In 2020 I enjoyed 14 multi-day trips on my Ghost. The 15th in November … I didn’t enjoy quite so much.
In 2021 this is only my 2nd multi-day cycling adventure. About 90km return. Overnight camping on Horne Lake. 22 hours total.
Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube. A peaceful, windless September night.
My first overnight TEST of the Checkpoint ALR 4 with full load. Mixed trail, highway and gravel.
Checkpoint passed with flying colours.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Due to the pandemic, it’s very difficult to TEST RIDE bikes. Shops simply don’t have much inventory.
I knew that the Trek Checkpoint line were often included in lists of top Gravel Bikes for All Terrain.
I was looking for something more rugged and with more carrying capacity than my otherwise excellent Ghost.
I ended up with the Checkpoint ALR 4 … mainly because I lucked into finding one in stock at West Point Cycles in Vancouver. Still — it took over 4 months to get the accessories I wanted.
This bike is Aluminum, not steel, so it’s relatively light at 10.26 kg / 22.62 lbs. Carbon fork.
It’s got a ton of attachments. I special ordered the deluxe BONTRAGER racks front and back. I’ll load up with 4 full size panniers for longer trips.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I bought an inexpensive (CAD $43) 25 litre rear top pannier bag for those trips I want even MORE capacity.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I upgraded the tires to BONTAGER HARD-CASE editions. That should mean fewer flats. Just in case, I have a saddle bag basic repair kit.
After considering wearing bike shoes, I’m happy to have decided on flashy flats with adjustable straps. Deftrap nylon platform pedals.
I’ve hidden an AirTag so can locate the bike with the FindMy app.
Internal cables are tidier.
I now have the option to use drop bar grips — but I normally prefer flat bars. Happily, I can switch between several handlebar positions on this rig.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I put a quad lock for my phone central on the Blendr Stem. It has two attachments, normally my light and GoPro.
Once in a while I’ll take off the saddlebags and use it like a mountain bike.
Click PLAY or see it action on YouTube.
What is the Rule of 430?
… a formula that demonstrates replacing about 430 driving miles with 430 riding miles can offset the carbon cost of your new bike. Anything above 430 miles, and your bike is now carbon-negative.
Future BIG bikepacking trips I’m considering include:
I happily joined in the Adlard family and friends vacation to Newport, Oregon following our climb of Mt Adams, Washington.
Newport only has a population of 11,000 yet is a big tourist destination. Great beaches.
Here’s the vista from their rented beach house deck.
We enjoyed cycling the HUGE beach. (VIDEO)
It’s WINDY so Kites and Kite Surfing are popular.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
That’s close to Devils Punchbowl State Natural Area. A fun stop.
Oregon Coast Aquarium is well worth a visit too.
We had 3 terrific dinners at seafood restaurants on Newport’s Historic Bayfront. Research for Chef Dave Adlard.
Local Ocean was great. Clearwater Restaurant, as well.
Tom enjoyed our stop at the Rogue Nation Brewery & Spirits factory. We did well, as well, at a boutique wine tasting shop.
Dave cycles every day. So our group cycled every day.
The iconic image of Newport is the Yaquina Bay Bridge. Art Deco and Art Moderne design motifs as well as forms borrowed from Gothic architecture.
When you have destinations like Newport, who needs Hawaii? 😀
Sister and brother Sage and Cole hosted me in Olympia WA while I organized my Covid test within the 72 hour limit required for my international flight home to Canada.
THANKS.
Did you own a huge house, big lot and a 3-car garage when YOU were Cole’s age?
They schooled me on Anime. Demon Slayer.
One night we watched the first few episodes of Only Murders in the Building.
We went out to lunch, one day, for a HUGE meat pie.
I travelled Portland to Olympia via Flixbus, an excellent service. They carry bicycles under the bus. Recommended.
After climbing Mt Adams with Dave Adlard, the adventure crew headed for a rental house on the Oregon coast.
Click PLAY or watch first morning cycling on YouTube.
En route to specific events, I stayed in Portland in 2019 and 2021.
A good vibe.
It’s a smaller, pedestrian friendly city with good public transit and bicycle thoroughfares.
A mild climate. Great city parks.
Though very White, the majority of citizens are liberal and progressive, supporting human rights.
Most days I browsed Powell’s Books, the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world.
In 2021 I stayed at the excellent Lolo Pass hostel. Private rooms $162. Dorm beds $43.
In rural Oregon there is no shortage of right wing extremists including Proud (Incel) Boys. The world saw violence and looting on Portland streets during the George Floyd protests. Too bad.
Ongoing — the biggest problem is homelessness. It is awful.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I want to tell God about my PLANS … 
We’re hiking a section of the Pacific Crest Trail out of Tuolumne Meadows, CA starting Aug 5th.
Nothing could possibly go wrong.
Day #8 since opening.
It’s a very impressive structure. A good experience.
We enjoyed ourselves — though the line-up for the slide was too long. If you want to do the slide, show up at opening.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
I really like Salmon. Try to avoid thinking about how they are killed for my pleasure. 😐
But my Dad and brother have always been keen fishermen. I’ve joined them on charters a few times in Canada and Mexico.
Many times found reasons to avoid those trips in the past. I really fear sea sickness. 🤮
Since my Dad sold his boat, they’ve done two charters a year, most recently out of Port Renfrew, Vancouver Island.
As Pacific salmon numbers decline, it’s gotten increasingly more difficult.
June 2021 they decided to try a new guide in a new area. An interesting and entertaining character.
We stayed in Port McNeill for 2 nights as Pete lives there. He made the final decision whether to fish out of Port Hardy or Port Alice.
Fishing had been better out of Hardy, so that was the final decision.
It was about a 3.5 hour drive from Parksville to McNeill. Another half hour to Hardy.
We headed north at 6am on the hottest day in thousands of years (at least).
I’ve been to the north of Vancouver Island a few times — but feel I don’t really know the remote, unique area. I’m planning for a couple of weeks bicycle touring. Some day.
It was an hour at full throttle to get to the open fishing area. Seas at the north tip of the island are dangerous. Weather often horrific.
Our day was dead calm, compared to normal.
My family likes to fish for salmon first. Switch to halibut next. We had our limit of 8 Chinook (Spring) salmon (2 / licence) by about 12:30pm.
I even caught fish. It was fun.
Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.
Pete took us further out about 5 miles to a spot he calls his butthole. It’s a shallow, sandy bottom area.
We ended up catching 4 halibut. They were bigger and much more of a challenge to murder than salmon. The largest halibut required Pete to use his harpoon.
Cost for 4 was about $1600 including 2 nights hotel, charter, fuel.
We brought home well over $1600 worth of fish.
I’d go again. Did not get sea sick.
On return to town we found all restaurants closed. Power failure.
Happily our motel had a huge, noisy generator.
related – Canada has budgeted $647M over 5 years to try to save declining Pacific salmon.
Rob and Yvonne invited me along on a road trip to Sooke.
First stop was Port Renfrew where they were able to (tentatively) book their annual fishing charter. Salmon and Halibut the goal.
I was able to book accommodation for myself and Brian the night before we start on the West Coast Trail — June 15th.
I’d forgotten how chilly and windy it can be on the west coast of Vancouver Island. It was cold here on the pub patio.
We continued the scenic drive towards Victoria where Rob and Yvonne had booked their favourite hotel — Sooke Harbour.
I’d stay there again. Two bedroom units for less than $200 / night.
Next day we had the typical morning fog.
I jumped on my bike for the long ride back to Parksville.
Rick McCharles 