2020VanIsleonYamaha

A nice September day to head to Gabriola Island on the first tour on the Yamaha FZ6. Mill Bay ferry is on time and I am first on and off at 11 am. Turn onto the Scenic route that takes me through Cowichan Bay and Chemainus. At Ladysmith I am back on Hwy 1 where I will get the bike - on a straight stretch - to 109 km/hr. Into Nanaimo and stop for lunch near downtown. Find the ferry to Gabriola Island about 2:30 but it is delayed and 5 motorbikes are on first at 3:20. Chat to one of the guys who wanted one of these Yamaha's. I find my Surf Lodge pretty quick and have to go up a gravel driveway and park (one of my lizard brain fears). Take a walk on the shore. The Washington state fire smoke is hanging over but it is still a pretty site.

Gabriola Island 2020

 Back at the lodge I situate on the pub patio that overlooks the Strait of Georgia - where BC ferry’s and large cargo ships go by. I enjoy beer and fish & chips. My room is very quiet and quiant.

 Packed up and out by 8 am after a stroll and find Mad Rona's coffee store. North Street is very wild and when there are dwellings they are quite lovely. I make a stop at Sandwell provincial park. 

With the shiny new bike my return will make me stop at a 45 degree angle where the main road intersects and it makes me nervous but me and the bike handle it. Around to South Street were the yachts at Silva Bay are moored. Beautiful tour back to the ferry dock for the 10 am return to Nanaimo. I pass all the cars waiting in line and join George on his 1984 Honda Magna at the front of the line. Weather in Nanaimo is good and I head north to Parksville then 4A - Port Alberni Hwy. Through Coombs where I did see the Goats on the Roof literally. Pass the beautiful Cameron Lake where the single lane highway runs between mountains and the lake and Maximum speed can drop to 50 kph. The Cathedral Grove is fenced off but on a bike you can pull off and have a rest and view. Lots of twists and turns until Pt Alberni where I get a bit of rain before stopping. My add on air seat cushion does not hold onto the rain ! I find my Hospitality Inn but the salt water pool is not open damn it ! On foot I head down to the water front. Sort of dismal since the last time I drove through in 2016 or 17. Homeless are present and lots of the shops are not open, limited menus at the restaurants. I walk past the huge mill - Catalyst Paper - and on to the east area where I land a patio seat at the Twin City Brewery. Walk back to my hotel just before dusk.

The next morning I walk back to the east side waterfront for breakfast. Find some trails and down small streets and get sort of lost.

 I keep walking and find the information centre I stopped at yesterday - still another 3 klms to my hotel and check out is in 40 minutes and I am walking on a highway - so I do some running. Pack quickly and head out of town - about 8 klms down the twisty highway my fuel light starts flashing. Per the manual I read this means I have 40 litres left and after checking my paper map I am not sure I can make it to Coombs so I do a u turn on the highway and go back to Port Alberni - another couple of klms to find a gas station where I put in $ 19.50 of the good stuff. The most I have ever put in a bike. Back down the highway a large group of bikers are riding in and Santa Claus is waving from the front of the group. Can't help but to smile. Lots of motorbikes out today. To make my ride more enjoyable I pull off the highway when there is a collection of cars behind me. Stop in at Little Qualicum Falls - more gravel to park on! You can hear the rushing water a few feet into the trail.

 Another stop in Englishman River Falls 

Travel on to Hwy 1 outside Namaimo where the speed limit is 110 and I make it up to 119. Then it starts to pour – I can feel the water running into my jacket but keep on. Rain stops all of a sudden and it is sunny and dry – a little later more rain but only for a short while. I dry up quickly. At Ladysmith I turn off the hwy and onto 1A the coastal route. Stop in Chemanius as per usual for lunch at the Sawmill. In the parking lot I book a room for the night at Oceanfront Suites in Cowichan Bay. Always wanted to have a look around this pretty little town. The room is fantastic with a view over the bay. 

Cowichan Bay, BC

Veronica’s family drop by for a visit. We get dinner from the restaurant. I have an evening stroll around the dock and town, it doesn’t take long. Back for a luxurious sleep ! 

Morning I head out to the only coffee shop that is open at 8 am and it is very good. Reluctantly head out and have another angle I have to handle on the pretty bike ! But it was easier than it looked. Stop when I can for this picture 

2008 Yamaha FZ6

Cross the main highway into Cobble Hill. Lots of time before the ferry so cruise through Shawigan Lake. I stop and put my new helmet on the mirror, but it falls off – the screen comes off….. damn

 Only a 10 minute wait for the ferry to Brentwood Bay and it is a spectacular day out ! 500 kilometres round trip

BC2020SunshineCoast

Vacationing on the Sunshine Coast
June 18th and it is a beautiful day for a ride up island.  The Mill Bay ferry is not operating so I take the Malahat highway.  In Germanius I stop for lunch at the Saw Mill Taphouse.   On hwy #1, I hug the coast to Courtney which leads right into Comox.
I missed the turn off to the ferry which is leaving at 3:30 - so wandering around Comox I see a great shoreline play area and green space.
Have a Guiness at the Black Fin pub because it has a magnificent evelated view of the Coast Mountains.
I am in the line for the 7pm ferry an hour early - it is a lovely spot to be waiting.
Love this ferry system that puts motorbike on first and off first (ish)
A pod of killer whales is spotted in the Straight of Georgia just outside of Powell River.
I find my hotel very quickly and park, check in, change and head out to the Coastal Cookery.
The bar tender, Andrew, is very informative and friendly and gives me the best things to do while here.   2 days is not enough time.
The next morning is a bit overcast and I head out on foot to the beach trail and Sunshine trails.  There is old lumber clearing equipment all along the trail and it is very interesting to see the inventiveness of people over a hundred years ago.
The beach kids play area is really nice and I notice this also Harrison Springs yet Victoria is lacking this play experience.
Some great trails here and lots of signs about bears so I don't go too far from the main entrance.

Powell River trails

The Powell museum is not open now and it was too early for mini golf but the shopping is pretty good.
The woman at the Stationary store may know my bosses mom here in Powell River ! !
I see a sticker saying:  Powell River - a quint drinking town with a fishing problem.
Back on the motor bike I head north to Lund after going through a very intense hair pin turn.
Lund's hotel and only lunch spot is not open, but the bakery and Pollen Sweaters is.
Heading back I see a young black bear crossing the highway right in front of me and I am trying to figure out how fast I can do a U Turn, but it heads into the woods without a care.
I take a foot trail that leads down to the water where there are some spectacular homes.
Heading back there is a local brewery with tours but the incline is so steep I don't think I can safely park the bike nearby. In town I do a tour on foot - and it is built on a hill - so the trek back to my hotel is rather strenuous.
Dinner at the patio of the hotel and then cable tv.

My morning to head to Harrison Hot Springs is raining, but I have a 9:30 ferry to catch or it is several more hours to wait for the next ferry.  So I pack the bike up and get wet feet in the 30 minute ride. The fresh smell of the ocean and the rain is lovely.
An hour later it has stopped raining and I am heading to the next ferry from Gibson's on the Sunshine Coast Highway. A young female BC ferry worker chats with me about motorbikes.  This area of the Sunshine coast reminds me of Ontario near Bancroft.  I have lots of time so I venture down a side road and take a trail and do some more climbing.   Heading out there is a slim, young wolf on the highway about 20 feet in front of me.  I slow and think about what to do but the wolf heads into the woods.
In Sechelt I stop for lunch.  This place has a very nice downtown and the Basted Baker has a great healthy bowl for lunch.
Back on the road to Gibson's which is the last place before the ferry to the mainland.  This ferry is no charge - I will spend $114 on ferries when I get home - which is great compared to a car.
I only spend $45 on gasoline in 5 pit stops - about 1,000 kilometers in all.
This ferry has a cafeteria open for food ! !    A bag of chips can go a long way to help pass the hour plus voyage.
On to the north part of Vancouver - but the signs are clear and the highway is heading due east.
It starts to rain again once I am clear of Vancouver.  On Hwy 7 I go through Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge and on to Mission without stopping.   It is now steadily raining.  In Mission there are lots of red lights and the bike is wanting to stall.  But there is NO way I am getting stranded in Mission with its jail and being so close to Harrison so I am like a teenage boy and reving the engine when I am in neutral.  And this reliable Honda keeps me going.  The highway is now called Lougheed ... ???
Still heading east I go through Lake Errock and then around a mountain with some nice curves and the engine working to get up the incline.  Then I am in Agassiz which is very close to my destination.   The rain is slowing and then stops on the last stretch into Harrison Hot Springs. 
Checking in close to 5 pm at the HHS resort takes a few minutes but I get this cute cottage  -

Thermal Pool at Harrison Resort

and change into a bathing suit to go and get into the famous Hot Springs on this summer solstice.  There is an outdoor pool, family thermal pool and adult pool.  The spa has an indoor pool also but it is closed.

Cabin nestled in mountains

The source of the hot springs is just 200 yards from the resort.  When it was discovered an engineer managed to separate the hot spring from the cold lake and pump the water to the spa and the town public pool.   There is a sulfer smell near the source.
Another change to clean dry clothes and I will have dinner at the hotel and a much needed pint of beer - or two......
All day Sunday I explore Harrison starting with a bicycle tour into the country side - the mountains surrond the area and some have snow on the tops even now in June. Pass by a RCMP truck without a helmet......  I love this town of under 2,000 people and it is very well maintained and cars are kept at a distance away from the spectacular beach front.

NE on Harrison Lake 

Beach Harrison Hot Springs

I book the 2 hour cruise boat with a family of 6 from Burma.  We are all taking lots of pictures.  The glacier lake is huge !   Our guide, Angela,   points out the Rainbow Falls which looks like it is moving very fast. 
 There are people living on the east side of the lake after the road ends so they all have solar panels aiming west.   You can see the logging trucks closer to town.  So, so many trees ! I have a beer on the boat.  When we get back to shore there are many people out on the water - windsurfing, seadoing and kite surfing.  The water is cold to touch and the sun is out now !
There are foot trails all through the town and some views into back yards that could be showcased in Home and Garden.  The tourist info office gives me paper maps.  I am told BC is no longer printing these maps because everyone uses their phone.   My phone got wet and isn't working very well.   The Old Settler Pub is open so I, naturally, go in for a pint of Guinness.
Then head to a Greek restaurant that has a patio overlooking the beach.
Back to my little cottage and a dip in the hot springs.

West view to origin of springs

I have a wonderful, unbroken sleep and wake at 8 am.   Head to the pool and have a swim while it is still quiet.   Then a thermal pool soak and back to dress all in white and have breakfast at the hotel with a table overlooking the beach !   LOVE this place.  But now I have to check out and load up the bike and head to Abbotsford and on.   My boots are still damp inside but the bike has dried out.  It is warm and sunny out before noon.  Heading out of town two RCMP vehicles go past me.  I stay on Hwy 7 to Lake Errock.  Coming around a curve there is a vehicle travellin the side road that seems to be going fast - considering they have a stop sign - but this person ignores that stop and barrels onto the highway - RIGHT NEXT TO ME and infront of a truck heading west.  I swerve and press my seemingly quiet horn, but the mindless person seems to wake up now and hits the brakes - Moron - a mile or two down the road I stop for gas at a Chevron and the crazy person pulls in for supplies from the store.  There is a look of mental shortcomings on her face and the scariest people are those that may be unpredicable.   I jot down the license plate and make of car to contact the RCMP when I get home.
The ride along 7 is pretty scenic but then Mission is ahead, so south on Hwy 11 into Abbotsford.  I park and walk around the park where the pickle court is empty, then to the shopping area before stopping for lunch at the Townhall Public house and sitting on the patio.
Heading west on Fraser Hwy I drove to Surrey - although I never really want to go to Surrey - UGH.
But now I am not sure where I get the ramp that will take me to the ferry at Tssawassen so I spot a nice pub with a view called The Clayton Public House.  Seeing as I just got in touch with Clayton I thought it was cosmic that I stop here and review my paper map and have a beer.
Really all I can do is head west - on #17 the signs agree I am heading in the right direction.   (edit story...) and I eventually end up at the mall just down from the ferry terminal.   The ferry sign says the 5 pm is fully booked.   I go into Montana's and am the only one sitting on the patio.   I am 40 minutes early for the 7 pm ferry and I chat with another rider about his trip to Nelson. His group had to stop because the Ducadi had a fuel pump problem.   He remarks on the beautiful simplicity of my bike.   So true !  Ferries are starting to feel long and boring. At Swartz Bay I am first off the ferry and home by 9:30 pm and the sun has not yet quite set. 
Tuesday I have booked off work so I meet my daughter and grandchildren and go to Durants Lake for a swim.   For 6 days I thought of nothing Accounting related.