Pender Island is southwest of Vancouver – or  northeast of Victoria – between the mainland and Vancouver Island. It can be reached by a ferry from Tsawwassen terminal on the mainland or Swartz Bay terminal by Victoria on Vancouver Island. The Gulf Islands have full services- grocery stores, restaurants, cafes, pubs, and a variety of accommodation. Roads can be narrow and twisting with rolling to steep hills, no road shoulders, patches of rough pavement, but generally minimal traffic. 

Rider Leader, Diane Swindell is a resident of North Pender Island who knows well the Gulf Islands cycling routes, the people and culture.

The Hub and Spoke will be based on Pender Island with off island ferry trips  to two of the adjacent Gulf Islands- Mayne and Galiano- these two islands have compatible ferry schedules getting off Pender early am, lots of time to explore and then return each day to Pender via ferry late pm/ early evening.  Link to Pender Island Chamber of Commerce’s Visitor Guide & Map.  

A meet and greet will be held Monday evening August 31, 2020 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Pender Island Community Hall Lounge located at 4418 Bedwell Harbour Road to sign CCCTS waiver form, receive road maps for each Island’s Tour, meet ride leaders and fellow cyclists. A Group Meeting will be held at 5 p.m. at the above Community Hall location to discuss Hub and Spoke details. 

See Itinerary section below for Ride details.

North Pender Island Accommodation Options:
Please make your own reservations. Book early! See notes on timing of booking below.

Note: This ride occurs the week before the Labour Day weekend. 

Options include tent sites, RV sites, motel rooms, AIRBNB and Vacation Rental By Owner (VRBO). All the options are centrally located on North Pender Island, close to the Driftwood Center,  (grocery store, liquor store, fuel, bakery, cafe, pharmacy), the local pub with kitchen and 6-8 km from the Otter Bay ferry terminal. 

Parks Canada – Gulf Islands National Park Reserve Camping: Two Options on North Pender Island

2020 Reservations Note: Parks Canada campsite reservations will start in January 2020. Check the Parks Canada website pc.gc.ca in late November/ early December for January 2020 website launch date for campsite reservations for 2020. There is a reservation fee per site: $11 online or $13 by phone. 

#1: Prior Centennial Campground: << see details part way down linked web page 
A “front country” drive in campground with 17 tenting sites, pit toilets and potable water; in the woods with no water view; road accessible. Two tents can fit in most of the sites,  max. 6 people per site; 1 or 2 double sites ; $17.60/night per tent. 15 minute walk to Driftwood Centre with full services.  20 minute walk (1.7K drive) to pay hot showers Port Browning Harbour Marina. Reservations are recommended and can be made at reservation.parkscanada.gc.ca or 1-877-737-3783.

#2: Shingle Bay Campground:  << see details part way down linked web page 
A “back country” campground with walk-in sites with a gorgeous setting on the water. Parking area for vehicles up top then walk 10 minutes, 0.24 km down a steep rough trail to campsites – pit toilets, no potable water. You must pack your own water to campsite. Pay hot showers at Port Browning Harbour Marina, a 6.4K drive across the island. Book your campsite online at reservation.parkscanada.gc.ca or 1-877-737-3783.

Port Browning Marina Camping << see details on linked web page
Open field with tent and non powered RV sites- pay for hot showers, coin operated laundromat, restaurant and pub on site; $40/site with max. two tents /site. $250 security/noise deposit required per site. 20 minute walk to Prior Centennial Park. Reservations: (250).629.3493. Trip Leader, Diane Swindell does NOT recommend this campground – possible Pub noise!

Woods on  Pender  << see details on linked web page
8 motel rooms ($110 – $150/nt) , 3 “rustic” cabins ($250/nt), 8 retro “glamping” Airstream trailers ($275/nt),  1 Shasta Airflyte trailer ($120/nt) ; restaurant and food truck on site. Located next to Parks Canada’s Prior Centennial campground, in the trees. As of late October 2019 all of Woods on Pender’s motel rooms, cabins and trailers are available for the week of Aug. 31 – Sept. 4, 2020.  Suggest booking early: in November – December 2019. Very popular location – books up quickly. Reservations: Book online or 1.800.550.0172 or  info@woodsonpender.com

AIRBNB and Vacation Rentals by Owners (VRBO)  – Google search – many options 

Diane’s lodging recommendation: “Very nice”
Morning Moon Oceanfront Suites << see details on linked web page
Two oceanfront self-contained suites.  $125 – $150/night.
These are Sept. off season rates. Please check if they apply pre-Labour Day.
1.3K to Pender Island Community Hall.  
morningmoon.penderisland@gmail.com 778-989-7473

Roads can be narrow and twisting. Lots of  rolling to steep hills (many greater than 8% grade), no road shoulders, patches of rough pavement, but generally minimal traffic. Two ride groups will form each day – each with a ride leader and a sweep. 
Consider bringing your bike lock, though Curtis at Woods on Pender says,  “We have very little theft on Pender.”

Route maps, Monday pm happy hour snacks and drinks at Pender Island Community Hall. 
Wednesday evening, Sept. 2 Pizza & fresh salads Supper Celebration at Pender Island Community Hall to be confirmed.
Hall rental for these two group gatherings. The community hall has a lounge area with basic kitchen, bathroom facilities, indoor area sitting space, outdoor covered area or open outdoor area. 

Accommodations, Meals, BC Ferry fees.

BC Ferries Fares note: foot passengers/cyclists 65+ years travel for free Monday through Thursday.  The bicycle fee is $2 unless person has Experience Card.

Monday evening August 31 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
A meet and greet will be held for all registered cyclists at the Pender Island Community Hall Lounge located at 4418 Bedwell Harbour Road to sign the CCCTS waiver form, to receive road maps for each Island’s Tour and to meet ride leaders and fellow cyclists. A Group Meeting will be held at 5 p.m. at this Community Hall location to discuss Hub and Spoke details. 

Ride Day 1, Tuesday, Sept. 1: Galiano Island Tour
Meet at Otter Bay ferry terminal at 6:40 am to catch ferry for 7 am to Galiano-  If you drive there, park alongside road prior to terminal or in upper parking lot by terminal – free parking- (ferry  times may change depending on next year’s ferry schedule)- approximately 1 hr ferry ride- not sure of riding distances but approximately same as Pender-  return on 6 pm ferry to Pender (again, ferry times based on 2019 schedule- will likely be different but not by much based on previous years)

Ride Day 2, Wednesday, Sept. 2: Pender Island Tour 
Meet at Pender Island Community Hall at 9 am. Lots of parking if you drive there- riding around Pender- there are 2  islands- north and south- joined by a one lane bailey bridge- distances will be 30k to 50k depending on the routes taken.

Wednesday evening, Sept. 2 Cyclists Pizza Supper Celebration: Pender Island Pizza and fresh salads. We have access to real dishes and cutlery at the community hall. As much as possible we want to make this a zero waste event. Participants to bring their own beverages. 

Ride Day 3, Thursday, Sept. 3: Mayne Island Tour
Meet at Otter Bay ferry terminal again at 6:40 to catch 7 am ferry to Mayne Island- 30 minute ferry ride- riding route to be determined but distances 30-50k.
Cyclists can choose to stay another night or, based on ferry connections, depart following the ride.

Registration will be on the CCCTS website on the date shown. A computerized lottery system and wait list will be utilized in the event that the ride is over-subscribed. A $25 payment is required at the time of registration. The lottery signup will run for 8 days, after which time the leaders will review the results.

The selection process will consider the following criteria in evaluating candidates:

• fitness and riding ability and experience required for the tour,
• a history of demonstrating safe riding practices,
• acceptable social behavior.

The leader may interview riders or others who know them to verify their suitability for the tour.

Registration Fee payments are considered non-refundable in the event of cancellation. Wait listed cyclists who don't make it to the Ride's "Go List" are eligible for refund of their registration fee unless they request removal from the wait list.