Last night forecast announced a glorious weather for today in Tofino. I have already postpone one ride there this year. So I am determine to make it this time.
I knew it was a gamble ride, when I left home this morning. Snow was everywhere on the side of the road. The upper level highway was just clear of the white stuff, but I could tell that all the side streets were ugly.
I made it just in time to the Ferry and ended up parked on the lower deck. It did not look familiar this morning on board. Indeed I realize that I was on one of those new German build ferries. Pretty cool size. But confusing layout, and I am sad to loose the front and rear viewing platforms.
As we sped across the georgia straight I could see some clouds ahead. But at the arrival in Nanaimo, all was good it seemed. Dry roads blue sky, and not too cold. The gamble paid off I thought.
15 minutes later, I was in a snow storm mix with hail, and rain, and a crazy wind. Well I have never turned around so fast on a bike before. Boy did I took a beating. My gamble failed miserably. So I headed South towards Victoria. I took the time to stop and ride the twisty roads to and from Chemainus. Then I decided to try another gamble. This time for Port Renfrew.
Almost 7 years since I have been up that road. I remember that it was our first destination on the Island after landing in Canada. I remembered a forest road and not much else.
Indeed the Port Renfrew road in a car is dreadful, and boring. But on a bike, it was another story today. Lots, lots of fun. Except for the last quarter which was still covered in sand and dirt.
I then had to gun it to make the 1730 ferry in Schwartz bay. But not before being rain on by a really heavy shower on the Victoria ring road.
Next time however, I will be on dual sport tires and I will definitively do that Cowichan lake loop. Especially after meeting a 7 bikes strong group in Port Renfrew. Who had just completed the dirt section.
