Day 19: Victoria, BC -> Vancouver, BC

Date: Saturday, June 3, 2023
Start: Victoria, BC (Staying with a friend)
End: Vancouver, BC (Staying with a friend)

I woke at Nicola's in a comfy bed, and all four people in the house were in sync as we all awoke at the same time.  The morning was spent with coffee, playing with toys, and watching the F1 qualifiers.  We talked obscure sports, the drama of F1, and the routines of having children.  At some point it was time to leave, and we packed up and drove to the ferry terminal at Schwartz Bay.

Nicola offered to drive me to the terminal as she was headed there herself.  Now the purist in me said I could only bike....but I think I've biked enough on principle the last two weeks to allow myself the odd convenience of motorized travel.  And I'd already covered this ground on the way in.  What I'm trying to say is that I'm tired and took the opportunity to spend more time with my friend and drive the 20km.

We had a rushed parting, and when I boarded the ferry I realized we never got a picture together.  The only one I'd snapped the entire time was this:

I found a place to sit on the ferry and immediately felt emotionally drained.  Victoria was the first place I would be saying goodbye to on the trip and it's beauty made it difficult to leave.  It also felt like the countdown to the end had properly started.

I also spent time with friends I hadn't seen in so long and having to again say goodbye was difficult.

I've been meeting and spending so much time with interesting, wonderful, kind, caring, fantastic people.  People I only wanted to spend more time with.  The experiences are short and intense.  And leaving brings with it a certain sense of loss and regret in the parting.  And it's only the start of the trip East.  In terms of human connection and kindness, it's been a tragedy of riches.

I listened to Heave Away as we shoved off and I said goodbye to the majesty of the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island.  For now I'm bound for old St. John's...

Once across on the ferry, I anxiously navigated to the 620 TransLink bus to Vancouver.  I saw anxious because figuring out a new transit system is always fraught with way finding, reading confusing signs, and awkward interactions.  It's the one major bus that Vancouver runs out to the ferry and it was busy on this Saturday!  I managed to get a ticket, load my bike on the front of the bus, and we were off to Vancouver.

The ride took me to Bridgeport, where The Canada Line train would take me into downtown Vancouver.  I've been hearing about this transit line for a long time and was excited to finally take it.  Someone stopped me upon seeing my bike and was immediately curious.  He'd toured a fair amount and knew all of my gear.  It was nice to talk to someone who didn't think I was absolutely insane for doing this trip!

Vancouver has some pretty good bike conveniences on their transit system!  It wasn't Dutch, but it was clear they make an effort to allow cyclists to interact and ride.

I reached downtown by train and set off for my destination: Locarno Beach.  I was going to stay with a friend in Vancouver - Don - and he had planned a get together with friends at the beach and invited me to join.  I bike through downtown and through the Kitsilano neighbourhood.  I stuck to tiny residential streets and enjoyed the lush foliage and colours of the summer flowers.  Eventually I reached the beach where we ate, drank, and were merry.

I sat on the sand admiring the water, mountains, and ship traffic of English Bay.  I kept laughing to myself because THIS place was in Canada...a country I more associate with rugged coastline or lakeside beaches.  But Vancouver and the West Coast are both stunning and do not disappoint.  There's a reason everyone wants to live here after all...

Around 7pm we left the beach and went out for dinner.  A solid burger and a pint was just what the doctor ordered for a rest day!  We parted ways with Don's friends and - drained from the sun - went back to his place in Lonsdale.

I had barely biked today, but had made some progress East.  The first day of movement to the end goal.  I'm on my way folks!