Tramping The Esker!

With only four weeks from today until Rob and I depart, finding interesting walks to keep myself motivated while preparing body and mind becomes a bit more challenging. The lakes are nice, but walking round and round in a circle very soon looses its appeal. Some time in the last couple of weeks I decided to resurrect a walk I sorted out prior to walking our first Camino in 2013, but with add ons and a few modifications. A couple of weeks ago I set out to tackle it, but an intestinal bug forced me to cut the walk short. It was an interesting experience, hopefully not to be repeated! However I was still determined to walk the route, but this time with changes to the original plan which had included a 10 km loop around the lakes. This time I decided that I could walk all the way from our house thereby cutting out the lake loop and adding on a couple of kilometres in the process. 

The theme behind this walking route was to follow the esker that runs from just north of our place all the way out the Saanich Peninsula to the Island View Beach area and back, a distance of about 32-34 kms. Once upon a time this area had between 1.5 and 2 miles of continental ice loaded on top of it. Global warming in those days was just a dream! As the planet slowly warmed and the ice sheets began to melt and slowly withdraw all that water had to run somewhere. And it did. Underneath the massive ice sheets were huge rivers doing all those things that rivers do...eroding and depositing. So over time river channels were cut under the ice sheets and after the ice disappeared, voila! There sat these long winding landforms that look like inverted river channels. I know, how cool is that!? 

My plan was to walk out to the esker and climb and descend it a number of times as I followed its ancient route. I decided to treat the day as I would a day on Camino. So last night I put all my gear out ready for the morning. I woke early as is my custom, quickly dressed and enjoyed a quick desayuno of tostadas, tè y zumo de naranja (toast, tea and orange juice). This will be our typical breakfast. If lucky perhaps some yogurt or an egg might be possible. In any event I was out the door at around 7am and feeling the freshness of the morning. It was going to be a hot day on the trail. 

After finding my way through suburbia it was onto the Lockside Trail which during the work week is used as a bike commuting corridor. The accepted norm is to walk and ride on the right side of the trail, but I've had so many negative experiences with bikers racing up behind me and not having the courtesy to have a bell to alert me that I've taken to walking just like a I would on a road...facing oncoming traffic. Better to see what's coming! No one seems to mind and so far everyone has pulled out to go around me...thank you very much!

I was soon crossing the trellis over the bird sanctuary which is alway a nice way to start a walk out the trail.

The wet lands are actually quite stunning with lots of bird life. A bird viewing blind has also been constructured and I've stopped to look many times when I pass this way. Never disappointing. 

The trail walk was pretty nice and it was fun to see the locals selling flowers and produce along the way. 

Eventually I came to a road off the trail and began to climb, and climb! Once all the ice is gone, the sides of an esker are very steep. If these photos don't capture this, the last one should give you a hint.

I wonder if these people even know they are living on the edge of an esker? Also some interesting garden shapes...not sure how I saw this!?

A road sign on the way up. Keep in mind that the road traverses the slope.

Finally at the top and I walked along the ridge for a couple of kilometres before starting the steep descent into Cordova Bay.

Lots of houses being built on the steep slope. Not for me as I'd be thinking about the house possibly sliding with gravity during the next big earthquake!! But until that eventuality, great views out towards our local volcano (not dormant!!). 

A neat thing about the Lockside Trail is that you can be walking down a long tunnel of trees...

...and then suddenly you find yourself walking through farm land! That's the soft slope side of the same meandering esker in the distance. The other side drops a long way to the ocean.

A great climb up to the top nonetheless. The field irrigation in the distance crossed the road and nicely cooled me down! It was getting close to 30 in the open along the road. Hotting up!!

View from the top.

Then it was time to loop back and head towards the city and home.

Another small stand and a patient customer.

Other wildlife along the way.

And yes Annemarie, I'm working on stopping while I walk...Adrian's Place for a little protein and a very welcome cold water. I carried 1.5 litres today and drank most of it as well as this cold top-up.

A few other observations as I plodded home in the heat today. Never know what I'll see out there...endless fun!

 

I eventually found my way home and had an ice cold shower and a light meal with lots of hydrating fluids. Now I'll post this and retire to my bed for a while.

Just like a regular Camino day. Just 27 days to go! 

Looking forward to your visit Neil! Shake that jet lag off quickly mate...lots of trails just waiting for you!!