• Leaders: Dave Charles (250-655-9262; biketrekker@hotmail.com ) and John Pringle (250-655-9289; knitsui@telus.net ).
• Tour Dates: H&S August 26^th (Wednesday) to August 30^th (Sunday); Tour August 30^th to September 4^th (Friday).
• Fees: H&S $30.00/participant; Tour $575.00/participant.
• Numbers: H&S 25; Tour 16.
• Registration Opening Date: March 21^st 2015 @ 1700h (5:00 PM PDST); register on line at http://tinyurl.com/m9dw6g . All participants will register for the H&S. Those wanting to be considered for the Tour, merely mention this desire in the “Note” box on the registration form. (Call a tour leader to clarify or answer any queries.)
• Ratings: H&S – “Leisure” and “Intermediate”; Tour – “Intermediate” to “Advanced”.

Descriptions: Both Duncan and the Cowichan Valley are fast becoming cycling centers, with both the Cowichan Valley Regional District and Cycle Cowichan developing and promoting cycling routes and trails.  In part, this is due to the beautiful views and vistas presented throughout the Valley. The Cowichan River, running into northwestern Saanich Inlet at historic Cowichan Bay, provides a corridor to access impressive Cowichan Lake and its environs. The Cowichan Valley is the home of an ever increasing number of vineyards and wineries some of which will be visited.

2011 saw a successful H&S take place in the Valley, thus the first three riding days will take advantage of the cycling routes, excellent restaurants and cultural activities developed for this event. A variety of rides of varying distances (50 km to >90 km), and degrees of challenge will be offered. Please note: that each day there will be a leisurely/intermediate ride offered. Most routes offer optional shortcuts back to Duncan.  Detailed route maps will be available.

The final six days will be a tour for a maximum 16 riders (accommodation limitations dictate the number) cycling a loop from Duncan that includes Port Renfrew, Sooke, Victoria, Sidney and back to Duncan, quite possibly via Saltspring Island. This loop, only recently paved, is now accessible to road cyclists: We can now ride through the culturally interesting Cowichan Valley to the wildly beautiful west coast and the village of Port Renfrew: The southern terminus of the iconic West Coast Trail within stunning Pacific Rim National Park. In addition, Port Renfrew is the northern terminus of the 50 km long Juan de Fuca Marine Trail, totally within the Juan de Fuca Provincial Park. These major parks and trails were developed to allow British Columbians, and their guests, access to the open Pacific Ocean shores. This tour is designed to give Club members an introduction to, and a taste of, this coastal area. A day and two nights will be spent in Port Renfrew, allowing an exploration of the coast and, in particular, the naturally sandstone-paved near-shore of Botanical Beach Provincial Park. The University of Minnesota, in 1900, established a marine station here because of easy access, at low tide (hence our visit at ~0800h), to a diverse marine fauna and flora. One tour leader, a retired marine biologist, will guide your exploration of the large sandstone ledges and giant tide pools (you can have a cold swim with the urchins if you’re hardy. Bring mask & snorkel.).

Heading south the tour will stay at beautiful Sooke Harbour Resort and Marina and the next day we’ll cycle the Galloping Goose Trail to Victoria and then the Lochside Trail to Sidney. Here, there are three potential routes back to Duncan: The first two would have us cross Saanich Inlet and then either west to the Trans Canada Trail, and the recently restored Kinsol Trestle or, via pastorally pleasant country roads. The third option would be via Saltspring Island, the largest of the Gulf Islands.

Logistics & Riding Conditions: Duncan is ~50 km north of Victoria on “The Rotary Route Bicycle Tour” (www.rotary.org ). For our event, all roads are paved, but most are rural to near-wild (in particular the roads between Lake Cowichan, Port Renfrew and Sooke). The cycling trail surfaces (~15% of tour) are either paved, or with compacted sand-gravel. A minimum 28 mm tire is advised. The van will carry equipment, luggage and coolers with foodstuffs. As well, an unwell cyclist or one with a broken bicycle may ride the van. The Cowichan Valley can be hot in summer; by contrast, the West Coast is rain forest habitat and thus can be wet, though we’re travelling during the dry period.

Cost and Registration Procedure: For all participants, a $30.00 non-refundable registration fee will be paid on-line via Karelo (http://tinyurl.com/m9dw6g).  If you have someone you wish to share accommodation with, both of you should register on the same form and click “add person” at page bottom; you will require that person’s membership number.  Contact Bruce McLean (604-272-9359 or at cccts@shaw.ca) or one of the tour leaders if you require assistance.  The $30.00 registration fee will cover the costs of maps, administrative costs, happy hour snacks and possibly a group supper or breakfast for the H&S. Participants will be responsible for their respective accommodation (see below) and meal costs (breakfast inclusive at Motel). 

For those wishing to ride the tour, please explain this in the registration form’s “Note” box (found lower on the form). Selection for the Tour will be first-come-first-served. You will then be contacted ~48 hours after registration to discuss the characteristics of the ride and available accommodations based on double-room occupancy. If you are yet interested, you will pay the tour fee via http://tinyurl.com/m9dw6g within 48 hours.

The tour leaders are not claiming the tour fee, but some (~$200.00 in toto) reconnaissance costs will be requested.

Accommodations:

• H & S. Super 8 Hotel (1-877-312-8899 or motel@super8duncan.com ) personnel have reserved, until August 15^th 2015, a block of 12 rooms for CCCTS members at a cost of $92.50/room/night/double occupancy.  Bicycles will either be kept in one’s motel room or in a secure storage room. 

One “rustic” campground is available in Duncan on the Cowichan River, the Duncan RV Park & Campground (250-748-8511; duncanrvpark@shaw.ca). This campground was given good reviews by CCCTS members in 2011, but online reviews not so good.

H&S fees include maps, happy hour snacks, and possibly a group supper or breakfast.

Tour fees includes van support (including driver), all lodging, ferry fees, some meals [Three breakfasts (motel/lodge provided on August 30^th to Sept.1^st), three lunches and 2 suppers/cyclist (these lunches and suppers will be self-prepared using our foodstuff and the Lodge’s kitchen)] happy hour and cycling snacks, juices and coffee. Meals beyond noon, September 1^st, are not included in the Tour fee.

Itinerary:

• H&S:
  • August 26^th (Wednesday), arrive in Duncan. H&S/Tour meeting and reception in the Motel 8 reception area @ ~1700h;
  • August 27^th, guided rides;
  • August 28^th, guided rides;
  • August 29^th, guided rides, and possibly a group supper;
  • August 30^th. Breakfast; H&S ends & Tour begins.
• Tour:
  • August 30^th (Sunday). Touring cyclists depart Duncan <0900h for Port Renfrew and the Big Fish Lodge. Overnight here (~91 km);
  • August 31^st. Depart (with bag lunch) on bike (0700h) and then on foot to Botanical Beach for low tide (0.7 m) at ~0820h and a guided exploration of the natural history of the extensive intertidal/near sub-tidal areas. Possible exploration of the northwest end of Pacific Rim National Park and the last few km of Juan de Fuca Trail or elsewhere. Return to Big Fish Lodge (~15 km on bike & ~10 km foot);
  • September 1^st. Cycle, with bag lunch, to Sooke and the Sooke Habour House & Marina (~71 km). Restaurant supper;
  • September 2^nd. Galloping Goose/Lochside trails (lunch at Royal Roads Café) to North Saanich & the Cedarwood Motel (~64 km);
  • September 3^rd. Brentwood Bay ferry to Mill Bay and return to Motel 8 in Duncan either via Kinsol Trestle/TCT (~54 km) or Telegraph Rd (47 km). The other route to Duncan could be via Saltspring Island and two ferries (~57 km); and,
  • September 4^th (Friday). Group breakfast and Tour’s end.