Vancouver Island Road Trip
RVing in British Columbia Canada
Join us in a long awaiting RV road trip to Vancouver Island, BC, Canada
Road trip to Vancouver Island BC Canada – Covid has put many of us Canadian Adventure Seekers and travel hounds in limbo? Although, on the flip-side, Covid has also given us a bigger appreciation for the smaller things in travel when we do have an opportunity to explore. To us… our Vancouver Island road trip unleashed a bevvy of senses which we may have buried in the world of pre-Covid travel?
Road Trip to Vancouver Island Senses Revival
Not long ago visiting and exploring Canada was very common place for many of us in the industry. However, times have changed. The sounds, sights and smells that were once taken for granted, and often lost in the travel experience, were now highlights of our recent road trip to Vancouver Island in BC, Canada. Consequently, our adventure was like a revival of our travel senses. We had gotten rusty. Read further and find out.Colin… seeking out new scents, sounds and smells
False Start
We left Merritt BC Canada very early in the morning to catch the first ferry to Vancouver Island. Great idea, right? Not! What we did not factor in was that the new storage unit we were storing the Maple Leaf Bomber at (motorhome) was not 24 hour access but opened a 5 AM. Ugh! Therefore, with little options, we ventured back home with our tail between our legs. The wait was like watching ice melt.On The Road Again
The delay provided us a road trip in daylight hours from Merritt to the Vancouver Ferry Terminal. We went from yawning, to guzzling coffee, to rockin’ it out with music and sunglasses, in a matter of hours. It was official! We were on our Vancouver Island road trip! And above all, we were gassed up on java and our adventure radar was running on full batteries.On the road again
Water Trucks Sightings
The scenery was familiar to us… the forests, the rivers and the traffic. However, there were new sights as well spotting the landscape that looked out of place like the many water trucks parked on the side of the highway. Welcome to our new reality… we have a forest fire problem in BC. To clarify, the water trucks were on stand by, ready and available to battle the “the big bad” forest fires when called upon. Therefore, it is important to thank our firefighters.Our BC Ferry ride arrives
Road Trip to Vancouver Island BC Ferry Tips
Every trip back home to the Vancouver Island requires a BC Ferry trip. We have done this boat ride from the island to the mainland all of our lives. Yes, my brother and I were raised on the “ROCK” in the Cowichan Valley. Therefore, we have learned a few tricks of the trade when it comes to riding on the BC Ferries:- Book online. Big discounts at times if you book ahead of time, as per just showing up.
- If you can unhook towing a car or put your bikes in the motorhome because length will bump up your ticket price considerable. The tow bar and the bike rack added an extra 7 feet to our bill the first time we were caught napping. Not again though!
- Watch out when putting stuff on the roof of the vehicle, as it will often create oversize charges on your ferry rate. If you can take it off the top and stuff inside the vehicle, do it.
- There is no smoking or vaping on the site of the terminal. Please respect others and refrain from smoking.
- Bring a hat, sunglasses, warm clothing and camera so you can really experience the amazing sightseeing opportunities on the open-air top decks.
- Food is expensive on the BC Ferry (and not very good).
Vancouver Island Senses Explosion
Salt air! It first hits you near Surrey BC and sometimes as far as Abbotsford BC (depending on the direction of the wind which can bring carry an over whelming scent of manure). The ocean is the first scent that strikes all who enter the west coast of Canada. You can not run from it, so embrace it. The ocean is the local perfume in the air on this side of Canada. We so missed the scent. Consequently, it seemed stronger this time around because of our absence of 2+ years.The Maple Leaf RV has landed on Vancouver Island
Camping Vancouver Island
We arrived late at our oceanside campground near Nanaimo and Parksville BC Canada. This is our second visit to Snaw-Naw-As Campground. An Indigenous campground and a good one at that. We pulled the Maple Leaf Bomber into our campsite nestled nice and tight against the ocean sands. “Our community, often known as the Nanoose First Nation, along with 18 other tribes in the Salish Sea, are Coast Salish people, and one of the most northern tribes on the east side of Vancouver Island. We speak Hul’q’umi’num’, which is 1 of 3 branches of the Halkomelum dialect spoken from Nanoose to Oregon.” Snaw-naw-as Website The first morning at the Saw-Na-As Campground beach was enjoyed in silence with a cup of coffee. I closed my eyes. I slowed down my breathing. I wanted to let my ears and nose do the seeing, since I have been away for so long.Old Sounds and Smells Are New Again
Low tides in the morning
Blinders Off on Vancouver Island
Colin beachcombing the Vancouver Island Beach
There is Therapy in Travel
Life has been challenging for many of us during Covid. What we found, during our road trip to Vancouver Island to see family and to explore the outdoors of our childhood – without smoke – without distraction – without politics – was required therapy. Our love of country and home was a well prescribed remedy for the Covid blues.Road Trip Vancouver Island Continues
Family meets for first time in years
Vancouver Island Road Trip in BC Canada
Motorhome Travel on the “Rock”
Written by : Greg Girard
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