Vancouver Island: Old Friends and New Friends

My ride got off to a great start. I left Bremerton on a sunny Wednesday morning accompanied by two friends (one whom I’ve known since kindergarten, Mark King) and a send off committee of three (a lifelong friend, Wendy Dreaney, and my sister and niece), as Wendy said, “I feel like we need a marching band.” Perhaps if I make it back!

Yes, the first day was sunny. The second day was a torrential downpour. We got soaked and had to re-group under shelter half way through the day. I’m happy to report that this has been the only day of riding in the rain for two weeks, although I’ve had nights of rain – ugh.

Accommodations

Apart from camping, I’ve been enjoying “Warmshowers.” What the heck is Warmshowers you ask? Well, it’s a brilliant network of social exchange for bikers. I send a request through a legitimate online platform, and fellow bikers invite me to stay with them if they are available. It’s a fantastic way to meet like-minded people and get the local scoop on politics, economy, industry and where to go and what to see. They also go above and beyond to offer a warm meal and a breakfast to send you on your way. Here are some of the people I’ve stayed with and homes I’ve been in so far.

I’ve also had some interesting camping situations…

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