As I am the planning dictator for my Wednesday hikes I decided to opt for a short outing to the University of Victoria (UVic) grounds and Henderson Park. This general area is great for Michelle and I since it’s pretty close to home, not to mention the fact that it’s interesting on a variety of levels. I mean there’s rabbits, slugs, crazy flowers, students, and other stuff. This week we basically covered some Alumni Trail, Finnerty Gardens, and then headed off campus for a lap of Henderson Park. Goodly, despite the rain dampened enthusiasm.

GPS Data: 2.8km – 0h42m – GPS route

A 3km hike at UVic and Henderson Park in Victoria, BC. Click on the map to see GPS details on the Garmin website.

There isn't any real shortage of colourful flowers around Victoria.

One of the trails on the UVic campus and some evidence of rain.

Lots of slugs and snails (I think that's what this is) on the trails at UVic.

Part of the UVic Alumni Trail I believe. Uhhh, I feel green... how's that for cheese.

Hee hee, elevator ride to view of the campus, hee hee...

It's UVic, so there will be rabbits. Rabbits don't seem to mind going about their business in the rain.

Mo rabbits fo yo. This is in the vicinity of the medical building on the UVic campus.

Bamboo and pond in Finnerty Gardens on the UVic campus.

Purple thing-a-majigs in Finnerty Gardens at UVic.

The wood chip trail around Henderson Park was surprisingly free of slimy invertebrates, aka slugs.

The hike tonight was another good one, come to think of it, I don’t really know what would have to happen to make a hike a bad one. I suppose if I really try I could come up with something, but let’s keep things positive. The view of the city lights from Mt. Tolmie was great as usual, the rabbits at UVic provide some brief entertainment, and though it was a bit muddy, Mystic Vale was all good too.

GPS Data: 5.9km – 1h27m – GPS Route

A Wednesday night hike at Mt. Tolmie, UVic, Mystic Vale, and Henderson Park. Click on the map to see detailed GPS data on the Garmin website.

If there were Victoria tryouts for the fictitious “So you think you can run” in the near future and I tried out I would be one of those people who is told that they suck. Ok, maybe I don’t suck that bad, but I sure wouldn’t make it to Vegas. I’m not sure why I was thinking about SYTYCD while running this afternoon, just one of those things I guess.

Besides SYTYCD, I was thinking that we have some dandy greenways and parks in this city. I passed through and nearly out at Cattle Point, Uplands Park, Mystic Vale at UVic, Henderson Park, and a little park along Bowker Creek off of Richmond. They were all cool, especially Mystic Vale. I think I do pretty well with discovering hiking spots, but I have basically only been in the “lovely” Mystic Vale three times since moving to Victoria six years ago – lame.

GPS Data: Run – Victoria, BC – Uplands / UVic

Running route through the Uplands / UVic area of Victoria.