This will be the final post for the Vancouver Island bicycle trip. First, have some fun with the before and after of the trip. See how many differences you can see from when we left Winnipeg and when we left BC. Taken in Winnipeg just before we left.Taken in BC before heading back to Winnipeg. This has been the 4th year I have done a fundraiser bike ride for MCC. If you wish to donate go to: https://donate.mcccanada.ca/registry/vancouver-Island-tip-tip I will keep dreaming of future rides as long as my body allows me. Next year the dream is to cycle from head smashed in Buffalo jump in Alberta ..read more

We met our goal of cycling Vancouver Island from tip to tip. We now needed to get to our van parked in Royston. First part of the trip had us taking a bus (large van) and our bikes back to Campbell River. Arriving at Campbell River by lunch time we stopped at Tim’s to eat. From here we would need to cycle 60 km’s to the van. This is as far as we could take the bikes on the bus. It was raining the entire time we cycled. We were soaked once we got to the home of Alex and Kathy where the van was parked. We never met them before and they hosted us like we were old friends. Took a shower, fed us ..read more

Today is our last day of cycling to reach our goal of Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island. Day started with breakfast served and made by Duchess. She gave us a complimentary breakfast of 12 bannock, two having eggs inside. She is a very sweet, generous, funny and caring woman. Took the 9:30 AM ferry back to Vancouver Island. Cycled 50 km’s before arriving at Port Hardy to finish our trip. In total our cycling journey was 843 km’s. It was only after the 3rd Hotel that we found a room in Port Hardy. Our options were running out and sleeping somewhere outdoors was not going to go over well wi ..read more

Visiting Cormorant island (Aug 6th) where the town of Alert Bay is located, was an ideal place for a day off. They were holding a kayak 360 event around the island. Top finishers do it under an hour. There are around 120 participants. Here are a few pictures. There are also some nice hiking trails on the island. We took the afternoon to enjoy a nice long walk. Hike included see the world’s highest totem pole. In the evening we joined the T’Sasala cultural group for a celebration of food, dance, and education of their culture. It was held it what they call the ‘Big house‘. They had an open fir ..read more

Cleaning up our campsite at a wayside park. The place where there is a no camping sign.Another perspective of our camp site. There was early morning fog over the lake.The lake close to our camping site.Checking out what’s on the other side of the trees.Something to be proud of, good job Cheryl Taking the 45 minute ferry ride to Cormorant Island from Port McNeill.Our camping spot in the overflow area of the Alert Bay campground. Will stay here two nights. Completed another 75 km’s of cycling today. We were just in time to catch the ferry to Cormorant Island, if not we would have needed to wait ..read more

In the evening of August 3rd we invited a couple of men to share our site. They were from Germany.Father and son from Germany who came to the island to do some hiking. Emil just finished grade 10 and his Dad, Thomas.Some beautiful views from the road, about 20 km’s north of Campbell River.Having lunch along the side of the road.When you can’t see above the trees get the drone out.Looking the other way.Port Hardy is the final destination, distance keeps getting lower with each sign we see.Wondering what’s around us. On Aug. 3rd in the evening as we we’re enjoying supper. We noticed two men talk ..read more

Breakfast in Courtney.Saying goodbye to our Motel room.Finally seeing Port Hardy signs.Such a clear day to see the mountains from a distance.Wood carvings in Campbell River.The pier in Campbell River.Cheryl is so sad the campground is full.But we checked it out and found a site empty in the no reserve section. Park person said they just left and she just took down the permit paper. Timing is everything sometimes.Having a shorter cycling day we went for a 5 km hike.Another view on our hike. When one does not reserve your overnight accommodations it gives you freedom to do what you want for nigh ..read more

Breakfast at Smittys in Parksville.Took a break and walked on the shore.Interesting things to see when the tide is out.A picture from the drone, Cheryl is on the bottom left corner.A very cool guy.It was while we were sitting on bags of manure eating supper outside the grocery store, that we decided to stay in a Motel Beds are great.We live in River Heights in Winnipeg, staying at the Motel with same name felt so right. What an excellent spot we had in a very well designed campground in Parksville. It was so quiet and we slept so well. Cycling day was filled with highway riding. Cooler weather ..read more

Thank you George, Verna and your furry friends for hosting us.Backyard pictures at Verna’s.Cycling some trails today.Sleeping under some hydro lines. Day started with the smell of bacon filling the air as we slowly got out of bed. Another shower, just because we can. Eating breakfast, looking out to the backyard that takes one’s breath away. We took our time enjoying the yard and left by noon. Day ended by finding a spot under hydro lines for our tent. Quickly setting up the tent as mosquitoes were all over us like mud to a pig. We enjoyed the food, we bought earlier, in the tent. With the noi ..read more