Three bikes, two couples, one wild ride on the Sunshine Coast.

Explore the Sunshine Coast! It was time for our annual couples’ motorcycle adventure trip, and my turn to plan something slightly adventurous. I opened Google Maps and reviewed our options. I figured a good day trip from our base at Powell River (four and half hours northwest of Vancouver) would be to explore up through Lund to the Sunshine Coast Trailhead at the northern tip of the peninsula. This was one end of a rugged but well-established multi-day hiking trail, so I figured the forest service road would be reasonably maintained, the bay would be a scenic place to picnic on an isolated beach, and a great motorcycling adventure awaited. What could possibly go wrong?

The Sunshine Coast combines two peninsulas nestled between rugged fjords, starting approximately 50 km northwest of Vancouver. Despite its close proximity, access is restricted to air or ferry and the population is modest, with three small towns and a few quaint villages linked by a single paved highway and a smattering of dirt roads. The locals prefer it that way and the atmosphere is bohemian, much like the nearby Gulf Islands. We crossed from Vancouver Island to Powell River via the ferry at Comox, some 230 km north of Victoria. 

Ferries can be busy during the summer, with sailing waits common, but motorcycles are always loaded first — thank you, BC Ferries! We even managed to spot a pod of humpback whales in the distance on the voyage across the strait, making a perfect start to the trip. Motorcycle trips are all about the experiences, where even fleeting moments can become lifelong memories.

LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN

We were four adventurers on three bikes: a BMW F850 GS, a Triumph Tiger 900 GT, and my wife and I on my 2009 Suzuki V-Strom 650. While the other couple’s bikes had bash plates, crash bars, and reasonable tires, I rode a basically stock bike without such amenities on essentially street tires, but I knew the Strom enjoyed a romp over dirt or gravel just fine. 

With the early sun mottling the pavement, we swept along gentle curves between tall Douglas firs with glimpses of the rugged coastline on our way north. My heart raced just a little in anticipation of the unexplored road ahead. None of us had been here before, and conditions were perfect to explore and drink in the natural beauty of the area. We were ready for adventure!

Our first stop was the picturesque village of Lund, the last bastion of civilization in these parts. We wandered briefly along the pier and picked up refreshments at The Stock Pile, where I mentioned our…