Tri Cities Loop by Bike

The Tri Cities loop is part of the Trans Canada Trail but be forewarned - it is definitely NOT for road bikes. There is a lot of variety - paved trail, roads, crushed gravel, forest trail and dyke riding as you wind your way along this route connecting Coquitlam, Port Moody, and Port Coquitlam.  Not a great choice if you are looking for speed and distance, but if you are interested in amazing views and exploring, this is a winner!

Salmon stream along Hoy Creek Trail

As we step up our training for our West Coast tour, we have been trying to get in a few longer rides on the weekend.  The forecast was good, so we began our trek to the trailhead at Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam Centre park.  Despite a good forecast, the day turned out to be quite "humid"  We were glad to have come equipped with our heavy duty rain gear.

Cue sheet a little worse for wear due to the "humidity"

The route had lots of variety!  We rode past Rocky Point Park in Port Moody, Barnet Marine Park and enjoyed city riding along the Burnaby Urban trail and the Central Valley Greenway.  Near the end of the ride we enjoyed a section in Colony Farm Regional Park before making our way back along the Poco Traboulay Trail.

Forests come to life - spring is in the air

Bears also coming to life!  

Section along the Trans Canada Trail after leaving Rocky Point

Bummer....we were climbing up!

I think it is clearing up!

Are you sure this is the right trail?

Giggle of the Day

When I found this great route on trailsbc.ca, I excitedly shared it with Rob.  He took a look, agreed that it looked both amazing and challenging and promptly declared, "we are going to get lost".....and we did!  Not once, not twice, but numerous times.  On the bright side we discovered a fabulous kayak launch site at Barnett marine park.

We have also been playing with a web app called stravos.  This tool allows us to time and map our rides  through our cell phone and provides data on speeds, elevations etc. etc.  Today we decided to join the 21st century and go high tech for our ride.  No maps, no compasses...just all the technology an Iphone can provide.  Everything was great until the four hour 27 minute mark...after following a wonderful trail along river and through woods we arrived in a little town called Maillardville and realized we had no idea where we were and also realized we weren't even in the right city.  Not to worry, our handy iphone and stravos would set us straight.  A great plan...except the cell phone battery was dead.  No worries, we had marked our parking spot with a gps tag....our only problem...the gps tag was stored in the dead cell phone.  We went old school and asked for directions...they were sketchy at best, but definitely better than what our iphone was offering.

Here is our Stravos map.....

Breathtaking blossoms along the way.

Map and route tips:

Our finished map!

Cycling the BC Parkway to Central Valley - Graffitti, cowboys and spawning salmon!

Exploring the lower mainland by bike is always a treat, and today was no exception.  We decided to begin our trip at the New Westminster Quay and head into Vancouver via the BC Parkway.  This multi-use urban trail is 26 kilometers long and follows the Expo Skytrain line from Surrey, to New West, South Burnaby and into Vancouver.

 The heavy fog that had blanketed the lower mainland for days magically lifted and we were treated to a bright, crisp, sunny fall day.  The colours of the leaves were magnificent and we enjoyed the sound of them crunching beneath our tires as we pedaled along.

View of the Fraser River near New Westminster Quay

Signs on dedicated bike paths....AWESOME!

It was another day of contrasts - industry along the river and rail lines, graffiti, high end condos and homelessness, yachts, shopping malls, sports fields, restaurants, bars and people, people, people!  We saw it all.  It truly is remarkable that in a few short kilometres a cyclist travelling along the urban trails can pass through numerous municipalities and experience both the highs and the lows of our communities.

Anything in a size seven?

Brilliant Fall colours

Approaching downtown Vancouver

Was there a George Clooney sighting here?

We cycled along the waterfront to English Bay and Stanley Park enjoying the Sunday morning sights and sounds.  As we approached Canada Place, Rob noticed DeDutch Pannekoek House conveniently located right on the seawall.  The breakfast menu seemed to have his name on it so we had to stop.  Rob simply could not MASH one inch further.  It was such a warm day that we were able to sit outside on the patio and enjoy our breakfast as we watched the float planes take off and land.

We decided to experiment and try a new route out of downtown.  We followed the Dunsmuir bike lane to Adanac and then began the climb out of Vancouver toward Simon Fraser University.  We were confident that we would be able to find our way back to the Central Valley Greenway....and after a few stops and starts that's exactly what we did!

Heading uphill towards Simon Fraser on the Frances Union Bikeway

The highlight of the day was on the Central Valley Greenway. As we entered the park there was a sign warning folk to be cautious as there was a bear in the area.  We thought that was a bit unusual...after all we were in the middle of Burnaby.  However,  as we pedaled along we could hear splashing coming from the stream below and quickly deduced why bears might be hanging out!  The salmon were putting on a show.  We hopped off our bikes and made our way down to the stream to watch the epic battle.  Salmon were coming up the stream in waves as they fought their way against the current.  It was inspiring to watch.  Credit to the restoration crew who has been working to restore the habitat!

Salmon fighting their way up Still Creek to spawn

Steps to help the salmon along their way

As usual the day ended far too quickly!  To celebrate the salmon sightings we stopped for a gelato....chocolate of course!  Another perfect day and perfect ride.

Guilt free Gelato break....life is good!

Giggle of the day:

As we came to a red light on Main Street near Science World, a young gentleman pulled up beside us and exclaimed "HOWDY PARTNER!".  He was dressed in full cowboy gear....boots, hat, jeans, vest and sheriff's badge.  (in fairness, we were in downtown Vancouver AND it was the weekend before Halloween).  The young man pulled a 26 ounce bottle of scotch out of his bike basket and asked if we would like a swig.  How generous!  We did notice that half the bottle was missing. We weren't sure if he was on his way to or from the party....or just keeping the party going.  Before we could ask, he gave a hoot and a yippee and was back on his way.  

Map and Route tips:

City of Vancouver  http://vancouver.ca/streets-transportation/cycling-routes-maps-and-trip-planner.aspx

BC Parkway  http://www.translink.ca/en/Getting-Around/Cycling/BC-Parkway.aspx

Central Valley Greenway   http://www.translink.ca/en/Getting-Around/Cycling/Central-Valley-Greenway.aspx

Burnaby bike Routes  http://www.burnaby.ca/Page386.aspx

St. Marks Summit Hike - Cypress Provincial Park

The majestic North Shore mountains provide an amazing  backdrop for Vancouver, B.C. - arguably  one of the most beautiful cities in the world.  These mountains  tower over the city and ocean below and call out to those who wish to get outside and explore.  Today we decided to grab our backpacks and hiking poles and head to Cypress Provincial Park.  The park features numerous opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts....a smorgasbord for day trippers and mountaineers alike! 

Howe Crest Sound Trail

We decided to hike the Howe Crest Sound trail to St. Marks Summit, and potentially push on to the Lions, a famous Vancouver landmark.  The trail head began near the Crazy Raven Bar and Grill on Cypress Mountain.  The lodge is a great spot to grab a coffee and treat after your day trip and is also great apres ski meet up during the winter months!  

Crazy Raven Bar and Grill - Cypress Mountain

As we parked our car we reminisced about the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games.  Cypress Mountain was made noteworthy for it's lack of snow, but despite all of the controversy the Mountain brought us memorable Olympic moments including our first medal won by Jennifer Heil, (Ladies Moguls) and our country's first Olympic gold.  Who can forget Alexandre Bilodeau's golden moment? We stopped to snap pictures of the Olympic Rings and chatted about our favourite Olympic moments.  GO CANADA GO!

Memories of Vancouver 2010

We began the hike up through the forest.  We had the trail to ourselves and we enjoyed the peace and quiet of the forest.  The air was fresh and chilly.  The trail came out of the forest and we joined a logging road and continued our climb.  We re-entered the forest and continued to climb...yes we were gaining altitude quickly!  The trail was extremely well marked and well maintained - thank you BC Parks! 

Natural Staircase

We hiked the switch backs as we continued to climb.  The mosquitoes and flies dictated our pace....we found that if we kept a good speed up they didn't bother us, but the second we stopped they instantly found us and proclaimed lunch!  The underbrush began to thin as we continued to ascend.  Our legs enjoyed the soft pack trail and we marvelled at the natural staircase made of all the tree roots.  The trail was challenging in sections as we navigated roots, rocks and slippery sections. 

Our hard work climbing was rewarded as we were afforded peek a boo views of Howe Sound.  Like magic the fog lifted as we neared the ridge line and we could see for miles!  We passed through alpine meadows and arrived at St. Marks summit.  The view from the summit was breath taking....we looked down over the ridge - 1400 metres to the ocean below. 

Spectacular View from St. Mark's Summit

We were concerned about the time and not sure if we would be able to reach the Lions and return before dusk.  We regretted our late start as it was beginning to look like the Lions would be out of reach.  We decided to push on a little further before making our final decision  The trail markings were infrequent and we were relying on flagging tap to lead us on.  As we began quite a steep descent the fog began to roll in.  Visibility was quite poor.  We were concerned that we might be on the wrong trail so we decided to return to St. Marks summit and check our maps and look for trail markings.  As we arrived back at the Summit we met another couple of hikers.  We asked if they knew where the trail to the Lions continued.  To quote, "interesting you ask.  My daughter and her friend were just air lifted out by search and rescue last week.  They got lost on their way to the Lions."  Our decision was made.  We chose to enjoy lunch on the summit and return another day to visit the Lions...with better maps and an earlier start!

Giggle of the day:

We had a late start today, and as we rounded the bend onto the Cypress Mountain access road we were forced to come to an abrupt stop.  We were expecting to see wildlife on the road, or a car accident, but instead there were 500 cyclists blocking traffic as they  waited at the start line for the Cypress Challenge...a 12 km bike race....straight uphill.  You could feel the anticipation and excitement in the air.  Traffic was directed around the cyclists and we giggled to ourselves as we rejoiced in the fact that we were driving up the road to our trail head.....and not MASHING our way to the top!

Map and Route Tips:

Deep Cove by Kayak - Indian Arm Provincial Park

When the sun is shining and the water is calm there is no better city escape than kayaking out of  Deep Cove, just minutes outside of Vancouver.  Indian Arm Provincial Park protects the shores of this amazing 18 kilometer fjord extending from Burrard Inlet in Vancouver.

Deep Cove, British Columbia

We began our day with an early start launching our kayaks from the beach area at the Deep Cove Canoe and Kayak beach front centre.  Conditions were absolutely perfect - a slight cloud cover, no wind, flat water  and tides in our favour.  We slowly paddled out of Deep Cove enjoying the views of the waterfront homes and the marina.  A few rowers and paddle boarders were also on the water sharing that early morning feeling of bliss!

Exploring the shoreline

We did not have time to paddle to the estuary at the end of the arm, but we did enjoy the trip up Indian Arm past Camp Jubilee and Silver Falls toward Bishop Creek.

Silver Falls - Spectacular!

On our return we crossed the arm and enjoyed a slow leisurely paddle exploring the shoreline.  The salmon were jumping...and the seals were feasting!  We spent several minutes watching a seal catch and devour his lunch.  We passed the old BC Hydro power plant and marvelled at the granite cliffs and majestic forest looming beside us.

BC Hydro Power Plant

The water was calm so we had a great view of the sea life below.  The wildlife viewing on the Arm is a treat.  The area features black bear, deer, coyotes, racoons and cougars - just to name a few.  It is also well known for bird watching and of course the tide pools are always fascinating to explore as they abound with life.

Underwater camera catches the vibrant colours of life below!

The paddle ended all too quickly as we returned to Deep Cove.  We were thrilled to see numerous families renting boats and heading out to begin their paddling adventure on Indian Arm.  It just doesn't get much better than this!

Giggle of the day:

We decided to paddle over to Twin Island to stretch our legs and enjoy a short hike and snack break.  As we approached the island we could hear a very loud rumbling....not thunder but the sounds of campers from Camp Jubilee loading up their voyageur canoes for the return trip to base camp.  We enjoyed watching the controlled chaos from afar and wisely chose to land at South Twin Island.....far enough from the campers to be out of the way but close enough to share in the giggles as the team of young paddlers and their fearless leaders tried to navigate their way back to camp.

Map and Route tips:

The winds usually pick up early afternoon as they sweep up Indian Arm.  Be sure to check your tide tables and marine forecast before heading out.  High winds and an incoming tide can really make the paddle back to Deep Cove quite a challenge!



For those wanting longer trips, marine camp sites are available at Twin Island, Granite Falls and Bishop Creek.  We have enjoyed many an evening camping on the arm!

Granite Falls - Marine Campsite

Salt Marsh by Kayak - Deas Island Regional Park

It is always amazing to us that in an area as populated as Metro Vancouver you can find secluded nature hideaways within minutes of the big city.  Deas Island Regional Park provides such a getaway!  We enjoyed a wonderful afternoon paddle and spent time exploring the salt marshes of the South Arm Marshes Wildlife Management Area.

Launch site at Deas Island Regional Park

We began our trip with a nice, dry launch from the dock at Deas Island Regional Park.  The launch area has great parking (free), washrooms and easy water access....all the amenities of the big city!  As we arrived several young rowers from the Delta Deas Rowing Club were finishing up their training session and working hard to bring their shells up to the club house.  Amidst the giggles and high jinx of a spirited group of rowers we jumped into our boats and began an easy paddle up the slough towards the salt marshes.  Conditions were perfect - no wind, flat water and the sun was shining!  We were in our boats for only a few minutes when we were greeted by a river otter scrambling across the banks.  We floated by and enjoyed the show!

Paddling through the salt marsh at high tide

Our route took us under Highway 99 and past Captain's Cove Marina.  The kayaks always feel extremely small and powerless next to the ocean going yachts and sailboats docked at the marinas.  However, it always makes me smile when I think of how the ocean manages to challenge and entice us all....from paddlerboaders, sailors, kayakers to captains of yachts we all seem to feel drawn to the water.

Captain's Cove Marina and Pub

We paddled on to explore the floating homes moored along Ferry Road in Ladner.  Talk about nature at your doorstep.  What a unique lifestyle!  Imagine your living room rising and falling with the tides, panoramic views of the salt marshes and no traffic snarl-ups.  Of course, you do have a wide variety of birds thinking your front porch is an excellent place to hang out for the day.

Touring the Floating Homes

Our return route took us through the secluded channels of the marsh.  Definitely something you want to do during high tide.  These channels twist and turn and seem to go on forever....and yes....we did get lost!  It is quite disorienting in the marsh as the banks of the channels are high and you quickly lose sight of key landmarks.  We laughed as we imagined ourselves paddling through the marsh, the tide going out and being stranded on the salt flats.  Something we would prefer not to do.  After reaching a dead end, we decided to backtrack and made our way back out.

Which way now ??

The wildlife viewing in this area is usually terrific as the Fraser River Estuary marsh habitat is home to a wide range of species from Great Blue Heron to Eagles and songbirds and shorebirds.  This area is actually one of the most important areas in the province for aquatic bird and raptor habitat.

Gulls take advantage of a sandbar

We meandered our way back to the boat launch and reluctantly called it a day.  But, what a fabulous day it had been!

Return trip to the boat launch

Giggle of the day:

It is always a lot of fun to paddle along side the floating homes.  They are all unique and summer is a great time to view them, as the decks feature wonderful flower boxes.  We must confess that we were probably a bit "snoopy" and were travelling too close to the floating homes.  As we were trying to peek inside one of the living areas, we failed to notice a fishing line that had been left out.  Before we knew it Rob was tangled up in the line!  Needless to say the houseboat owner caught a big one that day!

Map and Route Tips:



Be sure to check your tide tables and marine forecast before heading out of Deas Slough.

The south arm of the Fraser River has quite a strong current and is very busy with large commercial traffic - not recommended for a leisurely paddle.

Not So GranFondo - Horseshoe Bay to Whistler

The route from Vancouver to Whistler is a visual smorgasbord with panoramic views of Howe Sound and the Coast Mountains.  Each year road warriors from around the world flock to Vancouver to cycle the GranFondo.  We decided it was time for us to tackle the route and planned our version of the Not So GranFondo.

Majestic views along the Sea to Sky highway

When asked about our riding style, pace etc., we often joke that we are 'dawdlers". The dictionary defines dawdle as (1)  to spend time idly and (2) to move lackadaisically.  Rest assured there is nothing lackadaisical about the Sea to Sky highway.  The route began at sea level and the trip from Horseshoe Bay took us 102km in distance with - 2400m up, 1750m down and a total end elevation gain of 650m.  To say our legs were tired at the end of the day is an understatement!

The route is suitable for both the road warrior and fellow dawdler.  In fact, we were passed often by those young strapping cyclists, with legs of steel on their road bikes spinning their way to personal best times.  On the other hand we dawdled along and took delight in the views, waterfalls and picnic spots along the way.  The route is also unique as it features a Sea to Sky Cultural Journey aimed at providing a First Nations perspective and cultural awareness.  Interpretive kiosks line the route and are well worth the stop.

We must stress that the Sea to Sky highway is not for the faint of heart.  In the old days, prior to the road upgrades, cyclists would often call this route the Scream and Die highway.  Today the route is more bicycle friendly with nice wide shoulders for the majority of the trip.  Having said that, it is a very busy highway and if you are not comfortable riding in traffic it probably is not for you.  We must also  caution that many a driver mistakes the Sea to Sky for the Indy 500 and it feels quite frightening when these race car drivers pass close to you at speed.  I must confess I uttered a few choice words under my breath as high end cars screamed by me - way to close for comfort!

We began the day in Horseshoe Bay. We parked our vehicle in the long term ferry parking lot.  Horseshoe Bay, especially in the summer, is a bee hive of activity and we took great delight watching families with cars/vans/trailers/motor homes packed to the roof as they waited patiently, and in some cases not so patiently, for their sailings.

Horseshoe Bay, British Columbia

We were excited to see awesome bike route signage as we set off for the Sea to Sky highway.

We do LIKE this!

We were feeling quite confident as we enjoyed the ride out of Horseshoe Bay.  We went through Lions Bay and passed Porteau Cove - a great spot to stop for a picnic and watch the scuba divers in action!  We continued on to Britannia Beach and stopped to savour our morning coffee break at Galileo Coffee Company.  We enjoyed chatting with a fellow from Lions Bay who teased us about the climb ahead.  "You'll make it", he said with confidence.  Strange how those kind words seemed to fill me with doubt!

We set off again towards Shannon Falls.....FANTASTIC!  The falls are the third largest in British Columbia at 335 meters.  They are breathtaking....and we always enjoy stopping here, both to take in the falls, but to also chat with the tourists who flock to the park.  Today we had the pleasure of meeting two young men from Denmark.....they were almost speechless as they set off to scramble up the rocks at the base of the falls.

Trail up to Shannon Falls

We continued past the Stawamus Chief, an extremely popular hiking and climbing spot.  The Chief is a magnificent 700 meter high granite cliff and the view from the top is well worth the hike up. (we will leave the hike for another day!)  As we entered Squamish we decided to stop at the Squamish Adventure Centre to get the inside scoop on local bike trails.  The staff at the Adventure Centre were fantastic and shared with us the plans for the Sea to Sky trail.  When finished the trail will be 180km of non-motorized multi-use trail connecting Squamish to D-Arcy along the Sea to Sky corridor.  What a vision!  We jumped on the trail as we left Squamish on our way to Brackendale.....and then the real climbing began!

Bike friendly trail - Squamish - features bike wash station and tools

To break up the climb we stopped at Brohm Lake for a picnic lunch.  We happily munched and watched the paddle boarders and swimmers enjoy the mountain lake.    We left Brohm Lake refueled and refreshed and continued on our climb to Whistler Village.  We couldn't resist stopping at Brandywine Falls...another spectacular waterfall!  We had the great pleasure of meeting a family from Tasmania....they were drawn to our bikes and had all kinds of questions about cycle touring.  They were travelling across Canada and on their way to try out mountain biking in Whistler....go Tasi's!!!!

Brandywine Falls

We finished the climb to Whistler and connected to the Valley Trail at Function Junction.  It was a welcome relief to get off the highway on to dedicated bike path and meander our way to the village.  Whistler has something for every one and it is always a thrill to enter the village and be surrounded by active folks...hikers, bikers, rafters, paddlers, skiers....not to mention the shoppers, the sightseers and the "partiers!"

Whistler Village

We enjoyed two fabulous nights in Whistler....GLAMPING.  (that is our term for Glamourous camping.  Yes, we left the tent and sleeping bags at home and decided to stay in a hotel!)

Wizard Express Chair - Blackcomb Mountain

View from outside our hotel - Blackcomb

With or without snow....the training must go on!

The only thing better than the view on the way TO Whistler, is the view on the way BACK!!!  The entire return trip is on the ocean side of the road and we found ourselves stopping frequently to take pictures of the rivers, the mountains and the ocean.

Valley Trail passes by the golf course

Fantastic trip back along the river's edge

On the return trip you are afforded the most breathtaking views of the Tantalus Mountain Range - snow capped mountains, the valley, the forest and the river below.  We would include a picture...but, a photo simply does not do it justice.  You must visit and see it for yourself!

It's your turn......
Cheers
Jane and Rob

Giggle of the day:

We arrived in the village, legs spent, sun burnt, hungry and thirsty!  As we entered the village the first thing we saw was the Longhorn Pub...say no more!  We decided a round of Coronas and an order of Nachos was in order.

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words......

We parked our bikes and found a seat where we could view the base of the mountain bike trails.  After a couple of cold ones we decided it was time to find our hotel.  We had booked using the Travelocity Top Secret Hotel option.  This is a great tool for those who enjoy pleasant surprises.  You basically choose a location and a price range and roll the dice.  Travelocity books your hotel and you do not learn which hotel you are in, until after you pay! Great fun!  As we finished our beer we decided to figure out exactly where in the village our hotel was located.  Now remember, our legs were completely spent after the day of riding......so to our dismay we learned our hotel was half way up Blackcomb Mountain!  We trudged on up the mountain towards our hotel alternating between cursing and laughing at ourselves!

We are happy to say the climb was well worth it and we enjoyed two fantastic nights at the Coast Blackcomb Inn and Suites.

Entrance to the Coast Blackcomb Inn and Suites

Map and Route Tips:

There is a short stretch between Porteau Cove and Furry Creek where the shoulder becomes quite narrow....exercise caution!

Camping is readily available along the route and there are also lots of options to GLAMP!


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