The Lochside Trail was originally a passenger railway line running between Victoria and a steamship dock at Patricia Bay (with transport to the mainland) until the 1920s when the Canadian National Railway bought it for use in transporting freight. It is a multi-user trail so hikers, bikers, and horse riders share it. In some places, it uses farm lanes so one must give way to working farm equipment including tractors and ATVs.
Our stroll through the countryside began at Michell's Farm Market. We have passed this Island Farm icon many times on our way to the ferry or airport. A huge pumpkin patch greets us in November which becomes a small lake around Christmas time. Never have we left the highway (see photo) to explore it but a letterbox adventure spurred us to stop at this market. It was a 3 kilometre walk from here to a pig farm where the box was hidden along a section of the Lochside Trail.
We walked passed pickers harvesting cauliflowers, zucchini as far as the eye could see, pumpkins and wheat. Tall teasel plants nodded beside the road as did giant black berry bushes. We felt as if we had stepped back to when farming neighbours walked country lanes to check out who was growing what. We weren't alone. Despite it being Monday afternoon, there was a constant stream of bike traffic and several hikers enjoying the fresh air of farmland so close to the city.
I love pigs!! I worked with them when I graduated from university and they still have a special place in my heart. At our destination, one pig had buried itself in a muddy wallow while others lay in the shade of an open shed. A rooster crowed making the moment truly magical. Glen quickly found the letterbox and we stamped in before a group of cyclists stopped to check on the ripeness of nearby black berry bushes. Only a few could be picked as they are late this year. We then returned to the market for coffee and to buy strawberries, blueberries, eggplant, and potatoes. All island grown.
The rest of the week we golfed again at Mt Douglas (with Ken and Bruce), Cedar Hill (with Stanley and Paul), and The Ridge. We also entertained our friends, Diane and Tony, for lunch on Friday. I made bean salad, rice salad, tomato and boccocini spears, devilled eggs, vinegar beets, and quiche finishing with strawberries on fruit cups with whipped cream. We enjoyed Garry Oaks Winery's Pinto Gris and Zeta and wonderful conversation.
Saturday, we headed down to Finest at Sea to buy more Sea Angel oysters and Salt Spring Island Mussels which we had for supper.
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