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| 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.
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| 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
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| 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
