My son Elliot and I flew from San Francisco to Vancouver in July of 2016 to embark on our first bike tour together. We had shipped the bikes ahead to a bike shop where we unboxed them from the shipping cartons and did the necessary re-assembly. The city of Vancouver was spectacular with a wide range of architecture, super clean streets, an awesome bicycle culture and infrastructure, and easy access to water in every direction.

We rode out of the city through Montrose Park and across the Iron Worker’s Memorial Bridge on the Trans-Canada Highway. For the next few days we cycled north through the Sunshine Coast, took lots of ferries across waterways, and camped out each night. Each day was delightful. Experiencing a new place on a bike is a great way to travel. The pace is perfect for immersing yourself in a place. It’s easy to see things you would often miss in a car it allows for frequent stops to check things out, and it opens opportunities to meet people.

We passed through Lions Bay, Roberts Creek, Halfmoon Bay, Saltery Bay, and Powell River where we ferried across the Straight of George over to Vancouver Island. Then we headed south towards Victoria passing Deep Bay, Nanoose, Bay, Nanaimo, Duncan, and Ladysmith before arriving at Victoria, a place of unbelievable beauty. For his upcoming 16th birthday I sent up up for a seaplane tour.

From Vancouver Island we ferried through the San Juan Islands towards Anacortes, Washington, stopping for a night on San Juan Island. From Anacortes we cycled south through Washington State where we hit cold rain and strong wind. By the time we crossed the grand Columbia River on the massive Astoria Bridge the weather had improved and we were able to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the Oregon coastline.

Finally, we crossed back into California where we met my friend Steve and slowly drove back home to Santa Cruz County. A year or so later, we rode our bikes from Fort Bragg in Northern California back home. Then, in November of 2024 I did a solo ride from Santa Cruz down to San Diego.