Driving BC: Roads to enjoy while Social distancing in a sports car.
We are living in uncharted territory for our generation, with phrases coming at us like “social distancing”, “self isolation”, and “new normal” as a polite way to say, “your screwed forever”. The current times are not ideal for sure, but in my opinion the only way to approach it is to say, ‘this is not easy, but we will get through it’. As much as things seem overwhelming and difficult, it’s worth remembering that we aren’t the first generation to deal with hard things, and we won’t be the last.
So in light of the mandate for social distancing, I am suggesting we can still enjoy the open road in our favourite cars and these roads are some of the best I’ve driven in BC. Also this is based on driving in late spring or summer, if you take your $300,000 supercar on any of these roads in winter or early spring you are not gonna enjoy yourself. Here are the best roads for sports cars:
Vernon to Nakusp to Revelstoke and back to Vernon 440km
If you live in Vernon, this is a perfect day trip. It’s got its share of windy roads, beautiful scenery, two ferry crossings and some roads you can open it up a bit on as long as you observe the speed limits 😏. There are lots of places to stop for a picnic or just great places to stretch your legs. (When ‘social distancing’ is over, there is a great deli / restaurant called Hoss & Jills in Nakusp for lunch.) It’s a full day but a great day and can be done in any vehicle except maybe a really low clearance super car because of the ferry crossings.
2. The Fraser Canyon and Coquihalla loop 328km
This is a great loop with changing scenery and a big mix of corners, straights and low and high speeds. It’s widely traveled so there is some traffic, but there are lots of passing lanes and the Coquihalla is dual lane throughout. I am a big fan of the stretch between Spences bridge and Merritt and if your feeling plucky you can expand you loop to cache creek and Kamloops, I’ve done it many times.
3. Hope - Lillooet - Cache Creek - Hope 452km
I know this list has the canyon on twice but I love the Lillooet area, its worth a day trip, and the canyon is the way you need to travel. The area is more of a desert climate and terrain and it makes for a typically sunny driving day. If you are in a low clearance car I would be extra cautious on Hwy 12 between Lytton and Lillooet because it is bumpy in places and subject to falling rocks. If you can take it slow however, it is well worth the drive. In all the routes mentioned there are lots of places to pull over and have lunch and not be around people.
Please remember to do your own research before traveling these routes, be aware of your cars capabilities and gas mileage so you do not find yourself in the middle of nowhere with an empty fuel tank. Bring a camera, and enjoy your day. Also there are many shorter routes that are a lot of fun but I didn’t want to have a list of a thousand for people to read. If you want any additional ideas comment below, or comment on your favourite day trip route.
