Archive for May, 2007
On Sunday, June 24th, the seventh edition of the TCT Challenge will be held on the Greater Vancouver North Shore. You can walk, bike, or run and the distance you travel is up to you.
Each year, the event has been held along a different section of Trail to help people learn more about local flora and fauna and communities along the trail. Last year’s Challenge drew over 600 participants in two locations and raised much-needed funds for trail building.
Visit TrailsBC to see the route map (the shoreline sounds spectacular!) and get all the information you’ll need to participate. This hard-working trail group has also put together some great photos and stories from previous years’ TCT Challenges.
Btw, North Vancouver is celebrating its one hundredth birthday this year. Congratulations!
May 31st, 2007
Saturday, June 2nd is the day to get out and celebrate Trails and healthy living in your area. Walk, roll, bike, hike, mosey, take your dog out, take your horse out and have fun! Trans Canada Trail staffers love this day and you will, too.
To find out about events in your area, start by visiting International Trails Day. Use the scroll-down list beside the Location box at the top of the page to see listings by province. That includes you Manitobans because some of your events aren’t listed on the Winnipeg Trails Association site. Like the Forgotten Forest Trail Walk at Fort Dufferin and the Sentier Cloutier Trail chalk-drawing fest (for the budding artiste in your family).
And check back here daily for fresh posts. If you would like to publicize your Trails Day event on our blog, send me an e-mail and include Trails Day Event in the subject line.
May 30th, 2007
Events in celebration of trails, their development and active living will be happening across Canada on Saturday, June 2nd. The government of Manitoba decided to go a step further and make it official. Way to go!
FREE activities are planned for the Red & Seine River Trails, Assiniboine Park, Henteleff Park, FortWhyte, the Harte Trail, and the Cornish Path. The last of these involves something called Barkchippin’. I don’t know what this is – send me a photo. Please.
You’re bound to find an event to suit your activity level, so check out the details on the Winnipeg Trails Association site.
May 30th, 2007
The Rainbow Routes Association has been busy putting together events, maps and a discussion forum on all things trail.
First up is the 2nd Annual Geocache “Hike and Seek” which will be held this Sunday (May 27th) from 9 am to 4:30 pm. And yes, there is a poker theme involved.
International Trails Day (June 2nd) will be celebrated with Frank and Gordon leading a 3.5 km walking tour of the Kelly Lake Trail. Festivities will commence at 10 am at Fielding Memorial Park, including the unveiling of a new plaque at the TCT pavilion and the launch of Rainbow Routes’ new trail tour guides. Don’t miss it!
And finally, the new Rainbow Routes Discussion Forum gives Sudbury’s walking, hiking, and trail enthusiasts a place to exchange information and offer feedback. There’s some chatter ongoing about pink flamingoes, but I don’t think they’re real.
For more information on events, trail guides, and the discussion forum, click the link at the beginning of this post.
Family excursion on the Kelly Lake Trail.
May 29th, 2007
The very first Suburu Victoria International Half Iron triathlon was held this past Saturday along the Trans Canada Trail in the Cowichan Valley. From the starting point in West Shawnigan Lake Park, competitors were faced with a 2-k swim, a 90-k bike ride and a 21-k run. Ow!
Winners Jasper Blake (of Victoria!) and Kim Loeffler completed the grueling course in 4 hrs, 7 mins and 4 hrs, 23 mins respectively. I’m thinking 4 days sounds about right. To properly appreciate the lush scenery of Vancouver Island…
The big winner may have been the region itself. According to an article in the Times Colonist, the estimated economic impact of the event was in the $500,000 range.
The next two events in the Subaru West Coast series will be held in Sooke on July 22nd and in the Vancouver area on September 16th. For information on these and other events, check out The Runner’s Web.
May 28th, 2007
The Shawnigan Lake Community Centre will be a busy place this coming Sunday (May 27th) morning. Registration, followed by a warm up with Stasha, will begin at 7:30 to kick off the 3rd annual walk in support of the CFCSS. Participants have a choice of activities – walking, running or kayaking – and a range of distances to choose from.
Officially incorporated as a non-profit in 2000, the Cowichan Valley Family Caregivers Support Society (CFCSS) provides information, referrals and a helping hand to those special people engaged in caring for a loved one. Caregivers are often faced with social isolation, financial difficulties and a lack of time for themselves. The CFCSS seeks to improve the quality of life and draw attention to the rights of caregivers.
To read more about the CFCSS and issues related to health and caregiving, please click here.
To register for Sunday’s walk, click here. If you’re not up to walking, consider sponsoring a participant.
Enjoy the day, everybody, and thanks for including the TCT on your route!
May 25th, 2007
…is the theme of the 2007 Trans Canada Trail AGM, which will be held from Friday, June 8th to Sunday, June 10th. Hosted in collaboration with Trails BC and the lovely city of North Vancouver, the indoor part of the program will take place at the Lonsdale Quay Hotel.
I’m particularly excited about the choice of venue, never having visited super, natural BC before. Rumour has it that participants will have the opportunity to cycle or walk part of last year’s TCT Challenge route. “Active” participation is the watchword for this year’s meeting.
All current members (i.e. TrailBlazers, Masters, and Builders) are welcome to attend. For pricing, program and registration details, send an e-mail to margaret@tctrail.ca or call 1-800-465-3636, ext. 233. Please include AGM Information in the subject line of your message.
Looking forward to taking lots of pictures and reporting on events in this space. Stay tuned!
P.S. Voting members who wish to see the proposed bylaw amendments and director nomination form, please click here.
May 23rd, 2007
PE Islanders braved a rainy Victoria day weekend to cycle the Confederation Trail and raise money for micro-lending in Africa. Read all about the 3rd Annual Tip-to-Tip on MaryMcKay’s blog. You will be entertained…and inspired.
In the year 2000 PEI became the first province in Canada to complete its section of the Trans Canada Trail, known in the province as the Confederation Trail. Visit Island Trails to find out more about this scenic 400-km trail network on the “gentle Island”.
May 22nd, 2007
This and six other wonders of the world’s breadbasket may well prompt you to pay a visit this summer. I thought Saskatchewan was flat. Apparently, the province’s Cypress Hills boast the highest point of land between Labrador and the Rockies. And the Trans Canada Trail goes right through the Cypress Hills Provincial Park.
Back to the pelicans. You can find them in Saskatoon, hanging out by the river. Take a walk or a ride along the TCT while you’re at it.
Alert readers will see a theme developing here. In a surprising article about travel in Saskatchewan, writer Laura Robin describes Saskatchewan’s burgeoning spa industry, its lakes, golf courses, parks and, wait for it, gourmet dining. Happily, the Trail passes through or near all of the locations mentioned. And SaskTrails has the maps to help you plan your journey.
You can take the Trail through Regina’s 2,300-acre Wascana Park, visit the Bird Sanctuary and treat yourself to dinner at the Willow on Wascana. Or, cycle along the TCT from Sandy Beach on Katepwa Lake and into Fort Qu’Appelle. These are just two of the many possibilities for adding a Trans Canada Trail experience to your Saskatchewan holiday.
The Trans Canada Trail near Lake Diefenbaker.
May 16th, 2007
The Confederation Trail will be the venue for no less than 13 recreational cycling events beginning this Saturday ’til the end of July. And that’s just half of the schedule! Organized cycling events will continue through Thanksgiving weekend. Visit Island Trails for dates, times, maps & everything else you’ll need to enjoy the spectacular scenery and friendly welcome that awaits all visitors to PEI.
A very special excursion – Tip to Tip for Africa – will take place from Friday, May 18th to Monday, May 21st (aka Victoria Day weekend). The goal is to raise funds for the Townships Project, a micro-credit lending organization to which PE Islanders have been contributing since 1999. Our own Valerie Pringle participated previously and had this to say about the experience:
Tip to Tip for Africa exemplifies for me the very best use of the Trans Canada Trail. It is a fabulous and fun community event that raises money for people in need half way around the world. You have to be fed orange slices by Florence Deacon (whose husband spearheaded the Confederation Trail and the TCT), have your bike blessed at the Trinity United Church in Charlottetown, ride by St. Peter’s Bay and be fed and feted by local groups to fully understand how charming and perfect an event this is.
Check out the Townships Project to read more about Tip-to-Tip. Participants raised $28,000 last year for the cause. At $50 per micro-loan, that’s a whole lotta help.
May 10th, 2007
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