We’ll be in Victoria, BC next week for a “practice port-call” for 3 days. I know it sounds ridiculous, but we are actually going leave Bremerton, transit “all” the way to Victoria and anchor for 3 days of liberty. Then we’ll pull up anchors and head back home with a stop for an onload. While we’re in Victoria, I’ll have nothing to do except have fun, guess if I wanted to be a real sailor I’d go out and get drunk and get in a fight or two. I think I’ll stick to running, riding and eating. Should I take my mt bike, cyclocross, or road bike? Any recommended routes?
Definitely take your road bike if you can. Lots of good roads with wide paved shoulders, within 10 minutes of the inner harbour, which I think is where you will “tie up”.
Take the new malahat highway, or the island highway for a fast ride. There are other more scenic routes, but you’ll probably get better info on those once you are there.
Have fun, eh
Thanks, I’ll definitely check those out. Where should I eat after I ride? I got my eye on Chinatown, any recommendations?
Clearly, you must stop by Spinnakers for some fish n chips and a pint of their Twenty ale.
As for the riding, I will leave the recommendations to others on the forum. But, no matter where you go, you won’t be dissappointed. The run around elk lake is super nice.
There are a ton of group rides that head out almost daily. Let me know which days and I will point you in the right direction. Definitely bring road bike if you can only bring one. Its a nice loop up to Shawnigan Lake around and back, but the sections on the malahat are sketchy with traffic and busy during the summer (I’m not sure why, but people tend to drive like idiots on that part of the Island HWY). Head out through Sooke to Jordan River and back for 150K from downtown. Head out around the waterfront loop to Sidney for almost 100k. East Sooke park loops will also give hilly terrain for at least 80-90k. Any bike stores can give you a cycling map done up by the local cycling coalition.
There are a ton of great Thai food places in Victoria; almost all of the downtown pubs have microbreweries attached, or serve local brews (they are all excellent); and if you are a coffee lover, you must go to Cafe Fantastico, either on Kings St or in Fairfield, I’ll go on record to say they serve the best americano in the world! It’s worth the short cycle from any of the docks you’ll be at.