August 17, 2025
Day 2: Cowichan Valley to Salt Spring Island
As a side sleeper, it was tricky getting comfortable. I kept waking up and got really cold. Ergh.
I hung my clothes inside my tent, and in the morning, everything was damp from the condensation. My rainfly was too. Tomorrow, I'll make sure I spread those things out to dry while eating my breakfast.
Camp broke early. I was caught off guard by how efficiently people packed up and rolled out! By 8:30, I was packed and ready to roll with Lauren and Maddie. Just one trio besides us remained!
Soon, it became clear we were rushing because of the ferry timing concerns. There was no service at Stolz Pool, but thankfully Tiff had all the ferry schedules printed out (and sealed in a ziploc bag!). We have two crossings today.
Once we pass the first trestle, it turns into doubletrack gravel. Maddie and I start smashing it. The -1%, -2% felt so nice. What a fun section!! I'm in a flow state where my legs are sore from effort, and it feels like the ground is carving where I go. Everything feels good. After about 10km, the trees clear before us and we reach a huge curved trestle.
By this point, we're cutting it close for the pre-lunch Mill Bay ferry. We'd have to gun it and we'd splinter the group. So we just chill and roll easy. After the last big trestle, we're on road again.
Out by Shawnigan Lake, we park up by the convenience store. Ice creams, hot dogs, mini-pizzas, and Gatorades, the whole shebang. Interestingly, the store has a big sign that they're not taking USD$. I got a toffee drumstick and it was SO satisfying.
I learn that Lauren sews and even made her own lumbar pack, top tube bag, and frame bags. What?! So cool. Maddie and Tiff have their own company for bikepacking gear -- Fauna Components. Stainless steel cargo cages manufactured in East Van and secured with voile straps. They're super lightweight! Two cyclists in our rally were running the Fauna cages on their forks. I should disclose here that I'm now a sponsored athlete (haha!) as the recipient of one (1) branded voile strap.
Then, off to Mill Bay with plenty of time to spare. Lots of us are waiting for this sailing. I eat lunch - croissants, pepperoni sticks, fruit bars, and roadside blackberries. Yum.
Another mechanical comes up. Bronwyn's cassette is doing funny things. It's Sunday, so a little limited on bike shop options. Someone offers up that they have a friend of a friend in Sidney who may be able to help.
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This ferry ticketing system is clever. The BC Ferries worker hands everyone a laminated number card. During the sailing, we return the card when we pay, and she knows the whole boat has paid once all her cards are back in her possession. One weird quirk: this BC Ferry doesn't take the ferry card.
On board, I get asked about the ride by a man with an empty bike rack. He asks where our support car is. Wow, it never occurred to me. For a group of 30, that could totally make sense.
After a short ride (standing room only), we're in Brentwood Bay. The group splinters up again, and we decide on our plan of action. We all want a real meal.
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On top of a hill beside the ferry terminal, I see a cute roadside art gallery. Leave one, take one. The owner's wife typically does pottery and leaves some pieces in there. I didn't get to look for long since we needed to hustle to the pub to pick up a bison burger and salad.
Maddie's rear brake was not working, and since she was holding her food container in her left hand, she zoomed right past the Swartz Bay ticket booth. It was a funny scene.
Sure enough, a few familiar faces at the ferry terminal. It's really nice to ride in smaller groups because you bump into each other during the day. A group was leaving just as we arrived to the pub. Also really nice in case anything gets dropped. We picked up a fleece on trail earlier today; it was a women's M so we figured it belonged to someone in the rally.
Michaela rolled by to tell us she going back to the mainland -- two flats and a torn tire. That's just bad luck.
On the ferry, I was going to eat just half my hot meal, but I wolfed it all down. I was so hungry! The chicken tenders were sublime.
The ferry employees have us unload after the cars. A ferry-load of cars passing 30+ cyclists on single lane hilly roads? Nightmare averted, thank you BC Ferries worker.
The climb out of Fulford Harbour was brutal. The group broke apart rapidly as we stretched out in a big line up the hill. I was pushing at my limit, and it was only stubbornness that kept me from dismounting.
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After a ton of hills, we're finally near Ruckle. Everyone has told me it's amazing. There's also running water. When I heard this news, I immediately dumped out half my water to lighten the load (weenie tip #3).
Wow, Ruckle really is all that. The campsites are primarily walk-in, and they're spread along the coastline so they all have views. The group site is sloped, and I choose a site underneath a tree. I'm thinking maybe the leaves will help to suck up condensation (instead of my tent). Plus, branches to hang my sweaty clothes on.
Still full from the five chicken tenders and onion rings, I quickly set up the tent and head down to the ocean for a cold dip. It's so serene watching all the ferries go by.
Back at the picnic tables, I eat a second dinner.
I wake up multiple times again. I'm too cold to sleep. I think I might've weight-weenied too close to the sun. My sleep system is that I'm wearing wool base layers, and two down jackets. My pillow is clothes stuffed into a sack. I don't think I can do this again. It's a rough night for me.
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