May Climbing Challenge Tour of Bush Point

The Tour Of Bush Point. 

I have been looking forward to riding out to Bush Point for most of the winter. Bush Point is scenic with the Olympic Mountains in the back ground and the shipping lanes in the for front. When the merchant ships go by Bush Point I am astounded by how big they are and how close they come to the shore. Another reason for wanting to go to Bush Point is for the last few years when I'm heading out Smuggler's Cove road I go by Bush Point on my way to Greenbank and beyond thinking to myself "I should go down to Bush Point one of these days." Neither of these reasons where my main focus when I set out on this ride. I was go to Bush Point to climb Spyglass Drive.

Before I recount climbing Spyglass Drive I must tell of two hills I climb more regularly on the way to Bush Point. The first of which is Sills Road. I may have mentioned Sills Road in another post. It goes to show that I climb Sills Road often. Anytime I want to head to Bayview and all points north Sills Road must be climbed. 

Here's another look at it.

The other climb is Lancaster Road. I climb Lancaster less than I have in the past. I make a point of climbing it a few time a season. Heading out to bush Point provided a perfect opportunity to do so.



When I reached Bush Point I had to go out to have a look at the light and lake or it wouldn't be a TOUR of Bush Point.

Then I worked my way to the other side of the point where the boat launch is located.

The boat launch is at the bottom of the hill I had come to Bush Point to climb, Spyglass Drive.




Here at the bottom it's not too bad. However it didn't take long for the hill to get steep.

There is a place about a third of the way up the hill were it is flat and it gives you a short reprieve from the steepness. Then the steepest part of the climb.

This is the first hill in long time I was switch backing on. It took as much out of my upper body as it did my legs. Here's the Stava description. 

I sit 14th out of 21 brave souls on the all time leader board. I am currently 1st out of two on this year's leader board. It not a popular hill. It's out of the way and it takes a lot out of you to climb it. I pat myself on the back for climbing this formidable monster and it has gone to the top of my list of hardest south end hill climbs.

On the way home I took the flattest route I could, nonetheless I still had to climb Swede Hill. I confess I struggled up it.



The Tour of Bush Point is currently the Queen's stage of my season. I'm planning on having other epic rides this year and they will be all the better because I have this ride in my legs.