Cities: Chemainus, Ladysmith
Route: https://www.komoot.com/tour/r39759052?ref=atd
After packing up early, headed North to my destination, Nanaimo. It was going to be a hot and sveltering day with temperatures forecasted to be in the high 80s.
This was to be my fourth visit to Nanaimo: twice by car, once by sailboat, once by bike coming from the North and, currently, approaching from the south.
Chemainus, once a mining, forestry and fishing village, now has a population of about 4,000 and thrives on tourism. It became famous because of its murals and it sunk a salvaged 747 airliner off the coast for scuba divers. I arrived mostly by following the scenic but hilly Richards Trail.
Ladysmith with a population of about 10,000 was next along the way. The town was originally built to house coal miner families but today it depends on agriculture a d tlurism.In 1900, James Dunsmuir named the town in honor of the British lifting the siege of Ladysmith in South Africa during the Second Boer War.
I arrived in Nanaimo late in the afternoon and checked into the Painted Turtle Guesthouse which is near the waterfront. The ride today was grueling due to the heat and hills. I drank several quarts of water to prevent debydration.
The Painted Turtle is a classic, European-style hostel which opened in July 2004 in a renovated 1913 heritage building. It is conveniently located in the heart of the arts/harbor district downtown. The facilities are very clean with a well-equipped kitchen and fast Wifi. Highly-rated, it is a 9/10.
Route: https://www.komoot.com/tour/r39759052?ref=atd
After packing up early, headed North to my destination, Nanaimo. It was going to be a hot and sveltering day with temperatures forecasted to be in the high 80s.
This was to be my fourth visit to Nanaimo: twice by car, once by sailboat, once by bike coming from the North and, currently, approaching from the south.
Chemainus, once a mining, forestry and fishing village, now has a population of about 4,000 and thrives on tourism. It became famous because of its murals and it sunk a salvaged 747 airliner off the coast for scuba divers. I arrived mostly by following the scenic but hilly Richards Trail.
Ladysmith with a population of about 10,000 was next along the way. The town was originally built to house coal miner families but today it depends on agriculture a d tlurism.In 1900, James Dunsmuir named the town in honor of the British lifting the siege of Ladysmith in South Africa during the Second Boer War.
I arrived in Nanaimo late in the afternoon and checked into the Painted Turtle Guesthouse which is near the waterfront. The ride today was grueling due to the heat and hills. I drank several quarts of water to prevent debydration.
The Painted Turtle is a classic, European-style hostel which opened in July 2004 in a renovated 1913 heritage building. It is conveniently located in the heart of the arts/harbor district downtown. The facilities are very clean with a well-equipped kitchen and fast Wifi. Highly-rated, it is a 9/10.