Planning a 2-3 day trip to Vancouver Island- Suggestions and recommendations?

[Lone-ZG-Rider]

I am jonesing for a road trip but am on limited time and limited budget. Want to stay close to home (Seattle WA area) and hit someplace I haven't gone before so that pretty much narrows it down to Vancouver Island.

Preferred schedule is two days, might be able to stretch to a third. The only requirment is arriving in Sydney via the Anacortes ferry about 11am on day one and returning to Sydney about 4pm on the last day for the return ferry. Looking at the map, I am thinking Sydney through Victoria to Port Renfrew, then up past Lake Cowichan and into Port Alberni or maybe even Tofino on day one. Google map says that would be about 500km and estimates 10 hours drive time (seems a little high, are the back roads that slow going?...). Day two, Tofino or Port Alberni back to Sidney via Hwy 1, or if I do a third day, Tofino/Port Alberni up to Campbell River and maybe Gold River to Courtenay and from Courtenay to Sidney on day three.

Any thoughts or suggestions? I will be looking for budget ($50-$60/night) accomodations as well as scenic side trips, etc. Any "Must see" roads I should make sure to hit? I have been on the island before (years ago) and remember it to be a beautiful place, never been on the motorcycle though and would love to close out what is passing for a summer this year with a nice ride.

One last note, as to weather - is it fairly predictable to be "good" (certainly a relative term in the NW) through mid-September?

Any and all help, ideas, suggestions, and recommendations would be appreciated.

[jrw600]

I live in Victoria so maybe qualified to answer your questions. The ride to Port Renfrew and up to Tofino would be possible, but a bit rushed. The roads aren't great, infact last time I did the ride to Renfrew I hit a pothole so big I thought I might have dented my front wheel. Make sure you gas up in Sooke, cause that is it until Lake Cowichan. The ride from Renfrew to Cowichan is a paved logging road, a bit rugged and narrow. It was clean and free of gravel last  I was there. If you go further up island try the Oceanside route, one way at least. The inland highway is  basically a freeway, straight and boring. Unfortunatley the Oceanside route has a lot of tourist traffic. If you intend to make Tofino on the first day starting at 11 am you will not have time for any side roads, in fact you will be riding in the dark at the end of the day. You will not find accomodations in Tofino for $60, unless you camp. You might want to consider stopping in Parksville for the first night (another tourist mecca) and then continuing to Tofino or maybe Gold River and back to Sidney the next day, another long day. The weather here in mid September is usually pretty good, and less tourists on the road. If I think of other ideas I will repost.

[Mesachie]

Lone-ZG-Rider ,

When are you planning to visit? Weather is typically better in the south island then it is in the northern
half but unless you're planning to ride north of Campbell River (scenic but not a challenging ride) most
of the favorite sections are southern (Pacific Marine loop, Long beach, Mount Washington, Gold River).
Those would fit into 2 days.

Feel free to PM me as I may be able to offer you a place to stay depending on your schedule.

[schmii]

I took a similar trip on the roads mentioned earlier this year: http://www.bcsportbikes.com/forum/showthread.php?133758-Island-Assault-The-Search-for-Sun

It looks like you have the major attractions in order:

Victoria - Renfrew is not in good condition
Renfew - Cowichan is narrow but fairly predictable as long as nothing hops out of the bushes or large suprises

In-land highway along the water is bushes nearby and strolls through some small congested towns
Port Alberni crosses over a mountain and weather probably changes, the road to tofino/uclulet can have trucks that use both lanes as rock cliffs overhang the road requiring them to move out.  Bear, deer and very technical roads.

mount washington was fairly short and reasonable
Gold river was a predictable entertaining road but that's a ways up for 2-3 days.

[barb]

We haz a big Island here to cover it all in 2-3 days.

With that time frame, as someone else mentioned, probably best to stay on south Island roads.

Besides, that keeps ours less cluttered

 

[Huron52]

We haz a big Island here to cover it all in 2-3 days.

With that time frame, as someone else mentioned, probably best to stay on south Island roads.

Besides, that keeps ours less cluttered

 

Yes I got to agree ... been to the Island twice and still need to come back for more.

[WhiteyJr]

We rode the Pacific Rim Highway out to Tofino in 2009. It was awesome. Lots of traffic though. Still a great ride for a prairie boy. The edges of my tires never got such a workout.  

-Whitey Jr