PROBUS Strathcona Motorcyclists Enjoy Their First Official Ride of 2020

Report submitted by David Anderson


As we move solidly into the 5th month since COVID-19 changed our country and much of the world, the PROBUS executive gave the green light for the club to carefully resume select outdoor activities. The Motorcycle Group is one of those activities, because it works well with social distancing.


I sent out an ‘upcoming ride alert’ on fairly short notice early last week. A +30 degree day was forecast for Thursday and I wanted to take advantage of it, if riders were interested. To my surprise, five motorcycles signed up for a proposed excursion to Lower Myra Falls in Strathcona Park.


This ride takes the Gold River Road for the first section before it splits off near Buttle Lake Campground and hugs the eastern shore of Buttle Lake all the way to its southern end. Lower Myra Falls plunges and cascades some 54 metres into the lake through a series of pools, and has a short but strenuous walk to 2 viewing areas.


Now for old folks like ourselves, a nearly 6 hour ride must be undertaken in a leisurely fashion, with plenty of breaks thrown in. Four of us (Craig B, Clayton S, George S-S and David A) met at 10:30 AM and collected Brenda M, our 5th rider, near Campbell River. From there, the winding road to the south end of Buttle Lake takes under 2 hours through spectacular scenery. We enjoyed every winding kilometre, punctuating the ride with regular water breaks and stretches.


Now, after a nearly 2 hour ride, most of us were unaware that, as the crow flies, the south end of Buttle Lake lay less than 35 km directly west of the Comox Valley! This is a highly recommended day trip for cars and motorcyclists alike, so perhaps it could be slipped into your summer plans.


Due to the heat of the day and the length of the ride, we opted not to go to the falls viewing area, but we saw it in the distance, from the south-eastern end of the lake. I think that next time, a walk to the falls should be part of the excursion.