Monday's Miles
#biketooter #cycling #streetart
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Chris Istace 🇨🇦
@ChrisIstace@socialbc.ca
mastodon 4.6.9North Cowichan Municipal Councillor, Small Biz Owner & Outdoor Enthusiast. Love taking photos on my runs, rides and hikes to share. Care about people & the environment. Gratefully living on Quw'utsun Territory 🌲All views are my own.
#VancouverIsland #BritishColumbia #Canada
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50 Posts
Joined April 08, 2026
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Sunny skies, light breeze and enjoyable warmth today for my ride throughout the Cowichan Valley. Stopped by my local bike shop and bakery followed by a local street mural photo op.
#biketooter #cycling #cowichan #vancouverisland #streetart #mural
Big investment announcement for a call for proposals by the #BCGovernment here in #NorthCowichan this morning. They have asked for submissions for large scale grid battery storage systems to be implemented on #VancouverIsland . If we build enough #wind & #solar to match a #batteryStorage build out network we could be as bold as Australia for free afternoon power. So much extra work needed by government & public for mass adoption by I'm hopeful. #renewableenergy #sustainability #bcpoli
Flower Power 🚲 🌸
#wildflowers #biketooter #cycling
Every time I hear talk of a north #pipeline to the BC Coast it gets me so angry, I think about the #wildlife I have photographed on the #westcoast The rest of the country fail to understand the fragile & beautiful coastal environment at risk. They think it's just like the typical pipeline going through a flat field in the prairies & that lack of perspective is what we need to shift. That is also why the #tankerban exists. Once I moved here from SK I immediately understood it. #beautifulNature
We really need to slow down some days and appreciate where we get to call home. Over time it is easy to take the west coast of British Columbia for granted as we get stuck in the daily routine. This is my public service announcement to take a pause, soak it up and bask in a moment of gratitude.
#vancouverIsland #vancouver #yvr #canada #britishcolumbia #explorebc #explorecanada #salishsea #bikeyvr #ycd
It's always nice to ride to meetings when the opportunity presents itself. Nice bike ride to Ladysmith yesterday as I'm chair of our Cowichan North Regional Recreation Commission and we had a meeting at the Frank Jameson Centre.
#gobybike #cycling #localgovt #cowichan
Last week's newsletter from my local shop Beyond The Usual.📫
We highlight 4 of our popular products right now for summer as well as the Herschel water bottle giveaway happening all season.
RE: @mlmartens@mastodon.social
It's the little things we see in our daily experiences that bring contentment and happiness IMO
#Wildflowers in full effect on Maple Mountain during today's #mountainbike ride in the #CowichanValley
102km loop around Greater Victoria and out to Sooke Potholes. Perfect weather for a fun ride with friends, almost entirely on protected bike network. Humpback Road is closed to through traffic years ago now and is a treat to ride.
#yyj #bikeTooter #vancouverisland
Headed to downtown #Vancouver from #Nanaimo in the best way possible from #VancouverIsland
If you have lots of stops to make. Take BC Ferries over & ride your #bike. It's so fun & you get to experience the city in a great way. Plus its cheap & best of all no car stress! (on foot I love Hullo Ferry) #gobybike #YYC #YCD
"Maynard Johnny Jr. had a dream to paint a Coast Salish inspired mural in Chemainus. The result is Rebirth, the first art piece in the Chemainus Festival of Murals Society collection that has been created solely by a Coast Salish artist. Rebirth refers to his peoples’ attempt to reconnect with their culture."
Quick stop by Maynard's mural in town yesterday after my ride to get a photo.
https://muraltown.com/art/rebirth/
#CoastSalish #Chemainus #Mural #cowichanvalley #vancouverisland
About to fly out to Alberta to see family for the week. A little stop down at the ocean this morning to get some good island vibes before heading out.
It's that time of year when the official #flower of #britishcolumbia (which is actually a tree) puts on a show. This particular tree that sits beside the #Chemainus baseball athletic park is one of the nicest ones I know of in the #CowichanValley so I also make a point of visiting it each spring.
RE: @stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe
I look at so much of what I do personally and with my business, the reality is that I'm so dangerously tied to the cloud and that in reality is a serious concern.
Beautiful day to grind out a sweaty pedal to get up nice and high above #Nanaimo for some great views overlooking the city and #SalishSea. It is scary dry in the mountains already and it is barely even May.
If you have not been paying attention, Angine de Poitrine has been probably one of the bigesst global viral moments so far in 2026. So cool they are coming to Victoria here on Vancouver Island. Damn, I wish I didn't already have prior commitments for an event I'm volunteering at
#yyj #music #canadahttps://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/phillips-backyard-breaks-out-with-a-lineup-that-has-everyone-talking-12525642
Friday afternoon Whistler mountain bike loop after meeting with some of my brand reps for our store. Great way to mix fun and business. #explorebc #beautifulbc #mtblife
Obscenely hot and dry on our ride yesterday. It was May 2 and already dust is flying up off the trails even under the dense forest canopy riding through the trees. The extended 10 day forecast is hot hot with more hot. Sure views like this yesterday on #vancouverisland are wonderful but I would really like to see some rain to battle the #drought from #climateChange we are going to face this summer.
Spent my Sunday busting out the big camera and covering all the action of my friends suffering in a #hardenduro single track #dirtbike fun event we created. Awesome riding community here on #vancouverIsland
It always blows my mind how much waste is left behind after a #forest is clearcut. This trail on South Benson I rode yesterday in #Nanaimo is being rebuilt after the forest it goes through was clear cut. There has to be a better way to log isn't there? Also, that big slash pile will be burnt next winter.
#forestry #logging #sustainability #climateChange #vancouverIsland #britishcolumbia #bcpoli
Colors of #Chemainus as seen on my walk this morning around town.
Just got my #canada #census2026 access code in the mail. Be sure to check your mailbox and complete the questionnaire. This is an incredibly valuable information that makes a difference for local governments to receive funding for your community as well as provincial and federal initiatives.
Adult Tetris project from the weekend complete until I decide to add more or change again. Moved a serious amount of dirt to make this spot level but of course to make it look great I need to keep digging and levelling around the other side now. My watch said i did 25,000 steps over the course of Sunday making this happen lol
Replying to
@chris@socialbc.ca Moving time was 1hr 14mins but I did stop at my absolute favourite Vancouver coffee shop in West Van called Isetta ! (seriously check it out). That total time was right from the ferry deck to rolling my bike right inside my reps showroom. I had to dodge some construction also over the 30km route.
Here is my Strava link
https://www.strava.com/activities/18669483207
Sunday stop at the Groovy Grove while enjoying the mtb trails above Ladysmith.
Back at it today, was nice to get out for a ride to help me forget for a moment that I put an "dummy" dent in the roof of my van when I clipped a friends carport...doh
"The problem is that the system needed to work one day. It needed to eventually make more money than it cost. Every single one of these companies is talking about AI non-stop, and not one of them can show a profit. The only thing they can do is tell lies of omission by saying “AI helped boost everything,” and when you ask for specifics, the results are either tepid or so secretive you’d think they’re hiding a dead body."
~ Ed Zitron
Spent Friday morning riding the Cook Creek ORV network BC Forest Rec Site. Great area maintained by VIDRA here on #Vancouverisland for enduro riders like myself.
"GoByBike BC is seeking a motivated and relationship-focused summer student to help grow cycling participation across British Columbia."
Replying to
@chris@socialbc.ca overcast in the morning with a bit of misty rain in spots and then sunshine for the rest of the day. Best part of the day was riding the length of Cambie at rush hour headed downtown and blasting past all the bumper to bumper cars. I went from SE Marine Drive near Richmond all the way to Marine Drive in West van lol
RE: @Jennifer_Miller@socialbc.ca
I just watched this video last week and nice to see something like this happen where we take back the streets, even for just a little while.
Replying to
@nigelsezyarr@socialbc.ca This was on BC Ferries as I had my ebike and those aren't allowed on Hullo yet, I do all my on foot trips via Hullo and ebike/analog on BC Ferries. Hullo does allow up to 6 bikes now, via prebook only and needs to be prebooked. It also has a surcharge which is stupid expensive.
https://support.hullo.com/support/solutions/articles/151000216604-can-i-bring-a-bike-onboard
The super hero we need for our fight for #electrification and move beyond #fossilfuels Now that is one heck of a statue 😎 ⚡
"Electrification - stainless steel sculpture, Vidraru Dam, Romania. Built in 1970-71."
Loading up all our new Spring product on to the online store this past week. Of course we would love to rather see you in person down at our local #smallbusiness here in #Chemainus
#cowichanValley #vancouverIsland #clothingstore #shoestore
https://beyondtheusual.ca/products/search?keyword=prana&sort=addedTimeDesc
Replying to
@chris@socialbc.ca The Stzu'minus Ec Dev development at Oyster Bay has been a great project building out that full area. Hoping for the same positive outcome for the Alberni region.
Replying to
@TheresaReason well even better then ! I added a used van to our household this year for all my bike trips as well when not out backpacking.
Looking for ideas for the more adventurous #backpacking and #hiking opportunities on #VancouverIsland ?⛺
Check out this post I did after an amazing summer of time #outdoors in beautiful #britishcolumbia 🌲
One of my favourite regions is of course #StrathconaProvincialPark but don't overlook the majestic peaks off highway 4 between #Tofino and #PortAlberni , they will surprise you!⛰️
https://www.chrisistace.com/2019-year-in-review-hiking-on-vancouver-island/
North Cowichan has developed a draft concept plan that includes an affordable housing project at the old school site at 2988 Elliott Street. Learn more and share your thoughts on the draft plan. Drop in any time (no presentation). Staff and the architects will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the project.
📆 Saturday, June 6, 2-4pm (drop in, no presentation)
📍 Chemainus Secondary School, 9947 Daniel Street, Chemainus (in the gym)
https://www.northcowichan.ca/business-development/community-planning/affordable-housing
Brendan's weekly update newsletter with always fun topics and finds. If you're into running, the outdoors, writing and just all around fun be sure to check out his work at Semi-Rad.
"There has never been — and never will be — an economically-feasible way to offer services powered by LLMs without charging the actual token burn of each user, and in the process of deceiving said users, these companies have created products with illusory benefits and questionable return on investment."
via Ed Zitron
Back on the island after being in Alberta for a week. As always, one of my first activities was to hit the trails for a #mountainbike ride.
Amazing !
Thank-you #Cloudflare for holding the line against #Google and #AI
"Beginning Sept. 15, all new websites signing up for Cloudflare, as well as all the customers on its free tier, will have the default settings in their bot management protocol set to block “multi-purpose crawlers” on any webpage that has ads. This means that any crawler that scrapes for both search indexing & AI training will be turned away at the door, unless the site owner decides otherwise."
https://www.adweek.com/media/publishers-opt-out-google-search/
Replying to
So good ❤️ crowd singing after Dermot Kennedy's performance of The Cranberries Zombie (the remaining band members came to play alongside him for the song) Man such a powerful song.