Trail Project to connect Camosun to Francis King Park- Volunteers wanted

[Lister Farrar]

Two more sessions done last week.

Wednesday the Worsfold family brought their TS youth team kids out, and conscripted the visiting cousin from England. (Thx to mom Nicole who got them up, brought them out, went back to work the family farm, then came back to pick them up. #askabusyperson )

Sunday, TS families Craig and Connor Bosenberg, Dave and Remy Garrison, and friend Bruce Sieffert tackled the warm conditions which only made the swim sweeter.

Photos coming. Having trouble uploading again. Are jpeg's an issue? size? 1.7 mb too big?

[Rolf]

Size shouldn't be an issue, Lister. But if you instead email them to tripleshot.cycling.photos@gmail.com, I'll make sure some get posted on this thread and that they're all uploaded to this gallery on the TS photos site.

A few folks are heading out again this Wednesday morning for some more trail-building fun. I'll post a separate topic...

[Lister Farrar]

The attachment trail building july 18 Liam, Sabine, Max, kim.jpg is no longer available

The attachment trail building july 18 Liam, Sabine, Max, kim.jpg is no longer available

[Lister Farrar]

[Lister Farrar]

[Lister Farrar]

I have a meeting tomorrow downtown at 9:30 at Fantastico after; anyone wanna get all dusty at Hector, then swim in the gorge at Banfield Park, then breakfast at Fantastico?

I'm near oak bay bay bikes, picking up one other builder at 5:40 on Lillian.

L

[Lister Farrar]

Thanks to Amy and Daniel for coming out Wednesday. The route is marked over the hill now, so pruning, raking, and excavating all still on the menu.

Saturday Daniel would like to do a trail building clinic so people know more about what to do when working o their own. In particular rock work on the bigger switchbacks that need big rocks. (Rolf, this addresses your question about the big step up to be built.)

So we will be learning to use a medieval trebuchet to hurl rocks into position. (got your attention eh Alan?).

Actually its how to use rock slings to move the bigger rocks into position so we build a nice stable base for walkers, horses and the more enthusiastic downhill crossers. We could use lots of enthusiastic folks to make the heaviest stuff go a little easier. (Pruning is still fine for those that prefer that.)

The dock at Banfield park provided a perfect stop on the way home Wednesday, or we could do Prospect Lake and have lunch at Cafe Mosi. I think dips should be compulsory: kinda goes with trail building like coffee goes with bike rides.

Who's in?

[Lister Farrar]

Here's a big boulder switchback NTS built last year, in Langford.

Boulder stage: https://www.facebook.com/NatureTrailsSo ... permPage=1

Finished: https://www.facebook.com/NatureTrailsSo ... permPage=1

[Lister Farrar]

Trail report:
Saturday was hot and dusty, but we got lots done. Clinic first, then various tasks, most in the shade (which is the reason we're building in this challenging terrain, to inhibit blackberries) The swim after was divine.

Youth team dad Craig Smith did his Blackberry Destroyer act again, and finished cutting the trail route all the way through now. The BIG SWITCHBACK is now totally cleared and big rocks starting to be placed.

Here's Daniel instructing on building techniques.

Here are some notes about benching sideslopes so trail stays put.

Essential safety for post building clean up. Gotta protect the eyes.

Still lots to do before the cross fondo in October. Pruning, raking, digging, rock moving all needed.

Next session Wednesday, 6:00 -8:00ish am, swim after if desired. Who's in and needs a ride?

[John D]

Hi Lister....

Count me in, and I'll need ride.

J.

[Lister Farrar]

Hi Lister....

Count me in, and I'll need ride.

J.

Roger that. 5:45 limo on its way.

[John D]

I'll have the coffee ready.

J.

[BenG]

See you there. I will bring a few tools.
Ben

[Lister Farrar]

See you there. I will bring a few tools.
Ben

Awesome! In case it's awkward bringing them, there are some tools there, from the NTS. I find there's usually a shortage of picks, but I've done mostly light excavation, so that's my bias.

There's a 100 m of blackberries on the ground from youth team dad Craig Smith cutting with his gas hedge trimmer, doing his Dave Attwell impression. Thicker gloves and long sleeves might help there. Or a pitch fork to throw the cuttings off the trail, with healthy separation? Rolf and Alan cleared the thickest blackberries, so they would have better suggestions.

[Alan]

Sarcasm and long sleeves are the best defences against those stubborn blackberries.
And thick gloves, so as not to damage your dainty typist fingers. Unless you have scissorhands like this guy....

[Lister Farrar]

So, in the unexpected bonuses category, this happened today. Youth team strength coach Nick Patenaude got a new bike sponsor, so he’s donating his ‘old’ bike (1 year old) as a draw prize for youth riders who work on the trail 25 hrs or more.

Makes me think we need adult draw prizes. I’ll start calling around, but post or pm me if you think you know a likely donor. Or just want me to get those rhinestone work gloves for your time at the trailhead debutante ball.

[John D]

Makes me think we need adult draw prizes. I’ll start calling around, but post or pm me if you think you know a likely donor.

I can offer an audio-book version of me reading aloud my most highly-cited research papers on zooplankton ecology.

Oh, wait! You said you wanted prizes not penalties, right?

J.

[Lister Farrar]

Makes me think we need adult draw prizes. I’ll start calling around, but post or pm me if you think you know a likely donor.

I can offer an audio-book version of me reading aloud my most highly-cited research papers on zooplankton ecology.

Oh, wait! You said you wanted prizes not penalties, right?

J.

What’s second prize? Both you and Martin reading your papers?

[Lister Farrar]

Trail report:

Interesting compostion of the crew today:
Ben, not a TS or NTS member, who found us online, and has always wanted a trail from PISE to Francis King, casual mtbr, tracked us down and jumped in on the first session since he found us.
Matt, Hector neighbour, mtbr, former national level track road and mtb rider, with an 11 yr old daughter who is an equestrian, and is looking forward to being able to ride into parks multipurpose without long on-road portions. (Hmmm, sounds like the youth team doing cross adventures in winter for the same reason.)
John, past TS president for five years (havent you had enough volunteering for a while?!), non-mtbr or cross rider (so far!)
Liam, 12, new this year TS youth team member, avid MTB, Cross, track and road rider, but mainly entertainment for the rest of the crew.
Connor, track nationals medallist, mtb enthusiast, old hand at trail crews (3 visits), newly motivated for 6 am by his friend Griff coming. And maybe, just a bit, a certain draw prize.
Griff, probably the team's most experienced mtb rider, avid cross rider (aiming for cross nationals this fall), also likes pink and green bikes.
Daniel, NTS executive director, not in photo, too busy armouring a corner down below while we were goofing off.

6:00 am is a beautiful time of day in the magical arbutus grove.

[Lister Farrar]

I’m late back from a youth team camp on Hornby( blissfully with no mobile service), so negligent about Wednesday am’s trail session. But I’m going anyway. Anyone want to spoil my solitude?