WaBDR and BC, Part 3 Vancouver Island

Day 9--Nanaimo to Sproat Lake

 We left the Living Forest Oceanside Camping Park and followed a route that had us wandering around smaller paved roads as we meandered our way north on the east side of Vancouver Island.

 We had to stop at the beach

 Looks like the tide was out

From the beach we continued north to Royston where we headed inland to Comox Lake. We had planned to circle the lake and head south on the west side, down the interior of the island.  

 Unfortunately the forest was closed to recreation, so we had to turn around and head back down the highway.  It turned into 90 miles of highway that we didn't have to do.  Oh well, the route was pretty in both directions.

 We are pretty sure that Wayne is wishing that he could stop and jump off the bridge with these boys!

 Once we got back to Qualicum Beach, we headed inland on Highway 4. Our next destination is Tofino. Wanting to get back on the dirt we choose to ride on the south side of Sproat Lake. Once again Wayne and I are leading, and again we startled up a young black bear.  He was pretty cute, especially as he was running AWAY from where we were!

 We decided to camp at a Forest Service campground on the lake

 I love Lyon's little 2 man tent. It's easy to set up with 1 person and it holds him and all his gear

 Bob and Cindy found a great flat spot back in the trees

 Right at the road where you turn into our campground was this great waterfall and pool

 Cindy had to check it out

 Lyon's knees are also in good enough shape to get up close and personal

 Between Wayne's back and my knee, we opted to have our pictures taken from the bridge

 Bob and Cindy

 Sunset over Sproat Lake

 Outrageous sky! Again we had such a great campsite

Day 9--178 miles

Day 10--Sproat Lake to Pachena Bay

 From camp we continued on our dirt road until it joined back on the highway. We got to Tofino in time for coffee and shopping. We finally found a place to be tourists.  We all had to buy t-shirts and stickers for our bikes!

 Lyon is still looking for bears, even on the totem poles

 Lunch was at the Red Can Cafe. From there we headed back inland. When we got back to Port Alberni we headed south on a big gravel road.  It was late afternoon and we must have had 50 pickup trucks come roaring down the road at us! Each one had only one occupant, and they all thought they were rally racing.  They would 4 wheel drift around the corner and across the one lane bridges.  I had to slow down, stand up on my pegs and make sure no one was coming before I crossed the bridges.  Later we found out that these were Forestry employees headed back into town at the end of their shift.

We had dinner at the cafe in Bamfield. Wayne and I had THE BEST seafood chowder! Wow, 50 miles down a dead end dirt road and we find the best food!

 Bob and Cindy at Pachena Bay

 Lyon at Pachena Bay

 It was a little damp at the Bay, typical for the Pacific Ocean coastline

 Camp at Pachena Bay

Day 10--195 miles

Day 11--Pachena Bay to Sooke River Camp

 Bob and his morning coffee!

 Wayne has an unusual method of getting all the air out of our tent before he rolls it up. Cracked Cindy up every day!!

 Bob and Cindy get ready for a damp morning ride

 We went back inland to Cowichan Lake, then headed southwest to the coast at Port Renfrew. On the way, I got run off the road by a boat. Yep, due to a fire closure of the main road, this guy decided to trailer his REALLY BIG BOAT up this little one lane dirt road that we were on.  He came around the corner in the middle of the road and didn't even slow down as I went into the ditch. The dirt was very soft, so I tipped over, like that little old man from Laugh-in.(That will date you if you know who that is!!) Sometimes you just have to laugh!

 Some of us needed gas at the Port

 Lunch at Tomi's in Port Renfrew

 Back on the pavement for the rest of our time on the island

 Bob, Cindy's bike, Patti, Wayne and Lyon

Washington's Olympic Peninsula in the distance 

 We continued along the coast to Sooke, where we stopped and had a beer to celebrate our last day in Canda. We then went to the Sooke River Camp for the night.  

 Camp art

Day 11--144 miles

Day 12--Sooke River Camp to Sequim WA

It was a nice night, we went back in to town for dinner, and the returned to camp.  In the morning Wayne had more bike issues so he worked on his bike as I took down the tent. And then it happened!  Finally!!!! Lyon got to see his live bear.  This guy came out for breakfast while we were packing up camp.

 As long as he stayed on his side of the river, we were all happy to see him

 It is a short ride to Victoria, but we had a ferry to catch.  I didn't make reservations as I wasn't sure how long anything on this trip would take. So we had to get to the dock 2 hours early to make sure we got a spot.

 We parked on the street while we got tickets, but were reluctant to leave our gear sitting on the street for 2 hours.

 Good thing we were required to move our bikes into the impound lot as soon as we got our tickets! Then we felt comfortable enough to go walk around town.

 Lyon and the government building

 Victoria is a beautiful city

 We had to check out the port

 There was a celebration of native arts at the wharf. These drummers were wonderful.

 Lyon had to find another bear

On the ferry, this time we were required to tie our bikes down, as well as use the wedges again.  And good thing, that boat rocks like crazy when it is in the middle of the Straight of Juan De Fuca.  Once on the other side, we headed to Donna and Larry's house for the night.

Day 12-- 37 miles of road plus 20 miles of ferry ride