ODT to PA to BC (T-1)

A slow morning. Took me a while to climb out of my sleeping bag. There was no rush. I had only 16 miles ahead of me to Port Angeles to meet Georgia and catch the 12:45 Black Ball ferry to Victoria. I didn’t need to set an alarm and I could linger over my coffee and hard boiled eggs which I carried from home.

I fine tuned the morning game of Tetris to pack all my possessions into the nooks and crannies of oddly shaped bags strapped to my bike. Everything has its particular spot.

Leslie and Bruce left early but only to find a picnic table just outside of the campground with a view. I stopped for a quick good morning and they complained of mosquitoes but I didn’t notice them. I wished them happy trails and expected to see them again.

Sequim is know for its lavender but it should be known for all the e-bikes.  So many e-bikes passed me on the Olympic Adventure Trail. I rejoined the ODT after a few miles on flat, rural roads connecting houses with mostly dry brown lawns. It was a pleasant ride on the ODT all the way to Port Angeles.

16 miles

One owl

Big hugs at the Black Ball ferry terminal when Georgia and I found one another. We had almost two hours of catch up time  with her on the ferry. Of course, Leslie and Bruce showed up as well.

I found myself excited to see Victoria. It was my home over twenty years ago and I loved seeing the coast line, the Empress hotel and all the boats big and small in the inner harbor. A mandatory photo in front of the Parliament Building, stop at the cash machine and I marveled at the bike lane infrastructure. We followed the Cowichan Valley 8 from Victoria on the Galloping Goose trail and maybe 5 miles out of town while we were stopped at a light contemplating a potential beer stop, Cathy appeared. Now we were three.

We stopped for an afternoon beverage before joining the rest of the commuters on the outskirts of greater Victoria area. Things have changed in the last twenty years.

The Goldstream Provincial Campground was mostly full so we got half a site with another camper. Oddly, he left for work shortly after we arrived and he let us know that he’ll be back around 11. We were in our tents, pitched in a row, well before dark. Cathy took the bear spray and I had a knife - bring on the night.

15 miles

One cocktail in a can thanks to Georgia.