September 11
52mi/84km
3900ft/1189m elevation gain
Our first 15mi/24km today was along surface roads, but after that we were almost entirely on multi-use paths. The southern portion of the island is pretty densely developed and populated so it’s nice there is such a network of trails to utilize. One downside to this, aside from all the foot traffic, is the lack of amenities that were available on the highways. There was a real lack of spaces to take a break or take a pee!
There were a lot of cyclists out today but almost all of them were heading in the opposite direction. We were warned many times that we had a big hill toward the end of the day. Well, we were not lied to. It wasn’t just a hill. It was a mountain biking route with very steep bits, with grades of 15-17%. They were short enough segments that I managed to ride most of them, but they were exhausting. When we finally reached the top and descended the other side, I realized why most riders take the hill the opposite direction. Our descent was along a wider road with a more consistent grade, without the twists and turns that peppered our climb.
It wouldn’t be a complete day on Vancouver Island without some detours. We planned to stop at a campground near the bottom of the hill, but of course the road connecting to the campground was gated and not accessible.
So, we had to add a few extra miles to access the campground from a different route. Then we arrived to be told they were totally full! So, we had to turn back again and find a hotel room instead. This marks the first time on this journey that we’ve ridden from one hotel room to another hotel room. So many showers, after going so long without!
We are only 10mi/16km from Victoria, where my parents are coming to meet us. We will take a few days off before continuing our ride on the Olympic Peninsula.
We saw a Wild Turkey today, which according to my bird app are not on this island, but that is clearly incorrect. Also saw more Dark-eyed Juncos, Red-breasted Nuthatches, American Robins, and Northern Flickers. And a very close up encounter with a Red-tailed Hawk.
