I greatly softened the blow of the fares for 4 BC Ferries crossings last year by spending 4 weeks on Vancouver Island and 9 days on the Sunshine coast (I'm 51 feet with the toad - it saved $50 for the one ferry when my wife was with me and could drive the toad on). We passed quickly through both Victoria and Nanaimo - there is so much incredible country to see, on the coasts and in the forests.
Two years ago, I photographed
"The Hill" at Bella Coola in both directions and posted a guide with the mileages and grades. As is so often the case, it's nowhere near as bad as legend suggests :)