Route from Sidney to Campbell River

Drive off the Anacortes Ferry. Turn left, at the NEW roundabout, ask Hazel how you drive around one of these, and take the 3rd exit off and head south down Lochside Drive. One mile south you'll encounter the new 'triple roundabout' known as the 'Magic Roundabout' , just keep going round and round until you can figure out how to get onto Hwy17 south.
Head south on 17 till you see Mckenzie Avenue off ramp (just like America!) head west till you hit Hwy 17, turn right. There will probably be a roundabout here next time you come! Drive to bottom of Malahat. ROTATE!!! ascend to top, flaps down! Stop at THIRD rest area for view of all kinds of stuff.
Drive for 12628 cubits til you see the sign for Salmon Point!
PS There is a ferry across the Saanich Inlet if you wanted to take that- cuts off the Malahat! Let me know!

BC-17 to Canada-1 to BC-19

Thanks for the info. Having driven in the UK for ten years or so, I can navigate roundabouts. Usually only have to go around three times before I can get off.
Saw the ferry route. At almost 60 feet - RV and toad - any problem getting on that one? Haven't checked for a schedule.

GM

A couple of years ago, we drove from Salmon Point to the airport and back to pick up our daughter and SIL. Don't recall it being a big deal. Just wondering why my TL directory is taking me all over the place.

GM

No, there is a 40' limit. Too bad as it's a lovely run. It runs right from where we live. Where does TL take you?

TL takes me north to Swartz Bay, ferry to Fulford Harbour. Across the island to Vesuvius Bay, ferry to Osborne Bay. Alternate from Brentwood Bay to Mill Bay. Took our "ferries" in preferences, now takes me south around the bay and back north. I'll use my GPS when I get there - that's what I used to get to the airport and back. Or look for hatchet marks on the trees.

GM

Hey - ignore that d.... TL . Once you get to Parksville keep on going north on 19.
Hatchet marks are/were good for those of us that are used to them!! Trust your GPS. Personally I would not go to Anacortes. Much prefer to use the Blackball from Pt. Angeles.- A lovely drive to get to P.A.

We live really close to Butchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay. If we go downtown, or take a trip 'Up-Island, we will go the 'back way', along a series of narrow roads & lanes. These roads have always been fairly quiet, being known only to the locals.
Recently however, we have noticed a lot of out of province and US plates on these roads. We realise that this is probably due to people using their GPS systems to get to the Gardens.
Perfectly fine for a car or a truck, but for a 'tin tepee' with buckets and pelts hanging from the back, maybe just a little more trickier. (still do-able though, this is the way I take my trailer!)

I've taken the ferry from Sidney to Anacortes a couple of times, but I've always been at Westbay Marina first and driven from Westbay to Sidney. Piece of cake. Took a wrong turn once coming from the north looking for Westbay and met myself going around a corner in a residential area. Don't wanna do that again...

GM

Orion wrote:
Drive off the Anacortes Ferry. Turn left, at the NEW roundabout, ask Hazel how you drive around one of these, and take the 3rd exit off and head south down Lochside Drive. One mile south you'll encounter the new 'triple roundabout' known as the 'Magic Roundabout' , just keep going round and round until you can figure out how to get onto Hwy17 south.
Head south on 17 till you see Mckenzie Avenue off ramp (just like America!) head west till you hit Hwy 17, turn right. There will probably be a roundabout here next time you come! Drive to bottom of Malahat. ROTATE!!! ascend to top, flaps down! Stop at THIRD rest area for view of all kinds of stuff.
Drive for 12628 cubits til you see the sign for Salmon Point!
PS There is a ferry across the Saanich Inlet if you wanted to take that- cuts off the Malahat! Let me know!

And watch for all the construction on the top of Malahat, too. They're really messing stuff up at the moment, and slowing traffic. Construction starts just above the South Shawnigan turn-off and goes north until the far side of the summit. And the summit rest area is GONE due to the construction. Your best look-out now would be the one at the top of the northern end; it is hidden behind a large rock, and you can only turn into it when northbound.

Ohya, and watch for the bozos who can't stay in their own lane - probably why most of this work is being done.

Cheers! And Safe Trip!
Mike