For best results, don't just follow signs. Explore.
Meandering along the Pacific Marine Circle Route on southern Vancouver Island, the rain is falling hard and the wipers–on high–can barely keep up. When there’s finally a short break in the downpour, the wind picks up, blowing layers of maple leaves across my windshield.
It’s autumn on Vancouver Island, and I’m in the thick of it: exploring spur roads and trails, an hour east of Port Renfrew, in a wonderfully seasonal downpour. My old Jeep 4×4 is purring right along, but the voltage demands of the high speed wipers, fog lights, and defroster have revealed a weakness in the 18 year old alternator, and the lights begin to dim. It’s all part of the adventure for me, but the wife and kids are getting a little uneasy.
Fortunately, the Pacific Marine Circle Route only feels remote–you’re never more than an hour or two (at the most) from civilization, but at times it feels like you’re rounding bends on the Darien Gap. If only…
While it sounds rather grand, this marine route is mostly highway–but it does have some spectacular Pacific Coast ocean-side destinations. Starting off in Victoria (if you prefer) the route travels highway 14 through Sooke to Port Renfrew, then continues on highway 18 to Lake Cowichan and then Duncan, where it connects with highway 1, for the drive back to Victoria, passing through Cobble Hill, Mill Bay, and Bamberton along the way.
But it’s the stretch from Port Renfrew to Cowichan that most interests the four wheeler. Armed with a sharp eye (or a good off road map book), it’s easy to discover gravel spur roads leading deep into the hills and forests, and to several hours of mucky off road fun. Here can be found some of the best 4×4 roads and trails the south Island has to offer (now that so many of our traditional four wheel drive roads are behind gates).
The Pacific Marine Route offers plenty of off road adventures and activities–hiking, fishing, four wheeling, camping, beach combing, wildlife viewing, surfing, even gold panning–with enough civilization along the way to keep everyone interested, well fed, and continually curious about what might be around the next bend.
And because home is never far away, you’re more likely to explore a little deeper into those hills and mountains knowing one way or another, you’ll get home in time.
