Hiking

Yim and I first began hiking after we moved out to Victoria, on Vancouver Island 25 years ago. The west coast of the island is home to Juan de Fuca Park, which offered us access to the scenic beauty, spectacular hiking, and roaring surf along the Pacific coastline of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Today this section includes a collection of stories on some of our hikes around the world.

Recent updates include stories on our recent three week hiking trip to Madeira,

Hiking Travel

The Fanal Forest

The Fanal Forest – once I saw photos, it held a sort of mythical draw to me. Located high in the mountains along the Paul da Serra Plateau, it is a 40 minute drive from Ponta do Sol. We…

Hiking Travel

Pico Ruivo – PR 1.2

Pico Ruivo is the highest peak in Madeira, standing at 1,862 meters (6,106 feet) above sea level. This was one of the hikes that I had to do while we were in Madeira. During my planning for the trip,…

Hiking Travel

Pico do Arieiro – PR1

Pico de Arieiro was the most impressive hike for me during our visit to Madeira. Besides the breathtaking landscapes vying for your attention in every direction, the trail is impressive due to the well built stone pathways and obvious…

Hiking Travel

Miradouro Bica da Cana

There are a few spots on Madeira I knew we would have to get up long before sunrise to really experience the beauty of. Bica da Cana was the most important on my list. In Madeira, it is called…

Hiking Travel

Rota da Banana

Madeira may be renowned for its hiking and breathtaking landscapes, but it is also a major banana producer. The south coast, where we stayed, is adorned with banana plantations, and Madalena do Mar boasts the largest one on the…

Hiking Travel

Levada do Moinho

This was our first hike in Madeira. Confusingly, there are two Levada do Moinho hikes in Madeira. The hike I am writing about is called Levada Do Moinho – Levada Nova and is on the south side of the…

Hiking Travel

Flowerpot Island

Flowerpot Island near Tobermory, Ontario, is one of the most beautiful and unique places in Ontario. The island, part of the Fathom Five National Marine Park, is famous for its rock columns that resemble flowerpots – narrower at the…

Hiking Travel

Cinque Terres

Yim and I had been talking about hiking the Cinque Terres for years. This year, we finally made it. Tucked between Genoa and Pisa, along a mountainous six-mile stretch of the Italian Riviera, lie the Cinque Terre. The five…

Hiking Travel

Hoggs Falls, Ontario

Hogg’s Falls, located just outside of Flesherton, is one of the many waterfalls of Grey County, Ontario. Located on the Boyne River, Hogg’s Falls is about a 2 hour drive north of Toronto and 40 minutes from Collingwood. This…

Hiking Travel

Acadia National Park

Established originally as Sieur de Monts National Monument in 1916, Acadia National Park encompasses more than 48,000 acres on Mount Desert Island, the Schoodic Peninsula, Isle Au Haut, and many smaller coastal islands.  The major portion of the park…