2007 Vancouver Island Ride Thread

[00buck]

Finally a sunny weekend is forecast after the worst coastal winter in memory! Planning an early season road ride out toward Jordan River or Port Renfrew on Sunday the 28th. We will be on big dualsport bikes and street bikes. Anyone is welcome for this mostly paved ride. A few might venture off onto a gravel road for part of the ride.

Starbucks on Millstream by Costco at 9am. Depart at 930.

Mike
Victoria
DR650

[SubMann]

me too.

oh yeah I like the new board!

[00buck]

Bring your Backroad Mapbook, Keith.  Mine is still packed away somewhere...:50:  

[waverider]

Hey, count me in next time.  

Though, wasn't it a bit icy this morning?  0 degrees out where I am (Brentwood Bay) at 10:00 this morning..

[Solusar]

Hope to make it out next time myself.   
Been hoping to get a newer front tire before adventuring out on any long(ish) distance rides. Out here by the Victoria airport, my car, while sitting in shade, was still white with frost at 10-11 am.

[00buck]

Forgot it's still winter.. the sun gets us all excited to ride! Road conditions were typically evil for a cold January day. Black ice, salt and wet sand all the way to Renfrew. Really had to watch the shady spots for ice, putting her sideways a few times. After lunch at the 'new' Port Renfrew Hotel, two street bikes went back and four of us continued the loop to Cowichan Lake on the gravel. More frost and many miles of slimy muck. Coffee in Duncan and back to Victoria for a total of 240 km. No crashes, no bears, just a blown fork seal I found after cleaning an inch of mud off the DR.
  Mike

[00buck]

Jordan River in the sun.  

[00buck]

Bump  

Now that good riding weather has arrived let's get out for a group meet and ride sometime soon. Anyone around on Monday or are you all away touring for the long weekend? Also on Thursday evenings a similar minded group meets at Starbucks Broadmead.  

[Rigger]

Is that anywhere near Comox?  Or are you talking about just the lower island area???

[chomy]

Rigger, thats down south, Victoria way and in one more week I can go ride too   , quick some one plan a Jordan River ride for lunch.

[Bri1litre]

Any D/S rides planned for South Island this first weekend in June?  

[waverider]

I'm interested...although away this weekend..  

[bubba zanetti]

Bump ... I know you guys are out there.  

[rocketdoc]

Hey Bubba, yeh we are still here, I think  , the riding after work the last few nights has been perfect.  Stopped in tonight at the Sidecar Cafe on the Pat Bay Hwy for a bite.  Great place, heavy into Vintage Brit bikes, Triumph side cases all over the walls, four beauties in the restraunt for viewing and lots of bike only parking.  Kevin the owner is a very personable guy, should do well.
Haven't seen any of the regular guys, I think they are all dualsporting these days.

[ToadRide]

Tried the Sidecar, Doc. Little dissapointed. No burgs, no fries, no shakes. Too much health food. They've had a lot of requests for Burgs and fries, tho. Maybe, someday soon. As for the regulars. They are all hangin out at the Broadmead Starbucks. Thurs. nights.

[Solusar]

I could use a coffee. Around what time on thursday nights do you guys stop in at Broadmead? As long as its not chucking down rain, I'll try to take a ride out there this evening.

[ToadRide]

8ish

[00buck]

Hey Bubba, yeh we are still here, I think  , <<<>>>Haven't seen any of the regular guys, I think they are all dualsporting these days.

That's true John. This is where we are off to this weekend. http://www.dualsportbc.com/forums/forum47/3640.html

[rocketdoc]

Ride your bike to work Day and wouldn't you know it...pissin rain!!

[00buck]

Sooo...did you ride to work anyway? Not me, cause I'm not working.  

[Solusar]

I would've or even could've, but then I didn't have to work either. So....I didn't either. Figures it would rain though.

[00buck]

Does anyone want to ride into the hills to see a crashed WW2 bomber?
 
It's still there scattered on the top of Mt Bolduc near Lake Cowichan. The six airmen were all killed and are buried in a cave at the site. It is very humbling to view this.

A paved ride from Victoria to Honeymoon Bay then about 20 KM of gravel logging road with a steep grade near the top. Ok for V-Stroms, a GS, any dualsport or even mid size street bikes.

Come join us at Tim Hortons near Costco in Langford (Victoria) Sunday the 23rd at 0800.  

[bubba zanetti]

I have long heard about this crew and ride ... I only wish I could partake and pay my respects to those who gave their lives.

Do take photos and please ... please include my thoughts when you are near their remains.

Having flown a few hundred hours over the area myself, I can understand how a forced landing could go so easily wrong ... yikes.!

[ToadRide]

Damn. Wish I had my Duelly now. Damn.

[00buck]

Doug, you could ride with us from Victoria to Honeymoon Bay on your B12. Or further if you don't mind getting the B12 a little dirty.  

Another pic of the on-site memorial. Hope you can read it.

It used to be difficult getting to the crash site....ride up as far as possible then hike up the last 1,000 ft.  

Now the logging rd goes right past it making it easy for anyone to get to. It's marked with a sign stating...

This is a war grave. Do not take anything from this site.... so guess whats happening.

[00buck]

I have long heard about this crew and ride ... I only wish I could partake and pay my respects to those who gave their lives.

Do take photos and please ... please include my thoughts when you are near their remains.

Having flown a few hundred hours over the area myself, I can understand how a forced landing could go so easily wrong ... yikes.!

Will do Bubba. They were flying too low in fog and clipped the trees at the top of the mountain..

Did you know the logging rd from Port Renfrew to Lake Cowichan has just been paved?  Makes a nice street bike circle trip of 300 km from Victoria. Lots of twisties on that stretch but watch out for bears.  

[bubba zanetti]

That was a Lockheed Ventura. A coastal patrol aircraft. Thanks I did some Google.

No, I did not know the road had been paved. Wow. My old stomping grounds as we used to fish Harris Creek for steelhead and Len's Creek for trout. I know the area very well.  Time to buy property in Port Renfrew !!

[00buck]

It's too late. Property in Port Renfrew has skyrocketed. A big developer bought half the area.
Even Jordan River is expanding with new subdivisions. Western Forest Products is selling the beautiful beach campground which really has people pissed off. Some developer might fill it with houses and condos. It should have been turned into a seaside park or provincial campground.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=bb395139-5c48-4ad0-a8c8-e104f179564e

We will ride back on Gordon Main through PR and JR today. Our old stomping grounds is changing fast due to high land values.  

[bora80]

It's too late. Property in Port Renfrew has skyrocketed. A big developer bought half the area.
Even Jordan River is expanding with new subdivisions. Western Forest Products is selling the beautiful beach campground which really has people pissed off. Some developer might fill it with houses and condos. It should have been turned into a seaside park or provincial campground.

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=bb395139-5c48-4ad0-a8c8-e104f179564e

We will ride back on Gordon Main through PR and JR today. Our old stomping grounds is changing fast due to high land values.  

Well that sucks, one of the last of the free camping is going to disappear  I can just see the resort that will go up.

[rocketdoc]

Anyone interested in a Remembrance Day Ride?  Victoria start to ?  Gold River? Campbell River?  Tofino?  Early start say 8-8:30 from Tim's at Future Shop...  Dually's welcome but I'm not taking the FJR into the mud!!

[ToadRide]

Too bad my B12's in hibernation, Doc. The Rdoc and Rjock could have gone for a spin.

[rocketdoc]

The day ride to Gold River is going on Nov 12, Monday!  Meeting at Timmie's at 8 am, coffee up and blast off.

[00buck]

Thats a long haul in November    See you there for a coffee RD.  It's been awhile!

[rocketdoc]

Hey Mike , don't remember the fog ride home we had two years ago?  Long day, but without the fog it would have been sweet.
you comin'?

[00buck]

I remember John, it was a good ride! I am planning to go all right.  I'll PM a few of the other guys too. Have you ridden the chip sealed route from Lake Cow to PR yet?

[00buck]

Too bad my B12's in hibernation, Doc. The Rdoc and Rjock could have gone for a spin.

You will have the new KLR by then Doug so bring it out. I'll be on the DR650 since the FZ1 is uninsured now.

[00buck]

Well the weather looks ugly for a street ride. I was out in the mud today...it was cold, wet and windy, good fun... but the trucks heater felt mighty good afterwards!