What I Wish I Knew Before I Retired
The End of Our Challenge: Richard and I have now completed (and exceeded) our hiking target. We would never have predicted that we'd extend our goal to #52 days. Hiking a new trail each morning quickly became a habit. We soon realized that it would take us significantly more than #100hikesin100days to run out of… Continue reading 52 Hikes in 52 Days… Done!
We have continued our habit of hiking a different route each day. This week's trails included incredibly diverse paths, some that we visited for the first time, and others that were old, familiar friends. Our adventures led to new information, new learning and new reasons to be grateful. Boyle Point Park, Denman IslandVirginia and Sun… Continue reading Tuesday’s Trails: Incredible Views, New Discoveries and a Local Hero
Richard and I have continued to hike a different trail each day. We are now on Day 40. We are curious to discover when we will run out of local trails to explore. Realistically, we are more likely to run out of energy first! I have posted a single photo of our hike each day… Continue reading Tuesday’s Trails
Distance Walked: 9.14 km Walking Time: 2.5 hrs Pubs: Mount Arrowsmith Brewing Company and The Black Goose Inn Route: Easy Richard and I had unanimously agreed that the final day of our #30hikesin30days Challenge should be the Oyster River Pub-to-Pub Hike near Courtney, BC. What a perfect way to walk and celebrate at the same… Continue reading Day 30: Pub-to-Pub Hike or Bust!
Shelly Creek Park and Rail Loop: 4.25 km Coffee Loop: 4.02 km Total Distance Walked: 8.27 km Total Walking Time: 2 hrs Shelly Creek is a tributary to the Englishman River. It begins on Little Mountain and flows into the river near Parksville's Orange Bridge. Shelly Creek Park is the last healthy riparian section of… Continue reading Day 29: Shelly Creek Park and E & N Rail Loop, Parksville
Distance Walked: 9.4 km Walking Time: 2 hrs Trail Rating: Easy The Fern Road Woods Trail gives Qualicum Beach residents a scenic, low-traffic, multi-purpose route to travel to the downtown core or to simply use for recreational purposes (it includes a No Through Road). This trail is part of the 13 km Parksville-Qualicum Beach Link… Continue reading Day 27: Fern Road Woods Trail / Qualicum-Parksville Link
Distance Walked: 7.01 km Walking Time: 1 hr, 42 min Trail Rating: Easy History: Protection Island is located in the harbour of Nanaimo, BC. It is home to 350 full-time residents. Locals commonly travel across the island by golf cart, while some transfer their groceries, recycling and garbage from the community dock by wheelbarrow. Many… Continue reading Day 26: Protection Island
Trail 1: Jack Point Trail Loop (Duke Point) Distance Walked: 6 km Walking Time: 1 hr, 45 min Trail Rating: Easy Jack Point Park is a fascinating place with much to offer. It is a Geopark, recognized for its geological interest. In particular, the sandstones and mudstones found here display unique erosion features. This park… Continue reading Day 24: A Tale of Two Trails: Jack Point Park and Morrell Nature Sanctuary, Nanaimo
Distance Hiked: 18 km Walking Time: 4 hrs Trail Rating: Easy and Moderate trails are available Location: 4481 Forbidden Plateau Road, Comox-Strathcona History: Nymph Falls resulted from the creation of a fish ladder on the Puntledge River, completed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and BC Hydro, in the early 1950s.In 1992, the Comox… Continue reading Day 23: Nymph Falls, Comox Valley
Distance Walked: 10.75 km Walking Time: 3 hrs Trail Rating: Easy Map Although a familiar trek for local off-leash dog walkers and community hiking groups, I consider this trail to be another hidden gem. It is not currently listed on Alltrails. Google wasn't much help either. Just before reaching the gate for Pheasant Glen Golfcourse,… Continue reading Day 22: Pheasant Glen Nature Trails, Qualicum Beach
Retirement Reflections 