Hwy 99 Revisited

Just got back from a trip along Hwy 99, "The Sea to Sky Highway" on the section from Horseshoe Bay to Mount Currie.

Hwy 99 has gone through a major upgrade for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler and is about 99% complete. The only exception was some paving that was being done just north of Squamish by Brohm Lake. This section is expected to be completed soon and only caused a slight wait when travelling on the "Sea to Sky."

What a joy to travel Hwy 99 compared with what the road used to like when it was nicknamed the "Squamish 500." The big changes are the bypass going around Horseshoe Bay, the increase of lanes especially through Lions Bay and Brunswick Beach and the straightening of corners and hairpin turns by blasting through rock and adding wider bridges.

Also while travelling by Britannia Beach north to Squamish the big change on Hwy 99 was no Woodfibre Pulp Mill plume coming from the stacks ruining air quality of Howe Sound. This section of highway goes past the Stawamus Chief one of the largest granite monoliths in the world and offers northerly views of Squamish with Mount Garibaldi in the horizon.

After Squamish going north Hwy 99 goes past the Tantalus Range, along the Cheakamus River,then past Daisy Lake and Brandywine Falls with views of Black Tusk in the east. The route was safe with plenty of passing lanes and areas to pull off to enjoy the spectacular views.

Form here to Whistler the only hold ups along Hwy 99 was a live-line stringing project being done by Allteck for BC Hydro just south of Whistler Creekside and a BC Hydro cable project being done by power specialists from Victoria. Both created just minor delays.

The highway upgrade done by Peter Kiewit Sons has created a faster and safer route to enjoy one of the most scenic geography and outdoor recreation in all of North America. In all Hwy 99 upgrade was a very pleasant surprise which thanks to the 2010 Olympics will last long after the games have been completed.

Mount Wells Regional Park

With the weather in southern British Columbia hovering around 20 degrees Celsius as a high it proved excellent for a hike this weekend. If you live in Victoria one hike you might like to try is the one up Mount Wells.

Located in Langford, Mount Wells Regional Park offers great panoramic views of southern Vancouver Island and parts of the Capital Regional District.

To get to the trailhead take the Trans-Canada Hwy 1 north to the new traffic signals at West Shore Parkway in Langford, follow the signs for Goldstream Provincial Park, then turn at Humpback Road (Ma Miller's Pub) and travel about 2 km (1.3 miles) to the CRD parking lot.

The hike to the summit of Mount Wells takes about an hour one-way, coming down about 30 minutes. Going up there is a view towards the north of Mount Finlayson in Goldstream Provincial Park and from the summit most of the southern CRD.

For more information Mount Wells Regional Park - CRD

Waddling Dog $9.95 Breakfast Buffet

Have you ever travelled on Hwy 17 the Pat Bay Highway north to the ferry terminal at Swartz Bay and noticed the $9.95 breakfast buffet sign at the Quality Inn Waddling Dog at Mount Newton X Road in Central Saanich?

Today we had chance to try it. The buffet held in Sherlock's Restaurant opens at 10 am and goes to 1 pm every Sunday.

The limited breakfast buffet included cereal, potato hashbrowns, scrambled eggs, cheese omelets, bacon, breakfast sausage, pancakes, waffles and toast. There was also a number of different fruit juices plus fresh apples and oranges. Coffee and tea was also included in the price.

If you are on a tight budget this meal will appeal to your taste buds. For the two of us the bill was $20.90. Pretty reasonable!

That being said the room Sherlock's Restaurant was located in was quite cold, making the breakfast cool off quite quickly. Also the scrambled eggs seemed lifeless, the omelets had not very much cheese, the breakfast sausages a little on the greasy side, the toaster was extremely slow and no pastries for those with a sweet tooth.

On the up side, there was plenty of bacon (which was cooked just right), the staff were pleasant and the Quality Inn Waddling Dog facility was very clean.

For more information and directions go to Quality Inn Waddling Dog.

Island View Beach in Central Saanich

The weather held up today with no rain falling and some sun providing a good window of opportunity to cycle out to Island View Beach in Central Saanich using the Lochside Regional Trail.

The 30 km (19 miles) round trip from the Saanich Centre near McKenzie Avenue and Quadra Street in Saanich took about an hour to complete each way.

From the Saanich Centre the route along the Lochside Regional Trail is generally flat until Island View Road. At Michell Farm Market you have to go off the regional trail for a 2.5 km (1.5 miles) one way trip on Island View Road past Firbank Farm up a steep hill then descending sharply down to the beach.

Once at Island View Beach the conditions were absolutely perfect for beachcombing on the sandy beach offering beautiful ocean views of James Island and the Gulf Islands in the distance or windsurfing and kitboarding in the water.

For more information you can check out the CRD website on Island View Beach or earlier blog.

Western Speedway Swap and Shop

Just had a chance to visit Western Speedway Swap and Shop last Sunday. This event is located at 2207 Millstream Road in Langford and is held on the oval racetrack normally used for ‘hit to pass’ and other stock car events.

If you happen to be looking for curios, baby gear, kid’s books, fishing gear, wood products, old cameras, plants, memorabilia and other hard to find items such as a Silver Springs Brewery keg label from 1908 this is the place.

Situated on the Western Speedway grounds there is lots of parking available, washrooms, a concession stand plus only costs only a dollar to enter per person.The Western Speedway Swap and Shop, Vancouver Island's largest flea market, is held outdoors every Sunday from 7 am to 2 pm weather permitting and runs from April to the end of September.

If you have lots of stuff yourself and would like to get rid of it tables are available at a cost of $10. More info: Western Speedway Swap and Shop.

Mount Tzouhalem

Walked up Mount Tzouhalem yesterday with a group of friends from Club Mud. The mountain which is located near Cowichan Bay offers one of the most spectacular views of the Cowichan Valley.

The hike starts at a parking lot bordering the south boundary of St. Ann's Catholic Church. The church is located next to Providence Farm on Tzouhalem Road near the mouth of the Cowichan River.

From the parking lot there is an unmarked forestry road that weaves around the back fields of Providence Farm. Unfortunately there are no signs showing the route up Mount Tzouhalem so you have to rely on a gut feeling on the proper route up. At times there is some pink surveyors tape that helps guide up the fairly steep climb.

The trail takes about one hour or so to get to a lookout point at around 427 metres (1,400 feet) in altitude. Here you can find a cross that has been erected and one of the best views of the surrounding landscape of the Cowichan Valley.

Nanaimo Lakes Campsite

We went into Nanaimo Lakes recently. The Nanaimo Lakes are a set up four lakes in the region where the headwaters of the Nanaimo River starts about 35 km (22 miles) south-west of Nanaimo.

To get here the route starts on Nanaimo Lakes Road which is just north of Cassidy off Hwy 1. From here you go up Nanaimo Lakes Road eventually joining up with the Nanaimo Lakes Main Line forestry road.

You have to pass through a TimberWest security gate which is generally open to the public during Sunday and Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm plus Friday and Saturday from 8 am to 8 pm. The gate hours often change check at the main gate for any seasonal changes in gate closure times or go to TimberWest website.

Once past the main gate you can find camping at First and Second Lake. The campsites are very spacious and clean. There is no running water here and pit toilets are only available. Access to the Nanaimo River between First and Second Lake is situated along the lakeside.

Access to Fourth and Third Lakes can only be done on weekends as active logging and heavy equipment is on the gravel roads during the week.

For more information see Nanaimo Lakes Campsite.