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Cortes Island to Nanaimo via Quadra Island, Campbell River, Courtenay, Qualicum Beach

Segment 1 - Cortes Island to Courtenay via Quadra Island and Campbell River

km direction street name / comments
0.0 · Cortes Island - Manson's Landing - Camping (Smelt Bay Provincial Park), Groceries, Restaurants, Hotel, Bike Repair (Monkey Wrench Bikes)
18.3 ¯ Whaletown Ferry Terminal - take ferry to Quadra Island - then follow signs to Campbell River Ferry
27.0 i Campbell River - Restaurants, Hotels, Groceries, Bike Stores. Follow Pier St (Island Highway) south. For a while there is a bike path paralleling the highway on the water side.  Excellent shoulder the rest of the way
48.5 i Turnoff for Miracle Beach Provincial Park - Camping
63.0 · Courtenay - Restaurants, Hotels, Groceries, Bike Stores.
Recommended Shantz Haus Hostel at 520 5th St (bike storage, dorm rooms, private rooms, shared kitchen) reviews - website

Segment 2 - Courtenay to Qualicum Beach via Union Bay, Buckley Bay, Bowser

km direction street name / comments
0.0 · Courtenay - Begin at Cliffe Av (Old Island Hwy) and 5th St - Proceed south along Cliffe Av (shoulder is narrow but mostly good)
17 i Union Bay - Groceries
23 i Buckley Bay - Groceries, Restaurant, Ferries to Denman and Hornby Island
30 i Fanny Bay Service - Groceries, Deli, Camping (mostly RVs)
42 i Bowser - Recommended Bean Counter Cafe: coffee, food, WiFi
61 R Cresent Rd
61.5 R Arbutus St
61.8 L Harlech Rd RR tracks (bike route)
63.9 R Memorial Av
64 · End - Memorial Av and 2nd Avenue - Qualicum Beach - restaurants, bike store: Head Over Wheels 130 W 2nd Av 250-752-0027, Recommended Elena's Cafe: food, coffee, WiFi

Taking a break at Fanny Bay

Segment 3 - Courtenay to Nanaimo via Parksville, Lantzville

km direction street name / comments
0.0 · Qualicum Beach - First Av at Memorial Av, go east on Memorial
0.2 L Fern Rd E, continues as Mant Rd
1.6 R Qualicum Rd, first left at Garden Rd E
3.3 ¯ Walk bike through grassy area
3.4 L Bennet Rd
4.2 R Sunrise Dr
6.7 R Highway 19A
8.2 L Wright Av, immediate R at Temple St
10.9 R Bay St then immediate L at Hwy 19A
12.3 i Parksville - intersection w Hwy 4 to Port Alberni. Next section until turn at Industrial Way is very busy and no bike lane, so you might want to plot an alternative route through Parksville.
14.1 i Arrowsmith Bikes
15.4 R Industrial Way
16.6 L Franklins Bull, cross highway, R at Northwest Bay Rd
23.6 L Hwy 19. This section is very busy and fast traffic.
32.5 L Lantzville Rd (note: for Southbound cyclists this is dangerous need to cross 4 lanes of highway. Recomend use pedestrian overpass about 200m north)
36.5 i Lantzville - groceries, restaurant
36.8 R Ware St, cross highway after a bit
39.1 L Aulds Rd
40.7 ¯ cross highway
41.0 R Metral Dr
43.9 R Mostar
44.1 L bike path beside railroad tracks
49.8 L crosswalk for Departure Bay Rd if going to ferry to Vancouver. Or just continue on path for Nanaimo and Victoria
Recommended Painted Turtle Hostel at 121 Bastion St, Nanaimo (bike storage, dorm rooms, private rooms, shared kitchen, laundry) reviews - website
51.1 L Strewart into ferry terminal, follow signs for foot passengers and purchase ticket inside
52 · Departure Bay ferry terminal