As we have discussed, we snagged an “oceanfront” site for our one-night, July 1 stay at Living Forest Campground and RV Park just outside Nanaimo, BC. It is a big place — lots of sites for RVs, lots for tents.
Our campsite was almost perfect. Perfection would have moved the kids’ swimming beach somewhere farther away; it was quite noisy during, uh, swimming hours. But at least they were happy sounds.
Did I mention it was hot? It was hot. Sooz set a fan out for us to enjoy the gathering dusk without melting. You can see the terraced “ocean view” sites back behind ours.
Just far enough away from our site, a cafe of sorts serves good coffee and foods. For breakfast we treated ourselves to bacon/egg/cheese sandwiches which were quite good.
This place also has a nice deck for relaxing and staring at the Georgia Strait.
Mainland mountains for Toto to ogle.
We got ready for the drive to Tofino on a windy July 2 morning. Note the authentic whitecaps.
In the morning the ferries entertained us while we prepared to toddle over to Tofino, on the island’s west coast. When the ferry on the left grows up, she’ll get to go where the ferry on the right goes.
When we left the Living Forest, I managed to make a wrong turn — or, rather, miss a correct turn — and we went toward Victoria (instead of Tofino) for a few kilometers before I could get us turned around. We survived.
We also survived the drive through Port Alberni and onto Tofino. The second half of the drive features many sharp curves and unadvertised bumps. It’s not a bad drive, really, just a little tiring. If things follow their recent pattern, it will seem easier on the way back.
Along the way we drove along the attractive and charming Sproat Lake, and noted the presence of a Sproat Lake Provincial Park. Two days later, when smoke from BC’s many early-season wildfires filled the air above Tofino, we read that a number of cabins alongside that lake had to be evacuated while crews fought the flames. Bummer for those folks trying to enjoy their Sproat Lake holiday. Hope no one got burned.
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Glad you’re enjoying Vancouver Island. We look forward to an early Sept trip. Thanks for the info re the summer discounts. Helps us plan our trip most inexpensively.
Port Townsend has been very smokey, as well. Fires near Wenatchee, on Whidbey Island, etc. It’s going to be a very interesting summer to say the least. A big run on fans everywhere! Got rid of ours several years ago, not thinking…what were we thinking?? Who knew global warming would REALLY kick in here in the Pac NW?
Do you have an email archive on your blog? Maybe I’m not smart enough to find it…have enjoyed your updates. We’re watching the Canadian:US dollar very carefully each day to decide when to plunk $ down.
If you are going through PT on your way back, please give us a shout!
Carla Jean
Hey Carla Jean!
Yikes, you should have seen the smoke we drove through today — on our way back from Tofino to spend two more nights in Nanaimo. Near Port Alberni it looked like LA on the worst day ever. 1/4 mile visibility, or thereabouts.
You are supposed to be able to scroll down to the bottom of a post and subscribe to the blog. The result of that is Wally and Tyler send you an email whenever there is a post. But that might not be what you’re asking, and if not, please elaborate and I will make it happen. What else have I got to do with my life?
Note: Nanaimo has wasps. But you can draw them off with cheap wine.
What I mean is, at the bottom of the right-side column. It says, presumptuously, Subscribe and be Joyous.