We did shop around, finally deciding on the Pedego Trike as being safest for running around Parksville B.C.
Price is about U.S. $3000. Canadian about $4200 including a special lock and B.C. taxes.
ElectricBikeReview.com does a terrific job reviewing what’s available.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
July 6-7, 2019 – day 4-5.
Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video
It was great to catch up with friends in Victoria, likely the best cycling city in Canada.
I stayed mostly on the Galloping Goose and Lochside trails.
One stop was the new Gymnastics club — Inspire Sports. Very impressive.
I happened past Michell Airpark, the local remote-control flying club. Models like this can cost thousands of dollars. They fly about 8 minutes.
Each August they host Victoria’s Largest Little Airshow, a charity event.
I caught a late ferry from Sidney delivering me to Anacortes on Fidalgo island just at dark.
Happily the Washington Park campground, up from the ferry landing, had hiker / cyclist campsites for $10. Free hot showers.
I’d hoped to get to the USA in time for the 4th of July.
Just missed it.
I’d cycled these islands on a previous trip so wasn’t much motivated to make a lot of stops. Also, my good weather was deteriorating.
I did do a short hike in Sharpe Park up to Sares Head Overlook.
The highlight — as it was last time I cycled here — was Deception Pass, a strait separating Whidbey Island from Fidalgo Island.
George Vancouver gave it the name “Deception” because it had misled him into thinking Whidbey Island was a peninsula.
I stopped at Deception Pass State Park for a bite to eat. And stumbled on to a new adventure sport — tree climbing.
A company called AdventureTerra was teaching a beginner course: 4 hours for $170. Looks like fun.
Cycling the islands is lovely, even in the rain.
It’s a short, easy ferry directly to Port Townsend. Victorian houses, much history and a vibe supportive of the environment and human rights.
Also wine.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video
July 5, 2019 – day 3.
Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video
People are wonderful. 🙂
I’d left my GoPro behind on the trail yesterday. Kim found it. Scrolled through the camera settings and found my email address. Then took the time to let me know.
Luckily GoPro is not password protected. 🙂
#PayItForward
I’d wild camped near Shawnigan Lake.
Wildflowers are definitely one of the highlights.
Banana slugs one of the weirdest creatures.
I’d read that today’s ride would be hilly. How bad could it be?
Hilly is an understatement. I can’t recall that much up and down in a day.
Assessment = I’m NOT king of the mountains. There was plenty of pushing my heavy rig up 17% grades.
Most of the dedicated non-motorized was NOT rail to trail. But some was.
It was a relief to reach greater Victoria ending my (excellent) section of the The Great Trail.
I took the time to scramble steep Mt Wells before joining the Galloping Goose into Victoria to visit friends.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video
July 4, 2019 – day 2.
Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video
The main theme of my Pacific N.W. bikepacking tour is rail to trail.
Day 2 I was on the bike shortly after 7am.
Aside from the usual, lovely temperate rain forrest, this first section included some beautiful ponds.
The wildflowers are lovely too.
Motivation was reaching Tim Horton’s in Lake Cowichan.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
After breakfast I toured the town of Lake Cowichan, my first visit.
But the main reason people come to hike or ride the Cowichan Valley trail are trestles.
They are spectacular.
Best of all is Kinsol Trestle (named by nearby “King Solomon Mines”).
Completed in 1920, its one of the highest wooden railway trestles in the world at 44 m (144 ft) high and 188 m (617 ft) long.
It was repaired and reopened July 28, 2011.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video
Surprisingly, I’d never visited Lake Cowichan.
Lake Cowichan is at the western end of the Trans Canada Trail, which, when completed, will be one of the longest trail networks in the world.
It looks like my kind of town. Funky.
Plenty of outdoor adventure.
Visit Lake Cowichan.
Having failed on my first attempt out of Port Alberni (two flat tires in two days), I opted instead for an easier start in Nanaimo. It was 3:30pm by the time I got going.
July 3, 2019. Day 1.
Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video
I tried using The Great Trail app for navigation.
It’s not 100% ready. 😕 Nor is The Great Trail as there’s still far too much paved road included on the 24,000+ km.
The app’s recommended route started well …
… but soon got me lost.
I gave up on the recommend side roads and actually enjoyed riding the Trans-Canada Highway to Duncan. I was in a hurry to finally get on to the Cowichan Valley Trail.
The Cowichan Valley Trail is nice. Well graded gravel.
An important section of The Great Trail (formerly Trans Canada Trail).
Highlight of the day was two bears. They were snooping around my bike — no doubt attracted by the smell of my camping food.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I found a quiet place to wild camp. Yes, I hung my food far from the tent. 😀
Click PLAY or watch my day on YouTube.
Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12-13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | info | video
Pacific NW bikepacking tour – June 30, 2019
The BAD NEWS – flat rear tire.
But … I had a good ride. And I managed to fix it. At least I thought I had fixed it.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Log Train Trail is popular with everyone in Port Alberni.
I stopped at McLean Mill en route.
Despite the flat, I made it to Cynthia’s birthday party on time.
😕 Yeesh.
Here are all the devices I need to power for my upcoming bikepacking trip.
In fact, this photo is missing my EarPods and that dedicated cable.
For hiking I’ll carry only phone, watch, EarPods and one (of the 3) battery chargers.
Coombs is a BIG tourist trap destination on Vancouver Island.
I rode the new dedicated cycling trail to get there.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Rick McCharles 