Thoughts For A Winding Highway
I was sitting on my deck as night fell over the forest, nursing a beer with the Bike Traveller as he spoke of his recent cycling adventures around the BC coast, and it made me happy to think of the new wave of tourism that includes the whisper-quiet bike visitor and the snake thin footprint it entails.
For many Sunshine Coast residents, tourism is a mixed blessing. We know that the artisans and bed and breakfasts are finally making some money, and our homes are full of happy relatives and news from “away.” But we can’t get across the highway for the traffic, the ferries are full to the brim, and ... there’s all that noise, noise, noise... Engines revving, crowded parking lots, exhaust smells lingering in the laneways ... it sure does make a “Coaster” appreciate bicycle tourists! And we’re starting to see more and more of them – lean bums hunched, panniers full to bursting, helmets pointed like arrows, heading up the highway, silent as angels.
How Coasters Can Help Bicycle Tourism
I would like to see a recognition system started whereby cycling-friendly households who appreciate these low impact travelers could put out a message of greeting. Maybe this would be an old bike tire wired to the front fence; it could even turn into an icon like Neighbourhood Watch. This icon would mean, “Hey, cyclists! Are you thirsty? Need to use a phone? Want to patch that tire in a safe place? Pitch your tent and crash for the night? Come on by, you are welcome here.” We would meet each other over cool glasses of water and crisp apples, and talk about bears and beaches, and where to get a good cup of coffee.
How Cyclists Can Support Sustainable Agendas While They Are Here
Since you’ll be spending some dough, you can help change the world while you’re at it. The Bike Traveller mentioned asking a local where to get the best coffee, and getting the good advice to head to Wheatberries, who support organics with their coffee and tea selections. His comment reminded me that chatting with the locals about places to see and eat is a great bonding point for overcoming the isolation of any travel. So ask us where we eat and hang out! And please drop your money at the lowest end of the consumer scale you can find – we need your help to support the mom and pop operations, restaurants who are trying to make a difference, farmers’ stalls and artisan studios.
Eat Your Way Up The Highway
See the first Wheatberries at the Langdale ferry terminal. There are four of these on the coast. They supply organic teas and coffees, use only organic flours in their products, and buy from local farms whenever they can. There is a Wheatberries on either side of the highway in Upper Gibsons so you never have to cross the street.
Saturday mornings, look for the sign for the Fiddlehead Market to pick up some goodies from small local farms that focus on organic products.
Roberts Creek
Head down to the waterfront from the highway and as you pass the cluster of commercial buildings on your right called the Heart of the Creek, you will see the Roberts Creek Health Food Store. Load up on organic nuts, trail mix, fresh and dried fruit, cold drinks, teas, and chocolate. There is a bike rack right outside of Elements Local Arts & Eco-Wares, just down the walkway.
For the main meal, carry on to the next set of buildings - the sweet Gumboots! Both the Café and the Bistro make a point of using organic, free run, and/or non-medicated goods – in short, the healthiest choice among the products they can find. And they go one better – between the two Gumboots, you will see the back garden being converted to veggie patches, as the owners have decided to grow their own. Say hello to Farmer Dave (and sidekick Deb) over the hedge, and you will also see the homemade wooden bike racks thoughtfully tucked out of sight of the main parking lot.
As you head back up the highway to Wilson Creek, you will see the small mall on your right at the traffic lights. Look for Strait Coffee Limited, a little coffee shop, sadly without a bike rack, but worth promoting because they were the first on the coast to support Fair Trade organic coffees. They do their own roasting right across the street. Strait Coffee uses all organic flours in their take-out muffins.
Sechelt
Take the left turn at the traffic lights, and at the end of that first block you will see two good choices for a rest and some good food.
On your right you’ll see the new Café Santé. The owners are making a big push to do good environmental work on the coast. Father and daughter team Mikal and Sophia are planning meetings with farmers, working on their composting and recycling systems, and hope to add new organic products as they meet suppliers. They offer take-out, so a cyclist can phone ahead and pick up lunch on the way through town. Breakfast and lunch only, and you can bring your bike up with you onto the deck.
Across the street is another Wheatberries, with lots of room to sit down. They serve excellent snacks and baked goods, and the same organic choices as the other branches.
Have fun everyone, and be safe, welcomed, and well fed! Blessings on your silent passage.
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