Hello. This is my first attempt at writing a blog! I have been inspired to start this blog by my upcoming trip to Ireland, and by dreams of many more walking/hiking/sightseeing trips in my future. I’d like to share photos and words with friends, family, and other travel-happy souls.
Pre-trip Training – Camosun Bog 6 Berry Walk
On my Ireland trip, I will be doing the first 3 stages of the Wicklow Way walk in the Wicklow Mountains south of Dublin. I will walk about 60 km over 4 days with a pack on my back so I’ve been doing some training on the weekends in Pacific Spirit park near my home.
One of my favourite walks is through Camosun Bog, then along Camosun Trail to Top Trail which is a peaceful and little-travelled trail that has the feel of a country lane. I have been enjoying salmon berries along Top Trail for over a month now, and on my walk last weekend, there were six (!) kinds of berries available for trail-side munching. The berries also provided an opportunity to play with my new camera before I travel to Ireland.
Here are some photos from that walk.
There are four varieties of blueberry in the bog. I think this is the oval-leafed blueberry.
The huckleberries are loaded this year!
These are the native B.C. blackberries. Their vines hug the ground and the berries are smaller than the non-native Himalayan blackberry.
Here are the two varieties of salmonberry on the trail – the golden ones, and the redder ones. They taste slightly different and I keep changing my mind about which is my favourite!
Here is the thimbleberry – my least favourite in texture, but my favourite in flavour. Intense and delicious!
And finally, the salal berries which are ready incredibly early this year. Not my favourite in either flavor or texture, but great in pancakes!
