Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition - Moving Victoria forward in cycles

What a great turnout for a New Year's Day ride: 15 riders at Selkirk Station and 3 more at the Switch Bridge. We took our time going west on the Galloping Goose to the back gate at Royal Roads at Kilometer 14. Quick stop to see the waterfall then down to the gardens just below Hatley Castle which were open and free as promised. Everyone enjoyed the half hour walk through the gardens where we encountered peacocks, bonsai trees, ponds and creeks, pagodas and bridges and islands as well as a heron sculpture and a zig zag fish ladder.

Then it was on through the old growth forest of the Royal Roads University property to Lagoon road and the steep descent to the Esquimalt Lagoon Causeway. There was a cold wind blowing from the North West so we made quick work of that exposed section of the ride though did notice Swans, Ducks and a Bald Eagle catching something from the lagoon and being persued by Seagulls. We proceeded East up Fort Rodd Hill's eponymous hill - which got us all warmed up again - and onto the highway for a short and fast ride to The Six Mile Pub where we were treated to a private banquet hall with fireplace.

After refreshments we split into 2 groups with one group of those who live North of downtown Victoria rejoining the Galloping Goose and the other group taking the hillier but more direct route on Old Island Highway to Admirals and finally the last leg of the ride on the new (and nicely flat) E & N Rail Trail to the Johnson Street Bridge. Down to 6 riders by the time we got to the JSB, the ride ended officially at approximately 4 pm.

What a great way to start the year! Thanks to everyone for coming. Perhaps this will be an annual event if the Royal Roads Gardens continue to be free to the public for Christmas/NY week.

Route map and GPS information from Ron E.

Pictures from Ron E:

Pictures from Terri W:

Pictures from Douglas F:

Pictures from Jim A:

Pictures from Simon W: