Gabriola Island, British Columbia, to Sydney, New South Wales Australia on foot. We’ve all done it – well, perhaps not done it, but told Google Maps we wanted to do it. Haven’t we? Ok, maybe you’re not as barmy as I am. But I honestly did do this, and I know I am not the only one to have put a long walk or two into Google Maps just for the hell of it. If there is a Google Maps Robot Chappie out there collecting our route request data then he must have been shaking his little electronic head in disbelief at where all these wacky humans seem to want to go. In fact I think he may have spontaneously combusted, or at the very least his department has become seriously understaffed, because the database of long walks in Google Maps has been severely edited. Gabriola to Sydney is no longer offered, and nowadays if you want a decent walk you might have to settle for Singapore to Tromso, or Cape Town to Karachi.
But if you want to walk to Sydney from Vancouver Island then look no further! (And no cheating here – we’re talking about Sydney with a ‘y’ and not ‘Sidney’ on Vancouver Island.) I saved my 2012 GoogleMapalogue and can now share it with you, sharing being a fashionable thing these days after all. I carefully preserved it in aspic just in case it should come in handy. What’s that you say? You were just planning that very same journey yourself? Well that’s great! You should get there in time to do your Christmas shopping (next year). Google said it would take 175 days and 14 hours but I suppose it depends how many coffee breaks you want to take and how often you have to stop and shop till you drop (if you haven’t already) for new walking shoes.
This is a short stroll of 12,636 km, and
“…route includes a ferry”
(or two or three or ten). In fact there are
162 crosswalks
401 right turns
420 left turns
10 ferry rides
and 3 kayak trips across the Pacific
Of course the number of left turns might put you off but it’s probably not a good idea to omit them otherwise you might end up back where you started. Also:
“Use caution – This route may be missing sidewalks or pedestrian paths.” I suppose it might be because of the 4,436 km of kayak trips. At least there weren’t any sidewalks or pedestrian paths in it last time I saw the Pacific. But look on the bright side – your walking shoes will get a rest.
Here we go then – Gabriola to Sydney, New South Wales. On foot.
1. Go north on South Road toward Lockinvar Lane – 1.0 km
2. Turn into Easthom Rd – 270 m
3. Take the Gabriola Island Ferry to Nanaimo – 5.7 km
4. Continue straight – 190 m
5. Turn left onto Front St – 350 m
6. Continue straight onto Esplanade – 60 m
7. Turn left onto Island Hwy/Nicol St/Trans-Canada Hwy/BC-1 S – 2.0 km
You did want all of this, right? Oh all right then, let’s skip to the exciting bits.
43. Kayak across the Pacific Ocean – 4,436 km
Actually, there is a slight problem with this route (yes, just one). The directions stop at no. 500, leaving you marooned somewhere in…
How’s your Japanese?
499. Turn left toward 磐田バイパス/国道1号線 – 950 m
500. Slight right onto the ramp to 磐田バイパス/国道1号線
After that you’ll have to ask.
2016-01-05
The Blethering Ant 