May 2 – Mount Douglas and Fort Rodd Hill

No long hikes or bike rides today. It was sunny and warm with a high in the mid 20’sC. We drove to a couple of places and did some short walks to viewpoints.

Mount Douglas at 225 meters is one of the higher point of land around Victoria. You can hike or drive up but the road to the top is only open for cars after noon. We first went to the beach, that is part of the park, to wait until the road opened.

Just a lot of rocks.

We could see the tip of Mount Baker off in the distance.

And just barely, some of the mountains on the Canadian shore.

There was not much interesting for Jennie on this beach. Lots of seaweed.

And barnacle encrusted rocks.

Once it was noon we headed up to the top.

From the small parking lot we looked south over downtown Vancouver to the Olympic Mountains in Washington.

We scrambled up some rocks to get a view to the east.

I took a 360 degree photosphere from here. Just click on the link to view it.

Mount Douglas Lower Peak Photosphere

We could see a lot more of Mount Baker from up here.

We headed back to the other side of the parking lot to climb to the platform at the actual peak.

Looking north toward the Gulf Islands.

Another photosphere. The people in it look kind of screwy because they moved while I was taking all the necessary separate pictures.

Mount Douglas Peak Photosphere

Looking to our viewpoint on the rocks.

There was an astronomical observatory on another hill.

Heading back to the car.

On the way towards Fort Rodd Hill Jennie spotted this place so we made a pit stop for groceries.

Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site is an old costal defense fort. We first climbed up to the Upper Battery for a quick look.

Then down to the Lower Battery to find a spot to finally have a late lunch.

With a great view of the Fisgard Lighthouse.

Across the bay was a commercial shipyard and Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt.

According to a website I found this is the Celebrity Millennium being refitted.

We wandered out the road to the lighthouse.

Passing by the beach we disturbed two geese and their goslings.

We climbed up on the rocks to find two great chairs with a view.

And a final photosphere for the day.

Fisgard Lighthouse Photosphere

We sat for a while before heading home.