This was the first of three insanely early get-aways on the trip. Having slept like a log outside on a ThermaRest inside a cozy sleeping bag, it was nice to wake up to an ocean view and a fabulous home-spun breakfast!
Ray is using a short flat stretch of a nasty climb to his benefit.
Coffee seems to have a universal appeal to travellers, for good reason. This cozy little cafe, and one outside of Campbell River that I stopped at a few days later, is literally on a highway in the middle of nowhere! Unfortunately, it was not open yet, but it was a good rest-stop as the riders were in the middle of a big climb shortly out of Sooke. One of the riders said the mountain to that point was a 14% gradient.
Driving out of Sooke was an awesome experience because we were going through the coastal rainforest that is part of the Juan De Fuca (JDF) Trail and JDF Provincial Park. Giant Hemlock, Douglas Fir and Red Cedar fill the land from Sooke north to Port Renfrew and further, and make Ontario's trees seem small by comparison.
Fog, drizzle, rugged terrain, and slippery roads all added to the challenge for our intrepid cyclists, while also providing challenging conditions for the group photographer-me!
Driving out of Sooke was an awesome experience because we were going through the coastal rainforest that is part of the Juan De Fuca (JDF) Trail and JDF Provincial Park. Giant Hemlock, Douglas Fir and Red Cedar fill the land from Sooke north to Port Renfrew and further, and make Ontario's trees seem small by comparison.
Fog, drizzle, rugged terrain, and slippery roads all added to the challenge for our intrepid cyclists, while also providing challenging conditions for the group photographer-me!
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These are some of the incredible trees that we encountered at our rest stop by Juan De Fuca Provincial Park.
I had set up shop on a hill-side just above the highway for the photo-shoot in the slideshow above. This was at the pinnacle of a long 8% grade climb, and I would have been able to see the Pacific Ocean if it were not so foggy.
When the last riders came by I scrambled back down to the road. As I was doing this, my wallet, which contained some cash, fell out, but thankfully I noticed almost immediately, and retrieved it, money and all.
Soon we came into Port Renfrew, which is the finish of the Juan De Fuca hiking trail and the start of the famous West Coast Trail. A quick break, and we continued on into the interior, over the mountains, which included a vicious 3 km long switchback ascent. By the time we reached our lunch break, it felt like another day and another world: the sun was now out in full strength, and the coastal rainforest was miles behind us (and to the cyclists it undoubtedly felt like miles below them!).
When the last riders came by I scrambled back down to the road. As I was doing this, my wallet, which contained some cash, fell out, but thankfully I noticed almost immediately, and retrieved it, money and all.
Soon we came into Port Renfrew, which is the finish of the Juan De Fuca hiking trail and the start of the famous West Coast Trail. A quick break, and we continued on into the interior, over the mountains, which included a vicious 3 km long switchback ascent. By the time we reached our lunch break, it felt like another day and another world: the sun was now out in full strength, and the coastal rainforest was miles behind us (and to the cyclists it undoubtedly felt like miles below them!).
An inlet at Port Renfrew.
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