Pulled the trigger today...

[Alaskan]

I think there is a heck of a bike tour in my future...

Some interesting observations:

If you make a loop in Northwest Washington and Southwest BC between Anacortes, WA, Sidney, BC, Victoria, BC, Port Angeles, Wa, Port Townsend, WA, and back to Anacortes there are only about 25 miles that wouldn't be on a bike path. Several ferry rides (and you can charge your batteries on the ferry).

About 60 miles north of that loop there is a larger, much wilder loop that goes from Nanaimo, BC, to Courtenay, BC to Powell River, BC to Gibsons, BC, to Horseshoe Bay, BC and back to Nanaimo. Many more longer ferry rides (I think I counted five).

Roughly halfway between those two loops is the town of Ladysmith, BC. Home of Citrus Cycles, ltd, a R & M dealer.

I think there is a heck of a bike tour in my future...

Some interesting observations:

If you make a loop in Northwest Washington and Southwest BC between Anacortes, WA, Sidney, BC, Victoria, BC, Port Angeles, Wa, Port Townsend, WA, and back to Anacortes there are only about 25 miles that wouldn't be on a bike path. Several ferry rides (and you can charge your batteries on the ferry).

About 60 miles north of that loop there is a larger, much wilder loop that goes from Nanaimo, BC, to Courtenay, BC to Powell River, BC to Gibsons, BC, to Horseshoe Bay, BC and back to Nanaimo. Many more longer ferry rides (I think I counted five).

Roughly halfway between those two loops is the town of Ladysmith, BC. Home of Citrus Cycles, ltd, a R & M dealer.

Mr. Coffee, is there a guide or map available on line that shows these routes of which you are speaking. My wife and I are looking to do some touring this spring and summer, as it will be our first summer not in Alaska in 25 years. As you know the summers in NW WA are something special, unless you are being smoked out by fires. Vancouver Island has always been on of our favorite playgrounds.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Actually there isn't just one guide.

I found this website helpful for Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast touring:

https://www.backroadsbiketouring.com

And this guidebook on the Pacific Coast Bike Route is helpful too:

Cycling the Pacific Coast by Bill Thorness

In general, when putting together trips I use a combination of various guidebooks, websites, and Google Maps. It has worked well so far. Although so far it has all been trips of less than five days, and most of them only two or three. Hopefully over the next couple of years I can evolve to a system where I can basically live out of my e-bike.

One of the things you have to accept is that none of the routes or guides are perfect. And things can get out of date very quickly. I've found that checking in at bike shops as you travel along can help you get killer beta on what lies ahead and you can share what you learned.

I'd love to figure out how to get my e-bike up to Port Hardy, but that 200km section without outlets north from Campbell River is kind of daunting.

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Mr. Coffee, is there a guide or map available on line that shows these routes of which you are speaking. My wife and I are looking to do some touring this spring and summer, as it will be our first summer not in Alaska in 25 years. As you know the summers in NW WA are something special, unless you are being smoked out by fires. Vancouver Island has always been on of our favorite playgrounds.

Alaskan,

I just picked up this guidebook, and it looks pretty good:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1771601612/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[Jeff McLean]

On the Vancouver Island side, the Galloping Goose offshoots will get you from the ferry terminal in Sidney, BC, to Victoria, I think. Lochside Regional Trail: At least I think that's the trail

https://www.crd.bc.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-trails/find-park-trail/lochside

Then Black Ball Ferry to Port Angeles.

I live in Port Townsend and have ridden the Olympic Discovery Trail several times. From the Elwha River (west of Port Angeles) to the south end of Sequim Bay is paved or graveled.

https://olympicdiscoverytrail.org/

From about 10 miles out of PT, there's the dirt/graveled Larry Scott Trail:

https://www.countyrec.com/info/facilities/details.aspx?FacilityID=9906

Between those two trails, it's either WA20 (no shoulder, hilly, heavy traffic) or 101 to Center Road and then south to Chimacum. (wide shoulder, little traffic, but 10 miles longer).

From PT to Coupefiville is a pleasant 30 minute ferry. Then it's about 25 miles from Coupeville back to Anacortes, perhaps avoiding busy Oak Harbor via the western beach roads:

https://whidbeycamanoislands.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Whidbey-Camano-Bicycle-Map-North.pdf

After crossing the scenic Deception Pass, veer west onto Rosario Road (at the first lake) to take you back to Anacortes. Much quieter than the main drag.

Cheers,

Jeff

 

[Mr. Coffee]

Talked to my bike shop today. They say my bike is scheduled for completion next week and should arrive around the first week of April.