The Island Highway

**MC Hammered** · #1 (**permalink**) Apr 10, 07

Took the ferry to Nanaimo, left Departure Bay and hit up the highway to reach Cobble Hill.

Perfectly paved, wide open and some nice sweeping turns. I made pretty short work of an typical 30 minute trip.

If you love to drive you have to go to the island and check out some of the roads there.

Cdn_Brdr · #2 (**permalink**) Apr 10, 07

By far one of my favorite drives. I tend to continue on to Tofino though.... which if I might say so myself, is a beautiful and exhilarating drive in itself!

Goodfellow · #3 (**permalink**) Apr 10, 07

I had my lil vtec civic upto 220+ on the hwy back from nanaimo. Good times. Stupid governer I probably coulda gone way faster.

The island roads are mostly why I got an mr2 so many good twisties

baby-phat · #4 (**permalink**) Apr 10, 07

^ I think you need to get a new ride, and we should go up island and cause a ruckus sometime! lol

miss.myra · #5 (**permalink**) Apr 10, 07

daytrip to the island winston!

i know a rad tea place in vic, the best i've ever found!

mapleleaf4ever · #6 (**permalink**) Apr 10, 07

Agreed Winston... the New Island Highway is wicked for a Bull-Run from Nanaimo to Courtenay.

Goodfellow · #7 (**permalink**) Apr 10, 07

Quote:

Originally Posted by baby-phat

^ I think you need to get a new ride, and we should go up island and cause a ruckus sometime! lol

Yes we definitely should do that in summer. Ill have my mr2 fixed up soon enough.

baby-phat · #8 (**permalink**) Apr 10, 07

I can't wait till closer to summer.. we have to hit up that beach again.

lildonkey · #9 (**permalink**) Apr 10, 07

Driving my car and riding my motorcycle are easily my biggest hobbies...

I can drive for hours and hours with no destination and not get tired of it...

ive hit the roads on the island with my car, but havn't with my bike yet...

this summer i'm going to hit up the twisties there with my bike though

**MC Hammered** · #10 (**permalink**) Apr 10, 07

A bike through the twisties would be sick!

ebbomega · #11 (**permalink**) Apr 10, 07

Typically 30 minute trip? From Nanaimo ferry to Cobble Hill?

Um. 45 minimum going 10 above the limit there buddy.

Definitely agreed though, smooth ride the whole way there. Ever since they paved through and fixed up Ladysmith so that it's not 50 the whole way through it's been stupid-fast. Though the real notable improvements have been north of Nanaimo.

Malahat's still a freaking wreck though, don't know if they'll ever get that looking nice. The lookout north of the summit is keen though.

**MC Hammered** · #12 (**permalink**) Apr 10, 07

I did the trip in about 20 minutes.

Lucky for me there was no one on shift patrolling the streets.

The Malahat is still damn scary even though they put dividers up on certain sections.

Seeing all the crosses on the side of the road spooks me.

mapleleaf4ever · #13 (**permalink**) Apr 11, 07

^ I love the Malahat!

I've made a mad dash from Nanaimo to Victoria along there. I must say when I was on the edge of my traction through a corner near Bamberton it really gets the heart racing.

Man... I really want to drive something quicker than 30km/h now.

baby-phat · #14 (**permalink**) Apr 11, 07

Quote:

Originally Posted by ebbomega

Malahat's still a freaking wreck though, don't know if they'll ever get that looking nice. The lookout north of the summit is keen though.

It def is. There's been quite a bit of talk recently about making improvements there, and the ideas they have for doing so. Hopefully something comes of it this time.