The ride starts at 6:00 a.m. to get everyone over the Malahat before traffic builds. On the pre-ride, traffic was light. The shoulders were in good shape but there were some spots with shoulder debris, especially along the concrete barriers.

On the pre-ride, the intersection at 3.8 km (Veterans Memorial Parkway and Goldstream Ave) was under construction. There were flaggers directing traffic. Please be courteous to them and follow their instructions.

There is construction at 177 km on the Pacific Marine Road. On the pre-ride it was one lane traffic but there were no delays.

The control at Crofton (74.4 km) can be busy when there is a ferry line. If you go into the coffee shop please be curteous and buy something. If it's busy, take a photo or self-sign your control card.

There are no services and no water between Lake Cowichan and Port Renfrew (137km to 197km). 

Services are limited between Port Renfrew and Sooke (197km to 269km). There is water in the Jordan River Campground at 237km. Cafes at Jordan River and Shirley will be closed by the time you get there.

You can read the full pre-ride report at https://www.randonneurs.bc.ca/newsletter/submissions_2025/023_once-over-preride_murray-tough.html