TRAVEL DAY
From: Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge andRV Park, Quadra Island BC.
To: Port Alice Oceanfront RV Park, Port Alice BC.
Day 290 – After 11 nights in one campground we were a little rusty this morning going through our packing up routine. We were up at 6 a.m. and we departed the wonderful Tsa-Kwa-Luten Campground at 8:10. It was 64 degrees with hazy sunlight. We had hoped to get to the ferry terminal early enough to make the 9 a.m. ferry to Campbell River.
Nope, the line was already too long and we had to wait for the 10:00 ferry crossing. We arrived at Campbell River at 10:20 and stopped to run several errands (the post office to check and see if our mail had arrived yet, fill the RV tank with gas, and get cash [Canadian] at the bank). By the time everything was done, it was 10:50 when we finally departed on Highway 19, a route we’d never traveled before, and headed north and west to Port Alice. We saw two Bald Eagles at the ferry terminal on Quadra Island and a Deer when on the road, but despite the numerous signs warning us to watch out for Elk, we didn’t see any of them.
Once you depart Campbell River and head north, there are no more medium to large cities on Vancouver Island. We went through very few towns at all. We drove up and down hills and mountains. The trees were very healthy and thick alongside the highway. There were many lakes, rivers, and streams. We were out in the wilderness again. We stopped for lunch at a rest stop, let the girls out to take a break, then continued our trip. We arrived at Port Alice Oceanfront RV Park at 2:30 p.m. It was 84 degrees and sunny with no breeze.
The name of the campground, Port Alice “Oceanfront” RV Park, was not completely true. The RV Park was across the street from what appeared to be a lake and what was really an inlet which would eventually lead to the Pacific Ocean. There were no rolling waves, etc., but I guess calling in an “InletFront” RV Park would’ve been weird? We are taking a boat ride tomorrow morning and maybe we’ll see how long it really takes to reach the Ocean.
We unpacked and settled in. It was a long day, the girls were grouchy from being cooped up since 8 a.m., the RV was too warm, and we turned on the A/C. The high today was 88 degrees. The campground was small, which we prefer, and our campsite (#8) was a good one with no one on either side of us and a very large space. We’ll be here five nights. Port Alice, although we didn’t see much of it, appears to be a very small town. We are in the wilderness, but shock!!! – we do have a signal. Will wonders never cease!