b><a href="https://www.norfolkcounty.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Norfolk County.</a></b> On behalf of the Mayor and Country Council of Norfolk we were awarded a Certificate of Accomplishment for our efforts to encourage diversity in the outdoors, promote birding and Citizen Science along the <b><a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trans Canada Trail / Sentier Transcanadien.</a></b> We have been noted for our achievements as exceptional Canadian hikers, explorers and naturalists.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Accordingly our efforts reflect the essential values and beliefs of Canada which hold us together in a free and democratic society.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We are both deeply honoured by the recognition for the efforts put into our <b>#Hike4Birds</b> from a community we love so much.</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghySkWyB5aPKQXDVz9762VtLmNIZO3Km7sWmqQ30cFXIjSEnR1qgYBHSQTQOjnjqrA6xCOCdWnI8elKGRtA0vw7-pgYE6K-reGKZIlJa9MMVk8QH84tddeYHF7SRpEbuQWoM5vaz8rFV0GJMNsMw1PUovA_FhYkCMHORIxChsKK6uEmawmKYT3sdoqg/s960/Norfolk%20Certificate%20of%20Accomplishment%20-%20Revised.jpg" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Certificate of Accomplishment Trans Canada Trail Award." border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="663" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgghySkWyB5aPKQXDVz9762VtLmNIZO3Km7sWmqQ30cFXIjSEnR1qgYBHSQTQOjnjqrA6xCOCdWnI8elKGRtA0vw7-pgYE6K-reGKZIlJa9MMVk8QH84tddeYHF7SRpEbuQWoM5vaz8rFV0GJMNsMw1PUovA_FhYkCMHORIxChsKK6uEmawmKYT3sdoqg/w498-h663/Norfolk%20Certificate%20of%20Accomplishment%20-%20Revised.jpg" width="498" /></a></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">See you on the trail! </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember to follow our entire adventure here : <a href="https://www.comewalkwithus.online/"><b>www.comewalkwithus.online</b></a></span></span> <br /></p><p></p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Simcoe, ON, Canada42.8372632 -80.304042414.527029363821157 -115.4602924 71.147497036178848 -45.1477924tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-30432019451686459572023-02-24T15:34:00.004-05:002023-03-10T19:31:06.235-05:00Congratulations from Island Nature Trust !<p><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Today we received a magnanimous letter from the <b><a href="https://islandnaturetrust.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Island Nature Trust</span> </a></b>in Prince Edward
Island</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Their letter highlights the dedication and commitment of
Come Walk With Us for its time on the <b><a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Trans Canada Trail</a></b>, our focus on
Conservation in Canada, and raising awareness of <a href="https://www.ibacanada.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Important Bird Areas</b> </a>and the protection of the Boreal Forest.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Humbled as we received letters of Congratulations,
Certificates of Achievement, and Letters of Accomplishment from Nature Conservation
and Hiking clubs, as well as trail organizations from every province across
Canada!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thank you for your ongoing support over the past 4 years,
14,000 km and 556 days !<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></p>
<p><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr">We are humbled by your encouragement and support!</span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="break-words" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span><span dir="ltr"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSav2R7sg1101mhasQAav3oOfUfjTv9lJhzFC4aXmWdb2fjRrsZS7c211Ug3InYIQhxavRYmu2naojwzDaLeFlND5PyPvwqxxvuJD5Pt17uviUNOKkxPgitiLS2oXLtErItWYPDtQzMS-tu2InAehIpfbb7HGhBDF959UrNisvEaMH6s_L5D-yRpKEg/s3284/Island%20Nature%20Trust%20Letter%20of%20Congratulations.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Island Nature Trust Trans Canada Trail PEI." border="0" data-original-height="3284" data-original-width="2504" height="689" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSav2R7sg1101mhasQAav3oOfUfjTv9lJhzFC4aXmWdb2fjRrsZS7c211Ug3InYIQhxavRYmu2naojwzDaLeFlND5PyPvwqxxvuJD5Pt17uviUNOKkxPgitiLS2oXLtErItWYPDtQzMS-tu2InAehIpfbb7HGhBDF959UrNisvEaMH6s_L5D-yRpKEg/w525-h689/Island%20Nature%20Trust%20Letter%20of%20Congratulations.jpg" width="525" /></a></span></span></span></div><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">See you on the trail! </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember to follow our entire adventure here : <a href="https://www.comewalkwithus.online/"><b>www.comewalkwithus.online</b></a></span></span></p><p></p>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Charlottetown, PE, Canada46.23824 -63.13107040000001317.928006163821152 -98.287320400000013 74.548473836178843 -27.974820400000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1221524417192252274.post-19622440398698097232023-02-15T12:09:00.009-05:002023-03-10T19:30:19.885-05:00Come Walk With Us - Top Canadian Travel Blog !<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzt7tNwtGB4T6WEP6QPYuZy7KbGisLIfCSi4KGUDPa-qlR8I2DSqGCpUk5-iIE3reTj9JRf4GXbCYrJMwqx0Uat5ZBDUlWvUl5kyCQF4TfNtJ-p6k9KzV1_EInYvQuuu66VnqrWxLweXV/s350/Feedspot-logo.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Feedspot Travel blog logo Come Walk With Us." border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="349" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzt7tNwtGB4T6WEP6QPYuZy7KbGisLIfCSi4KGUDPa-qlR8I2DSqGCpUk5-iIE3reTj9JRf4GXbCYrJMwqx0Uat5ZBDUlWvUl5kyCQF4TfNtJ-p6k9KzV1_EInYvQuuu66VnqrWxLweXV/w262-h263/Feedspot-logo.png" width="262" /></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today <b><a href="http://www.comewalkwithus.online" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Come Walk With Us</a></b> was AGAIN named by
<b><a href="https://blog.feedspot.com/canada_travel_blogs/" target="_blank">Feedspot as one of the top Canadian Travel Blogs </a></b>! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In 2022 our ranking shifted from being #47 to #37 ! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJQ9An46BhIcbKvD7JlL05oJ1HC9Jlu_XpMRIKke_WF88PghKex04g3qPeXBAqOQxsPQBPvae5JuTnJZMKa80G-0PbsXM2DkyaD9kTUugnBZ60t13_T5cJGwLg0Ymk6oVK6vF2sQRE8493BbM0v44K32JYlA9_FlofejICVzBIzrHt9ku78wHiVSV1w/s947/Feed%20Spot%20Ranking%202022.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Come Walk With Us Top Canadian Travel Hiking Blog." border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="947" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBJQ9An46BhIcbKvD7JlL05oJ1HC9Jlu_XpMRIKke_WF88PghKex04g3qPeXBAqOQxsPQBPvae5JuTnJZMKa80G-0PbsXM2DkyaD9kTUugnBZ60t13_T5cJGwLg0Ymk6oVK6vF2sQRE8493BbM0v44K32JYlA9_FlofejICVzBIzrHt9ku78wHiVSV1w/w640-h274/Feed%20Spot%20Ranking%202022.JPG" width="640" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span> </span></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After just a couple years of trekking on the<b><a href="https://tctrail.ca/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Trans Canada Trail</a></b>, writing over 800 blog
entries, thousands of facebook and instagram posts and with just over 750,000
pictures taken - our goals of promoting diversity and accessibility in the
outdoors and inspiring youth to reconnect to nature, from their backyards to
the boreal, through birding and Citizen Science is garnering some serious
attention! Very exciting!</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Thank you to everyone for your support - the north is next!<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKwaNEHprEmPBi24FpaKyyNW1i09PtL23r4U1zik6whExKSFt38S40ZpfwK01wImikmHQOqtIlP8gpoiYshrAD-zPJh7ifVspvBWmsa_tYVyMqAlw5NyU3_hzACsA2Zw0RK22sihj7nrY/s900/Canada-Travel-Blogs-1.jpg" style="font-family: inherit; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPKwaNEHprEmPBi24FpaKyyNW1i09PtL23r4U1zik6whExKSFt38S40ZpfwK01wImikmHQOqtIlP8gpoiYshrAD-zPJh7ifVspvBWmsa_tYVyMqAlw5NyU3_hzACsA2Zw0RK22sihj7nrY/w400-h266/Canada-Travel-Blogs-1.jpg" width="400" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">See you on the trail! </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Remember to follow our entire adventure here : <a href="https://www.comewalkwithus.online/"><b>www.comewalkwithus.online</b></a></span></span> <br /></p></div>Come Walk With Ushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11277818728326535364noreply@blogger.com0Sechelt, BC, Canada49.4741736 -123.754560121.163939763821155 -158.9108101 77.784407436178839 -88.5983101