Spring Break Pacific Marine Circle Tour?
Printed From: West Coast Fieros
Category: Events Section
Forum Name: Meetings, and Events Info
Forum Description: What Happened at the Last Meeting/Drive, When's the Next Meeting or Drive?
URL: http://www.westcoastfieros.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3135
Printed Date: 23 November 2024 at 2:56am
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Topic: Spring Break Pacific Marine Circle Tour?
Posted By: beken
Subject: Spring Break Pacific Marine Circle Tour?
Date Posted: 16 February 2013 at 10:55am
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Dragging this up again.
http://www.pacificmarinecircleroute.com/ I am planning on driving this route on a weekday during spring break near the end of March. I haven't decided on whether I will take the MINI or the Fiero yet. It depends on who else is interested in doing this route. If significant number (more than 5) of Fiero drivers say I'm going for sure, then the Fiero. If we get lots of MINIs, then I'm taking the MINI. I'm leaning toward the MINI just because the risk of a breakdown is a bit less. The Fieros can do a club event later in the summer when the weather is likely much better. But I just can't help but like the idea of a crowd of Fieros on the ferry and the looks and good comments from other ferry passengers. Caveat...I've never driven this route before, so I really don't know what to expect other than the route takes you over the mountains of Vancouver Island on upgraded and paved logging roads (lots of curves and switchbacks). There should be some spectacular scenery and photo ops, but I don't know. I also don't know what kind of traffic to expect, though I hear there are lots of RV's in the summer. It also costs money as the ferry costs for a return trip will run you $100 for the car and about $30 per person. Plus food and gas. This is a long drive. About 2 hours on the Ferry each way, about a 6 hour drive to go from Victoria to Nanaimo or back to Sidney. So put your name down if you want to do it. On the other hand, I'm wondering if I should just open this up, call it a "bring an interesting car with you" drive, and invite the other car clubs along too. ; ) But that might make the drive a bit of an organizational nightmare if we all don't get on the same ferry. So....anybody interested? -------------  Beken (aka Ken) - bekentech@westcoastfieros.com Original and still the owner of an 85SE 2M6 4spd |
Replies:
Posted By: 88 Addict
Date Posted: 16 February 2013 at 4:56pm
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I have driven this road about 3 or 4 times a year since my sister lives in Port Renfrew, and my niece and her family live on Sooke road between Jordan River and Sooke. It would be entertaining in a Fiero or a Mini. If fact any sporty car would be fun. I hope to have at least one of my fieros ready for the road in March. So in short since I live in Mill Bay near the north end of the Malahat Drive I would love to hook up with any one who can make it, at least for part of the run on the island.
------------- So many Fiero's, So little time. |
Posted By: Boxin' Robin
Date Posted: 18 February 2013 at 9:43am
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Hi Ken. I unfortunately no longer own a Fiero. Sold it back to the previous owner and got myself a 2012 Civic Si. I MAY BE interested in doing this run with you, if I am allowed to take my Si. And yes, I do miss my 86 GT very much. Nothing (that I've driven so far) handles like a go-kart like it. I don't miss the periodical unreliability though |
.Posted By: Car-2-Lo
Date Posted: 18 February 2013 at 12:41pm
That's why we all drive reliable cars for daily driving too  at WCF Club  ------------- Johnny-B-Good 
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Boxin' Robin wrote:Posted By: beken
Date Posted: 21 February 2013 at 2:41pm
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I would argue that my MINI out handles my Fiero, but being FWD, you have to drive it a bit differently.
They are quite different. You can bring your Civic Si, but I am more likely to be driving my MINI instead of the Fiero. So far, nobody else has expressed interest in taking the Ferry over with me for the day trip. I will tighten up on the schedule (exact date, meet up location, which ferry we're catching and things to do) in the next two or three weeks. I am looking at the last week of March for this trip. ------------- Beken (aka Ken) - bekentech@westcoastfieros.com Original and still the owner of an 85SE 2M6 4spd |
Posted By: Boxin' Robin
Date Posted: 28 February 2013 at 8:12am
Yah...keep me posted, Ken. As I said, I may or may not make it. Still contemplating the total cost of this drive. The ferry is always a pain in the a$$  .
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Posted By: CFoss
Date Posted: 28 February 2013 at 8:34am
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I can't imagine not going on this if you guys are coming over. Ferry pain is almost like tax pain! Chay ------------- 86 SE 3.4 |
Posted By: beken
Date Posted: 01 March 2013 at 12:14pm
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I'll firm up a date and what ferry I'm catching on a closer date. I suspect I won't have a job yet in March either.
------------- Beken (aka Ken) - bekentech@westcoastfieros.com Original and still the owner of an 85SE 2M6 4spd |
Posted By: ryanwmitchell
Date Posted: 01 March 2013 at 10:40pm
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Hey there i would be a for sure on this in my fiero just cause this would be
my first cruise with some people from westcoast fieros just let me know when and i will try my best to work it around my school, looks like a great trip though ------------- Ryan, 86 Fiero GT fastback V6 orange and black |
Posted By: bcampbell
Date Posted: 02 March 2013 at 12:50am
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Might be interested if part of it is on the island. ------------- '86 2m6 F23 5-speed, LSD, 3.5L LX9 '89 Firebird 3500T, T56 |
Posted By: CFoss
Date Posted: 02 March 2013 at 4:49pm
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It's all on the island. The circle route is the name they gave to the victoria/duncan/lake cowichan/port renfrew/sooke/victoria loop. If I don't make it for some reason, when you are headed out to renfrew from lake cow, look for a small 'point of interest' sign on the left hand side. Stop. Go down the 5 minute trail and witness the biggest tree ever (Well, biggest I've ever seen...which is big!). Chay ------------- 86 SE 3.4 |
Posted By: ryanwmitchell
Date Posted: 02 March 2013 at 6:27pm
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sweet sounds cool, this should be a good route!! ill post it to the island
fieros thread ------------- Ryan, 86 Fiero GT fastback V6 orange and black |
Posted By: Joshb85gt
Date Posted: 03 March 2013 at 9:39pm
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Im from Nanaimo so I would be down with that.
It depends on which day. me and my wife are having a baby. due date is on the 23 which is a Saturday. Ill take my fiero on the trip if im able to make it. |
Posted By: bcampbell
Date Posted: 04 March 2013 at 12:35pm
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Since you said it was going to be a weekday, I usually have
Wednesdays off. ------------- '86 2m6 F23 5-speed, LSD, 3.5L LX9 '89 Firebird 3500T, T56 |
Posted By: ryanwmitchell
Date Posted: 05 March 2013 at 8:39pm
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hey i hate to say this but i am now out of the trip i crashed in my fiero today
and sadly i think she is done with her life one axle snapped off and the other bent both in back i dont think i can affford to repair her ------------- Ryan, 86 Fiero GT fastback V6 orange and black |
Posted By: beken
Date Posted: 07 March 2013 at 12:16am
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I was thinking of making the trip on Tuesday March 26, but if we have a request for Wednesday, I think we can move it to Wednesday. Will confirm maybe tomorrow.
Glad you're okay, Ryan. Cars can be replaced or repaired eventually. ------------- Beken (aka Ken) - bekentech@westcoastfieros.com Original and still the owner of an 85SE 2M6 4spd |
Posted By: beken
Date Posted: 08 March 2013 at 12:02am
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Since we have a request for Wednesday, I will do the drive on Wednesday March 27.
7:00am ferry. We should be in Victoria around 9:00am. At this time, the times are not engraved in stone. But I want to get on the ferry heading back to the mainland at a sane hour. I guess it depends on who else is coming with me. Since a did a bit of damage to my MINI's exhaust last weekend, I am now leaning towards driving the Fiero. Those already on the island, anybody interested in meeting up and driving with us? ------------- Beken (aka Ken) - bekentech@westcoastfieros.com Original and still the owner of an 85SE 2M6 4spd |
Posted By: Joshb85gt
Date Posted: 08 March 2013 at 12:05am
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I would love to go. But I work during the weekday.
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Posted By: beken
Date Posted: 21 March 2013 at 12:35pm
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Here is my final plan...as of this post, please sign up on this thread if you are coming. I will likely be driving the Fiero (no radio on board, however).
If nobody comes along, I will save the Pacific Circle for another day. My kid has a friend that is moving to Comox this weekend, and we will drive up to Comox instead. It's not as nice a drive. If anybody says they will meet us for the Pacific Circle, we will do that instead. We might even be able to do both. The Pacific circle in the morning and then heading north when we rejoin highway 1 out at Duncan and head for Comox. Those who need to get back can head back to the mainland either via Duke Point or Departure Bay, or head south from Duncan back to Sidney. We should be at Duncan by around 2:00pm which gives you plenty of time to catch the 5 o'clock sailings back to the mainland. 7:00am ferry for Sidney. Arrive Victoria around 9:00am. If any island people want to meet up, we can meet up at, say the Costco parking lot or something. 2:00pm Arrive at the Cowichan Valley Hwy/Island Hwy junction. According to Google Maps, a drive around to circle then the Comox and then back to Duke Point Ferry terminal is about 9 hours of driving. Long day. Who's coming? ------------- Beken (aka Ken) - bekentech@westcoastfieros.com Original and still the owner of an 85SE 2M6 4spd |
Posted By: beken
Date Posted: 21 March 2013 at 12:36pm
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Who's coming?
Ken (aka beken) - mainland ------------- Beken (aka Ken) - bekentech@westcoastfieros.com Original and still the owner of an 85SE 2M6 4spd |
Posted By: Boxin' Robin
Date Posted: 21 March 2013 at 1:10pm
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I'm sorry Ken...the ferry cost proves too prohibitive for
me  .
But if the weather is nice this weekend or the following, I'm thinking of taking the Si for a quick romp on "the scenic 7" and blast through the tunnels to Hell's Gate or something  .
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Posted By: bcampbell
Date Posted: 24 March 2013 at 10:15pm
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I'm just starting a new job this week, so may be working
Wednesday after all. I'll let you know when I know. ------------- '86 2m6 F23 5-speed, LSD, 3.5L LX9 '89 Firebird 3500T, T56 |
Posted By: 88 Addict
Date Posted: 26 March 2013 at 4:53pm
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Sorry to say that I will not be able to join you. The car is still on blocks in the garage. Have to get finished working on at least one of them so I can get with the program.
------------- So many Fiero's, So little time. |
Posted By: beken
Date Posted: 26 March 2013 at 10:47pm
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Okay....last post for this thread by me before I go. I am catching the 7:00am ferry. Since there are no Fieros going with me, I'm taking the MINI.
If you want to join me and are from the mainland, see you at the 7:00am sailing at Tsawwassen. If you are on the island, I will stop at Costco around 9:00am. I'm getting hot dogs for lunch. I figure we should be in the middle of nowhere around noon, so best to pack a lunch. My kid is coming with me and she wants to see the goats at Coombs so we will swing by there before heading back to Duke Point for the ferry back. Cheers! ------------- Beken (aka Ken) - bekentech@westcoastfieros.com Original and still the owner of an 85SE 2M6 4spd |
Posted By: beken
Date Posted: 27 March 2013 at 10:00pm
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Well, I just got back. You guys (and gals) don't know what you missed. I'll go out on a limb and say anybody that likes to drive a fine handling car has gotta drive this route.
Lots of twist, turns and elevation changes and combination switchbacks up a mountainside. Great views of the ocean and canyons. I don't know how busy this route gets in the summer, but a fall drive would be spectacular with the fall colours. Pictures to be posted soon. ------------- Beken (aka Ken) - bekentech@westcoastfieros.com Original and still the owner of an 85SE 2M6 4spd |
Posted By: Boxin' Robin
Date Posted: 28 March 2013 at 12:23pm
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Oh man...you got me itching to go drive this route now! Post photos please By the way, have you done the Sunshine Coast Highway before? That's a nice drive with lots of cliff-hugging twists and turns also. |
Posted By: Patrick
Date Posted: 28 March 2013 at 1:36pm
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For twenty years I was going up the coast at least once a year to a friend's property in Jervis Inlet. I've driven the highway through the Sunshine Coast up to Egmont many, many times. I love it. Added bonus is that the ferry to Langdale is relatively cheap compared to going to the Island.
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Posted By: beken
Date Posted: 28 March 2013 at 11:51pm
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I've been fishing at Egmont before. A long time ago. Maybe we'll have to look into doing a drive through the Sunshine Coast one day too. ------------- Beken (aka Ken) - bekentech@westcoastfieros.com Original and still the owner of an 85SE 2M6 4spd |
Posted By: Boxin' Robin
Date Posted: 29 March 2013 at 9:14am
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Like Patrick says, ferry to the Sunshine Coast is half the price
of the one to Victoria. So I'm all in whenever we are doing that run. 
I have driven up and down highway 101 all the way to Powell River quite a few times for family vacation. They were all in a family sedan though. Can only imagine how much fun it would be in a sporty car! |
Posted By: beken
Date Posted: 29 March 2013 at 4:00pm
Here are some of the pictures.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/beken/sets/72157633121276484/ - Views from the Pacific Marine Circle ------------- Beken (aka Ken) - bekentech@westcoastfieros.com Original and still the owner of an 85SE 2M6 4spd |