Vancouver Island Day Trips

Hi all from Vancouver Island BC! I was born here, left for 6 1/2 years, came back, and I can't think of any place I'd rather be! There is so much to see and do in this world, but this is home to me, and I thought I'd share some of it with you.

I've been on 2 wheels my whole life, but only with a motor since spring 2011. My background was Observed Bicycle Trials and Freeride/ Downhill, and was how I commuted for 10 years, rain shine or snow. I even made studded tires when I lived in Prince George! This is my first motorcycle, a 2004 Suzuki DRZ400S. I have yet to own a car. Getting a motorcycle allowed me to re-discover my home in a way not possible by bicycle or 4 wheled machine, and I finally got to see what was on the other side of hills of the Cowichan Valley, Sooke and beyond.

I've been adding to this thread everytime I find something interesting to ride or see on the Island since fall of 2011. I used to update it quite regularily, but living in Victoria on the very south end of the Island, I don't want to bore you with the exact same places everytime I go out! Expect to see more postings in the warmer months when I can get out more. A lot of the backroads get cut off by snow, even though we have the mildest winter in Canada.

My new TKC80's finally arrived! I picked them up on Saturday, and headed over to my buddy's Chris's place to mount them. We got the bike up on the "stand" ( a milk crate and cinder block! ) and prepared to remove the rear wheel. I wanted to check the state of the swing arm bushings, so I grabbed the rear wheel and shook it, and noticed some clunking......Oh bloody hell, a wheel bearing died! That explains the slight loss of power I was feeling!
I checked on it about 2 1/2 months ago, and it was a little bit rough on the non-drive side, but was nowhere near the point of disaster. I always seem to find these things out just before disaster strikes!



I got my buddy to phone the local shop, and they had one in stock! He went to pick it up for me, while I pounded on the outer race for a while. It took a good 1 1/2 hrs to push it out with the limited tools we had, but we got 'er done!


I have a feeling this new rubber is going to be sweet!

Off to Jordan River at 9:00 AM, It is a beautiful, sunny morning, but it is a damp 7 celcius out. Its time to start thinking about some heated gear! I hope the DRZ can handle a vest, and grips, they're on the wish list!
The plan is to meet up with Chris's friend Orillia on her Honda 200, and her friend Erin on a Kawasaki 750 Quad near Jordan River. We are then going to go up to Wye Lake for a short hike and lunch. This was a perfect opportunity to test my new tires and boots both on the road and off! I'm a little heavy on the rear brake with the new boots!

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We climbed and climbed for 20 minutes, to about 900 meters. There were a few spots where you had to keep your momentum up to make it, but despite its steepness, the road was in quite good shape. There is one spot where half of a log bridge is missing, which ends up being a good thing for ADV'ers and hikers! keeps all 4 wheeled traffic but quads out!
Now for a short hike! always a challenge in new MX boots!

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And the first Ice and Frost of the season! Of course, we are at altitude!

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Nice & slick!

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And we're there!

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It's a gorgeous spot!

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It may be fall, but the bush has an abundance of food if you know what to look for! There were still wild blueberries, huckleberries, and Chanterelle Mushrooms about!
Erin is a landscaper, and is quite the amateur Botanist. He explains that the mushroom in his hand is playing the part of a host for another fungus that grows on top of them.

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Excellent local fare, smoked over a fire!

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Some nice suspended architecture

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Erin knew an old timer who used to bring kids out here to teach them how to climb trees properly with nothing more than rope and spurs! The place looks like it may have been a hunter's camp at one point.

The lake is looking beautiful!

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Time to go for a paddle! ( The Canoe Report )

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And time to test out Chris's GoPro for underwater filming!

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The lake has many narrow branches. It's a bit surreal in a way having never really paddled before, and it looks like you can really get lost! Beautiful sub-alpine scenery!

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A quick stop on land

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Well, that was a fun excursion, and what could be better on a day like this?

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Well, its almost time to head back, the days are getting shorter!

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A few more fun trails before going home.

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There was time to visit a Wild Cranberry bog on the way out! these things are great! I love finding out about new bush food!

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Well, that was a fun day trip! There will have to be a few more squeezed in before the hills fill with snow! Thanks for a fun day out guys!

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awesome!! you guys are combining 2 of my favorite things. Bushcraft and motorcycles

Thanks for sharing

I had a chance to ride your beautiful Island back in July. Endless trails and logging roads; we wished we could have spent another week there.

RR in signature line.

went out for a ride today, weather looked promising, and then the skies opened! I haven't seen that much water on the road for a while. I was going to go fish the cowichan river, but having been pelted with rain, I aborted in favor of either Oliphant or Spectacle Lake. I pulled off onto the south Shawnigan turnoff, to try and find the back way in.

Aah, I knew I should've brought the Can Saw! Sometime ill take a photo, or better a video of it in action sometime!

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It was a bit of torture going under it, being uphill, but I still got thru!

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The rain stopped, but its too late,my pants are soaked through! good to know they need waterproofing again before i go on a longer trip. So far my jacket is still holding out. I'm Loving the new TKC 80 Continental tyres! No trouble finding traction so far! a bit more float in the loose stuff, but still quite predictable. Theyre beautiful on pavement too! Much more assuring in the wet than my true knobbies!



Where is that lake???



I couldn't remember the way to the lakes! it's a maze of trails in here, I still had lots of fun here! i've been here a couple of times before, and i'm still trying to find my way around. Its about the best close-to-victoria site around for dirt!





It was a good fun day in the wet, I'm not cold yet, but i'm wet, so I'm going home before I end up with hypothermia! I'm gonna have to figure out how to manage this water business a bit better! Oh well, it was Good fun!

I like to get out of Victoria at least once a week for a ride, and sometimes for some fishing. Here are some shots from about 2 weeks ago.

These shots are near Cowichan Bay, one of my favorite routes on the way to Duncan. There is some really unique scenery here! Next time i'm there, I'll try to remember to photograph the estuary.







Who can resist a boggy field?

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Nice shots. Looks like fun!

Yep, BC = Beautiful Country.

Thanks for sharing, Mark H.

I was merciful, and let this one go, regretting it later! Oh well, he gave me a good fight, and it was good fun.



This is definitely home! I haven't seen an air crane in years!



Why use roads if you don't have to? This is what I love about the lake!

This trail is beside my old derelict elementary school. I feel bad for any kid going to school in LC. 2 out of the 4 schools there are abandoned now. If they are elementary students, they have to go to Youbou now, and grades 5 thru 7 are crammed in with the high school kids!:huh



Stanley Gordon Intermediate School. I went here, so did my Brother, and my Mother. Pretty sad to see our schools decaying like this!



Well, the days are short, so its time to go home along the old railway tracks. It's always good to see the home town!



I Decided to hit up the Glenora / Koksilah area before heading back to vic. I highly recommend a cruise through this neighborhood. It is beautiful anytime of year, not to mention how fun the twisty roads are!!

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Sorry, No photo's for this one, I more or less did the same trip anyway, but ended up stuck on the north end of Malahat due to another accident before the south Shawnigan Turnoff. I tried to go around through Shawnigan, but to no avail. It was dark now.

I spoke with a traffic director who said the road would be closed for another 4 or so hours, so I headed back a few clicks and up a dirt trail, and had a fire to keep warm. At least it wasn't raining! It was eerily silent without the sound of traffic. There was however the sound of shotguns......I listened to the radio on my mini ipod to see what was happening, and got going 3 hours later when traffic got moving in single lanes.

At about 10PM, I saw a flat deck pass by, with a written off PT cruiser on the back, and to my shock, a motorcycle:eek1 Naturally, my heart sank seeing this. Did someone cut him off? The accident happened at about 3:45, and it was dry conditions. The next day, I learned that the motorcyclist was killed at the scene, and the driver of the PT Cruiser apparently had a medical emergency of some kind, causing it to cross the center line. He did not have a chance. That was the 3rd motorcycle fatality on this stretch of road this year!!
There is a rally at the BC Legislature next Saturday for road safety, and a calling for concrete barriers to be installed for the entire length of the Malahat. With an average of 55 accidents on this road per year, it is the only sensible thing to do. Be careful out there, people!

Thanks for commenting! It really helps inspire me to keep reporting!