A red-tailed hawk...
After lunch on the Victoria coastal Spit, the cyclists tackled a huge and very steep hill. I was slightly jealous because I love the challenge of climbing.
We headed west along the southern edge of Vancouver Island, and Andrew, my roadie partner, dropped me off in the middle of nowhere with my camera, water bottle, and a sign to direct the riders. He continued about 5 km up the road to the next corner, while I would get a lift with Chris, in the sweep vehicle, for the rest of the day.
I think the ocean was over the proverbial next hill, because there was a bald eagle flying around, and a sign for a nearby harbour, plus a number of trucks towing fishing boats.
Anyway, I was at the bottom of a hill at a tight curve, and I was able to get some pretty good shots of the riders as they sped past. A couple of the younger ones flew by at a very high speed, taking the curve at perhaps 40 or 45 km per hour.
We headed west along the southern edge of Vancouver Island, and Andrew, my roadie partner, dropped me off in the middle of nowhere with my camera, water bottle, and a sign to direct the riders. He continued about 5 km up the road to the next corner, while I would get a lift with Chris, in the sweep vehicle, for the rest of the day.
I think the ocean was over the proverbial next hill, because there was a bald eagle flying around, and a sign for a nearby harbour, plus a number of trucks towing fishing boats.
Anyway, I was at the bottom of a hill at a tight curve, and I was able to get some pretty good shots of the riders as they sped past. A couple of the younger ones flew by at a very high speed, taking the curve at perhaps 40 or 45 km per hour.
Just after this curve, the road became a series of tight curves and short, steep hills. It was on one of these that Sharon suffered a serious crash, breaking her collarbone and fracturing a few ribs, and suffering some pretty bad road rash. Chris, Maris and I came over the hill to see Barry waving his arms like a windmill on the hilltop in the middle of the two-lane road to slow drivers down, because of the accident. We parked below the scene. I figured the only useful thing that I could do was take one of our roadie signs and hike up past Barry to do the same thing he was doing because two people cautioning traffic would be better than one.
The group of riders with Sharon was an experienced group and seemed to have everything under control, as far as possible in that situation. Thankfully a young woman named Bonnie came by after a few minutes and took Sharon to her house at a nearby marina where a landline was available since cell phone reception is unreliable in that area. Sharon was able to wait in relative comfort until the local volunteer fire squad and ambulance arrived.
The group of riders with Sharon was an experienced group and seemed to have everything under control, as far as possible in that situation. Thankfully a young woman named Bonnie came by after a few minutes and took Sharon to her house at a nearby marina where a landline was available since cell phone reception is unreliable in that area. Sharon was able to wait in relative comfort until the local volunteer fire squad and ambulance arrived.
Bonnie, the young woman who helped us out when Sharon took that terrible fall, was very kind and hospitable, along with her colleagues. They provided their facility to several riders and three roadies while waiting for the fire and ambulance crews. The rescue squad quickly and efficiently treated Sharon. Our hosts were Americans helping the local First Nations people develop their economy, and the facility is perched above the most spectacular marina that I have ever been to, nestled deep in a cove , a small fjord, among high cliffs lined with tall coniferous trees.
Chris had parked the big sweep van down below in the marina, which was very busy with salmon sport fishing boats coming and going. On my way up to the house our injured cyclist was in, I overheard one exchange between a group going out and one returning from a day on the ocean:
"Any luck?"
"Oh, just a couple of 18-pounder (salmon)!"
That's a ho-hum day of fishing in BC, I guess, just a couple of 18-pound fish!
Chris had parked the big sweep van down below in the marina, which was very busy with salmon sport fishing boats coming and going. On my way up to the house our injured cyclist was in, I overheard one exchange between a group going out and one returning from a day on the ocean:
"Any luck?"
"Oh, just a couple of 18-pounder (salmon)!"
That's a ho-hum day of fishing in BC, I guess, just a couple of 18-pound fish!
Sooke is home to some of the most beautiful sunsets that I have ever seen. I've only seen one there, but that is enough to go by! There is a gorgeous boardwalk, the Ed MacGregor Park & Boardwalk, along the waterfront. A number of us went down there to chill out, literally, thanks to a nasty wind! We spotted a harbour seal, but no orcas. This was a good opportunity to start getting to know my subjects, and see the ocean.
Sooke provided an excellent opportunity to test out my new winterized sleeping bag, because the temperature dipped down to 12 or 13 degrees with a cold breeze coming off the Pacific. I slept on the back porch of the little church without any issues about warmth, so I was therefore ready to go canoe tripping for trout back home in Ontario's cottage country at the end of April! ...Ummm, trout pan-fried over an open fire....
I ended up sleeping under the stars for four of the six nights of the trip, along with several other people. It was a pretty nice way to camp. The bugs were non-existent, the temperatures ideal, and no rain, although I would have moved inside if it had rained!
I ended up sleeping under the stars for four of the six nights of the trip, along with several other people. It was a pretty nice way to camp. The bugs were non-existent, the temperatures ideal, and no rain, although I would have moved inside if it had rained!
Resources: http://sooke.org/parks/
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