The latest chapter in my series about the Canadian Bible Society's 2015 Bike4Bibles tour of Vancouver Island & the Sunshine Coast. Special thanks to Bryson McEwen for his technical wizardry for the video 'Powell River Cornering.'
After consecutive century mile (bicycling 160 km {100 miles} in a single day) days for the riders, and a brief but cold and rainy ride into Campbell River, we headed south out of town to the ferry at Comox, with just a couple of turns and then an easy, straight run on the South Island Highway for about 40 km down the east coast of Vancouver Island. I needed an easy day myself. I left the big Baptist Church that we had stayed at and followed the road out of town to a t-bone intersection, where I was to point the bikers down the hill towards the ocean. It was a crisp, delightful morning, with a terrific sunrise to the east, and a laid-back 6 point buck a couple hundred yards to the west, who hung out there for about an hour.
This is the proverbial selfie, and yes, I know that is a funny hat! This farmland looks to be of very high quality, and those mountains in the background are, like the rest of the province, very picturesque.
In the background is the Beaufort Range (1) of the Vancouver Island Ranges (2). On Monday, we had come through the Seymour Range (3) on the way to Duncan. And this afternoon we would arrive in the heart of the Insular Mountains (4), which includes the Island Ranges and runs along the Sunshine Coast.
In the background is the Beaufort Range (1) of the Vancouver Island Ranges (2). On Monday, we had come through the Seymour Range (3) on the way to Duncan. And this afternoon we would arrive in the heart of the Insular Mountains (4), which includes the Island Ranges and runs along the Sunshine Coast.
These two cyclists, Don and Sandy, met a few years ago during a B4B tour, and apparently hit it off rather well. They are now happily married!
They are certainly not the first couple to meet during a B4B event. I know of at least two other couples who have met this way in the ten years that I have been marginally involved with the program. Hopefully, this will remain a great place to meet future spouses!
They are certainly not the first couple to meet during a B4B event. I know of at least two other couples who have met this way in the ten years that I have been marginally involved with the program. Hopefully, this will remain a great place to meet future spouses!
The ferry across the Salish Sea to Powell River was pretty nice. What it lacked in scenery (not really lacking, but it is all relative in BC!), it made up for in camaraderie. We had meshed extraordinarily (supernaturally?) well, and we now our entire roster back together. Sharon, the cyclist who was injured on the the first day of the tour, and Maris rejoined us today as part of the road crew for the remainder of the trip.
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Powell River muley twins from Daniel Loucks on Vimeo.
Powell River is a pretty cool place. It has this laid-back vibe to it, and we were able to spend a good deal of the afternoon kibbitzing around town. The waterfront is really nice, with a park full of giant Douglas Fir and Red Cedar trees, much bigger than anything we have here in Ontario. Bald eagles are a common sight, unlike in southern Ontario. Harwood Island and Texada Island provide a magnificent backdrop for the ocean.
Louisa, Karen, Katlyn, Liani, & Mimi.
Breanna, Katlyn, Liani on the Powell River waterfront.
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Some of us went down to the waterfront to explore the shops and parks. As we were walking out of a parking lot up the steep driveway Andrew put his very dry sense of humour on display: he started zigzagging his way up the hill. Unless you were a cyclist, you might have missed the joke, which is that he was imitating the way many cyclists on the road/touring bikes climb steep hills. Me being a mountain bike rider (with slick tires for roads, not trails), I could just power straight up the hill in the lowest, 'granny' gear. So I really enjoyed that particular joke.
References:
1. Beaufort Range. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 3, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_Range
2. Vancouver Island Ranges. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 3, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_Island_Ranges
3. Seymour Range. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 3, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seymour_Range
4. Insular Mountains. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 3, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insular_Mountains
1. Beaufort Range. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 3, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaufort_Range
2. Vancouver Island Ranges. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 3, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vancouver_Island_Ranges
3. Seymour Range. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 3, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seymour_Range
4. Insular Mountains. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved July 3, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insular_Mountains
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