Tandem Bike Trip to the Southern Gulf Islands

Over spring break, my kiddo Stella and I embarked on a memorable five-night tandem bicycle adventure with lots of snacks and lots of sketching.

By Maria Coryell-Martin

Over spring break, my kiddo Stella and I embarked on a memorable five-night tandem bicycle adventure. Setting out from the Diamond Point trailhead on the Discovery Bike Trail near Port Townsend, we pedaled our way through forests and waterfront. We camped for the night at the Dungeness Campground before catching the ferry to beautiful Victoria, B.C., and then onward to the stunning Southern Gulf Islands.

A watercolor landscape depicting a winding bike trail surrounded by lush green trees and rolling hills. The sky is light blue with soft clouds. Text at the top indicates the date and location as "4/18/15 Diamondport Parking Bike Trail Day 2." — The Diamond Point Trailhead, by Stella.

A woman and a young girl smile at the camera, both wearing hats. The woman has shoulder-length hair and is wearing a blue jacket and a scarf. The girl has wavy hair and is in a cozy gray sweater. They are outdoors with a clear blue sky in the background. — Selfie time!

The weather couldn’t have been more perfect, and we found plenty of delightful spots to refuel with treats along our journey. Essential snacks included jelly beans, Nanaimo bars, carrot cake, and vegetable samosas.

A watercolor palette with various paint colors sits next to a painting showing a sun over a serene lake and distant hills. A red container is partially visible, along with a piece of fabric. — Maria’s Folio Palette and Red Pocket Art Toolkit with an A6 ZigZag Book.

A watercolor sketch of a tent set against a backdrop of trees. The tent has a transparent top, revealing a colorful interior. The date and label "Hiker Bill's campsite Day 2" are written at the bottom. — Stella sketched our tent at the Hiker Biker Campsite.

And of course we sketched! Stella and I each prepared our Pocket Art Toolkits with favorite tools and we both brought A6 ZigZag Books to sketch our adventure. We took time to pause and document everything from snack breaks (we loved the Dungeness River Center!), to breathtaking sunsets and scenic viewpoints along our route.

Two people sit at a stone picnic table outside the entrance of the Dulzura Canyon Nature Center. They are surrounded by biking gear, snacks, and drinks, engaged in an outdoor activity on a sunny day. — Maria and Stella sit outside the Nature Center.

A watercolor painting of the Dungeness River Nature Center, featuring a wooden structure with a sign above the entrance. Two wheelchair symbols are visible on either side of the doors, and a figure stands to the right, with trees and a wooden crossbeam structure in the background. — Dungeness River Nature Center by Stella.

We each completed one side of our accordion-style sketchbooks with memories of our journey, from seagulls on Dallas Road Pond in Victoria, to sailboats off Galiano Island.

A serene landscape featuring a pond surrounded by trees in vibrant greens and browns. Ducks swim in the foreground, while a small group of people relax on the bank. On the right, the scene transitions to a calmer area with a sailboat and gentle ripples in the water under a bright sky. — Sailboat and seagull sketches by Maria.

A serene watercolor landscape depicting a harbor with small sailing boats anchored in calm waters, surrounded by lush green hills and trees. The sky is bright with soft clouds, creating a tranquil atmosphere. The date "4.15.23" is handwritten in the bottom corner. — Montague Harbor on Galiano Island by Maria.

Seagulls gathered on a grassy area on the left side, with some birds appearing to interact. On the right, a sailboat is anchored in calm waters with a rocky shore in the background. Handwritten dates and labels are present at the top of each side. — Sailboat and seagull sketches by Stella.

A watercolor landscape featuring a tranquil seascape at sunset, with a golden sun in the sky. The water reflects shades of blue and yellow, while distant mountains and a lush green foreground are visible. — Dungeness Bluff Trail at Sunset by Maria.

The combination of cycling, sketching, and quality time together created a spring break experience that we’ll always remember.

A colorful watercolor illustration depicting a lamppost surrounded by vibrant plants and flowers on the left, with handwritten notes detailing a bicycle adventure on the right. The notes include a list of experiences, such as having breakfast items and exploring local delights. — The last two pages of Maria’s sketchbook, summarizing the 5-day trip!

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