Day 17: Sooke, BC -> Victoria, BC

Stats:
Date: June 1, 2023
Start: Victoria, BC (staying with a friend)
End: Victoria, BC (staying with a friend)
Distance: 101km

First day in Victoria and I decided I wasn't going to rest.  It was still 40km West to Sooke, BC where I was planning to dip my wheel and officially start the cross country portion of the trip!  Warren made coffee and bagels and it was like he knew who I was and the way into my heart.  He went to work and we agreed to meet later in the evening.

I pounded out blog posts trying to catch up (I was days behind and the memories fade).  They take about 2 hours each so having a backlog is a problem!  This one will catch me up though!

I left my panniers at Warren's and decided to ride without the weight.  It was an amazing feeling.  I could get up to 25km/h with ease, and 30km/h without too much trouble.  I think the mountains have whipped me into shape!

I jumped onto the Galloping Goose and started out of town.  I quickly found two people who looked to be trying to fix something on their bike.  I pulled over and offered to help.  A pedal had come off of one of their bikes.  Carrying a small tool kit that I rarely get to use, I'm always happy to help and at least feel like I'm carrying it for a reason!  I didn't have a pedal wrench but my leatherman tool got it back on well enough to get her to the bike shop about 1km down the pathway.  I went there with them as I'd wanted to visit this community bike shop: Recyclistas!

Her bike fixed, I set off on the Galloping Goose Trail to Sooke.  The Goose - one of those projects that Bob had helped get built - is a rail to trail conversion.  It's wide, paved for large portions, and hard packed where it's not paved.  It goes through the forests of Vancouver Island which are old growth and actually qualify as a rain forest.  I'd biked the Goose in 2017 on the way to a friend's wedding in Sooke and absolutely loved it.  It's easily my favourite trail I've ever ridden and I wanted to start in Sooke specifically so I could ride it again.

The forest here is otherworldly.  Trees so tall you have to crane your neck to try to find the tops.  The canopy blocks almost all direct sunlight and it's dim on the forest floor.  The trunks are so large they sustain smaller ecosystems of their own.  They are covered with ivies and mosses.  The forest floor is ferns.  Everything is green and everything is alive.  The rocks are covered with mosses, lichens, grasses, flowers, and succulents (SUCCULENTS JUST GROW IN THE WILD HERE!).

I could go on, but I don't think I can do it justice.  If you ever get the chance you should get yourself to Victoria, get a ride, and ride the Goose to Sooke and back.  Electric bikes make this all the more doable.  I'll just leave a collection of the pictures I took and tell you that they don't even begin to get across the beauty and abundance of the trail.

I stopped at one of the rest areas and chatted with a group about the trip.  They were enthusiastic and one of them had actually cross the country by bike decades earlier.  After about 30km I was just outside Sooke.  But I wasn't going INTO Sooke.  I was actually going to an area across the bay from it known as East Sooke.  11km of hilly back roads took me to my destination: Pike Point Trail.  The trail would take me the next 3km on a pathway to my starting point: Iron Mine Bay.

Iron Mine Bay is a secret gem that had been shared with me by close friends Sarah and Tyler.  Tyler started his cross country trip here in 2008.  Tyler and Sarah were married in Sooke and had done their wedding pictures here.  They also brought everyone out for a visit before the wedding, which was the first (and last) time I'd been here.  It's a remarkable spot of untouched beauty and an ideal spot to start.  I hesitated to tell you about it because it feels like such a special spot.

When I reached it I emerged from the trees onto the beach and immediately burst into tears.  The last time I was here was with Sarah, Tyler, their families, and so many of our mutual friends.  I looked around and immediately missed all of them and felt so alone.  The nostalgia, the memories, missing those friends, their families, the beauty of the place itself, and the overwhelming realization that I'd finally made it to the starting point after two weeks.  It all hit me at once.  (I've been a lot more emotional recently and seem to cry out of happiness or nostalgia frequently)

I sat for a while remembering all the people who I'd stood here with in 2016.

I took some time to be thankful that I was able to come back to this incredible place.

I thought about all of you who have been sending music and messages and recommendations and support.

I thought about how this was just the start of the real trip across the country!

I took time to just be grateful.

I spent time reflecting on my life, the people in it, those who were gone.  My accomplishments.  My regrets.  My hopes.  My future.

I listened to a song that always makes me happy when I'm sad and sad when I'm happy.

And I cried again.

Here's Tyler and Aiden starting their trip here in 2008:

Here is Tyler, Sarah, and I at this spot in 2016 right before their wedding:

Here's Tyler and Sarah doing their wedding photo shoot here:

It's a special place.

Emotionally drained, I set about taking lots of photos!

Dipping the rear tire:

It was difficult to leave.  I just wanted to stay and spend more time, but the trip had to start.  I powered back to the Galloping Goose and back to Victoria where Warren was finished work and waiting to celebrate the start of the trip!  All together it was 101km from Victoria to Iron Mine Bay and back.

Back in Victoria I reunited with Warren, we went out for dumplings.  Sweet sticky rice with mango.  Then burritos.  And every step of the way there was a drink!  Dumpling Drop.  Boom Town.  The Drake.  All local hotspots and all incredible.

The real treat however was hanging out with Warren.  We'd worked together at the University of Calgary library (the TFDL) and had a group of work friends there called Team Evil (HI TEAM!).  He'd moved from Calgary and we'd gone out separate ways, but he's wildly intelligent, curious, and knowledgeable.  He's also hilarious, enthusiastic, and and absolute riot to be around.  He's committed to working to fight climate change, and is currently employed by Forestry Ministry of B.C. working to implementing a carbon credit system to help save our forests.  Climate anxiety gets to me sometimes, but it always helps knowing that someone like Warren is out there working on it.  Warren is one of those unique individuals.  Beyond category.  I was so happy he'd agreed to host me while in Victoria but more so that I would get to hang out with him again.  A guaranteed good time!

Warren took a roadie for the walk to the first restaurant.  I'm always too timid to do it, but when we passed the first trash can Warren made sure I noticed just how common it is here!

We laughed all night and well into the morning.  I'm sorry I have to leave, because I always want more time hanging out with Warren.  I'm so happy I got to see him and for his generosity in hosting me.  Shine on you crazy ass diamond!

It was a big day.  It has begun.  Wagons East!