Weekly Shout Out

Good afternoon, pretty ponies:

The cold weather has abated at last and we at Horsing Around have resumed the weekend ritual of  long afternoon walks.  A favourite destination for our ambling adventures is Thetis Lake.  During the summer month’s, the crowds at this popular hot spot can be formidable, but in the depths of winter, we pretty much have the entire body of water to ourselves. Walking around Thetis (there is a well delineated path surrounding the upper and lower section of the lake) is a terrific way to improve physical fitness, build an appetite, and revel in what may be some of the most beautiful scenery on  all of Vancouver Island.  In the late afternoon, when the sun’s rays reflect off the crystalline waters just so, it is enough to bring you to tears .  If you have a good pair of trail shoes,or hiking boots, and you aren’t afraid of a little mud, a walk around the lake might just provide an antidote for winter blahs (you can get to Thetis by car, bicycle or by bus (the #22 Vic General will let you off within walking distance of the main beach).

After your walk, when you are all pink cheeked and glowing, you can fortify yourself with a pint and a bite at Six Mile, the oldest pub on Vancouver Island. During, the summer months we like to sit on the patio and bask in the fragrance of the Wisteria blossoms. In winter, the restaurant interior, with its long bar and dark wood, make indoors equally inviting for lounging and lingering.

As of this writing, we have not sampled extensively from the menu but Six Mile’s poutine – a mound of hand cut fries topped with squeaky cheese curds, is worth every artery clogging calorie.  The piece de resistance is the house-made, veal bone gravy ladled on top. The gravy, which is simmered for thirty hours, takes top billing on the menu. Once tasted, we felt it earned its rightful place atop the gravy train.  You can satisfy your thirst with a pint of  malty, caramel-hued Hoyne Dark Matter or, if you favour something lighter, try the Blanche de Chambly, a Belgian wheat beer with notes of coriander, cardamom and citrus, which is exceedingly quenching and lemony light. If you don’t happen to be a beer drinker, Six Mile has a selection of wines, ciders, and cocktails available.  If you have room for dessert, you will swoon over the chocolate mousse cake with berry coulis which is decadent, but neither too sweet or too heavy.

Have you visited Six Mile Pub?  What is your impression?  Visit our Facebook or Twitter pages and tell Uncle Monty all about it.  If there is another pub you like, tell us about that too.  We love hearing from you!

Until next time, have a wonderful week.

xoxo Monty, Pete, and the whole gang at H.A. H.Q.