Continued Adventures with Bob

                                                      Hornby Island Camping

Tues. Aug 2: Ferry to Denman Island, ferry to Hornby Island. Stop at the local market then head to Big Tribune Beach. The tide is going out: white sand, driftwood, shell heaven for me. We go to the north side to Little Tribune Beach where the wind is calm and walk the beach checking out all the cottages that have creatively used driftwood in their gardens, fences and dwellings, We make our way to Ford Cove to our reserved campsite: a small private south location with a pier and marina on the lakeshore. Sites are small and close together but we back onto trees. Once set up we cook dinner then walk down steps to the shoreline to gather driftwood for our campfire. Down the road there is a dance in the field of an 85 acre farmstead. The place is awesome with a rustic farmhouse, barns, guest cottages and more and it is for sale. We walk the grounds, taking in the ocean views eating huge blackberries from the orchard, dreaming!

 

Wed. Aug 3: After bacon and eggs breakfast, we head to the farmers market: lots of artisans. We savor a fresh baked cinnamon bun. Stop at the winery to pick blueberries; they are huge and just fall into your hands. Tribune Bay for sun and swim. Beautiful day, the tide’s going out, water is shallow and warm. Anchored sailboats dot the horizon. Doesn’t get any better than this! After dinner we take in the free jazz concert on the lawn then watch the sunset from the pier. As the sun sets, the mountains become veiled in grey shadows and mist.

Thurs. Aug 4: Another gorgeous sunny day, breakfast, break camp. Stop at Cardboard House Bakery: tempting array of hand made breads and sweets. Check out Bradsdads campground: definitely would book here next time.Lots of amneties with deck chairs lined up to the  sunsets. Head to Hornby ferry: delayed so Bob takes a swim. Denman ferry to mainland.We pick up oysters for dinner.  Once home Bob cuts grass, I pick garden, trim hedges and get attacked by hornets. 3 bites on my arm (Bob puts antiperspirant on to stop the burn). Nasty! Grocery shopping, re-packing, a good nites sleep before we head out again with friends.

Gulf Islands Boat Trip

Fri. Aug 5: Drive to Maple Bay; board friends’ 28’command bridge motor boat Hono Kai and cruise to Wallace Island.  Tie up at the dock in Connover Cove. It is a quiet sheltered bay and by nightfall there are about 20 boats moored for the nite - half sailboats. Bob and I set up our tent on the grassy area.  There is an old cabin on the site which is a monument to all the visiting boaters. Everyone leaves their mark with a driftwood sign: there must be over 500 hand made signs hanging inside and out. Definitely a creative picture moment. Steve and Sandy putter around in the kayaks. And Bob and I row in the dinghy.  Barbecue dinner. As the sun goes down, boaters gather on the dock to listen to Ted sing and play his guitar: songs from the 60, 70, 80s. We danced to a diddy on the dock. There’s a half moon shining over the calm waters and everyone’s having a great time.

Sat. Aug. 6: We wake to another glorious day. Bacon, eggs, coffee made on board. Hike 6km to Chivers Point and Boat Cove. There are tent spots for kayakers to spend the nite. Back to boat for lunch; then we brave the refreshing waters and jump in. Lay in the sun, take the raft out around the cove. Barbecue, a little bubbly, great chatting with other boaters. We hike to the point, walking on logs and thru brush to watch the sunset. Whose idea was this? Lots of laughs as we trudge back at dusk. Singing Ted joins a group of us on the dock and serenades us as the stars come out.

Sun. Aug 7: Breakfast on board. Pack up, set sail. Cruise thru the Gulf Islands, taking in the scenic views, passing other boats, checking out the summer homes along the shores. 
We stop at Fulford Harbor on Salt Spring Island, anchor.
Walk about the quaint shops, buy a fresh olive bread at Morning Side Bakery. After lunch, we continue south around the big island and return to Maple Bay: a beautiful afternoon on the water. Moore and tuck the boat away at the marina. Head home after another beautiful day on the water.

Mon. Aug 8: Re-group, re-pack. At dusk, Bob and his friend tackle the hornets’ nest by setting it on fire.My heroes!

West Coast - Pacific Rim Camping

Tues. Aug 9: En route to Ucluelet/Tofino. Stop at Cathedral Grove and marvel at the size and beauty of the cedars. Arrive at campground in town and set up at our reserved site on the lagoon. It is cool but perfect for walking the Wild Pacific Trail: the Lighthouse Loop. A canopy of cedars covers the walkway. Every tree seems a work of art, a tangled web of branches: mysterious and magical. 


After dinner we take a drive and spot a black bear climbing over the fence into the campground. On our quest for wood we saw a sign for Mussel Beach: thought we’d check it out. The logging road goes on and on: we keep saying just a little farther. We pass a few hitchhikers, but there is nothing else in this old growth forested area for at least 20km. We wonder what is at the end of this road if there is an end? But we reach Mussel Beach I am blown away. This private wilderness campground is on the shores of open sea: beautiful sand and driftwood beach. There are log canopies and small cabins to rent: you must bring your own drinking water ($25 to camp) This a little gem I would stay at in the future. Back at camp we build a campfire for this cool nite.

Wed. Aug 10: Breakfast, break camp. Hike Wild Pacific Trail: Brown’s Beach/Artist Loop. Panoramic views at every bend. Morning coffee on the patio at Cynamoka: fresh lemon muffin right out of the oven. Yummy! Head to Bella Pacifica Campground at Mackenzie Beach in Tofino (reserved) Set up camp. After snack we drive to Long Beach to watch the surfers. 
 
 
Thurs. Aug 11: We wake to discover there is a power outage so cannot use the washrooms for 2 hrs. We have breakfast then head to the local coffee shop and chat with resident surfers. We visit the Wickaninnish  Interpretive Centre and hike to Florencia Bay, formerly wreck beach. This 1.5hr hike loops thru forest and diverse ecosystems.  Picnic lunch and a snooze on the beach. We gather wood, head back to camp, make dinner. Another   short walk on the beach: campers huddle around campfires, some playing ball, some singing: just enjoying the calm peaceful nite as the mist sets over the ocean. 

Fri. Aug 11: Breakfast, break camp. Walk about Wickaninnish Inn and say goodbye to the sea. We also check out the Ecolodge at the Botanical Gardens. This former hostel is a great option if you don’t want to camp: 10 rooms: includes breakfast (use of kitchen if you want to make your own), clean comfortable, convivial environment. Recommend. About an hour out of Tofino we stop for lunch at Sprout Lake: the sun is shinning, a welcome site. Head back to Nanaimo.

Aug 12: Catch Crofton Ferry to Salt Spring Island. 10 min. drive to Ganges for market day. Fresh baked goods, organic grown produce, pastas, jams, crafts, music, lots of people. Visit Art Craft Gallery featuring the work of island artisans. Back on the mainland we head to Crow & Gate in Yellowpoint for a scrumptious roast beef dinner. This quaint restaurant is English pub style with seating at shared long wood tables. They have gorgeous gardens and the house is  located   in a farm field. Definitely recommend.

Summary: 1700km driving                                                                    

                          8 ferry rides

                          1 flat tire

                          3 days fog

              1 mosquito infested campground

                          3 hornet bites

All in all it was a great adventure.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN - Adventures with Bob

ON THE ROAD AGAIN – Adventures with Bob   

July 19 Flew to Nanaimo, Vancouver Island to join up with another solo traveler.

Interior BC Camping Trip

Sunday July 24: A beautiful sunny day, we board the slick new Coastal Renaissance ferry bound for Horseshoe Bay. 1hr. 40m. later we are driving the scenic route to Whistler. We park & stroll the village: it is very crowded and warm. It’s mountain festival weekend and market day. 50 vendors and artisans are selling hand made crafts, pastries, wonderful breads, veggies. We cool off with an iced cappuccino then head for Nairn Falls Provincial Park (32km north) where we reserved a camp spot. It is high above the banks of the rushing Green River. A beautiful spot, clean outhouses, campfires. We set up then walk down to a small rocky beach area. We need to cool off: the water is like ice so we quickly sit on the edge and splash ourselves. The spot is filled with small rock sculptures (cairns) creating a Zen like feeling. After dinner we hike 1.5km to the roaring cascading falls, once a spiritual route of the Lil’wat nation. A gorgeous night: we are lulled to sleep by the sound of rushing waters.

Monday July 25: Up at 8.Eat, break camp, move on. Stop in Pemberton for a few supplies, maps at the Tourist Bureau and Bob’s 11 am coffee. A pretty village with views of Mount Currie. We head south on Joffre road to Lilloet Lake and travel 46km on a gravel road to St Agnes Falls. 16km in we stop at Driftwood Bay, a Kodak picture blue lake with driftwood lined shores. We collect wood for a campfire. We question where we are going: there is no one else on the dusty road. This private campground is on the banks of the rushing Lillooet River. The owner opens the gate, tells us to pick out a spot.  It is so windy we are worried we will blow away; we see a few other campers trying to anchor their tents. We find a secluded spot nestled in trees and bushes protected from the wind. We try to set up the tarp but the wind is merciless so opt to leave it in the car. Once camp is secure we have lunch and decide to find the church in the small native town down the road (the owner told us about it).

The Church of the Holy Cross is now a national historic site. Children are running around the grounds and there are a few historians on site taking photos of the interior. We chat with Sharon Syrette, the volunteer co-coordinator. She is trying to raise money for the restoration. Built 1905 by members of Stl’att’imx nation, the church is remarkable for the beauty and originality of its interior decoration. This wooden Gothic style building is being cost shared with a grant from Parks Canada. Interested in helping read more about the project at: www.skoomkumcheritagechurch.ca

We return to our camp and take advantage of the natural springs hot tubs. There are a few other people soaking and we choose a larger tub for ourselves. We chat with a couple who have their bottle of wine next to their tub (swimsuits optional). It is nice to soak in the sun. Not too many people know about this hidden gem in the woods. We make dinner, take a walk, build a campfire. The winds subside in the morning, We are up early, take a  hot tub dip before anyone else is there, have breakfast, break camp.

Tuesday July 26: We head to Lillooet, gas up, drive to Marble Canyon. The camp spots are so close to the highway, no privacy and the water is overflowing on the beach areas. We decide not to camp here, but have lunch and share it with the ducks. We continue on to Green Lake Provincial Park (25 km long). It is pouring rain. There are only 2 sites left on the south side and no trees to put up the tarp. We drive to the north shore and settle for an end spot away from the kids & family parties. We creatively tie up out tarp one end to the table. After dinner we check out the main beach (so so) and other camp sites. We spend a cool damp nite, fortunately no rain.

Wed. July 27: It is cool out so we decide to explore the region. From Green Lake we drive thru Lone Butte and Horse Lake to 100 Mile House. Fields of daisies surround the many log homes along the way. We stop at a comfy coffee shop off the main drag, pick up groceries, have a picnic lunch. We stop at the Visitor Centre for maps and a Bob photo shot. We pass a log building site and stop to chat with the lone worker. Turns out Bob worked with him many years ago. I was amazed at the structures going up: the size/beauty of the logs, the workmanship, the smell: my dream home. 100 Mile House is known as the Log Capital of N. America. Back on the Green Lake road we stop at FlyingURanch, established in 1925 by rodeo star Jack G Boyd. Log cabins, home cooked meals, trail riding are all included in a stay at this historic ranch. It overlooks the lake and even has its’ own town street and 1880s saloon. A few miles from the campground we stop at a quiet beach on the lake for a dip in the clear refreshing water (no showers here). Back at the site, we decide to cook our dinner of veggies and pork chops over an open campfire (after all we scored the best wood). It was delicious. Walkabout, campfire, lights out.

Thurs. July 28: Breakfast of bacon/eggs, break camp. 1 hr. drive to Big Bar Lake Prov. Park. We have a reservation but the site is not nice and has no trees for a tarp. So we find an empty spot on the lake. After lunch we hurry to set up the tarp and tent as dark clouds are rolling in. We are eaten alive by mosquitoes, so we leave the air bed and stuff in the car for later. The rain clouds pass over: we head to the beach to get away from the beasts (windy there) and catch a bit of sun. Crystal clear lake, very quiet with the sound of loons.  Later we drive to the other side of the lake in search of wood and to seek out the Big Bar Ranch to try and buy some repellent. We drive to the end of the north shore road past log cottages but we can only find the old abandoned ranch. We stop and ask some residents and they tell us the new ranch is outside the park. 
 
We will have to drive to Clinton 40km. They check in their house and bring a half bottle out for us. Their visitors also give us a bottle. How nice. We gather wood to burn: head back to our site. The park attendant greets us and tells us the spot is reserved (couple is waiting). There was no occupied ticket but we have to take down our camp. We decide to leave the park because of the mosquitoes and our original spot is terrible. We head towards the Big Bar Guest Ranch (50km). We check with the girl and she says we can camp anywhere $25 and use of showers (teepees & cabins but no vacancy). After walking the rocky grounds covered with dry manure and with rain in the forecast, we leave. Bob is getting frustrated, we are hot and tired. It’s 7:30 and we are driving back to Big Bar campground. We see an empty spot right at the entrance across from the boat launch, pull in, set up camp. We are getting pretty good at putting up a tarp. We see we have our own water tap, but notice we have no number post. We realize it was the old host spot, but the chain was off: we are staying put. No one comes to check. We have a view of the water and can walk to the beach.  We build a big campfire but the mosquitoes are still wicked. Bit of rain but super quiet.

Fri. July 29: The lake is emerald stillness so after breakfast we take our coffee down to the water.  Later we hike around Otter Marsh (about 1.5 hr). We swim at the beach and relax in the sun; a breeze keeps the mosquitoes at bay. New campers roll in: it’s Fri. of the long weekend. The park attendant comes by, says it’s okay to stay where we are. We chat and she gives us all kinds of info for our journey. She is very accommodating and friendly. She even lends us her personal maps. 

Sat. July 30: Sunny, blue sky, calm. Driving south 97 thru Clinton, Cache Creek. Despite the dryness there is a stark beauty to the sagebrush carved hills. Stop at Ashcroft Bakery: the best home made sweets and breads at the lowest prices we have seen anywhere. We have coffee outside and chat with Howard, a senior town resident. He walks a few km. to town every day; told us stories of his lost love and interesting past. We visit the local the museum then head to Logan Lake, pass a very large copper mine. We pretty much have the highway to ourselves. Pine beetle devastation has left its’ mark here. In Logan Lake we get directions from the tourist bureau: all the campgrounds are full: best to keep going south. 10 minutes out of town we get a flat tire. Hot 27+ Bob has never changed a tire on this new VW. Empty the trunk to get at the tire. A young guy in a truck stops to see if we need help. Bob declines. He is reading the instruction book. I call AMA/ no connection. He gets the car jacked up. A couple on a motorcycle pass us then turn around and ask if we need help. But Bob is okay (he’s the man). Country folks are sure nice! On the road again at 3:30. We stop in Merritt to get the tire checked (it’s a full size tire so that’s good). I would kill for an iced cappuccino but no luck. We head up the Kokahala. We missed a turn and decide to keep going to Hope. 

The only camping spot we can get is in town at Telteyet on the Fraser River. Very windy, noisy and crowded: we set up at the far end on the grass. We make dinner then walk around town to check out all the wood carvings. There are only 2 showers so Bob takes his before bed. The camp partier wakes up everyone when he returns from the pub at 3am. He is cursing and building a bomb fire. The motorcyclist tenting close to him reves up his bike when he leaves at 7am not that I blamed him. 

I take a shower: Bob breaks camp. We have breakfast at Blue Moose Coffee House in town. It is large and has a good selection of eats. We head to Othello Tunnels, part of the abandoned Kettle Valley Railway, a stunning walk thru the tunnels and Coquihalla Canyon gorge. Because it’s cool and rainy we decide to head  back home via a stopover at friends in Langley. We walk about the restored townsite: quaint boutiques, antique stores, quilt shop: we read tombstones in the old graveyard. Many movies are filmed here.
 
Sun. July 31: We drive into Vancouver to catch the Tawassen ferry to Nanaimo (2 hr. ride). We have to wait an hour being the long weekend there is a huge line up (best to book ahead $17).

Mon. Aug: Re-group, re-pack

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