through Wash state/ BC any route suggestions?

[Pool_Idor]

As part of my first major leg of my Transcontinental ride I plan on riding from Seattle, Olympia Nat Park,
Vancouver Island through BC to Calgary.

I have read books on 3 routes through BC, either through Whistler, Fraser River canyon or south through the Kootenays.

Through Whistler, I understand 2nd half is a gorgous ride but from V'ver to Whistler road even in summer is
very busy.

Through Fraser River Canyon, I drove once and I remember road was very busy, before the new Turnpike was built. I am leaning towards this choice for the
sheer beauty of the Canyon.

Third choice is along the US boarder, I understand the
Kootenay lakes are beautiful, but I know very little
about the road suitability for cyclists.

I would welcome any info and suggestions.

Thanks

[slugbiker]

Here's how I'd recommend getting from Seattle to Vancouver:

From Seattle, take the ferry to Bainbridge Island, then ride up to Port Angeles (stopping at Oak Table Cafe in Sequim for their excellent 49'er flapjacks).  You can climb up Hurricane Ridge (about 35 miles round trip, 5000' elevation gain), if you want a nice view and a good workout.

From Port Angeles, take the ferry to Victoria. Then ride the north on the Lochside trail. You can ferry back to BC at Tswassen, or ride further north on Vancouver Island to Nanaimo before taking a ferry back to the mainland.

[biker_james]

The Fraser Canyon is a beautiful ride. I love the fact you see the transition from the coastal to the interior desert terrain in a relatively short distance. I don't think I'd take Hwy 1 east from Kamloops though. Not that its terrible (haven't ridden it, just driven) just that I think Hwy 3 would be a nicer ride.
The route from Vancouver to Whistler is a beautiful, but the route is busy, and people tend to be in a big hurry. Plus, I believe that there is a fair bit of construction on that route as they upgrade it for the 2010 Olympics.

[Pool_Idor]

Dear Slugbiker
thanks for your valued input.

Just to specify from the Ferry point I would ride
hwy 305, 307?, 104 and 101? to get to Sequim or are there more scenic less trafficed hwy's

[Pool_Idor]

Dear Biker James
Please let me ask you some additional questions:
to do the Fraser River route (which my gut tells me is the right way for me)do I take hwy 7 from V'ver to Hope or are there better ways out of town?

Is Hwy 3 overall nicer, more scenic than Hwy 1?
Eventually I would probably go on Hwy 6 and 23 from Castlegar to Revelstoke and then on to Calgary, which seems longer than the Fraser valley route through Kamploops, Golden, Banff.

thanks for your input

[biker_james]

Whether you go through the Fraser Canyon or take Hwy 3, you need to get from Vancouver to Hope. You cannot ride Hwy 1 from Vancouver to Hope-not allowed, and too many high entrance/exits. Hwy 7 is the best, and nearly only way (at least for part). Not a bad ride, at least the part we rode-we came from the Tsawwwassen ferry terminal and basically went straight across to Abbotsford, then cut on to Hwy 7 and found it to be a very nice route.
We have driven Hwy 3 from Osoyoos to Hope, and would consider it to be very scenic. Very little traffic when we drove it. Hwy 1 east of Kamloops is a busy highway-quite rideable, and a lot of people do take it. Hwy 1 would be an easier ride than Hwy 3, if that means anything. There are some areas on Hwy 1 east of Golden that has a bad reputation, although driving it doesn't seem terrible to me.

[Pool_Idor]

thanks - that is really helpful!
If I can help with rides in Europe (Switzerland, Uk, france) don't hesitate to ask me!