About the Sole Sisters
Strap on your walking shoes and join the Sole Sisters walking group. This program is offered on Wednesdays from September to June (with a small break for Christmas) at various locations around the Oceanside area and is intended for women 50+, but all ages are welcome.
This is not a power walking group, but the group does walk at a moderate pace. On average, the group travels 6km. There is a leader at the front and a leader at the back. No one is left on their own.
Group of women posing on a log
Walk Safety Information - NEW UPDATES!
Thank you for reading the information below!
1. There will be one leader at the front (the lead) and one leader at the end (the tail). All walkers must be in between. It is very important that the tail is the last person. This ensures that no one is ever left behind.
2. If you hear the whistle blow, you must stop and gather. This either means that a large gap has formed and we need to recollect or that there has been an incident that requires stopping. Once the situation has been addressed, the walk will continue.
3. It is important that you do not leave early without notifying a leader. We count at the beginning and end of each walk to make sure that everyone has made it back safely.
4. If a route includes crossing a busy road, the leaders may choose to stop and cross as a group. When you come to a road, please defer to the leaders to see how they want to handle the crossing.
5. We recommend that each person to wear a name tag. This can be as simple as a piece of masking tape with your name on it. This will help the leaders identify you if you are injured or unwell.
6. For the more challenging terrain, consider bringing poles. They can be a great help when navigating tricky spots!
Group of women on a forested trail in autumn
october 29: top bridge regional trail (from industrial park)
Description: Join us on a walk from Parksville's Industrial Area to the Top Bridge suspension Bridge. This gentle trail will take you through grassy meadows, alongside the river, and through the woods. The walk will be about 75-90 minutes and wind through autumn fungi and along the river to cross the silver bridge. There could be muddy sections and are definitely some gentle ups and downs, with stairs, ramps, and one big hill.
Directions: Driving from Downtown Parksville, head towards the Industrial Park. Take a right onto Industrial Way. Shortly afterwards, you should see a gravel parking lot and a yellow gate on the right-hand side. This is the parking area where we will meet. Parking in the lot is limited, but if needed, the shoulder of the road can also be used for parking.