The Final leg of the Vancouver Island Ride

After spending the night at the Art and Soul B & B, (with a marvelous dinner at the
"Rocking Horse Inn Pub" -- very, very, English, don't you know!) we took off for Victoria by Sag-wagon as this was my day off from riding. I was the designated "Driver" as Mo had been crawling at 10-15 miles per hour, keeping an eye out for me and coaching me all the way.(One quite amusing incident occurred as I was riding by Mo(the coach), she called out to me telling me to drink water. As she called out, another cyclist passed me and immediately took out his water bottle and started drinking!!)
Arrived in beautiful Victoria with the old English-style Buildings and Hanging Baskets of the most colorful flowers,and of course great PUBS. "Suds" Blumenthal was in his element!! We were hosted again by Mo's family for the 2 days that we spent in Victoria.
Took 2 great rides through Oak bay and Cadboro bay, which were spectacular, riding along the water past small-boat harbors, beautifully landscaped gardens and great houses with incredible views of the ocean and the Olympic mountain range across the water on the mainland USA (Olympic Peninsula WA.) We stopped at a lovely cafe along the water and next to a fishing pier and watched the action while we had a bite and wonderful coffee.(By the way, the coffee bars and the motel room coffees were outstanding especially when compared with the US motels!!)
Left Victoria in the afternoon after taking the Ferry to Port Angeles WA and then started the final 60 Kilometers. Drove to Lake Crescent, a Sapphire-Blue half-moon lake to knock your socks off, and then rode along the Sol Duc river with fast-flowing waterfalls and through Red Cedar, Hemlock, and Maple forests to the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort, where we spent the night in a cabin. Soaked in a natural "Sulfurous"hot tub to help my hard- working legs and joints recover after a long uphill ride, and to calm Mo's frayed nerves!!
The Last stretch was back to Lake Crescent (Mostly Downhill) where we found a
great campsite on the edge of the lake where we set up camp for the night to sleep under the stars SANS tent. Some terrific neighbors gave us firewood for a lovely campfire; had dinner with a delicious bottle of red wine, given to us by another friendly tourist we met at a B & B in Trinidad and celebrated our wondrous Vancouver Island adventure.
I must comment that Mike's Black Mountain Bike was fantastic allowing me to climb some very difficult hills,and behaving beautifully on the Down-hills and what's more NOT ONE FLAT TIRE!!( Averaged 33miles/54 kilometers per day and 14 days of riding) Also, the weather was perfect all the way (no rain, never too hot, no strong wind, and when there was a breeze it was behind me!) I also want to thank all who sent encouraging e-mails and Blog-comments and to say we had a ball doing this
great ride.
CIAO from Joe and Mo.