Showing posts with label B.C.. Show all posts

Monday, July 1, 2019

Shuswap Lake P.P.-2019

After we left Hazelmere, we camped for one night at Shuswap Lake Provincial Park in B.C. , Canada. We have camped there before, you can see the post here. Our site number was 51. The park is child and pet friendly. Besides privacy, the camp has hot showers, fire-pits, toilets, water, recycling, garbage cans and a Sani-dump.

There are great shops quite close to the park. Although we didn’t book ahead, I would suggest reserving over a weekend and in season as it is very popular.

"The park is situated on the old delta of Scotch Creek, has one kilometre of sandy, pebble beach, and includes the whole of Copper Island. The park also offers a large grassy play area, an adventure playground, a large boat launch, and a self-guiding nature trail." - B.C. Parks

A dog beach!

"While the day-use area and beach are off-limits to dogs and other domestic animals, a stretch of beach is available adjacent to the boat launch where visitors may swim with their dogs." - B.C. Parks

“Shuswap Lake is a lake located in south-central British Columbia, Canada that drains via the Little River into Little Shuswap Lake. Little Shuswap Lake is the source of the South Thompson River, a branch of the Thompson River, a tributary of the Fraser River. It is at the heart of a region known as the Shuswap Country or “the Shuswap”, noted for its recreational lakeshore communities including the city of Salmon Arm. The name “Shuswap” is derived from the Shuswap or Secwepemc First Nations people, the most northern of the Interior Salish peoples, whose territory includes the Shuswap.” – Wikipedia

"The area is named after the Shuswap Secwepemc First Nations people, the most northern of the Salishan speaking people. This group was the first to inhabit the region, as evidenced by kekulis (semi-underground pit houses), which have been found at Scotch Creek and nearby Herald Provincial Park. Pictographs or rock paintings have also been discovered around Shuswap Lake. During the nineteenth and early twentieth century, European explorers, fur traders and surveyors came to the area. Then in the late 1800s, gold was discovered, and the population in the area soared. Today, little remains of these historic tales." - British Columbia

What can be better than a dog with a stick in the water?

A dog with a stick swimming in the water.

Cool clean water.

KIDS DON’T FLOAT – BUT PFDs DO!

"RCMSAR 106 (Shuswap) have installed kiosks which have loaner PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices) for children to use while boating or swimming. There are 14 kiosks located at boat launches and beaches around Shuswap, Mara and Little Shuswap Lakes. The kiosks have had the financial support of a variety of community sponsors. See the map and legend below for specific locations."

COMING SOON: The Road Home.

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Shuswap Lake- 2011

TOKELOSHE ©

Sunday, June 30, 2019

Coastal Renaissance.

“The traveler sees what he sees.

The tourist sees what he has come to see.” ― G.K. Chesterton

We left Elk Falls Provincial Park on Sunday to take the ferry from Duke Point, Nanaimo to Tsawwassen near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Although we arrived early, the ferry was fully booked for passenger vehicles, two hours before departure. Fortunately the oversize (RV and truck) hold had some space. Lesson learn't, do not travel by a ferry on a Sunday if you can help it.

Our Dutchman behind an A Class Motor-home.

Getting on board deck 2

"MS Coastal Celebration ferry's decks are named as follows: Deck 7 ("Sun"), decks 5-6 ("Passenger"), Deck 4 ("Vehicle"), Deck 3 ("Platform"), Deck 2 ("Vehicle / Bus"). The ship has no staterooms (passenger cabins)."- Cruise mapper.

M/V Coastal Renaissance is one of BC Ferries' newest vessels to ply the waters between Vancouver and Vancouver Island. -B.C. Ferries

Inside the Ferry's closed vehicle deck. Erik was calmer that the first time, but hubby checked up on him a few times. The ferry has pet friendly areas and kennels on (passenger vehicle) level 4.

Follow the Starfish signs at the stairs to find your vehicle.

We have done this route before, but it was our first time on the M/V Coastal Renaissance. You can see the post here.

Built:	2007, Germany
Overall Length:	160 metres (525')
Maximum Displacement:	10,034 tonnes
Car Capacity:	310*
Passenger & Crew Capacity:	1,604
Maximum Speed:	23 knots
Horsepower:	21,444
Amenities:	Coastal Cafe, Coast Cafe Express, Sitka Coffee Place, Seawest Lounge, Passages Gift Shop, Kids Zone, Video Zone, Pet Area, work/study stations, elevators, accessible washrooms
Route:	Departure Bay-Horseshoe Bay Vancouver (Tsawwassen) - Victoria

We had a lovely Chicken Pot Pie and a Cesar salad from The White Spot restaurant on board.

Lighthouse on an island taken through Ferry's window.

We knew we wanted to camp at Hazelmere RV Park for the night, so I had programmed the GPS at Duke Point, but when we got off the ferry the GPS had difficulty acquiring a signal, fortunately as we had been there before, hubby kept he's head and traveled through traffic, until the GPS started working again. Don't rely on your GPS alone, but always have maps close at hand.

That night we camped at Hazelmere RV Park in Surrey, B.C. Canada. They have a pool, hot tub, laundry, hot showers, an off leash area, etc. Hazelmere is quite close to the U.S.A. border, the city of Whiterock, Vancouver, the ferry terminal to Vancouver Island, etc. We have camped before, you can see the post here.

Campsite number 128 at the creek.

Coming Soon:

Shuswap Lake

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Travelling With Your Dog on BC Ferries? Read This First

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Erik’s Ferry Ride.

TOKELOSHE ©

Friday, June 28, 2019

Elk Falls-2019

"Water is the most perfect traveler,because when it travels it becomes the path itself!'- Mehmet Murat Ildan

While we were camping at Elk Falls Provincial Park, we visited Elk Falls and the suspension bridge, we visited the falls before in 2015, you can see the post here.

MAP

It was a cool day during the week, so there weren't too many people, the hikers were all friendly and Erik got a lot of complements and attention.

“

The trail head begins at the top of General Hill at the new entrance to Elk Falls Provincial Park and trails and featuring the BC Hydro sponsored John Hart interpretive center as well as a 83 stall parking lot complete with washrooms.” – Go Campbellriver

"Elk Falls via Millenium Trail is a 3.9 kilometer moderately trafficked loop trail located near Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada that features a waterfall and is good for all skill levels. The trail is primarily used for hiking, nature trips, and bird watching. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash."- All Trails

"The Canyon View Trail is a scenic 6 km circular hike through West Coast forest along the Campbell River. " - Go Campbell River

First sighting of the suspension bridge.

Erik was very brave coming down the metal stairs.

“A short walk down a wheel chair accessible pathway consigns you to the Elk Falls Provincial Park Suspension Bridge first of a series of platforms offering stunning views of the 25 metre falls while the second platform is accessible by a series of stairways leading the to suspension bridge, perched on each side of the canyon via a series of thick weight bearing high quality cables.” Go Campbellriver

"If you only want to see Elk Falls and the bridge, you can complete the hike in about 30 minutes. But, it’s worth checking out the different viewing platforms and extending the hike to Deer Falls." - Outdoor Vancouver

An incredible 25-meter (89-foot) waterfall.

“At 64 metres above the Campbell River, Elk Falls Suspension Bridge is the highest pedestrian bridge on Vancouver Island.”- Suncruiser media.com

Erik and he's human on the bridge.

“The 60-metre long suspension bridge offers free family fun with unprecedented views of the majestic Elk Falls. If the suspense of crossing is too much to handle, visitors have safe views of the iconic falls from two new viewing platforms; one directly facing Elk Falls and one easily accessible for visitors of all abilities.” –Suncruiser media.com

"In 1938 a forest fire that raged to the north and west of Campbell River, burnt a large area of the forest. Luckily the trees of Elk Falls Park survived this massive devastation." -Go Campbell River

Part of a fallen tree, see next photo.

The rest of the tree.

Another view of the falls and suspension bridge.

"After the waterfall, wander the Old Growth Loop trail to observe massive Douglas fir and cedar trees or the Riverside Loop trail (4km return) to view Moose Falls, Deer Falls, and the Dolphin Pool. More info about Elk Falls can be found here." - Campbell River Travel

Almost as old as I am ;-)

A group of hikers said they saw a Black Bear across the water, just before we arrived.

Erik having a drink of water.

Deer Falls and the dolphin pool.

Erik at a chainsaw carving at the parking lot. Full Moon by Warren Little Driftwood carving competition transformation on the shore Campbell River Shoreline Art Society.