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Continuing Island adventures

Vancouver Island is not without many opportunities to get out in nature. This year, we have explored it more with our motorhome, Harvey. We were not long home from my last posting, maybe a couple of weeks when we headed back out. The weather was expected to be nice despite the date on the calendar. We had settled on Little Qualicum Falls again for two or three nights but this time in the lower campground to be nearer the river and potentially hear the water flow. We also felt it is more open down there so would be brighter — this was a consideration this time because of being later in the season. We were to arrive on the Tuesday, but Denis was eager to leave Monday so we made a shorter first day drive to Bamberton for the first night with another couple. Our plan had been to secure a site near the trail down to the beach with maybe even a partial view of the water. That plan was quickly squashed when we arrived to find that the lowest loop was already closed for the season. It was September 28. We did find a double campsite and had a good walk to the beach and back. The days are that much shorter but still a nice time and a lovely campground despite the warnings of “a problem cougar” and “multiple bear sightings.” Neither was seen by us.

The following morning we got back on the road heading north. Another couple friends arrived first to Little Qualicum Falls and we found three sites in the loop along the river with Denis and I securing what we felt was the best site. Such good friends we have to let us have the one on the riverside as they took the one across the road. Once all three of us couples were set up we headed out to hike the full loop of Upper and Lower Falls. Thinking we were set up in such lovely sites — I could even hear the river — I was prepared to pay for two nights and might even stay three. Imagine our surprise when we were told we could only do one night where we were as the lower campground was closing on the 30th. Awww…. we would need to move to the Upper. Lesson learned: read the board when entering, even if you think you know how the system works. Also, maybe read about the park on the website before making plans. No matter, really, in the morning we moved up top and found a double and single with a trail in between and settled on two nights. More hiking and shared dinners and good conversation and campfires meant for a lovely couple of days on this wonderful Island of ours. The weather? Well, it didn’t pan out to be quite as beautiful and warm as we had expected but still very pleasant. Another little jaunt under our belt and we headed home on the Friday morning. One couple made one last night out at Living Forest in Nanaimo, securing one of the last sites available. It seems there might just be something to the fact that snowbirds are filling those RV parks with full service.

Some photos from the lower campground —

And now some from our two nights in the upper campground of Little Qualicum Falls —

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Island getaway

On September 7, 2020 we headed out for a little camping getaway with another couple. Destination: Little Qualicum Falls, a provincial park on Vancouver Island. What a lovely, mostly empty campground. We shared a double campsite with our friends for the senior rate of $22 for two nights.

The next afternoon we were joined by more friends and we had secured a site right across the road for them. We hiked again in the morning before they arrived then went for a walk to the lovely swimming hole and 5 of the 6 of us went it. It was delightful — cool, but so refreshing. Years ago I believe Mom brought my brother and I to LQF to camp and I have always believed it was where I truly started to feel that writing can be inspired by nature, the sounds of the river flowing by in particular.

The day ended with an amazing communal dinner and socially distanced visiting.

Day 3 started with us saying goodbye to dear friends that had joined us for the one night. They eagerly headed home to await special visitors to their home and we continued up island, opting to stop the night at Qualicum Bay Resort on Highway 19A for one night with full service, including wifi, for a chance to catch up. Wifi was not great for me but I did manage connecting some.

Day 4 — We continue moving up the Island, aiming for Elk Falls Provincial Park. Having been here last year in the summer and landing one of the last sites, when we circled and found two sites in close proximity to one another we snagged them. Good thing as the campground did fill up. Senior rate $23 for two nights. Hubby even gets to fish the stream with pinks in evidence.

Day 6: By this point, we are aware there is smoke impacting the Island but we have been sheltered from it. As we start to drive further on Highway 28, heading to Buttle Lake, we become more aware of its presence. Arriving at Buttle Lake just around the time people who are leaving are supposed to vacate we try to secure sites, including one for our friends who will join us later in the day once again for a couple of nights. Karma is with us again and we secure a single site that will be large enough for both Harvey and Sunny (yes, we have named our motorhomes) and right behind us another site comes empty that our travelling companions settle into. Bonus : we are right near the lake access. This campground affords the boys some good fishing opportunities though nothing is caught, nary a bite even, and some wonderful hikes.

You can see, in these photos, our first day, the Saturday, we still have blue skies. By later that day smoke has settled in more and the next day the vistas were not nearly so clear.

Day 8 – After two nights here it is time to move on and we bid Sunny and our friends adieu for now. Our travelling companions move on with us. Having had no cellular at all in Buttle Lake we were seeking a full-service campground/RV park down Island. We settled on Seal Bay RV Park. Originally thinking two nights but I did say weather-dependent. When Denis called to reserve two sites for one/maybe two nights and mentioned the prospect of rain the person said not to worry you won’t see the rain. The suggestion being that the smoke would prevent it. Yes, there was smoke but we did still see the rain. Taking our time heading down we made a stop at Miracle Beach Provincial Park. It was somewhat eerie to look over the beach and not see the horizon.

Once settled in Seal Bay RV Park we contacted friends in Comox who came to visit us at the campground and we all headed out for a hike through Seal Bay Regional Park to see the water. We did have some rain but the forests provided an umbrella for the most part. Upon our return we proceeded to pull together a communal dinner which we enjoyed under the awning as the rain provided the music.

Day 9 – we did leave the Comox Valley area. We would’ve stayed another night had we been able to secure sites at Cape Lazo, closer to the water. Instead, we made our way down Island and around Qualicum actually saw the first of some brightness. We opted for Rathtrevor Provincial Park in one of the newly-formed camp loops in what used to be parking. They have created some lovely sites there and I find them so much brighter. We had a visit from our nearby friends who had joined us for three nights on our little getaway and hiked the beach and relaxed to end our Island getaway.

Next stop …. home

Until we head out again this is me signing off…

My mother, my family — morning thoughts

The title for this morning’s writings might need some finetuning but I won’t dwell on that right now. I awoke this morning before the sun was up with thoughts running through my head of family history and trinkets and memorabilia in particular. You see, I sat in on our Society’s Web Wednesday last night with a theme of just that. I had pondered the thought beforehand but the only “trinket” I could bring to mind was my father’s wedding band. My parents split up early in my life and my father ended up remarried and when he passed, my sister from that second marriage chose to send that wedding band to me. How thoughtful. That band meant a lot to me and my husband currently wears it as his own wedding band no longer fit over his knuckles. Its significance feels all the stronger because I had always thought one day I would have my mother’s wedding ring set from that marriage to my father (or my brother and I would share it) but that ring set went missing from my mother’s apartment where she managed in the West End of Vancouver. At least that is my recollection.

As I listened to other members’ “shares” on last night’s theme I realized there are a few other trinkets in this house. We have a bracelet that is small like a child’s with the name Florida. We assume this is my husband’s grandmother’s but do not know for certain with his mother gone and all her siblings. The bracelet is small — was it hers as a child, perhaps a gift from a godparent or a tradition in her family?

I also recalled other items that we still have — a couple pieces of the dish set my parents had when they were first married — a gift for their wedding or purchased together early on. Over the years most pieces were gone but today I have a few pieces and a few years back I gave a couple pieces to my brother with some cookies (one of the recipes my mother baked) and a copy of that recipe card in mom’s handwriting. When my grandmother on my mother’s side passed away some of her stuff was brought to a family reunion and put out for attendees to take if they were interested. I felt awkward as I had not grown up with my grandparents nearby. I never met that grandfather and only met my grandmother maybe three times that I can recall and not while I was a child. I did end up taking one or two things — a poncho she had worn and a bangly piece of jewelry which I took a piece of it and created an ornament that goes on our Christmas tree. Its significance not lost on me but as I write I am not certain my children would know its significance. There are other memorabilia of earlier parts of our lives and a bit from my parents but, all in all, pretty limited.

That meeting last night, though, also sent me off on a tangent, thinking past memorabilia and physical things, about my mother and what prompted her to be so far apart from her parents and family for most of her adult life. Why did she not stay in Alberta where her parents and pretty much all her siblings lived most of their lives? The answer I came up with — LOVE. She met my father and they moved often, following where he could find work. I ponder the similarities in my mother’s life and that of my own. Much as my early adult life was spent moving around and being physically apart from my mother and brother, my family, due to my husband’s work.

Plans change — travels with Harvey August to October 2019

So, with this last trip in Harvey (our Class C motorhome) the original plans were to go East and capture the last 8 states.

Plans change.  Shortly before the planned date of departure, Denis mentioned he wasn’t so into those original plans.  Some discussion and then a decision to see some of our wonderful Vancouver, new and familiar places, before heading the USA and ultimately a visit with family in El Cajon, California with a couple desired stops en route and on the way home.

Decision made … we left home on August 21, heading north.  Of course, I had planned and wanted to blog daily …. once again, plans change.  A lack of connectivity personally combined with the fact hubby often posted instantaneously photos and an update of our travels seemed to lead me to not do so…. I did, of course, make notes and tracked details.  I will admit this felt different and I still feel something is missing.   I am going to try to create one post-return to provide my overview of this trip.

Spent quality time with dear friend in Port Hardy and got some sun (those of you in the know realize this can be something of a rarity up there) to afford us a couple of walks.

Finally visited Sointula… hugged Jane … camped Bere Point

Walked an eerie forest to find a large tree — lots to be sighted and finally we imagined this was the one (it did lack a sign so we may have been mistaken)

If not today …. then when….

Is today the day I start??  I have done some thinking, a bit of reading, and I think it is — I think I can….

I have always written, least that is how it feels… entries in diaries, letters to penpals and family and friends, journals/blogs of our travels, notes to myself and even more has only been written on the pages in my mind, never set to paper nor computer… perhaps this blog will change that

 

 

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