May 1 – Biking the Rail Trails of Victoria

Today was a great day for a bike ride. Sunny but not too hot. We did a 30 km loop using 3 different rail trails. Once we were downtown we just walked the bike around for a while.

There are not lot of pictures when we were actually on the trails. As I have said before it is awkward to stop and get the camera out so we just snap a few as we are moving.

We did the loop clockwise. All the trails are paved and very smooth. There were only a few hills so it was a great way to get back into biking shape.

The E& N trail runs right through the RV park. We headed a short distance west before we intersected with the Galloping Goose Trail. It runs much farther west but we headed east, back into town.

Once we got closer to town the trail is beside Hwy 1. A few nice backyards to look at but mostly traffic noise and road crossings.

At the intersection with the start of the Lochside trail we headed north.

 

This section was mostly treed with backyards just on the other side of the tree line.

Over a few slightly bumpy bridges. This was called the Swan Lake Trestle over a small creek and a wide bog.

Our turn around point was Blenkinsop Trestle over Blenkinsop Lake. The trail continues all the up to the ferry terminal at Swartz Bay but going only as far as the trestle made a long enough side trip to put the total trip length in our comfortable range,

There was a statute in one of the pullouts.

It fooled us enough that we stopped on the one on the other side.

Jennie thought that the pond scum sort of looked like a map of the world.

We headed back to the junction and then continued on the Galloping Goose trail on its way downtown.

There seemed to be poppies growing in some unlikely places.

A long bridge over the upper harbour.

We got off and walked to check out the scenery.

A tiny boat with an even smaller tender.

Lookin towards downtown.

We passed a BC Ferries drydock.

The rail trail ended and then we had to cross this lift bridge to get back over the harbour to the downtown waterfront. There was no bike lane across it. Some of the bikers just stayed on the road with the cars. It is so hard for us to stop and start on the tandem that we took to the sidewalk and walked across.

For the rest of the time downtown we only biked a bit. Most of the time we walked.

We found a nice empty wharf that looked like a good place to have lunch.

On one side were a couple of tall ships.

They were giving tours and I listened in.

On the other side was a radio station owner from San Francisco's little toy.

The $40 million (I looked it up) motor yacht Invader.

I saw a young girl (not crew) come out and walk along the side trying to look casual. It would be hard not to gloat being on something like this.

We continued along the waterfront.

There was an in water boat show going on.

The Empress Hotel in the background.

We almost made it to Fisherman’s Wharf again before turning around. It was tough not going in for another ice cream.

The end one was being renovated to have a great deck and view of the harbour.

Starting the journey home.

Looking across to our lunch spot.

We eventually made it back across the lift bridge and rode a short distance on the streets to the start of the E&N rail trail.

Through some industrial areas and some more backyards but so smooth and easy to ride on.

A few ocean views.

Almost home.

I won’t say that we were completely wiped out but it was definitely nap time.