Sunday 17 June
#legsareDONE
And so are bums, wrists, hands … another day of Allsorts – 73km of them which took a whole 7 hours! Longer than expected thanks to poor signs and a few missed turns.
Fairly easy early rolling hills from Chemainus to Ladysmith for breakfast at the lovely Oysterbay Cafe on the docks surrounded by noisy purple martins which are making a comeback thanks to a breeding program here.
A fellow customer regaled us with stories of being an Arctic pilot (apparently he flew the Queen). Then on to some big climbs, up well kept logging roads, deep gravel traps and the Nanaimo River Regional trail – definitely not for bikes and only for intrepid hikers. We had great fun testing our downhill single track skills, not so much fun on the uphill bike pushing, and some real bundu bashing where there was no trail at all.
Eventually on to Nanaimo to catch a ride back to the car and on to the ferry home. We are sunburnt, sore, bruised from countless encounters with our spiked pedals, and bleeding from bushwhacking. Home tonight after a total 233 km and looking forward to Leg 2 inland from Vancouver later this summer.
Thought for the day: if fortune favours the brave we are certainly due a windfall.
Distance today: 70km
Total distance: 233km
#thegreattrail #transcanadatrail
Trans Canada Epic 