You're viewing the comments posted on the entries, photos, and maps for this journal. Want to add a comment of your own? Click anywhere you see the icon within a journal entry. Go to the most recent entry in this journal.
Another comment: When I see the route your map shows for the segment in BC after coming over on the ferry from Vancouver Island, it appears that you may be going north a bit simply to get to the Marriott property for the night. The roads to get there will be very busy, I suspect.
You may have points to use with Marriott and want to do that. But, if you are flexible, and if your bikes and their riders are comfortable on gravel, an alternate route to the border would follow a hard-packed dyke trail and then connect to White Rock, BC. I've done that path, loaded, with 25c tires. But, I acknowledge that if the path has had recently-added topping gravel (which I doubt) it could have occasional softer sections. It would be more scenic and calm compared to roads into Delta.
I did a map that ends in White Rock at an ocean front hotel, but it is not a Marriott property, and I have no first-hand knowledge about it. There do not appear to be any Marriott places in White Rock. One plus is that you would be quite close to he border crossing for the next morning. Also, that ocean front road, Marine Drive, in White Rock is much nicer than the heart of Delta next to a major cloverleaf. The map is this one: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50943494
Hello Genny and Jim,
Your current tour caught my eye because it's relatively close to our home (Abbotsford, BC) and we've ridden most of those roads. I had the thought upon seeing your map to propose an alternate, more scenic, with less traffic, route south of Bellingham. But then while mapping it, I learned that Chuckanut Drive south of Bellingham is closed at present due to a rock slide.
To wit from WSDOT: Chuckanut Drive (State Route 11) is currently closed south of Bellingham due to a significant rockslide that occurred on April 22, 2025. The closure affects the stretch of road between the Oyster Dome trailhead and Chuckanut Manor, which is about five miles south of Larrabee State Park. This section remains completely closed to all traffic—including cars, bicycles, and pedestrians—with no access through the slide area. The closure is expected to last through June.
You can see photos at the MyBellinghamNow website (search in upper left for "Chuckanut").
The route that I would take is this one, if it were me. It will add a few miles and a bit of climbing to what you had mapped, but after the islands, you and little hills will be well acquainted, I suspect.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/50942822
Of course, you may talk to others along the way and come up with a different solution.
Enjoy your riding!
Thank you Mark! We are on the road now heading your direction from CA. Tonight we will look at your routes closely. Jim is the route master and is very interested in the dyke route.
2 months agoAdding a few miles and some climbing near Bellingham should not be a problem either. We really appreciate your interest!