End of this road: Beach and Cocktails

My day 7 - official day 5

Flora lake to Bamfield

July 15

28 miles, 1177 ft climbed

Fog was rolling into our campsite as we boiled water to make coffee and breakfasts. It was pretty and cool in the trees. Our bikepacking friends were again enjoying a leisurely morning as we were on our way shortly after 8. They took our group photo!

I took almost no photos from the day as the miles were uneventful until we reached the end of the West Coast Trail, registration. We peaked at Pachena Bay and stopped to read the info boards about sea life. Just 28 miles to Bamfield from Flora Lake, 10 of them on paved road, and we had just a few more to go. After several annoying rollers and a mandatory photo with the Bamfield sign, we went straight to the market which was also a restaurant and a bar. It was only 11 and too early to check into our campsite at City Park.

The afternoon was spent with a few chores (showers, laundry, cleaning chain, setting up camp), water taxis, hiking to Brady’s beach, sitting in the sun, dinner and cocktails at Flora with real fancy glassware and a view.

Our fellow bikepackers are following our footsteps - or we are following theirs. They were at Flora when we passed on our way to Brady’s beach, then as we were leaving they arrived at the beach. And just when we thought we said our final goodbye to them, our water taxis picked them up along with their bikes. They have a few uphill miles to get to their camp and we will see them tomorrow at the ferry.

Staying in a campground right in town means that you’ll find a mixture of “real” campers and those that are a bit more transient in their living situation or here to enjoy the fishing for the season. My kind neighbor heard me pounding my tent stakes in with a rock and brought me a hammer to borrow. Another kind Canadian!

Bamfield feels like the end of the road but what a gorgeous end of the road it is!

As I lay in my cozy little tent, my bike shorts are hanging above my head drying, and the sounds and lights of a busy city camp may go on for a while. Fingers crossed that generators are not allowed.

1 logging truck

16 single lane bridges

2 water taxis

2 gorgeous beaches

1 float plane

3 cocktails