Gabriola with G and the VIBC
On 29-30 September 2024 G and I went bike camping on Gabriola Island with the adorable folk of the Vancouver Island Bikepack Collective (VIBC).
The week before I was at TPAC in Anaheim and didn't get back till the Saturday: we'd hoped to go straight out to Gabriola on the Saturday and spend two nights there, but it was too much of a quick turnaround, so I slept in my bed on the Saturday night and we headed out the next day. I took the Surly for extra carrying capacity in 4 panniers. G took the Loophole handlebar bag containing snacks and her backpack containing clothes. We also brought ramen, oatmeal, tortillas, peanut butter and Made Good cookies.
We missed the ferry we wanted to get cos of traffic on the highway, so we were even later than we'd planned. G got juice on the ferry and for some reason stuck "Made With Real Fruit" stickers on her face. Maybe because she's made with real fruit?
The ride from Departure Bay to the Gabriola ferry was short but fun, except the bit where they inexplicably make you ride on the busy highway for a few hundred metres, but we just took the sidewalk.
We met a person giving out brownies, bananas, and stickers to cyclists for some kind of ride your bike week thing. Thanks, person!
The ferry to Gabriola is lovely, and the road to the campground on the other side is st-e-e-e-p but very short. We didn't know which campsites were ours but found some friendly VIBC people (Jesse and Chelsea) who helped us find a spot.
There were some beautiful lobster mushrooms at our campsite but I didn't dare eat them.
We went to the rocks by the ocean where you can lounge about like a seal (aka seal rocks), and got the ramen started. G's friend S was there with her parents, they weren't bike camping but just there with friends.
It was already getting dark after ramen was finished, so we went and hung out with the other VIBC people by the fire, and G got to meet Bodhi the Adventure Cat, who's a most impressive animal.
The night was cold and very dark but we survived. In the morning G invented a new breakfast made of Made Good cookies glued to tortillas with peanut butter.
After that it was time to go, so I packed up while G rode laps of the campground. We met Alex at the ferry, and rode back with her, stopping for lunch on the way. We should have brought ferry entertainments for G but at least she got more face-stickers.
It would have been good to have more time on the island, but it was a great first bike camp for G. Thanks VIBC, you are awesome.
G's version permalink
It's been a few months since the bikepacking trip to Gabriola, but I remember it like yesterday. I really hope to go back there someday, perhaps with the VIBC again. It's a beautiful campground, and though I barely survived the STEEP hill up there, I think it was worth it for the scenery.
The beach is not far at all from the campsites, and it's a really nice view during sundown. It has a load of strangely shaped rocks, some like crescent moons, that are perfect for dozing off on! I call this beach "Seal Rocks", because I like to flop around like a seal on them.
Then there was the prize draw, and the VIBC was giving out things like mugs, socks, and coffee. My dad said that it would be very weird if I got coffee. It would be!
During the prize draw, I got to meet Bodhi the Adventure Cat, who was lurking around in the shadows. I watched him for a while.
After that, we went to bed in our tent, and woke up early-ish to pack. My friend from school was there at the campsite too! In the morning, I went over to her campsite to see what she and her friends had made in the woods. It was a secret base, of sorts. Very comfortable.
We left soon after that. The ferry was very nice, but I was glad to be home. Thank you so much, VIBC!