Showing posts with label nature. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 11, 2022

Top Bridge Park.

We visited Top Bridge Park while we camped at Englishman River Falls Provincial Park, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada during our recent vacation. We were fortunate to see fish jumping, possibly Salmon, but they were too quick to photograph.

Top Bridge Park.

"Top Bridge Park is a favourite local swimming hole where residents and visitors can spend a sunny afternoon cooling off in the waters of the Englishman River. The park is also an opportunity to reconnect with nature. One of Top Bridge's best kept secrets is the petroglyphs, which can be seen by observant visitors to the park. According to a local historian, three separate and distinct First Nations carvings, discovered by a local fisherman in 1940, can be found on the rocks near the river." - Parksville

6 Kinds of Fish to be Caught in the Englishman River

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Englishman River Falls.

TOKELOSHE ©

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Englishman River Falls 2022

After we left Miracle Beach Provincial Park, we camped for a week at Englishman River Falls Provincial Park, on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada during our recent vacation. The campground has lovely scenery, friendly camp staff and neat campsites. The camp is children and dog friendly. Nearby attractions include Englishman River Falls, Coombs, Goats on the roof, Cathedral Grove, Little Qualicum falls, etc.

We camped there before in 2019 and in 2015. We also visited the falls in 2008.

“Situated along the pristine Englishman River north of Nanaimo, Englishman River Falls Provincial Park features two stunning waterfalls cascading along the descending riverbed into a deep canyon.” “This picturesque destination, set amid a lush old-growth and second-growth forest of Douglas fir, cedar, hemlock and maple, is an ideal location from which to explore and appreciate the incredible diversity of south-central Vancouver Island, including nearby Cathedral Grove, the Pacific Rim, and the sandy shores of Parksville and Qualicum.” – Englishman River Falls Provincial Park

Englishman River Falls.

Erik loved the river.

“Established in 1940, the 240-acre park was named as the result of an old legend, wherein First Nations people found the skeleton of a white man along the river near the waterfall, thereby giving the falls its name. The area was declared parkland to protect the old growth Douglas Fir forest and the area around the Englishman River and the falls. ” – Vancouver Island beyond Victoria.

There was a fire ban due to the drought, so we used our portable propane fire pit in the evenings.

We saw many stars at night and even a bank of Starlink satellites launched by Elon Musk's SpaceX company.

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Englishman Provincial Park 2019

Englishman River Provincial Park 2015

TOKELOSHE©

Tuesday, October 4, 2022

Miracle Beach 2022

We camped for three nights at Miracle Beach Provincial Park on Vancouver Island during our recent vacation. We have camped there before in 2019, and in 2012 We saw many stars at night. The campground is very popular booking is recommended. The Saratoga Speedway is close to the park, so I suggest one camp the furthest away from the road.

We found the campground excellent, with friendly and helpful staff, clean washrooms, hot showers, etc. There was a fire ban, due to the drought and forest fires.

"Miracle Beach Provincial Park is a popular oceanside family campground with a popular day-use and beach, conveniently located 22 km north of Courtenay and 22 km south of Campbell River off Hwy 19a." - Explore B.C Parks

"Miracle Beach Provincial Park: A cherished family campground located next to a stunning stretch of ocean shoreline! Visitors will love exploring and beach combing year-round at this popular provincial park." - Explore B.C Parks

The walk to the beach.

"The park has 2 km of trails that start at the campground and day-use parking lots and weave through second-growth and old-growth forest. Most of the trails begin at the north beach parking lot, including a designated dog-walking trail." - Explore B.C Parks

"The day-use area is located on a beautiful stretch of ocean; at low tide, a fantastic sandy beach is great for beach combing. Activities at this destination family campground include sunbathing, swimming, sandcastle building, and exploring the many tide pools along the shoreline. At low tide, visitors will see a variety of marine invertebrates including purple shore crabs, clams, mussels, starfish, sand dollars and kelp isopods." - Explore B.C Parks

“The tide along this stretch of the shoreline goes out for over a quarter of a mile, creating a hard-packed oceanfront playground perfect for children. The gently sloping beach continues for well over a mile into the calm waters of the Strait of Georgia, creating warm, shallow and safe swimming conditions, free from powerboat traffic, deep water or strong currents.” – Vancouver Island

Erik got a lot of attention.

While we were there we visited Campbell River, which we have visited before in 2019 as well as in 2015 and 2008

Miracle Beach Provincial Park is located 22 km north of Courtenay and 22 km south of Campbell River off Hwy 19a.

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Lost Lake Trail near Campbell River,

Saturday, October 1, 2022

Mermaid Trail.

While we were camping at Saltery Provincial Park, on the Sunshine coast of British Columbia, Canada during our 2022 Vacation we walked the Mermaid trail.

View of Mermaid Cove.

"The Mermaid Cove Trail, is one entrance to the cove, which begins just off the entrance of the local campground near the bridge crossing over Park Creek and takes about 30 minutes to complete. An easy grade trek covering about 1 km (0.6 mi.) through old growth forests with some peak-a-boo ocean views." - Eh Canada Travel

"Explore this 1.9-km out-and-back trail near Powell River C, British Columbia. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 35 min to complete. This trail is great for camping, hiking, and walking, and it's unlikely you'll encounter many other people while exploring. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash."- AllTrails

"The Mermaid Cove Trail follows along old second-growth forest. It is a quick and easy accessible trail that is fun for the whole family. The area offers the opportunity to view seals, otters, mink, seabirds and bald eagles. The hike is available to both day use visitors as well as those staying at the campground." AllTrails

Saltery Bay Provincial Park.

Mermaid Cove Trail, Saltery Bay Provincial Park, B.C

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Mermaid Cove.

TOKELOSHE ©

Friday, September 30, 2022

Mermaid Cove.

While we were camping at Saltery Provincial Park, on the Sunshine coast of British Columbia, Canada during our 2022 Vacation we spent most of our time at Mermaid cove.

Walking towards the cove.

"Mermaid Cove is a scuba divers, snorkelling and swimming destination located on the top portion of the Sunshine Coast nearest the village Saltery Bay. The cove is connected to the beautiful Saltery Bay Provincial Park by a 1 km (0.6 mi.) footpath." - Eh Canada Travel

"Mermaid Cove is a very popular destination for scuba divers because of the 10 ft. bronze mermaid sculpture designed by Simon Morris that was sunk off its shores at a depth of 20 m (50 feet). There are cold showers located on the beach at Mermaid Cove and pit toilets"- Eh Canada Travel

"The Emerald Princess statue and wheelchair access ramp were placed in Mermaid Cove through efforts of local scuba enthusiasts. It may be one of the few wheelchair friendly scuba sites in the world. The wheelchair friendly ramp provides easy access for disabled divers and swimmers".- Eh Canada Travel

"To facilitate the scuba divers there is a change room and shower facilities onsite. A disabled access ramp for scuba divers is best used during high tide. There is also a disabled change room, shower and toilet. There are cold showers located on the beach area used by divers exploring the cove." - Eh Canada Travel

Picnic benches.

Mermaid cove definitely lives up to its name.

Fortunately, the weather was hot, so the water didn't feel too cold.

Erik loved it as well.

Erik got a lot of attention.

Erik is at home on the rocks.

"On the north shore of Jervis Inlet on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Saltery Bay derives its name from the early 1900s when it was the base for a Japanese salmon saltery and fish packing plant. Salmon were purchased for the Coqueneet people of the Sechelt Band who have fished these traditional waters for many generations." - British Columbia