With the beautiful weather here in Victoria an opportunity came about during a break in the 2010 Olympic coverage to cycle the Galloping Goose Regional Trail on Sunday February 14, Valentines Day.
Taking off from near the Saanich Centre on the trail it soon came apparent we were not the only couples with the same idea. With the afternoon temperature at around 12 degrees Celsius (55 degrees Fahrenheit) and sunny who could blame them. The conditions were absolutely perfect for a bike ride or walk with your sweetheart.
The route taken was to go towards the new Uptown development (the old Town and Country Shopping Centre) and then travel west towards Langford. This part of the regional trail was ideal in trying a new Kona hybrid bike that was purchased earlier the day earlier from Russ Hay’s Bicycle Shop.
A real surprise on this section of the trail was found in View Royal at the Atkins Avenue parking lot (around the 10 km mark) where there was a section upgrade of the trail. Paid for through grants from Canada’s Economic Action Plan and the BC Economic Stimulus Plan 2.67 kilometres (1.7 miles) of the trail has been vastly improved.
Rather than going over compacted gravel the trail is now paved all the way past Thetis Lake to Wilfert Road and Wale Road near the Juan De Fuca Recreation Centre. By having this improvement now a cyclist can almost make the same time schedule as the Old Island Hwy but be completely away from traffic. What an improvement to an already jewel of the CRD.
For more information see Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
