The day was overcast with a definite threat of rain - forecast said that temperatures were unlikely to get above 10C and that proved correct. We wrapped up warmly & were prepared for rain with our panniers full of raincoats, hats, first aid gear and food. The plan was to cycle from Sooke Potholes to Caroline's cousin Jonathon's place in time for pre-dinner nibbles. Bruce & Janet would join us there for dinner.
Whilst the sky was still overcast at Sooke Potholes the sun was trying to show itself, giving enough light to the deep pools of water of the potholes. I was impressed with the shapes nature had carved in the rocks to create the pools but equally with the folly of some entrepreneur's attempt to build a hotel [Deertrail Resort] overlooking these geologic features.
Whilst the park is run by Parks Canada it is on the land of the T'souke Nation and there are a few information panels telling of that connection.
After waving Bruce & Janet goodbye we took off downhill on the track but were stymied by the first trestle being closed for repairs. The diversion was sending us down a steep dirt trail through the forest that looked best for a mountain bike so we opted to return to the beginning and take the road down to the other carpark.
We stopped to look at the Sooke river as it was full of seagulls and ravens eating any dead salmon [salmon spawning] they could find while overhead a Bald Eagle [call] circled. Just a pity my Tablet camera could not capture their flight nor when they sat atop a tall pinetree - they really are spectacular birds.
We continued on down the road to where we could get on the trail and followed it assiduously, crossing numerous main & minor roads. At major roads one pushes a button by the pedestrian crossing which sets flashing lights going to warn cars from afar that they need to stop..... it works! As the trail is an old rail line it's a pretty easy cycle ride - not too many steep hills to tackle nor bends AND we were going from the top to the bottom! Easy peasy.
I was on the lookout for bears or cougars but we saw neither though I reckon one of the large spore piles I saw on the track was from a bear - certainly was neither dog nor horse nor squirrel, the only three animals we saw on our journey. The forested areas were pretty special - many of the Douglas Fir trees were moss covered or had lichen hanging off their boughs and all around them maple tree leaves were turning golden and falling. Quite something when the weak sun did shine through.
We stopped at a viewpoint over Matheson Lake but it was rather too damp for a lunch spot so we continued on through forested areas and passed bush-nestled suburbs.
We were trying to find a place out of the wind for lunch with perhaps a view over the sea but no public access that we could find. There were no seats in the Sooke Basin area on which to sit & the breeze was a little chilly so on we went.
Turned off onto a road that looked as if it would lead to the coast. At the end of Taylor Road we found a public access route to the beach and a park bench on which to sit while we ate our sandwiches. The swish-swash of the waves was relaxing but the temperatures didn't encoruage us to stay too long once we had eaten our lunch ... thank goodness for a good hot thermos of tea! Mind you the tsunami warning signs managed to put me on edge anyway as there's been much talk that the Vancouver area is well overdue for a big shake!
We began to pass more houses - many new condo or intensive housing developments in the area with concomitant widening & extensions of highways so knew we were nearing the end of the rural/park like part of the ride. Loved the information panels along the way and the different images that were used for the bike racks at each rest point. The photos below were from a trail marker site next to an old rodeo ground just outside of Langford.
We also stopped to check out the walkway next to the Royal Roads University where Mara did her Masters. Charlie's walkway looked really interesting - great to see the acknowledgement of the First Nation owners of the area in the names of plants.
Not long past the university we turned off for a 3pm cafe stop as at last we had found a decent one in The Nest - stopped there or quite some time warming up with a hot chocolate & spinach tart while writing postcards or blogging using their free wifi.
Popped into a local supermarket to get some drink to contribute to the evening meal before turning off onto Jonathon & Janice's road to be welcomed into their cosy home. As we turned in their drive Caroline's odo turned over to 5000km, clocked up over our cycling adventures this year.
A delightful evening of celebration with Caroline's cousins and their partners!!
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