Ride on, Highway Cat !!: DAY 1 !!... It's Official !

Goldstream Provincial Park - Mile Zero Victoria - Paper Poet New Westminster
102 km, 5:21 Saddle Time, Avg HR. 117bpm.2284 Cal. Avg Spd.19.2 km

Holy **#?>@!! it's cold in the morning !
Lucky for me I'm staying at an all star campground equipped with a heated comfort station incl. showers. (I picked a site situated within stumbling distance of said structure)
After a lengthy pack up and putterring session, I was rolling out.
I took it super easy down the highway, just enjoying the weather and tractor trailers. I instructed Highwaycat to scan the field for flotsom and Jetsom, as blowing a tire on a piece of Auto Shrapnel, or Tarmac IED would upset the mood.

Was cool to see Victoria, it's bin a while. The plan is to visit the "Mile O" Terry fox memorial for my scheduled photo-op, and official start to my journey. Somehow, I rode down Douglas St. and turned right without even seeing it ! Out and back on Dallas, I return to Douglas wondering how the hell I missed it. I managed to snap few pics only seconds before a swarm of Asian tourists flowed out of a tour bus and surrounded me. AAAHHH !. After discovering what I was doing, they proceeded to reward me with a standing ovation.

A bit of riding around and some lunch, I arrive at the Shwartz Bay Ferry Terminal. Didn't like arriving this late (3pm) as it will set me out onto lower mainland rush hour hell. I was pleased to see that a bike rack was installed on this Ferry. Finally !!

I met another cyclist heading to east Canada also. I was impressed as she is a small lady by herself. Somehow, she managed to haul all her panniers to the upper deck. Had a humungous bag that she put them in and dragged them around the ship. Do I laugh or cry? I guess that makes me lazy, and her strong. I wished her luck on her journey. I wish that I spoke to her more and got her photo, I'm an idiot.

Once in Twsawwassen, it was rush hour fun on route to New Westminster. Somehow, I got caught up in the stream of cars and trucks to the "George Massey Tunnel " Oh Oh ! ... bad place to be stuck. I had to back my bike up (no room to turn around) Idiot is me. Anyway, I got outta there and a few bridges later I find myself at camp. My friend Tanya owner of PAPER POET let me crash at her place for the night.

No mosquitos, free food, free internet- best campsite so far. (wild animals too) Cats.
http://paperpoet.ca/ Get your wedding invites here !!

This the way ...

I see the route clearly now...

Native Art, Victoria BC

The Pacific Ocean. Dallas Road near Mile zero...

STARTING LINE !! Mile zero, Doulas @ Dallas Rd, Victoria

The big man. I am not worthy.

Victoria Government stone structure. Too many tourists, "Click" and go...

Empress Hotel

On the upper deck of a BC Ferries Beasty. Heading back to the mainland to complete my starting loop.(a big-ass loop indeed). I don't know those people

Sketch; Brutal screw up in my navigation. Due to very poor bike route signage and the heavy traffic, I found myself in a nasty predicament. The Massey Tunnel is a non-bike area, which I was well aware of but was attracted to it like a fly to light. I had to back out of this narrowing shoulder feeling really stupid. Time for a trip I'de say !

The George Massey Tunnel to Richmond BC :
The original plans from the designer included a bike lane. Back in 1957 he was a visionary. Unfortunately politicians left it out. At $25 million it seemed like a great design. In 2012 it is now bursting at the seams. We need more bikes and less cars. sigh...