Goldstream Heights this Sunday, July 29th

[John D]

I'm thinking a 6:00am departure from the Douglas Street Bucky's across from Mayfair....who's in? Should be back before noon. Possibly one of the last weekends to do this before ride before we need lights at the start! It being a non-holiday Sunday, the return descent of the Malahat should be pretty tame.

John

[barton bourassa]

I am in! Starbucks does not open till 8 or so. I think I can wait till Serious at Mill Bay for the first cup of the day!

I have not done a ride over 60 K since the Ryder ride. Shoud be challenging!

[FairweatherMike]

hmmm.... Question to Miss Manners: is it polite to abandon one's duties as family reunion host in order to have a bit of skinny tire quality time with 3T stalwarts?

Answer: yes, if everyone else is sleeping.

The question is whether I'll be sleeping too, so I put the odds at, oh, 1 in 3 that I'll show up to accompany you for the first hour of your adventure (or hour and a half, if the return trip is all downhill)

[Paula]

I am looking for a longish ride this weekend, but have to figure out with family what day works. will this pace be one that i can do? And how many kms and how hilly? So many questions!

Thanks
Paula

[barton bourassa]

Although John posted, I'll answer this one! You can count on 110 K, we plan on going around Shawnigan Lake rather than the usual cutting across the bottom of the lake. It should not take more than 5 hours. It is somewhat self paced on the hills at least. We stay together until Goldstream Park and the start of the climb. Wait up points have been Serious Coffee at Mill Bay (they better be open!! I just checked, open every day at 5:30!!!). Then generally stay together around Shawnigan Lake but sometimes splitting up as we climb the hill on Shawnigan Lake Road towards Goldstream Heights (the hill before the hill). Then self pace up to the top of Goldstream Ridge, about 8 K from Shawnigan Lake Road. We will usually head back down to Shawnigan Lk Rd self paced then wait up at Shawnigan Lk Rd and head home together.

Paula, I would not be too concerned about pace. It will be something you can handle! So, leave quietly on Sunday AM, leave a lovely note and enough money for breakfast out for the rest of your clan and come ride for 5 hours!! And don't worry, you or anyone else not totally familiar with the route will never be left alone.

Hope to see you there!

Barton.

[Paula]

Thanks Barton.

I slept in this morning and it looks like I have a go for the Sunday ride. What is the route home? Just trying to figure out Sunday late morning plans at home and if I can peel off from the ride somewhere to meet up with the family somewhere to go kayaking. John or Barton, do you have the route on your Garmin that I could look at?


Paula

[John D]

Hi Paula...Barton's assessment is accurate.

If you enter "Saturday Morning Goldstream Heights" in the search window at the top of this page it will bring up a thread from 2010. Scroll down to the initial entry in the thread (by Josh) and there's a link to the route map.

Cheers,
J.

[Paula]

Thanks John.

When I saw the graph that shows the crazy elevation gain I felt like backing out.. but the wheels are in motion (figuratively speaking), so see you tomorrow.

Paula