Aug
20
2009
by Mr Cubes
Parksville to Ladysmith (36.5 miles)
Ladysmith to Victoria (57.5 miles)
Total Miles: 2,512.8
As soon as I left Parksville, I was onto a major highway for the first time since leaving Fairbanks. Huge trucks, thousands of cars and a shoulder covered in glass and gravel. No chance for enjoying the scenery today, it was just a case of self preservation and trying to get through to my destination as quickly as possible. It didn't take too long to get to Nanaimo, where the ferries take passengers to Vancouver on the mainland. I had decided that it was getting too late into summer for me to have another week off as the night's were already getting longer, so it was with regret that I decided to stay on the Island rather than visiting Phil and Marge, the friends I made up in Whitehorse.
Nanaimo had a good network of cycle paths through it, which thankfully allowed me to get off the highway. It was also very hilly though, which seemed to be a feature of all the towns I visited in the southern part of the Island. Looked to be a pretty city, but 
with so many tourists about it is hard to leave the bicycle anywhere to let me go off and explore. Instead I hid the bike round the back of a cafe and treated myself to a seafood club sandwich. Made a change from noodles and burgers. Was just a few more miles to Ladysmith where I decided it was time to treat myself to a motel again. I also went to a bar to watch the Toronto Blue Jays being roundly beaten by the Boston Red Sox and then went next door to another Chinese all-you-can-eat buffet. A bit of an expensive day, but I need a bit of pampering now and then.
Included in the motel price was a 'free' breakfast at the restaurant over the road - so I naturally ordered the most expensive thing on the menu. Spoke to the motel owner who let me know there was an alternate road running parallel to the
highway which would be a lot quieter, as well as passing through some beautiful villages. He also warned of a monster mountain just before Victoria that if possible I'd do well to avoid. With all that covered I went off to cycle the smaller road and although it was quieter it was extremely hilly. Before long I was in the village of Chemainus, famous for it's huge murals all over the local buildings. Hundreds of tourists here too though, which again meant I was unable to wander far from the bike.
Instead I returned to the winding, up and down country road which was seriously sapping my energy. In the end I returned to the highway knowing it would be flatter - even at the cost of too much traffic. Just before getting to the Mill Bay ferry, which would allow me to bypass the mountain, I decided to stop for lunch and made up pasta while listening to the first of my Spanish lessons. The ferry was meant to cost $5 but I had got chatting to a woman who had a spare ticket which she kindly donated to me. Was just a short little ride now to Victoria which is by far the biggest city I'd yet to pass through, and not knowing where a campsite might be I resorted to another night in a motel. Well, it was my last night in Canada and so I had to use up all my spare dollars...