May 10, 2014

After much heming and hawing, the tour finally began today and a stringent taskmaster of a day it was. Getting across the island by land allows for only one route and most of the portion I covered today was devoid of civilization except cars on the road. Cycling isolates at times but when there are no options for interactions or potential assistance, it’s a little daunting to start your trip that way. I should add no food options either but what I carried so I stocked a bit more than called for. Not being as conditioned as I would like, it was a little terrified that the first possible spot to call it a day was over 100km from the start. Yesterday I traveled by bus to Tofino along the same route and kept looking for spots where stealth camping might be possible. There were few. Thankfully I didn’t need any of the potential sites I spied previously.

Not having cycled serious hills since Mike and I cut through western Massachusetts two summers ago, I had forgotten how mountains deceive and distort your perception of the terrain. An uphill climb can look like a decline or a gentle hill is actually a substantial climb, yet never does that hill turn out to be a surprise decline. Now water is much more trustworthy a guide on a journey. You know what you’re in for beside a body of water. It will help you see through the shenanigans the mountains try to play, standing water especially. I also realized I do want that larger cassette the guy at the bike shop suggested. After all, the Rockiesr still beckon mischievously.

My dip in the Pacific Ocean was beautiful even if I marked the occasion in solitude. Long Beach in the Pacific Rim Park is stunning and not developed allowing you for a moment to forget which century you belong to. As you see from the photo, I couldn’t have asked for a better send off. So bushy-tailed, bright-eyed, and hopeful I expect that energy to be knocked out of me a few times before I roll into the Atlantic. Before then, adventures await.

Road Report:

As mentioned there are no options for food after the Tofino/Ucelet junction, so bring your own. The first grocery store a is couple of kilometres before Sproat Lake Provincial Park, which happens to be the first camp. The road is generally ok, a little hilly, except for the pass around Kennedy Lake. There it is simply treacherous with steep inclines, sharp curves reducing visibility for cars on the road, and no shoulder! Pray the gods are with you.