Canada

Canada

Day 1: 16^th July: was from a three hour assembly of the bikes at the Plaza Airport Hotel in Vancouver to 16km biking into central Vancouver on unbelievably good cycleways. We met  Rylo at a random intersection  who promised to (and did) deliver us four awesome drink bottles the following day. Thanks so much Rylo.

Stanley Park Vancouver City

Day 2: 18^th July: After a rest day in Vancouver organising ourselves and going to the Museum of Anthropology, we left Vancouver and cycled through Stanley Park and over the Lions Gate Bridge. Scary descent canter-levered out over the harbour, but again a giant bridge cycleway for us to ride on.  Headed north to Gibsons via the Horseshoe Bay-Langdale ferry at 4.30pm. 49kms and a massive hill to finish. We were grateful to arrive at our ‘Warm Showers’ reciprocal bike hosting accommodation and to meet Jerry and Renie who made us feel welcome and comfortable. Kids had a ball with Ellie the dog. Showers, good food and the Tour de France on tv…all we could wish for!

Ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Gibsons

Grinding the hill up to Gibsons turnoff

Day 3: 19^th July: After a gorgeous guided tour of Gibsons Landing (home of The Beachcombers for those old enough to remember) we said goodbye to Jerry and Renie and I (Bridget) visited the dentist at 4pm after three days of toothache. The dentist was great and has hopefully fixed the problem. Made a late start at 5pm to Porpoise Bay – very beautiful and though the camp was full, there were special cyclist sites for us to use. 27kms.

Staying with Jerry and Renie in Gibsons 

Sunset at Porpoise Bay

Day 4: 20^th July: Biked Porpoise Bay to Earls Cove : 54kms. Very hilly. Raced to catch the ferry at 5.35pm but made the deadline and arrived at Saltery Bay 50 mins later. Beautiful trip. Short hill to Saltery Bay campsite and again lucked into a campsite. Met a fellow cyclist, Mace, from Oregon, who shared lots of useful info about the routes and the trip in general.

Bikes on ferry from Earls Cove to Saltery Bay

Sunset at Mermaid Cove, Saltery Bay 

Day 5: 21^st July: Saltery Bay to Denman Island: 75kms. Raced to Powell River to the ferry at midday. 27kms in two and  half hours. 75 minute crossing. Arrived Comox ferry terminal and were barely 2kms out of it when my front derailer derailed! An hour’s repairs on the roadside and we carried on into Comox and had a coffee. Hot! Then onto Courtney for groceries and then carried on. Beautiful trip down the coast – flatter and great cycling. By 7pm we were keen to camp but the campsites were few and far between – in fact none – so when we passed the Denman Island ferry terminal and saw the ferry there ready to go, we raced down and made a snap decision to go over, as we knew there was camping there. 10 mins later we were on the island. Ate dinner at the foreshore picnic area – bread, salami,cheese, asparagus and tomatoes – and then attacked the hill up to the village. Planned to camp earlier but ended up heading over to Fillongley Provincial Park. But at 20 to 9pm, 3km from the campsite, my back derailer completely smashed in a gear change and more desperate roadside repairs ensued. It was a bit of a low point after 75kms of riding. Got down to the campsite on one derailer and were delighted to find one free campsite out of only ten total! Slept well.

Denman Island campsite beach

View from Denman Island

Day 6: 23^rd July: After a blissful rest day yesterday with the kids doing schoolwork and swimming on the island, while John cycled back to Courtney via the 6.30am ferry, we set off again today at 8.45am for the 9.40am ferry. It was sad to leave the island as we had had a lovely time at the camp and met some nice people. The sunsets and moonrises have been magnificent from Porpoise Bay through Saltery Bay to Denman Island. Amazing ocean life complete with huge orange jellyfish and giant crabs which freaked out the kids. Deer often standing right next to us on the side of the road.  Wonderful ham and cheese croissants and coffee across from the ferry and then onward down the much flatter and quicker coast. Biked 11am till 2.30pm 42kms 5and then found the Cedar Grove campsite complete with waterslide and mini-golf so couldn’t really go past that. It is an interesting study of Canadian Family Camping… swimming, laundry and an English Fish and Chip Restaurant next door so indulged in that with a pint of lager… sitting in the sunny garden. Bliss.

Maths!

Denman Island beach

Sunset at Denman Island

Full moon rising at Denman Island

Ferry ride back to Vancouver Island

Dinner at Qualicum Beach

 Day 7: Cedar Grove to Newcastle Island 54kms.  Parkville Sand Sculpture Competition. Busy ride into Nanaimo in 33 degrees! A squeeze to get the bikes on the ferry. Yet  another gloriously fine sunny day.

 Parkville Sand Sculpture Competition - Three Men from the Pub!


Bikes on Newcastle Island Ferry

Day 8: Newcastle Island to Salt Spring Island. Crossed on the first bike-carrying ferry at 10am. Met Alan from Slow Spokes at Serious Coffee and rode with him all the way out of Nainamo for over an hour. Thanks -- great to get guided out of the city. Long day 65kms finishing over the hill to Ganges on Salt Spring Island. Picnic tea in the square at Ganges. Found a campsite at the top of the hill out of Ganges at 8.15pm. VERY glad to get there as thought we may have to go another 25kms.... Hugh met some locals and played ladder golf late into the evening...

Crossing to Salt Spring Island

Day 9: Salt Spring Island to Fulford Harbour to Swartz Bay to Thetis Lake. 62kms. On cycleways all the way after Swartz Bay, joining the Galloping Goose to Thetis Lake. Rode with Rebecca who we met, who had lived in Christchurch for a year, for an hour or so towards Victoria. Hard to find food towards Thetis Lake but had our emergency supplies and were hapy camped up a huge hill! The camp guy golf-carted us up there for a look first which was hilarious with Hugh and Mum and Lucy perched on the back.

Swartz Bay Port

 Galloping Goose Trail

 Recyclistas Bike Coop, Victoria

 Lunch at Victoria

 Empress Hotel, Victoria

Farewell Canada




Day 10: Our last in Canada. Another glorious day of sunshine. Toured the city of Victoria and had fabulous BLT bagels before departing on the Coho ferry for the USA. Great times in Canada. Brilliant sunshine every day. Fabulous people. Fabulous time.