NOTE: I haven't tried to access this pathway directly from Despard. I believe the construction of homes and condos on both sides of that southernmost end has all but obliterated the clearing, but kudos to you if you can find your way though to GZ via that access point.
This is another installment of the Parksville Pathways series. The Harnish-Despard Pathway presents opportunities and challenges that are different from the others in this series, meaning this one is a little bit unique.
"How so?" I hear you asking.
Well, first off let me thank you for asking. Now, let me give you a bit of the background behind this cache. Because there has been almost nothing invested toward making this space into an actual paved pathway like others in the series I needed to consult the City of Parksville's property maps to make sure this was still intended to be developed into a pathway and it appears to be, mainly because the zoning still calls it a pathway.
So the biggest difference you will notice as you walk the trail is a distinct lack of structure. Other than a fairly flat and level beginning as you leave the pavement behind you, the right-of-way soon grows very rustic, even to the point of becoming completely wild in places. And as you look ahead of you toward the south and Despard Avenue you will notice the trail deteriorates into what is basically an uninviting bushwhack!
But by the time you are reaching this conclusion you will probably discover that your GPSr device is directng you "off the beaten path", as it were.
The D/T rating reflects the ease of access tempered by the deviousness of the cache container itself. Here I have re-created a cache I had placed years ago in West Vancouver and it not only generated a lot of frustration but plenty of favourites as well so I hope you have some fun with it!
ADDITIONAL NOTE: When you find the cache PLEASE SIGN WITH INITALS ONLY! BYOP! NO SWAG! NO SPOILER PHOTOS PLEASE!