As summer weather overtook the cool days of spring, I decided it was time to head out on the bicycle and explore another gem in the Gulf Islands. A quick look at the BC ferries schedule showed a daily 8:35 ferry to Pender Island so I set my alarm for an early morning departure.

Pender Island is actually made up of two islands, the more-developed North Pender, and rugged, under-populated South Pender. Little more than 50 km of biking is needed to explore both islands, but hiking trails and beach access abound to make either a full-day trip, or weekend escape memorable.

Once off the ferry at Otter Bay, I headed off main road of the island to avoid traffic, and headed for Port Washington. On route is the Old Orchard Farm, an old homestead where more than 50 different types of pears, plums and apples once grew. From Port Washington, a quick exit onto Clam Bay road revealed a windy forested road that would continue throughout my day on the island.

Finding a quiet beach accessed off Razor Rd, I enjoyed a relaxing lunch break. The views over the calm Browning Harbour revealed the next destination: South Pender Island’s Mount Newton.
After lunch, I headed around to the bridge that joins the two islands and crossed over onto the deserted South Pender. I locked my bike at the entrance to Mount Newton Park, and stashed my panniers in the trees before beginning the climb. At only 260 m, Mt Newton is the tallest point on the Penders, and the short 40-minute hike reveals breathtaking views over the water.

Back on North Pender, I rode up to Magic Lake, one of two sizable fresh-water lakes on the island. Although the algae-filled lake is not for swimming; turtles, frogs and sizable lilies line the shores, making it a wonderful place to stop and enjoy the afternoon. Deer wandered through the nearby fields, and locals came and went along the roadways, each offering a friendly greeting as they passed.

Late in the afternoon, I rode out to Thieves Bay, the island’s largest marina. The view from the breakwater was simply stunning: sailboats drifted past in the distance, kayakers explored the nearby shore, and birds flew overhead. It was the perfect place for an early dinner, before heading back to the ferry terminal for the 6:45 boat to Swartz bay.

It was simply another perfect day, riding in one of BC’s hidden secrets.

By Jeff Bartlett

 

Tags: bartlett, bc, bike, british columbia, canada, cycling, gulf islands, island, jeff, pender, pender island, ride, riding

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 at 4:51 pm and is filed under Cycle, Locate. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.