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…
Rambling Bev 