Exploring Quadra Island by bike

By Keith and Heather Nicol

Bring a facemask for the ferry

   On Monday, July 20 ten cyclists from the Comox Valley boarded the 10:30 am ferry in Campbell River for a sunny outing to Quadra Island. One of the nice aspects of cycling in the Comox Valley are the islands that are close at hand which are ready made for bike exploring. Earlier this summer our cycling group headed to Denman Island (see: http://keithnicol.blogspot.com/2020/07/cycling-and-hiking-on-denman-island.html) and at some point this summer we will cycle on Hornby Island.  This was my first time cycling on Quadra and you are quickly reminded of how hilly it is. Heather and my previous trips to Quadra had been to explore by sea kayak and other blogs have dealt with these trips - https://keithnicol.blogspot.com/2016/08/sea-kayaking-from-village-bay-pond-to.html   .  

 

The road to Yaculta is very scenic with Discovery Passage behind

   Our cycling group was evenly split between road and electric bikes and we decided to first head south from Quathiaski Cove (the ferry terminal) along Green Road and we then descended to the first Nations Community of Yaculta. This section of the road is very scenic since it hugs the coast and provides great views back to Campbell River and the mountains beyond. The road out of Cape Mudge Village (Yaculta) to Cape Mudge Road was quite a climb and those people in our group with electric bikes really put them to good use . We took Cape Mudge Road to Heriot Bay Road and this provided a long downhill to Rebecca Spit. Rebecca Spit is a popular destination on Quadra and I had wanted to check out the campground there as well as have lunch at one of the shady picnic tables in the Provincial Park. The rest of group headed toward scenic Heriot Bay.  

There are no shoulders on Quadra but not much traffic on the Cape Mudge Road 

     Since I had to get back to Courtenay by mid afternoon I cycled back along Heriot Bay Road to the ferry and just made it time for the 1:00 pm sailing. I was glad I was on a bike since the long car lineup meant that not all the cars could be taken on this ferry and the extra cars would have to catch the next sailing at 2:00 pm.  My total cycling distance on Quadra was about 25 km. There is a still lots to explore on Quadra and on my next cycling trip I want to go the Cape Mudge Lighthouse and spend more time in Heriot Bay and Rebecca Spit. Stay safe and remember to bring a face mask for the ferry crossing. 

Cycling along the Rebecca Spit road

Looking east toward Cortes Island and beyond from Rebecca Spit