Victoria on a Bike

Ride 16 - 27 May 2019 Distance 9.4 miles (Distance to date 242.8 miles) Time 1hrs 10mins (Time to date 29hrs 52mins) It may look sedate, but this was the riskiest ride I have done to date.  My wife gave me a deadline. As a result, I had to abandon the ride and I am now stuck with a big gaping whole in my progress map!  I am not a very 'OCD' person, but in the context of this challenge, this bothered me (and will continue to bother me until I color it in! The ride itself was pleasant, but uneventful.  Cedar Hill Rd and Shelborne St in rush hour are not recommended experiences! The only photo I took on this ride Points of Interest..... No Points of Interest

Ride 15 - 21 May 2019 Distance 5.8 miles (Distance to date 233.4 miles) Time 0:42 (Time to date 28:42) It was a beautiful Tuesday night.  My son was put to bed and I had a niggle, that I'd not ridden Blenkinsop to complete the area west of Mt Doug! To fix that niggle, I headed out for a ridelet.  Like a ride, just much smaller. The sea view passing through Mt Doug Blenkinsop is a beautiful area, a very farmy area right on the outskirts.  Farms give good area / miles ratios! You can almost smell the high ratio Points of Interest..... Putting Green (48.503001, -123.355453) Many No Exit streets have turning circles with a little traffic island.  But this one is the first one I have come across with a PUTTING GREEN included!  I would have stopped for a round, but I got some very unwelcome attention for taking pictures. Great risks were taken to bring you this photo!

Ride 14 - 20 May 2019 Distance 15.5 miles (Distance to date 227.6 miles) Time 1:55 (Time to date 28:00) Weather for ducks.  I had permission and time to get this ride done on Victoria Day, but it was raining.  Rather than lose a cycling window, I got the job done, but got very, very wet for my efforts! Starting in the downtown area is always nice, as there are plenty of bikes in the vicinity.  Today's bike was the best I've had, there was nothing wrong with it!! Plotting a path around James Bay was frustrating, I don't think I was very efficient! Eyes on a Tree Obligatory Shot Points of Interest..... Parliament Building (48.420003, -123.37113) OK, so a pretty big hitter on the tourist itinerary (my plan was to find the hidden gems of Victoria!), but this building is a beaut and can't be missed.   SQUARK! Fairy Village   (48.415978, -123.381661) Randomly found this fair village in James Bay.  The 'village' is spread ...

Ride 13 - 23 May 2019 Distance 15.4.miles (Distance to date 212.1 miles) Time 1:54 (Time to date 26:05) Royal Oak, the land of the big trees, big houses and big plots.  Not much traffic in this neighbourhoood made for a pretty enjoyable ride! No Filter I've ridden and run around the Royal Oak plenty, but never really taken time to explore.  The neighboorhood had a nice feel, often pristine neighbourhoods can feel sterile and unfriendly, but everyone I saw or spoke to was great. Royal Oak in a nutshell! Also this ride had a pretty good area / distance ratio, those rides always feel good! One dilemma, I encountered a road that wasn't on the map!  My conscience got the better of me and I rode it (even though it was on a hill!). So new, it's not mapped Points of Interest..... Sea View Patio (48.505937, -123.349404) So at the end of Waters Edge Rd is this patio.  With a stunning view.  It looks like the patio is public as it ...

Ride 11/12 - 12-13 May 2019 Distance 24.1 miles (Distance to date 212.1 miles) Time 3:09 (Time to date 24:11) To help me keep on top of things, I've combined these rides.  I got busy, rode three days on the bounce and have been struggling to catch up since (I have a life away from exploring Victoria too!). v Both rides were in the evening and local to my home.  Being out in the evening was a nice change and there were plenty of deer roaming the street at dusk. Green Bike in it's natural habitat More Deer.....said nobody in Gordon Head Points of Interest..... Sea View Bench   (48.494665, -123.328541) Beach access is at a premium in Gordon Head.  I found this little used private bench at the end of a cul de sac.  It's a little overgrown, but if you just want to take in a view in private, this would be a great spot. Warning: You may need to clear some bramble before sitting Vantreight Park   (48.492309, -123.30736) Just a ...

Ride 10 - 11 May 2019 Distance 20.8 miles (Distance to date 177.2 miles) Time 2:41 (Time to date 21:31) I've previously stated the things I love:  1. Golf Courses 2. Parks 3. Universities Well, for balance, the things I hate are: 1. No Exit Roads 2. Hills 3. 1. and 2. combined! Well this ride had all of them!  I guess overall that makes it average. Hate This ride ticket a pretty major box, conquering Mt Tolmie on a u-bicycle.  Mt Tolmie wasn't quite as bad as I was expecting, but Glastonbury Rd was savage!  I was on my limit going up Glastonbury Rd and got to a point where I couldn't do full revolutions of the pedals.  Even my arms were shaking at the top. If a picture could convey pain! Points of Interest..... Mt Tolmie (48.456908, -123.325741) Mount Tolmie is named after Dr. William Frazer Tolmie, a biologist and prominent member of the community in the 1960’s.  The park has offers some great views of Victoria and acro...

Ride 9 - 27 April Distance 11.9 miles (Distance to date 156.4 miles) Time 1:30 (Time to date 18:50) Was a nice day for a bike ride, I remember that.  But it seems I need to do this blog sooner as I can't remember many other details!   The route wasn't too interesting either, as you'll see in the 'points of interest'.  Kind of symbolic that I did discover Victoria's Most Boring Road!  A cookie cutter street where even the gardens had the same trees.  Urgh. Victoria's Most Boring Street (University Heights) Points of Interest..... Nothing of Interest to Record

Ride 8 - 19 April 2019 Distance 25.0 miles (Distance to date 144.5 miles) Time 3:20 (Time to date 17:20) Things I love: 1. Golf Courses 2. Parks 3. UNIVERSITIES!!! 4. Hospitals 5. Schools All the things that give maximum area covered / distance cycled!  Maybe one day I'll develop a graph........... Was out on the same bike as last time, but this time I managed to select gear 1 a few times which saved my legs on the big hills. Points of Interest..... Jaws   (48.466806, -123.326118) A shark, coming out of a driveway.  My only guess is it's to scare off raccoons? Der Dum, Der Dum Concrete Octopus   (48.458887, -123.293993) This well known kids play thing is at Cadboro-Gyro Park.  Looks friendly enough, but it's made of concrete!!  What savage makes a kids slide out of concrete!?  Cycling shorts came in handy! Cadboro Bay Beach Access   (48.455977, -123.299193) Cadboro Bay Beach is lovely, but there always 'people'...