At long last...

Early morning on the Quinsam River

On Friday Ruby and I made it to the Labour Day weekend campout organized by fellow members of the First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo at Elk Falls Provincial Park.

The perfect set up with friends around to help with the pop top... it still takes two... and the awning. This time it took two of us, with two onlookers, about 10 mins to erect. By next week I'm expecting to be able to do it in five, now I know which pole goes where, and how.

Ruby at rest at Elk Falls Provincial Park campsite

With no power at the camp site, the fridge lasted about three days running on the auxiliary battery before it automatically shut off. But not long enough to warm up too much, or for any food to spoil. It certainly helps that with a vegan diet I'm not carrying any dairy or meat, and everything else has a pretty long shelf life.

The bed was comfy - with the additional foamy that prior owners passed on to me. I did find that sleeping on raw foam is not comfortable, and rather than just a cotton sleeping bag liner, I will take  along a double fitted sheet to cover the foam on next weekend's jaunt.

There was still loads of storage left empty after I'd equipped the van with all the supplies, equipment and groceries. I've just bought a two-burner camp stove so I don't have to cook in the van if the weather allows.

The BFG (From Roald Dahl's Book of the same name -
 (The Big Friendly Giant)

During our three days there we walked up to the top of the falls, made a short hike along the Quinsam River to the estuary, visited the chainsaw carving exhibit in Campbell River, and perhaps best of all, at twilight one evening wandered along Tyee Spit to watch the fishing pool... row boats carrying anglers hoping to land 30+lb chinook salmon. By the time we came back to where we'd parked,  the boat lamps were glinting on the water and there must have been about 100 fishers out there.

Oyster shells underfoot on the beach near Union Bay

I came home on Monday the long way, along the lovely Oceanside Route which offers so many spots to sit and savour the views between Campbell River and Parksville.  

Too late in the season to make other plans (the van comes off the road on Oct. 2), I am looking forward to Ruby's last outing next weekend to Telegraph Cove.

Enjoyed the shade of the park on a v. hot weekend