Sooke Basin bike ride

In the late afternoon we head out to bike another piece of the Galloping Goose Trail from Roche Cove to the Sooke Potholes along the Sooke Basin. The Goose was an old railway converted to a bike trail (aka a rails to trails project) Being 55 km in length from Victoria to Sooke, you can pick it up for a wonderful ride in many places. 

Roche Cove signage marker

Sooke Basin

We bike about 5 or 6 km and see on google maps it is 8.5 km to the Sooke Potholes and it's getting a bit late in the day. We also see on the map a brew pub :)  Sooke Oceanside Brewery (SOB) wins out. The Renfrew Red for Sheila is 10/10 and so is Chris's hazy IPA.

Now that's a view.

SOB patio

Beautiful light on the return ride

While enjoying our beers at SOB, we met a guy named, Jeff, who grew up in the area and still owns a place here but lives in Vancouver. He tells us about the 17 Mile House down the road. We have seen the 4 Mile House and the 6 Mile House closer to Victoria, and now Jeff explains they were horse carriage stops back in the day of slow travels. This one from 1894 is still being operated by the same family. It is very beautiful and well kept inside. 

17 Mile House

Jeff from SOB decides to join us at the pub and points out to us the owners of the 17 Mile House are Montreal (Habs) fans and they despise the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Maple Leafs Poutine write up on the menu is hilarious and pricey while the Habs poutine sounds yummy. Too funny. 

Note the price of the Maple Leaf Poutine....lol

Interestingly the pub has a sign out front that says "Hell Froze Over" as the Leafs have made it to the second round in the play offs for the first time since 2004! The Leafs are playing tonight against the Florida Panthers and they actually have it on the TV. Sheila accidentally cheers when Toronto scores. Cheering for Canada we say. Leafs win 6-4