John Topham
@johnjtopham
Living on Salt Spring Island, BC Former science teacher and kayak guide BSc, BEd Married I love cycling, kayaking, hiking and my awesome wife. Just trying to live a healthy, happy life.
20 years! Still in love and loving the adventure! @caztopham.bsky.social
Wonderful ride along the Galloping Goose Trail from Matheson Lake to Sooke Potholes and back. Thanks to my best friend and wife of 20 years for joining me! #vancouverisland #cycling #biking
My favourite bike ride: 160km (1600m up and down) from French Beach to Salt Spring Island via Cowichan. It would take a couple of dozen photos to show all the incredible beauty. It was a bit challenging with the heat warning but still mostly fun. #biking #cycling #cycletouring #biketouring
Cycled across a one lane bridge that was being chip sealed. It was a bit rough for a bit but the tires cleaned themselves on the first good downhill. This was on the last day of a tour. Now at home finding gravel all over the camping gear. #cyling #biking #biketouring #cycletouring
Nice spot. Single night bike tour to French Beach on Vancouver Island. Back home tomorrow. Estimated distance 270 km over 2 days. #cycletouring
Really tough ride yesterday from my home on Salt Spring, around Cowichan Lake, out to Shawnigan Lake then home: 210km, 1800m vertical. Including 25km on brutal logging roads and lots more kilometres on low quality surfaces. More pain than fun but at least I dropped a few pounds.
Rode from Crofton to Cowichan Bay and back. The roads were a little too busy but at least I had a hot riding partner.
My favourite place on earth! I married Caz at this bench almost 20 years ago. Ruckle Park, Salt Spring Island, BC
Lowest tide of the year at Bader's Beach, Salt Spring Island. Lots of moon snails like this beauty, also moon snail egg cases and geoducks (big clams).
This might be the best photograph ever taken. The camera is mounted on the end of a solar array on the Artemis II mission. The ship is in the shadow of the moon. The glow around the moon is the sun's corona. Earthlight is illuminating the left side of the moon and another solar array.
HOME! (Photo taken from roughly 350 000km away by Artemis crew member)
First long ride of the season! 100km to Victoria back to shop at MEC.
Happy Birthday My Love! Took my wife Caz (@caztopham.bsky.social) to a waterfall for her birthday. Mountain Road, Salt Spring Island
Favorite pre-breakfast bike workout. From sea level to 600m. Mt Maxwell, Salt Spring Island
Another sunny day and another bike ride. I also did a climb on the bike yesterday but the photos didn't work out. Scott Point, Salt Spring Island.
Back on the Saddle! After months of clouds and rain, the sun is shining. Looking forward to bike touring as the weather starts to warm!
Winter stroll with family on Salt Spring Island. In background: Sansum Narrows and Mt Erskine.
After 264 commercial kayaking days over 8 seasons, I'm now retired from guiding. It's on to other adventures like hiking, cycling and personal kayak trips.
With my last guiding season winding down, I had the pleasure of doing 3 trips to Eleanor Point and Russell Island. It's such a joy to take people to these places. On Monday, the light was especially good for taking photos. I finish with 2 tours near Ganges and that's a wrap. #kayaking
On a recent tour to Sansum Narrows one my clients decided to film a whirlpool and got pulled into it. Near the end of the video, you can see how fast the boat is spinning. Vancouver Island, Salt Spring Island #kayaking
As my final kayak guiding season draws to a close, it's great to get in some amazing tours. Yesterday, we paddled to Sansum Narrows, played in the currents, did some kayak sailing, paddled into a cave and saw a really cool rowboat with a sail. All this in a single tour! #kayaking
Three day bike tour along the Pacific Marine Route on Vancouver Island. Day 3b: 150km whole day Leaving the cool coastal air of Port Renfrew to a hot inland valley Harris Creek, Meschie Lake, following a bear down the Cowichan Valley Trail, approaching Vesuvius on the ferry #cycletouring
Three day bike tour, along the Pacific Marine Route on Vancouver Island. Day 3a: 150km whole day The first section was magical. I almost had the highway to myself from China Beach to Port Renfrew Misty highway, one lane bridge, break near Port Renfrew, bridge near Port Renfrew #cycletouring
Three day bike tour, starting from Ganges on Salt Spring Island then out along the Pacific Marine Route on Southern Vancouver Island. Highlights from Day 2, short hop between campsites: 16 km Two photos from Jordan River then China Beach #cycletouring
I had a lovely 3 day bike tour, starting from Ganges on Salt Spring Island then out along the Pacific Marine Route on Southern Vancouver Island. Highlights from Day 1, 112km Blenkinsop Lake, Matheson Lake, Sheringham Lighthouse, French Beach. #cycletouring