Cycling from Qualicum Beach to Moorecroft Regional Park

By Keith and Heather Nicol

Along a great cycle path

     On Monday September 31,  the Evergreen Cycling group based in Courtenay decided to do a trip that many members had been wanting to check for some time- Qualicum Beach to Moorecroft  Regional Park. Since the group had already done trips from the Ravensong Aquatic Centre to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park earlier in the summer, most of the best cycling route had already been scoped out.  But this added trip to Moorecroft Park added an extra 20 km to the trip and some hills so it made for longish trip of close to 60 km. 

Much of the route features quiet roads and side streets

   Ten of set out from Courtenay at 9:15 by car for Qualicum Beach and by 10:30 or so we were busy linking up the various sections of road, bike trail and quiet city streets that make up the PQ Cycling Links trail. Most of it is well sign posted but it makes sense to get a Qualicum – Parksville map if you want to try this route on your own. This led us to Rathtrevor Provincial Park and then we took Resort Drive to Northwest Bay Road. At this point the route becomes hillier but very pleasant as you pass farms with a good shoulder on the edge of the road for cycling. We turned left on Stewart Rd and then descended down some steep sections to Moorecroft  Regional Park where we had lunch at a sunny picnic table in a small garry oak meadow overlooking the ocean. It was a perfect place to relax and enjoy a sunny fall day. 

At the Garry Oak Meadow at Moorecroft Park

  But we then had to cycle back up the hills and what kept many going was the thought of an ice cream cone at the store adjacent to Rathtrevor Park. From there we backtracked along the same route back to the Ravensong Aquatic Centre.  Overall we cycled for about 3 and ½ hours not counting stops for ice cream, lunch and water along the way. We arrived back in Courtenay around 4:30ish having spent had some great exercise while exploring some new terrain for most of us. For more information on the Evergreen Cycling group see: http://evergreenclub.ca/. 

    

Lunch in the sun overlooking the water