story and photos by Scottee Giles –
Getting out on your bike under clear blue skies can really make you feel like a kid again, with the wind in your face and the countryside flying past. It’s harvest season on the Peninsula so we mapped out a Saturday morning cycling route to five Central Saanich farms to fill up our baskets and pantries.
Our first stop was Dan’s Farm & Country Market at 2030 Bear Hill Road where we found a wide variety of fresh veggies, berries and other fruits, frozen meats, ice cream, snacks and fresh flowers. Golden plums and bunches of carrots were stowed away in our saddlebags like treasure. We admired the hand-woven baskets for sale and visited their goats and chickens. Soon a fun seasonal display will appear out front along with a huge pile of pumpkins.
Still feeling fresh as daisies, we pedaled off with enthusiasm bound for another favourite three kilometres away along Oldfield Road, Sean Road and Verling Avenue. Country Bee Honey Farm at 6440 West Saanich Road has a welcoming front porch where we took a break for honey-sweetened strawberry iced tea. This farm features a honey tasting bar, unique gifts, pollinator garden, peacocks, colourful bee boxes, baked goods and a farm experience where all ages can walk a woodsy trail to visit the animals.
Setting off for our next destination only slightly slower and loaded with honey, we headed along West Saanich Road’s wide paved shoulder through the heart of Brentwood Bay. Six kilometres away along Wallace Drive, Stelly’s Cross Road and East Saanich Road, we popped into the bustling Silver Rill Corn farm at 7117 Central Saanich Road where we stocked up on as many sweet cobs as one can reasonably transport without a motorized vehicle.
Back in the saddle with stalwart determination, we rode a kilometre to Michell’s Farm Market at 2451 Island View Road, a popular place for fresh produce, meats, jams and more. Our lunch stop was the adjacent Harvest Rd. – Farm to Table Grill, a hub for cyclists that offers delicious seasonal outdoor dining and take out.
Refueled but hauling a few extra kilograms of fresh veggies, we were happy to get off the main roads onto a flat stretch of Lochside Regional Trail. Our final destination was five kilometres to the north. We took Mount Newton Cross Road to Central Saanich Road, finding Sea Cider Farm & Ciderhouse at 2487 Mount Saint Michael Road. This beautiful spot has a patio with views of their organic apple orchard, the ocean and mountains to the west.
We took the long way home, stopping to pick wild blackberries, discover new trails, chat with neighbours and soak in the sunshine.
