Greater Victoria Cycling Coalition - Moving Victoria forward in cycles

Next Recreational Ride: Winter Wassail at Sea Cider

Next Sunday something completely different: Winter Wassail at Sea Cider

Join us for what is sure to become a Recreational Rides annual tradition - A visit to Sea Cider to celebrate the traditional ceremony of "Wassailing":
 
In the cider-producing counties in the South West of England (primarily Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Gloucestershire and Herefordshire) or South East England (Kent, Sussex and Essex, Suffolk) wassailing refers to a traditional ceremony that involves singing and drinking the health of trees in the hopes that they might better thrive. The purpose of wassailing is to awake the cider apple trees and to scare away evil spirits to ensure a good harvest of fruit in the Autumn.

The outdoing 24K portion of the ride is through gently rolling countryside via the Galloping Goose/Interurban Trails and Wallace Road to the cidery.

From the Sea Cider website:

Join friends, family, and neighbours for this community celebration (free entrance)!

It’s another special Ciderhouse event: come celebrate the apple harvest and set good luck for the new year with this winter festivity.

Eat…
We will be offering delicious winter-inspired foodstuffs for your satiety.

Drink…
Keep warm with complimentary warm Silk Road cider cocktail on arrival. For the teetotalers, designated drivers, and young’uns, we’ll have non-alcoholic mulled cider. Beverage stations will be serving more mulled ciders, coffee, tea, and our ciders!

Be merry!
Tours will be hosted every hour starting at noon, highlighting the history of cider as well as orcharding & cidermaking.

Entertainment throughout the day by Island Thyme Morris Dancers performing a traditional longsword dance, and Quicksbottom Morris Dancers performing a mid-winter Mummers play.

The Blessing of the Orchard & Community Wish Tree will be at 2:00 pm

Cider and food samples are $2 each.

We'll begin our return journey shortly after 2:00 p.m. on the Lochside Trail for the remaining easy (e.g. flat!) 20K back to the Switch Bridge.

So - join us for what is sure to be a memorable ride and a unique experience!

Next Recreational Ride: Mount Douglas Bike & Hike

Departs from Selkirk Station (Location Map) at 10:00 a.m., Sunday January 8th, 2012.

Join us for a bike and hike to Mount Douglas. About 32 K for the complete circuit. We will ride from Selkirk Station along the Victoria waterfront through James Bay and Beacon Park and then join the Seaside Route along the coasts of Fairfield, Oak Bay and Cadboro Bay and finally through Gordon Head to Mount Douglas Park.

Once there you will have a choice of:

• A walk through the rain forest
• A hike to the top
• A ride to the top
• A walk on the beach

How's that for variety?

We will continue our circuit via the San Juan Greenbelt to join the Lochside Trail at Blenkinsop road for the return to Selkirk Station with a stop for a debriefing at the Monkey Tree Pub at McKenzie Road.

Bring a picnic lunch or snacks for Mount Douglas Park. Bathrooms at Beacon Hill Park, Willows Beach and Mount Douglas Park.

The route is mostly paved roads with some small hills.

If you are worried about leaving gear on your bike for the hiking portion of the trip, we recommend a backpack so that you can comfortabley carry all your gear with you.

Weather forecast is for "a chance of showers" and unseasonably warm. Dress accordingly.

Don't forget your hiking boots!

Next Recreational Ride: Royal Roads Circle Route

Departs from Selkirk Station (Location Map) at 11:00 a.m., Sunday January 1st, 2012.

Join us for a fun 30K ride on New Year's Day to usher in 2012 and get a good start on all those exercise resolutions.

We will head west on the Galloping Goose to Royal Roads University and return via Esquimalt Lagoon with a stop for lunch at The Six Mile Pub - the oldest pub in BC. The ride will end at Selkirk Station at approximately 3:00 p.m.

The weather forecast is for a high of 8 C for the day with a chance of showers. Pretty nice for January! So bring your rain gear and join us to celebrate the New Year with a ride.

n.b. The later than usual start time!

Update: December 29

The Hatley Castle Gardens at Royal Roads University are open to the public FREE until Monday, January 2nd. We will stop here for a walk as part of the bike tour.

Next Recreational Ride: Christmas Hill Bike and Hike

Departs from Selkirk Station (Location Map) at 11:00 a.m., Sunday December 18th.

Join us for our First Annual Christmas Recreational Ride Bike and Hike to celebrate a year of great rides.

Only 6K from downtown Victoria, just north of Swan Lake stands the Christmas Hill Nature Reserve. Great views. Fir, Garry Oak and Arbutus forest and stone "Hobbit Trails" through the moss and ferns.

Brandy eggnog will be provided. Please bring some treats to accompany it - some of that excess Christmas cake you received as a re-gift or some mince pies perhaps?

The idea is not to tire anyone out too much the week before Christmas. So - short ride, short hike, a bit of Christmas cheer with your cycling companions and back to town by 2 p.m.

Note the later start time as this is just a short ride!