Planning a ride from Oregon, along the coast to Vcr Island

[bikerskier]

Around Mid Sept. I am taking a solo ride over to the coast from Portland then along the Olympic Peninsula to Port Angeles, ferry to Victoria, up to Nanaimo, ferry to Horseshoe Bay, then up thru Whistler to Cache Creek. Then thru the Okanogan, and Nelson, Cranbrook and Fernie. Likely head south at Pincher Creek, thru Waterton and Glacier and then start southwest thru Idaho, and Eastern Washington, stopping to visit my son in Walla Walla, and then home.

Stopping when hungry or thirsty or tired or to take a picture. I started to calculate the mileage and then said **** it, I'll check the odometer when I get home.

I thought it would be amusing to have any interested forum members make a guess of the finish mileage and I will send a bottle of some great Walla Walla wine to the closet guess. Although no guarantee that the route may not change and likely will when the whim strikes.

Every year I find I need to take a solo vacation and it has recently been golf to some terrific place, like Palm Springs, Marco Island, Hilton Head, etc. I find a bargain airfare, stay in some pretty modest hotel and eat and drink at small local places and play at some pretty nice tracks.

This year it is back to the bike and some mountain riding in Beautiful BC!!!

 

[escapefjrtist]

Make it a bottle of NorthStar or Spring Valley Vineyards and I might enter the foray. No personal interest (of course) in these two fine Walla Walla wines. k:

--G

 

[bikerskier]

I was thinking about a nice Waterbrook 05 Chardonnay or maybe a Whitman Cellar 03 Merlot, but I could be swayed. There are dozens and dozens of incredible wines from the area.

Tell me about your "lack of personal interest"!

 

[escapefjrtist]

These two wines are part of a fine portfolio that my employer has managed to assemble. And...most importantly they pay the bills and provide for my two-wheeled entertainment. NorthStar produces excellent Merlot blends that are consistently highly ranked by the various industry publications. Spring Valley is a small (by our standards) boutique winery with highly rated red blends. Try'um, you'll like'em!

--G

 

[dcarver]

Hell, I think I'll just follow you then .5 minutes befoe the end of ride post up with the mileage..

George, er, Frank... err, whatever your name is (I really do know it now ) have a GREAT ride and be safe.

I'll calculate a mileage number mananna..

 

[bikerskier]

Thanks, Don. I will be sure to change up the route after you make your first guess and second, and..

Hey, escape, I want some samples. I will trade some Waterbrook and Whitman for your very finest!

 

[Big Sky]

Hope the weather holds for you. I have traveled all these roads and you are in for some extraordinary treats - like Pemberton to Lillouette. Try to ride from Vernon through Coldstream and Lumby to Needles Ferry below Nakusp - this is absolutely spectacular. I was just on this Sunday, Sept. 2. And Nekusp to New Denver, then to Kalsow is "to-die-for." New Denver to Kaslow has just been rebuilt and is a 9.99 out of 10. Cross Kootenai Lake at Galena Bay (just above Nelson) to Crawford Bay on the ferry, then down to Creston. That 50 miles is rated No. 1 in BC.

Enjoy and be safe!

 

[bikerskier]

I'm hoping for great weather as well. Over the past 30 years I have traveled most of these roads either by car (skiing) or bike and always vowed to do it again. I agree with the New Denver to Kaslo section, it is one of my all time favorites. We spent almost a week in the Nelson area the Sept before last and truly love the South Kootenay area. I have not been on the Crawford Bay to Creston section for years, and am really looking forward to that ride. Starting to get really excited about this trip. Love to hear about any great places to eat on the route.

 

[Pjturbo]

2339 miles.

 

[weekend rider]

[SIZE=10pt][/size][/SIZE][SIZE=14pt][/SIZE]I will guess the mileage at or around 3250 miles

and drink what I cold afford in high school and that choice would be none other than

Strawberry hill

 

[NWFJR]

Not to thread jack, but the Sea to Die Highway between Vancouver and Whistler is in REALLY bad shape right now. Tons of construction delays and if that's not bad enough, they've been blasting away at the hillside, tossing huge boulders on the existing road and leaving monster craters. Just an FYI

 

[Silent]

3790.8

At least thats what mine said after the Calgary run

 

[bikerskier]

NWFJR

Thanks for the update! I've heard it is really ugly but since I am trying to avoid large urban areas and do have friends who live in Whistler (on the Nicklaus North course, for God's sake) I am going to try to catch lunch with them. I will take the first ferry from Nanaimo to Horsehoe Bay, which should give me an early start at least. And the ride from Pemberton heading East is fantastic!

 

[bikerskier]

Update from the finish line. Mileage is 2783, so PJTurbo wins a bottle of wine with his guess of 2339, Yeah, he was 444 miles out but still the closest, go figure! I will PM and get his address. Route map follows:

Will post several more pics on ride reports later.

 

[SockMonkey]

Really looking forward to seeing the pictures! That must have been an outstanding ride!! :dribble:

 

[dcarver]

Looks like you had a great ride! Where are the promised pix?

 

[bikerskier]

Hopefully later today. Trying to get an out of state couple to make an offer on a house!

 

[Kasey]

You're talking about riding through my favorite and often-travelled B.C. areas.

I should check in here more often. I live an hour from Pincher Creek so could have treated you to lunch.

Looking forward to the pics.

Kasey

(I think the Kootenays would be the perfect location for a Can. WFO.)

 

[bikerskier]

Pics soon, maybe today.

DOUBLE GUNNY on the Kootenays! I would bring several riders!!!