Vancouver Island, BC - July 16-18, 2010

[Netnorske]

UPDATED ITINERARY

This is the official plan:

If you are…or even think you might make the ride, please make reservations at the motels listed below ASAP. You can always cancel later, but will have a very difficult time booking a room down the road as they get booked very early in the year according to both hotel employees I spoke with. If you prefer to camp out....that's cool too!

Friday July 16-

Official Meeting Point- Tsawwassen BC Ferry Terminal about 9:15 for a 10:15 am sailing to Nanaimo. Just buy your ticket and move to the MC holding spot and gather there.

Once across, ride the Island Highway (old one) right up the coast from Nanaimo to Campbell River, then across the island to Gold River. Although the run to Campbell River is fairly well developed on the old highway, that route is the most scenic and will provide places for fuel, food and drinks, etc. From Campbell River to Gold River the scenery is awesome and is all wilderness!

Lodge in Gold River, BC at the Ridgeview Inn - http://www.ridgeview-inn.com/

Ridgeview Inn 1-250-283-2277
The rates for July and August are 89.00 for single queen, 94.00 for two queens and 99.00 for the kitchenettes...+tax. It includes breakfast in the morning in the hospitality room. They have smoking rooms if any of you smoke. There is another motorcycle group already booked in for the same night (that could be fun)! Let them know you are with a motorcycle group for the discounted rate.

Saturday July 17-
Saturday ride from Gold River to Tofino via the new Inland Island Hwy and Pacific Rim Hwy.

Lodge in Tofino, BC at the Tofino Motel - http://www.tofinomotel.com/rooms.html

Tofino Motel 1-250-725-2055
The rate here is 185.00 (CDN) + tax. No group rates available for one night stays. They only have 13 rooms, all with a balcony and view, so get one while you can! This is a very quaint place to stay right in downtown Tofino with great reviews and walking distance to food, bars and shops! Like I said before, Tofino in the summer is spendy no matter the hotel. The gal said they get 4 or 5 motorcycle groups each summer, the last one being pretty large! All of the rooms here have two queen beds.

Sunday July 18-
Ride from Tofino back to Nanaimo and a return ferry crossing to the mainland...either a 12:15 or 3:15 sailing.

Please drop me a note at your earliest convenience and indicate one way or the other (if you can) whether you plan to add this trip to your summer schedule. I know it’s not possible for everyone to be as flexible as I am regarding travel plans and work related absences, but it certainly helps to know ahead of time what you want to do.

IMPORTANT:
A valid Passport or Enhanced Drivers License is required for all US/Canada border crossings!

The BC Ferry from Tsawwassen to Nanaimo is a 2-hour crossing and is about $22.50 CDN per bike...$40 with a passenger. Bikes are first on/first off the BC Ferries same as in Washington.


Youtube vids...

Campbell River to Gold River


Pacific Rim Hwy 4 to Tofino


Strathcona Provincial Park along Buttle Lake


I hope to see as many Nomads as possible, but this does not have to be a KawaNOW specific event. Please do however give our members time to book rooms before asking other friends to join us!

Cheers....Kris