Snow In Esquimalt

I had no idea this was coming. As soon as the radio said snow I was up and peering out the window, like a child again. It was quite a bit too, about 24cm. I took a walk over to Saxe Point and Macauley Point Parks hoping to take a few photos.

The Cairn Park

The Cairn Park appears deserted. People are still digging through garages looking for their magic carpets. The Cairn is too rocky to slide on anyway.

Fisgard Lighthouse

Saxe Point was deserted too. Fisgard Lighthouse (the first lighthouse in Western Canada) can be seen off in the distance from Saxe Point park.

Macaulay Point used to be a military defence position and is now a park. The bunkers and gun emplacements are still there.

It was starting to snow harder so I left for home. My camera was getting damp. I spotted this sign on the way home. I'm not sure it was really necessary.

Fleming Beach Climbing Wall

There's nobody on the Fleming Beach climbing wall on a rainy Sunday afternoon in February ( map ). It's a different scene in the middle of summer. According to the Climbers Access Society there is a $10 fee for an annual pass in order to be able to climb here. Any climber looking at the following photo will notice the chalk marks and immediately plan their route to the top. I wonder if anyone has made a climbing video at Fleming Beach. I suspect not -- there's no 5.13 routes here.

Additional hazards to climbing outdoors here appear to be the small presents left by dogs whose owners do not pick up after them. The bicycle in the photo is not a hazard. It has been removed by its owner.

E & N Rail Trail

Work has begun on the E & N Rail Trail. Another multi-use trail for the Victoria area. When completed it will run from Johnson street bridge out to Colwood along the E & N railway.

Before construction of the Esquimalt length of the trail began it seemed like there would not be enough room beside the tracks to put a trail. After clearing away the blackberry bushes and moving a few fences, there appears to be plenty of room.

From the intersection of Admirals and Colville looking East.

No construction has started on the other side of the Admirals/Colville intersection yet. Not sure why. There's a bit of rock that may need to be blasted.

Looking West from Hutchinson Road towards Admirals Road.

Notice the wide path where cyclists will have plenty of room to weave amongst the pedestrians. This section of the trail should be finished soon.

Colville and Admirals

How does one begin ... at the start. At one time their were no lights at the intersection of Colville and Admirals. If you wanted to go, you went. Now there seem to be lights everywhere. The intersection was completed in Winter of 2009 or so. In fact, the pavement was torn up when the Olympic torch runners came through the base and into the intersection before heading west along Admirals.

Heading into Esquimalt.
Colville on the left, the Graving Dock on the right.

So, there's a left turn light onto Colville while Naden is completely blocked. Off in the distance is a new blue building being constructed where the Navy's hotel turned abandoned lot used to be.

Looking west through the intersection along the E & N railway.
The cyling lanes are an easy to see green.

There's even a cycling lane that hugs the curb for the length of the intersection before disappearing as quickly as it appeared.

Heading west along Admirals, it's decision time!

Heading west along Admirals you've got to keep to the right to make sure you avoid the left turn into the docks and base.