Harbour City Ramblings

Tonight I enjoyed a phenomenal meal at a fabulous Victoria establishment close to home. The service at Santiago’s was top-notch, and the Chipotle Mussels and Sangria were unparalleled. The only problem I had was with the guilt gnawing at my conscious throughout the delectable meal all evening long- “Alyssa, why didn’t you run today?”

I haven’t ran since Tuesday. But you know what vexatious voices inside my head? I’ve been “busy.”

Busy is a tricky excuse. One can presume another is “busy” with work, with family, with personal issues in general and simply accept it.

I, on the other hand, have no real excuse to back up my own “busy-ness” other than a brief stint with a head-cold that possessed my entire being as of Wednesday. From the time I awoke that morning straight through until yesterday, I had the sensation my entire brain was wrapped in a thick layer of tinfoil.

With every move I made, it felt as though the interior of my head crinkled and swelled, and begged me to stay still for not to endure such boisterous bedlam clambering inside my cranium.

Alas, as it is now Sunday, I am behind on my personal TC10k training plan.

Sad but true.

Since I commenced my training in February, I have ran no more than 6 kilometers at once. 4 entire kilometers short of the April 25th requirement of 10 kilometers.

My lack of self-discipline, even when caused by circumstances beyond my control and marred by illness, disappoints me. But this late in the game, there’s no way I’m throwing in the towel now.

Luckily my body has not completely been neglected over the last week. I have managed to partake in some cross-training. Mixing mild strength training and yoga, with a 20km cycling expedition along the Galloping Goose this past Friday.

Come tomorrow morning I intend to get back on course with my running.

I will have to endure a long run, and slowly over the next couple of weeks work up to 8km. But I am motivated by the fact that I have eaten well over the last few days, thus I have a built-up energy to get through a tough go on the track. My headaches and clogged sinuses have since passed. Plus I haven’t had the opportunity to listen to my galvanizing Running Playlist recently, so I am most looking forward to hearing a few songs I’ve neglected to listen to in almost a week. And lastly, I know my muscles, though not as firm in my own mind as they should be after almost a week off of my training plan, have their own memory. They know I can handle a 6km+ run, they’ve done it before… and come tomorrow morning- they’ll do it again.

Then in a mere month and a few days- I will be prepared to give it my all in my very first 10km race.

A day late, but let me start by saying: Happy Birthday Ryan! The big 1-6. He can officially commence the process of obtaining his drivers license! That takes care of yesterday, as for today: Happy Birthday dad!

I’m certainly jealous as they’ll both be celebrating with the relatives on the beaches of Tofino, BC, the gorgeous West Coast of Vancouver Island.

Thursday started as an over-all good day including some shopping and lounging in the sun with Matthew, my youngest sibling.  We then biked from James Bay, past Thetis Lake and as far as Colwood at the Highway #14 crossing of the Galloping Goose trail.  A quick 13km or so trek, Matthew’s first time on that part of the trail, and he did superbly!

That night we collectively celebrated 60% of the immediate family’s Birthdays, as we all enjoyed a dinner out at a fantastic restaurant with hearty portions of satisfying food, in a great location alongside a hilly Metchosin farm with a petting zoo out back and… they’re environmentally friendly?  That was positive news.

My Chosen Cafe’s Composting Project

We dined at My Chosen Café.  A rustic, homey little spot located in Metchosin.  Dinner was highly enjoyable.

The whole family, including (cousin and good friends) Aimee and Dylan, all there for some good laughs.  And as it turns out- the restaurant is keen on keeping things green.

My Chosen Café is taking part in one of the CRD’s composting pilot projects.  These projects were first introduced, so far with much success, in the residential areas of Oak Bay and View Royal.  It was extended after a year when it saw over 400 tonnes of waste diverted from the landfill.

Domestic food waste is picked up from residential areas and transported to a composting facility.  Simple as that, they even supply you with the free composting bags.

The restaurant has it’s weekly pick-up, and our waitress explained that this time a couple of years ago they were letting cans, bottles, paper, and all pile up in multiple trash bags.  My, how things have changed.

Cheers to Ryan and dad- Happy Birthdays!

Until yesterday, I hadn’t had the pleasure of riding the Galloping Goose trail from beginning to, well, I did see the other end of it, but I only biked to my intended destination.

I had to be out at cousin Ali & Jeff’s place early yesterday morning for our day of showing their Cambridge, England visitor & good friend, Andrea, a jolly good day of Canadian fun. Something outdoorsy, picturesque.

To get there I hopped on my bike, ventured out of the familiar, cycle-friendly streets of James Bay and headed straight for the Johnson Street bridge.

Galloping Goose Trail

The “Goose” was formerly a 30-person (along with a mailbag or two) railway line that ran from Sooke to Victoria in the 1920’s and is now a fantastic pedestrian and cycling trail stretching a total of 55 kms. It branches off to the Lochside Trail, running 29 kms from Saanich to Swartz Bay. Though we made our way by car to the very end- the magnificent Sooke Potholes- I managed to see only around 17 kms (give or take) of the Goose yesterday.

The path varies from paved to gravel, straight stretches along the highway to windy wooded areas, across roads through several Greater Victoria communities (5 at least), with some beautiful views over the Juan de Fuca Strait to the Olympic Mountains.

Sooke Potholes

Our plan for the day, after arriving at Ali & Jeff’s house and my wonderful ride in, had us enjoying some scenery and sun soak-up time at Sooke Potholes, less than a 30 min. drive from the Western Communities of Victoria.

The only down-side we faced upon arrival was the park landscape despoiled, if only a little, of it’s full beauty potential because of the various road reworkings, the dusty gravel-hauling trucks at every turn, and the tractors parked in front of most of the scenic spots… But the potholes themselves were brilliant, of course.

Now I’m convinced, after trying a section of it out myself, that any tourist would enjoy a day-trip on bicycle (rented here in town, or even in Sooke), down either of our prodigious regional trails. Both the Galloping Goose or the Lochside are highly recommended means of time-killing if you’re visiting the area.

You also have the benefit of each trail connecting to a multitude of bus routes along the way. I would also recommend bringing a backpack, or reusable shopping bag and ensure that bike has storage space! Because you never know when you’ll find yourself off-path exploring the quaint local farmers markets, various parks, or dock-side restaurant patios spending the money you’ve saved, which otherwise would’ve been spent at a tourist trap on Government St. If not that, then on the (gasp, unthinkably high, $1.46/litre) gas bombing around town.

There is at least one event promoting the trek from downtown Victoria to Sooke, happening June 21st ‘08 entitled Pedal to the Potholes. I’ll have to try out that Sidney route sometime, I hear it’s a beauty also.