The Galloping Goose is a 60 kilometer (36 mile) rails-to-trails conversion on Vancouver Island in BC, Canada, named after a gawky and noisy gas rail-car which carried passengers between Victoria and Sooke in the 1920’s. The conversion to a multi-use trail used by hikers, cyclists, inline skaters, and horseback riders came in the 1980s.
The trail runs past lakes, farms, rocky outcroppings, waterfalls, and into urban parts of Victoria itself, where Goose riders have the right-of-way through intersections with city streets.
You might wonder why I mention it on my blog, and it’s all because of the novel I’m currently writing set in Victoria, where my male lead is an avid cyclist and rides the Goose both for fun and for stress relief throughout the story. I’ve never ridden on this trail myself, but I’d love to sometime (except, perhaps, for the part with Todd Trestle).
It wouldn’t bother Tristan, though. He’s more concerned with traffic not yielding to cyclists within city limits. And then there’s the moment he meets the heroine–when the guy following her runs into the street and rams straight into Tristan, knocking him and his bike flying.
How about you? Are there any cool rail-to-trail conversions where you live? Where do you like to go cycling?
I figured it was for the book. And I think the trestle looks awesome!
Yes, it LOOKS awesome, I agree! But I have this thing with heights…
Yes! I love riding the trails. We have the Kattie trail which I’m sure I mis-spelled. I should look that up. It runs from Missouri to Kansas I think. I haven’t ridden the entire thing. Not sure I ever will though it is a dream of my husbands.
Diana
Oh, that sounds fun!
Michigan has many rail-to-trail conversions. I have been on a great one in the Caledonia-Middleville area where I lived before moving to the Upper Peninsula. Traverse City also has a fabulous trail that we’ve used several times. Another excellent trail is in Marquette in the U.P. Our most recent trail discovery is a new one between Empire and Glen Haven about 23 miles west of Traverse City. We walked that one a couple of times two weeks ago, not the entire length but a good portion of it. We take our dogs on the trails and we all get good exercise.
Trails-to-rails is such a fantastic idea (though I wish the trains themselves remained viable).
I love all the wild ways we writers come up with story ideas!
Agreed!