Route

This year there will be three tours: the traditional 'round the island tour, a junior tour along Berry Point Road, and a circular tour from Silva Bay Inn via Peterson Road. Water (bring your own bottle) and fruit will be available at strategic locations along each route.

will commence and finish at the Gabriola Elementary School**, North Road, approximately 1.5 kms. from the ferry (see "Ferry" for directions from ferry).Riders will depart the school, turn right onto North Road, then left onto Lockinvar Lane, which will take them to South Road where they will turn left. The route continues along South Road all the way to Silva Bay where the road name changes to North Road and comes back to the starting point, making a loop around the island. The length of the ride is approximately 27 kms. and will take aproximately 1.5 to 2 hours to complete.
** For those who wish to begin the ride from the east end of the island, you may register at the Silva Bay Inn and then proceed along North Road.

will start/end at the Twin Beaches Shopping Centre, 377 Berry Point Road, approximately 2.4 kms. from the ferry. Riders will depart the centre, turn right onto Berry Point Road and will turn left past the Surf Lodge, continuing out to the picnic tables at Orlebar Point. Riders will return via the same route. The length of the ride is appoximately 6 kms.

will start/end at the Silva Bay Inn near the junction of North Road and South Road on the east end of Gabriola, approximately 15.5 kms. from the ferry via South Road. Riders will depart the Silva Bay Inn driveway, turn right onto South/North Road, proceed anti-clockwise around the east end of the island, turning left onto Peterson Road. At South Road, the riders will turn left, pass Coast Road and continue back to Silva Bay. The length of the ride is approximately 8 kms.

(Map of Gabriola) (Traditional Tour Course) (Junior Tour Course) (Peterson Tour Course)

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Points of Interest and Caution

The tour begins by passing through the original business area of Gabriola (bank, shops, indoor & outdoor markets, post office, museum, gas station, liquor store, restaurants, etc.). Soon the riders will pass the Police Station, then the Gabriola golf course, Gabriola Greenhouse and into the forest along the south cliff. The descent on "Brickyard Hill" is 18%. Because of this steep section, riders should check their brakes with care before the ride and again before rolling down the hill. At the bottom their is a picnic area and a view of False Narrows and Mudge Island. The road continues past fields, the cemetary and affords quick peeks of the Pylades Channel. After Degnen Bay there is a short, but steep and curving climb up a narrow stretch of road. Be sure to maintain a safe distance from other riders in case someone should suddenly stop or dismount. Drivers experience difficulty seeing slower moving traffic along here, so be alert. Soon the participants will pass Coast Road on the right, which leads to Drumbeg Provincial Park. Stay left on South Road. After a few curves the road descends to Silva Bay Marina, Silva Bay Inn and the General Store. Once past the bay the route returns to fields and the forests that form the "Tree Tunnel." Towards the end of the route there is a sharp curve downhill and a short, steep climb back up. Here the shoulder is wide enough to provide more safety. Soon you will be back at the school.

Although the road curves often, there should be little traffic on a peaceful Sunday morning for riders to safely enjoy the ride. The main attraction of this ride is the views afforded while following the shoreline to Orlebar Point. The route ends at the picturesque sighting of Entrance Island. The route on the return leg affords more shoulder room in case of need for stopping.

Conner Reid is a Tour de Gabriola 2010 hero. He rode the Junior Tour and raised $241 in pledges.

This circuit is conceptually simple yet challenging. First, turn right onto the main road, then prepare for a short steep downhill with limited vision due to a sharp curve. It may be wise to walk your bike and keep clear of the roadway where possible. After leaving the views of Silva Bay, the rider enters the forested areas with various side roads out to the Strait of Georgia. At the water/fruit stop at Peterson Road, the rider turns left onto this cross island road. This means cutting across the spine of the island, but not a big challenge at this end or in this direction. The rider will see nothing but secluded driveways and lanes to disrupt his solitude. Then the big drop down to South Road appears. Be very careful to stop at the bottom as traffic is difficult to discern. Turning left, the road twists and rises steeply. Please stay alert for vehicles that may not see you. Back into farmland, the rider will pass Coast Road, with a turnoff for the popular Drumbeg Provincial Park. The tour stays to the left following South Road back down past Silva Bay Road, the Silva Bay Marina, the Log Church, and terminating at the Silva Bay Inn on the right.

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Registration and Rules of the Ride

Registration takes place at the starting/ending locations (Trad Tour: Gabriola Elementary School or Silva Bay Inn, Jr. Tour: Twin Beaches Shopping Centre, Peterson Tour: Silva Bay Inn) between 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. We are asking a minimum donation of $20 per adult rider, $10 per child.

The top 20 riders with pledges or donations exceeding $50 will receive a short sleeve fleece shirt complements of Ana López Uriarte of Gabriola Cycle & Kayak.

Donations will be accepted preferably by cheque or cash (not by credit card). Participants are requested to print the registration form available from this website and turn in the completed form at the registration table with the sponsorship money (make cheques payable to "Gabriola Health Care Foundation"). Forms will also be available at the W. I. (Women's Institute) Hall next to the post office on South Road, Visitor Information Centre and Clinic at Twin Beaches Mall, and the Sounder Office at Madrona Place up until May 28th, then at the registration table for those who cannot print the forms for themselves.

This is not a competition, so please ride with care and enjoy yourself and Gabriola Island. Helmets are mandatory and riders must ride single file, passing only when safe to do so. Registration closes 10:30 a.m., but riders are encouraged to begin as soon as they are registered to ensure safe distances between riders.

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Parking

Riders arriving by car are asked to park in the gravel lot away from the front of the school. Please observe the ENTRANCE and EXIT signs. Parking at Twin Beaches Shopping Centre and the Silva Bay Inn is also available. Please park away from business entrances and exits if possible.

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Ferry

The Gabriola ferry, the Quinsam, makes a round-trip journey roughly every hour with a lunch break during the early afternoon. Crossing time is 20 minutes. Participants coming from Nanaimo (across from Port Place) will probably travel on the 8:20 or 9:30 a.m. crossing. The last return ferry before the afternoon break departs Gabriola (Descanso Bay) at 1:20 p.m. and then picks up again at 3:10 p.m. For complete schedule and fare information, go to http://www.bcferries.com/schedules/southern/nhgi-current.html. The return trip fare is approximately $9 per passenger, bikes travel "free" with Experience Card, otherwise, $2 each. There is some parking at the Nanaimo terminal; try to arrive early enough to avoid confusion.
To reach the starting areas from the ferry dock on Gabriola, bear left from the ferry parking area, go past the (Skol) Pub on your right. If you are joining the Junior Tour, take the first left onto Taylor Bay Road, passing the ferry line-up lane and follow the winding road to Twin Beaches Shopping Centre on your right, approx. 2.4 kms. For the Traditional Tour, do not turn, rather continue all the way up the hill. Near the crest, a fire hazard warning level sign stands at the fork in the road between North Road and South Road. Turn left onto North Road, pass the gas station on your left and Folklife Village on your right. After a slight climb, you will see the school on your left. This is the starting point for the Traditional Tour, approx. 1.5 kms. from the ferry. For the Peterson Tour, one may take either South Road or North Road to the Silva Bay Inn.

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Facilities

Public washrooms are available in the Gabriola ferry waiting areas on either side of the crossing as well as onboard the Quinsam. Since these rides take place on a Sunday, Twin Beaches Shopping Centre and The Folklife Village may not open their facilities till late morning.

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click here for Registration Form