Video: Ride the “Circle Tour” through the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island by bicycle in just 90 seconds
Last summer two Vancouverites, Andrew Pressault and Justin Turcotte, spent several days touring Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast by bicycle, camping along the way. They rode 330km, including 3700m of elevation, with their tent, sleeping bag, coffee pot–all the gear you might need for a weekend of bike camping–in tow.
The video below was put together by Justin, giving us a glimpse of what it was like. Doesn’t it make you want to get out there and go bike camping on the Sunshine Coast?
(At 0:09, you will see them as they head up Wharf St. from the Westview Ferry terminal.)
We caught up with these two to ask them about the experience.
Powtown Post: What was the hardest part about this trip?
Andrew Pressault: There were a few things that I would describe as being hard. The first is logistics and budgeting of time; timing the ferries so that you’re getting to your destination at a reasonable hour. Though we thought we had lots of time to work with, the leg from Comox to Sechelt took us longer than expected and we arrived at camp in the pitch dark.
The hill right before the ferry in Saltery Bay was also not the most pleasant thing to climb when you’re carrying 50-plus pounds of stuff in a trailer. But the views on the descent made it very much worth it.
The hardest part, though, is the first 10 minutes on the bike every morning, when you’re stiff, a little foggy, and knowing that you’re going to spend the rest of your day on that bike.
PP: What was your impression of Powell River?
AP: I’d never been to Powell River before. It’s got a pretty sweet mill. The traffic coming off the ferry was more accommodating than other places. And the views were quite nice.
Justin Turcotte: The leg of the trip between Powell River and Saltery Bay featured some beautiful scenery and riding, which I hope to visit again sometime soon. We’re very fortunate in the Pacific Northwest to be able to undertake a tour like this so close to where we live in Vancouver. The ability to visit the Island and the Sunshine Coast all in a long weekend is a pretty fantastic thing.
PP: Would you do it again, and do you have any advice for other people keen on doing this trip?
AP: Absolutely. It was one of my fondest memories of last summer. Advice? Pack as light as you can. Bring your climbing gears. Give yourself more time than you think you need–one missed ferry and your whole schedule can be thrown out the window. Remember that doing hard things is fun.
Janis Behan