Category: video

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In Praise of Pampas Grass

Pampas grass or pampas-grass or Pap’s grass are common names for several similar-looking, tall-growing species of grass.

Cortaderia selloana is native to southern South America, including the Pampas region after which it is named. 

It is widely distributed throughout the world as a cultivated ornamental plant. And it is common in the yards on Vancouver Island where I’m at right now.

In fact, it’s my favourite of the ornamental plants here. Tall, impressive, and pretty.

Jindai Botanical Garden, Japan, height 4 metres (13.1 ft) and diameter 7 metres (23 ft)

That said, many gardeners hate the stuff, considering it an invasive weed. It’s difficult to manage.

Click PLAY or watch a short montage on YouTube.

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My Drones CRASHING Montage 😀

I can laugh now — but each was traumatizing in the moment.

My first drone was the inexpensive Mavic Mini SE.

Though careful, I crashed it a LOT.

And finally killed it completely flying into the restaurant doors … twice.

Upgrading to the DJI Mini 4 Pro, I’m unlikely to crash. Often.

It has VERY good obstacle avoidance.

This montage includes perhaps half of my crashes.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Lighthouse Country Regional Trail, Vancouver Island

Trip report by BestHike editor Rick McCharles

#FakeNews. 😀 … There is no lighthouse on this inland trail.

Lighthouse Country is a tourist designation for a coastal region just north of Qualicum Beach consisting of smaller communities: Dashwood, Qualicum Bay, Dunsmuir, Bowser, and Deep Bay.

It’s named for the offshore lighthouses on Sisters Island and Chrome Island.


Lighthouse Country Regional Trail is an easy — family friendly — 5.6-km loop that takes an average of 1 h 23 min to complete.

The trail was dry and in great shape, even in chilly December.

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

I did find the Nile Creek logging road less interesting than the portion closer to the ocean. You could walk north from the parking lot, then backtrack whenever you wish to enjoy the most scenic sections twice.

If you do the entire loop, feel free to call it the Lighthouse Loop.

There are other trails to explore aside from the loop, of course.

Though you don’t really need a map, I followed AllTrails.

related – nearby, more challenging, Nile Creek Trail

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Fisherman’s Trail, Portugal

Alone. Late in the year – November.

One of our BEST VIDEOS.

Fisherman’s Trail is the BEST section of the longer Rota Vicentina route in Portugal.

And the BEST section of Fisherman’s is Porto Covo ➙ Zambujeira do Mar.

In either direction.

Most who hike Fisherman’s also include Zambujeira to Odeceixe. Much of that is great too — but you have at least 5km of road walking.

NOVEMBER turned out to be my best decision. Weather was still good but the coast was nearly empty of tourists.

Trip report.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

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Bermuda Rail Trail

One of our BEST VIDEOS.

An 18 mile (29km) LONG day hike on tropical paradise islands. PLUS many recommended sidetrips along the way.

Forts, lighthouses, and beaches.

Our recommended itinerary starts in Dockyard and continues past the official trail end in St. George’s.

In fact, it’s BEST to do the Rail Trail over 2 or more days.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.