(Not be be confused with the nearby Englishman River Regional Park - which is well worth a visit.)
Spent a rather cold and damp four days here on a group camp with friends from the First Unitarian Fellowship of Nanaimo (FUFON). While we were there we hiked to the Falls, took a half-day trip to the Port Alberni McLean Mill - just in time to see the weekly (Saturdays at 1pm) demo of the old logging steam donkey.
The campsite was clean, and well-organized. Although we were amused by the camp attendant whose reluctance to emerge from his truck meant he idled at the edge of your campsite, yelled out to ask if you needed wood, at which point you were required to go to him, unload and pay. This also seems to be his method of checking registered campers, etc. as not once did we see him step foot out of his truck.
This was the perfect spot for an overnight camp with my eight year-old grandson... his first camping experience. I like the feel of this campground, not too regimented, a variety of sites - many of which have great views. We had a nice spot just a couple of minutes from the shower building and toilets, the cafe* (which has wifi I'm told, although it was not working when we were there, a lovely little beach suitable for putting in kayaks and canoes and lovely views of the estuary. *I love the fact that net profits from the cafe are donated to local charities.
Rathtrevor Beach
So far I've checked out, but not stayed at, a couple of local campsites.
- The Living Forest Oceanside Campground in south Nanaimo - where I've booked a two-night stay in August - a booking which was later cancelled.
- Qualicum First Nation Campground north of Qualicum Beach where I will probably do a test run of solo camping, once I have the pop top and an awning figured out later this month. This, too was cancelled when the sliding van door needed repair.
- Elk Falls Provincial Park (Sept 1 - 4, 2017) Enjoyed this park, in the company of a group of about 18. No group site, but the double we booked was big enough for two rigs plus it accommodated about 24 of us sharing a potluck meal. Next time I'd try for one of the sites alongside the Quinsam River which is pretty and quiet and has a nice trail. I did not explore the Beaver Lake Trail. Earlier walkers had been beset by wasps from a nest disturbed by a bear that had beens sighted a few days before. Close enough to Campbell River to allow for a number of outings.
No comments:
Post a Comment