Esquimalt Y Walk Feb.1st

Getting behind again with blogging.  The Tuesday Y Walk was a loop that took us through Macauley Park, Saxe Point Park, Memorial Park in Esquimalt Village, and Highrock Park with a cairn located at the highest point in Esquimalt and with views in all directions. 

On our way to Macauley Park we walked past some of the Esquimalt Base houses.   I was a little taken aback just how small they were - little boxes with nothing outside to break the relief of the starkness of the homes.  We also passed by a couple of fortifications built for defense during the war years (see earlier blog on Fort Rod Hill for background).  Macauley park and Saxe Point took us along the ocean and during our "elevenses" break at Saxe Point we were lucky to see a lone seal out in the water.  Memorial Park has a real life size metal boat: the MV Centennial.  I also noted some old artillery equipment around the park.   Once we arrived at Highrock Park we were treated to a great view of Mount Baker.  Mount Baker is the white mountain in the middle of the picture. 

 It was also interesting to look at the directional cairn at the highest point of Highrock Park.  The cairn was erected in 1912 to commemorate 50 years of the incorporation of the township of Esquimalt.  My shot isn't that great but does give a sense of the cairn's purpose.

I really enjoyed the older homes in esquimalt and am annoyed with myself for not taking pictures of some of the more oustanding examples of 1800's buildings.  Ah, well, another trip.  I did, however, grap a quick snapshot of what I am calling a Mariner's house where we parked our cars.  Just went online and found information on the house: http://tomhawthorn.blogspot.com/2009/02/saving-piece-of-folk-artists-passion.html   For that time when the link is no longer available, we are told that the house at 464 Head St.in Esquimalt is known as the "Swallowed Anchor" and belonged to John Kezier - a carpenter and former mariner -who passed away at the age of 90 around 1999.  Kezier rented out the home until the death of his wife.  He then moved into the house and spent the rest of his life creating the "folk-art masterpiece" and happily welcomed tour bus passengers to view the home.  The house now belongs to Westbay Investments Ltd. and, at the time of the article, A Westbay Manager had indicated tht the house will not remain standing but there are tentative plans to place the art-work in a  park.