Cycling Advocates
Ride to Pro Walk Pro Bike 2006 |
| |
|
|
| Daily Trip
Log |
Jack |
|
| |
|
|
from Vancouver B.C. to Madison, Wisconsin and then on to Chicago.
Now, on the way home with stops for cycling in Santa Fe, Sacramento
and the wine country, and then Seattle. From there by bicycle back home.
|
 |
Picture of Vancouver, BC  |
| from Port
Angeles, WA to Nanaimo, BC |
| |
|
|
|
Date: 2006-10-11
Distance: 101 Kilometres
Cycling Time: 4.99 Hours
Average Speed: 20.22 kph
|
|
| |
Trip Distance since Leaving Vancouver
- 5,619 Kilometres |
|
Thoughts
for the Day
|
|
| |
|
The morning started out sunny and cold again.
|
|
| |
|
A short ride to the ferry dock and then on to
the boat. On the bow there were two bike racks of the kind that is difficult
to lock one’s bike to, especially when there are panniers on the front
wheel.
|
|
| |
|
On the crossing of the Straight, my eyes were
peeled on the water in case there were some mammals present. No luck.
|
|
| |
|
Yesterday, while standing in line on the Hood
Canal causeway waiting for a green light, I noticed some seals in the water
close by. One was performing its acrobatic movements, swimming on its back
with its white-lined flippers extended outwards.
|
|
| |
|
Passing though customs was easier than finding
a ramp outside of the customs building to the street.
|
|
| |
|
Then an obligatory stop at the Cascadia Bakery
for some carob bars.
|
|
| |
|
From there, a pleasant ride along the Galloping
Goose Trail to a cross road to Brentwood ferry dock. It seems that Saanich
does not have bike routes or lanes to cross the ridge from one water body
to another.
|
|
| |
|
Managed to arrive about half an hour or so after
the ferry left, so had to wait until lunch break was over for the crew.
Time for discourse with some locals. Crossing to mountain-lined bay was
enjoyable under the sun with limited wind at the back of the stern.
|
|
| |
|
From there, 70 kilometres to cover and it was
2:00 pm now. The wind was from the north, a head wind. The road was more
rolling than I remembered with some long climbs. The traffic started in
bunches with some good quiet time in between. As the afternoon wore on,
the quiet time became less and less.
|
|
| |
|
Good time was made and Nanaimo was reached
before 6:00 pm with one stop at Ladysmith.
|
|
| |
|
Today I finally saw another touring cyclist.
It has been quit some time since the last. He was cycling south pulling
a Bob trailer and with panniers on the front and rear wheel.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Cycling
Facilities
|
|
| |
Cycling
the Island Highway #1
|
|
|
| |
|
For most parts, the road had wide shoulders.
These became narrower as the highway approached Nanaimo. In Duncan, the
paved shoulder disappeared into a wide curb lane which made it difficult
to decide where one should be cycling, on the road or on the sidewalk.
|
|
| |
|
Approaches to bridges along the route were also
difficult to figure out where one should be cycling. There were signs that
cyclists should be on the sidewalk but the curb dividers blocked the path
to the bridge’s sidewalk. The path was also very narrow, more for
walking than cycling.
|
|
| |
|
In Nanaimo, at the Highway #1 and #19 intersection,
additional signage is needed plus some pavement on the sidewalk to make
the transition though the intersection and towards Nanaimo easier on cyclists
and with less doubt as to where one should be.
|
|
| |
|
For promotion of touring cycling on the Island,
the paved shoulders need much upgrading and separating from the motorized
traffic to draw more than the most comfortable and confident cyclists.
|
|
| |
|
In fact, if the driving force is to increase
touring cycling on the island, then the development and extension of rail-trails
on the island and within the Island Highway corridor should be heavily advocator
for.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
