Port Renfrew-Lake Cowichan circle route is black topped

[Mike K.]

The "circle route" through Port Renfrew to Lake Cowichan will receive black top this summer. The province has invested quite a bit into this seldom used route, but it makes sense given the recent sale of Western Forest Product land to private firms that plan to redevelop the properties for market housing and resorts.

I travelled this route two weeks ago and it is currently hard packed gravel of very good quality that was trucked in from Hwy 18 (remember the loose ashphalt fiasco?). For much of the way you can drive at a decent pace of 80km/h whereas before you were limited to whatever you could mustre on a pothole filled logging road.

[Bernard]

Was this somewhere in the media? Interesting idea to have happen.

[Mike K.]

Several years ago the media reported the road would be turned over to taxpayers and eventually paved so the plan is now being put into action.

I was surprised, to say the very least, that the road is already hard packed gravel (that's almost as smooth as asphalt!). I'm sure the road receives more traffic in the summer months, but I counted less than a dozen other vehicles throughout the entire ~50km trek (it was a Saturday).

[Nparker]

Originally Posted by Bernard

Interesting idea to have happen.

Pure coincidence that a provincial election campaign is underway I am sure.

[vandervalk]

I'm confused. I just drove this route less than two months ago and it was fully paved, save for about 10km which was hard packed gravel but quite enjoyable.

From what I know it was completed last year.

http://www.soulecreeklodge.com/directions.htm
http://www.discoverportrenfrew.com/getting-here.htm

[sebberry]

I'm so upset by this and the sale of the lands. I drove it a few times the last few years and the gravel road helped to contribute to the isolation that one gets when they take a trip up there.

The last thing that area needs is too much tourist action going on. Things like this need to be preserved because once it is gone, its gone forever. People love living here partly because we have these isolated areas to escape to.

[LJ]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

I travelled this route two weeks ago and it is currently hard packed gravel of very good quality that was trucked in from Hwy 18 (remember the loose ashphalt fiasco?). For much of the way you can drive at a decent pace of 80km/h whereas before you were limited to whatever you could mustre on a pothole filled logging road.

I travelled this route last summer on a motorcycle (cruiser) and I sure couldn't maintain anywhere near 80k. If there was a vehicle in front of you they would spit up gravel in your face as well. Sure puts a quick end to tailgating.

[Bernard]

Originally Posted by sebberry

I'm so upset by this and the sale of the lands. I drove it a few times the last few years and the gravel road helped to contribute to the isolation that one gets when they take a trip up there.

The last thing that area needs is too much tourist action going on. Things like this need to be preserved because once it is gone, its gone forever. People love living here partly because we have these isolated areas to escape to.

The land is currently intensively managed private forest lands, the core purpose of the land at the moment is to provide maximum return for the owners.

As to the sale of the lands, they could have been sold at any time if the company was willing to lose crown timber tenures that were granted as part of the Tree Farm License.

If the land is to be preserved, it has to be purchased from the company at a fair market value, otherwise it is their business what they do with it and none of ours to meddle with their ability to make a living from it.

[Mike K.]

I'm confused. I just drove this route less than two months ago and it was fully paved, save for about 10km which was hard packed gravel but quite enjoyable.

That was the hard packed gravel that you were on. Black top is asphalt that will be laid this summer. Prior to the hard top much of the route was like your average logging road.

I travelled this route last summer on a motorcycle (cruiser) and I sure couldn't maintain anywhere near 80k. If there was a vehicle in front of you they would spit up gravel in your face as well.

There's only a small portion that is gravel now and the rest is decent hard top. Most of the vehicles driving the route were going at quite the clip (some even faster than me!).

[mat]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

That was the hard packed gravel that you were on. Black top is asphalt that will be laid this summer. Prior to the hard top much of the route was like your average logging road.



There's only a small portion that is gravel now and the rest is decent hard top. Most of the vehicles driving the route were going at quite the clip (some even faster than me!).

Mike, or others - how long does that route take for a nice family drive from Vic, around that road, and back home, with the current road conditions?

[sebberry]

Originally Posted by mat

Mike, or others - how long does that route take for a nice family drive from Vic, around that road, and back home, with the current road conditions?

4.5-5 hrs with a few short stops.

Used to be a nice peaceful remote drive with nobody around and plenty of spots to stop and take in the beauty and remoteness. Not anymore

The gravel logging road was, for the most part, passable at speeds of 50Km/hr with stretches where you could go faster. Now there are speed limits posted all over the place. It really wasn't as bad as people make it out to sound.

[sebberry]

Few pics from my last couple of trips up there:
http://ssb-tech.com/pmcr/

[VicHockeyFan]

Originally Posted by mat

Mike, or others - how long does that route take for a nice family drive from Vic, around that road, and back home, with the current road conditions?

8 hours if you are a mean family.

[sebberry]

8 hours? were you on a bicycle?

[Mike K.]

It really wasn't as bad as people make it out to sound.

When grated by the forest companies it wasn't bad, but in between gratings it could take as long as three hours to get to Lake Cowichan from Port Renfrew. I got caught up in that mess a couple of years ago.

[sebberry]

My experience was that it was rough, but certainly not 3 hours rough. Even when the logging folks were on strike. But then again if someone takes a Honda Civic up there they deserve to get stuck

[Mike K.]

I was in a Jeep. Fully capable to handle the roads, but the potholes were relentless and some almost a foot deep. 20km/h was the max for much of the road. That was in the winter, of course, where potholes were at their worst.

[mat]

Originally Posted by VicHockeyFan

8 hours if you are a mean family.

LOL

[mat]

Question is, for those who have done this route recently, would a front wheel drive Honda Element handle the road? How long should we plan to make the drive (with a few stops) - and any highlights to look out for?

[Mike K.]

You won't have ANY problems with an Element. But remember that you will travel a little way on gravel road, so ensure your tires have decent tread in order to avoid the potential for a flat.

I'd stop by the big tree (can't miss it -- there's a sign on the road) and if you're up for it venture off along logging road spurs to check out some quiet areas that would be great for a picnic.

Vic >> Port Renfrew 1:15 hours
PR >> Lake Cowichan 1:25 hours (with a few stops)
Lake Cowichan >> Victoria 1:30 hours

[mat]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

You won't have ANY problems with an Element. But remember that you will travel a little way on gravel road, so ensure your tires have decent tread in order to avoid the potential for a flat.

I'd stop by the big tree (can't miss it -- there's a sign on the road) and if you're up for it venture off along logging road spurs to check out some quiet areas that would be great for a picnic.

Vic >> Port Renfrew 1:15 hours
PR >> Lake Cowichan 1:25 hours (with a few stops)
Lake Cowichan >> Victoria 1:30 hours

Thanks Mike!! I think we will go on Saturday.

[Linear Thinker]

Originally Posted by Bernard

Was this somewhere in the media? Interesting idea to have happen.

Was anyone able to find a media release, etc., about this?

I looked on the BC-MOT site, last weekend I think, and could not find anything about this.
Is it, in fact, the Province doing it?

[victorian fan]

This may be part of it:

Pacific Marine Circle Route (9.0 Single Lane KM) – Paving and Sealcoat
O.K. Industries Ltd. was awarded a contract valued at $ $518,980.00 for approximately 37500 square metres of double graded aggregate seal on 4.0 km of road and 410 tonnes of asphalt pavement and 2000 square meters of single graded aggregate seal on 0.5 km of switchback corners. The project is expected to be completed by June 15, 2009.

Questions about this project should be directed to, Darren Englund, Project Manager, at 250-751-7039.

http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/highwayprojects/South_Coast.htm

[sebberry]

VV group cruise before all the land gets destroyed and developed!

[sebberry]

Originally Posted by Mike K.

I was in a Jeep. Fully capable to handle the roads, but the potholes were relentless and some almost a foot deep. 20km/h was the max for much of the road. That was in the winter, of course, where potholes were at their worst.

Ok, that's worse than when I went, but after all it IS a remote logging road in the middle of winter.