10/3/2023: Vancouver to Port Angeles, WA (65 km)

The daylight is getting short, especially it was noticeable in Vancouver. The sunrise was 50 minutes later than San Francisco at this time of the year. I left Naoko and Julie’s home at 7:20am, right when there was enough daylight for me to begin my journey. I took a train to the 22nd station and started riding from there, crossing two bridges over Fraser River, then followed a gravel bike path in Delta Nature Preserve and Boundary Bay Regional Park to Tsawwassen ferry terminal.

Some part of the path was under water. I had to get off my bike a few times and pushed it through the creek which I didn’t expect to do, and it was fun and gave me a time to pause and notice beautiful wildflowers along the path. This path followed the edge of the Boundary Bay Wildlife Management Area. It was away from the main road most of the way and I enjoyed the quiet ride, watching the birds and riding along the water.

From Tsawwassen, I took a ferry to Schwartz Bay at Vancouver Island. The scenery from the ferry was incredible. We passed many islands along the way on the beautiful day – the ocean and the sky were so blue. From Schwartz Bay, I followed a bike path called Lockside trail to Victoria. It was one of the most well-marked bike paths I’ve ever seen and I loved following the signs that I never had to use my technology all the way to Victoria ferry terminal. The majority of the path was bicycle-dedicated and it went through green space full of big leaf maples. They are turning the color, filling up the air with sweet maple scents. The color of the leaves and blue sky and the ocean brought a beautiful contrast of the fall. I thought the fall was there. There was no mosquitoes!

A structure like this one makes it more bicycle-friendly roads and increases safety for cyclist and motivation to ride more. When I approached the cross-walk, this sign illuminated and automatically activated the bike-crossing signal. In the US, I have to get off my bike, walk over to push the crossing signal. I hope more US cities and towns would adopt practices like this one.

Lochside trail, the 29 km-path runs between Schwartz Bay to Victoria. I was impressed how easy it is to follow the sign without any technology

From Victoria, I took another ferry to Port Angeles, Washington. When I visit Olympic Peninsula, it is usually during the rainy season in the winter time and I never was able to see the mountains. This time, I could see the Olympic mountains out of the fog and clouds across the water. What a treat to finally see the mountains!

Approaching Port Angeles, Olympic mountains in the background

At Port Angeles, Christina, my friend and co-worker from NatureBridge, welcomed me at her home with a warm meal and shower, and comfortable place to stay for a night. It was so nice to take a warm shower at the end of the day. When I was thru-hiking, I had plenty of places to bath at the end of the day either at a lake or a creek in the wilderness. On the bike trip, that’s more difficult to end the day near water in the wilderness. Warm showers become such a treat.

I went to bed, thinking what a great first day to begin and end at my friend’s home, riding beautiful bike paths in nature and riding two ferries from Canada to the US on the gorgeous fall day.

I won’t take it for granted!