Cal & Paz Smith were lucky $1,000 winners in last year’s 19th Anniversary Contest! Here they are, opening the winning envelope. This could be YOU – join us from the 6th thru 9th March for YOUR chance to WIN!  

TRIP LOG TO NORTHERN TIP OF VANCOUVER ISLAND

Summer 2007 is quite eventful for us, especially the time when we acquired our 2007 Bigfoot 10.6 camper in June.  After two years of searching for the right camper, we finally found the one we want, right here in Port Alberni with the assistance of Shannon, the friendly RV sales consultant of Arbutus RV (thank you Shannon).  Our first long distance trip is the Northern tip of Vancouver Island it was a great time for us to try our brand new rig.  It was windy & raining when we reached Atluck Lake recommended by a friend, located 50 kilometers south of Port McNeill via the At luck logging mainline off the main road to Zeballos.  Atluck Lake tucked amidst the ranges of Mount Cain is a picturesque and tranquil park.  A small camping area is located around Atluck Lake a number of campsites close to the lake with no facilities, but a boat launch is provided.  Be advised this is a windy lake, we almost lost our awning to the instant gusts of wind.
           
 On the second day, we decided it was time to move on.  After re-fueling, grocery shopping & lunch we continued our journey.  Just off the Port Alice Highway, Marble River Recreational Campground is located about thirty minutes from Port McNeill.  The coastal Sitka Spruce and Douglas fir rainforest towers over this park at the Marble River.  There are 33 campsites and picnic area in this well maintained semi-open site.  A handful of these sites back onto the Marble River, while the rest are sheltered in the trees.  Some trails lead down to a series of rapids on the river, there are small sandy beaches for some campsites that are popular for those who enjoy picnicking, nature viewing and wildlife watching. The campsites are ideal for outdoor recreationists in search of solitude, we liked these sites so much we extended our stay for three more days.  We sat by the river, ate our lunch, watched the fast rapids of Marble River just enjoying the scenic view of the surrounding area.  Some tourists, day campers and transients  stop to talk to us and inquire about this campsites.  The most interesting group was the French tourist with his family (two daughters aged, 8 and 11 years old and his wife), who were curious to know about bears, to see one would be a treat before they went back to France.  After talking to them and gave them my bear bell and they went in search for a bear, they came back an hour later to tell us about their two bear encounters.  I am sure they had some good stories to tell their friends in France.

The weather was more cooperative this time, the sky was bright on our way to Port Hardy.  It was a scenic drive on this long stretch highway, roadside viewpoints, interpretive exhibits at point of interest for people of all ages and abilities.  Port Hardy is located at the end of island Highway 19, as far north as you can drive.  With a population exceeding 5,000 is the largest community in the North Island with many facilities to offer to visitors, shopping, boating, hiking, and camping.   Before we proceed with our journey, we decided to tour downtown Port Hardy.  Tasks we needed to do like, re-fuelling, grocery shopping, visiting the visitor tourism centre and stroll the downtown area were done before we proceed with our journey.

 The route to Cape Scott Provincial Park, which was our next destination was quite interesting. There were few things that caught our eye like the Shoe Tree, an old cedar snag that now bears thousands of shoes, sneakers, sandals and boots, we took some pictures, of course.  More commonly, inhabitants are the black bear and cubs crossing the road and some bears are up the  trees watching as the vehicles go by. After travelling on a long unpaved, dusty logging road, we finally reached the small community of Holberg at dusk, with population of 200 people.   If you are looking for a quiet, rustic lifestyle, away from the hustle and bustle of the city life, this is an ideal place for you. There is a small pub on the left side of the street, a post office next to it, a store and a gas station. Holberg is the nearest town before Cape Scott Provincial Park.      

Cape Scott is situated at the northern tip of Vancouver Island, 64 kilometres west of Port Hardy.  The park was named after the site of a lighthouse that open in 1960, and the Cape was named for David Scott, a Bombay merchant who was one of the principal backers in trading voyages in the late 1790’s in this area.  It has been set aside as a wilderness park which also has historical significance.  It was getting dark as we reached one side of the Park campground.  These are small, rustic campsites, offering little more than a clearing, a fire ring, a pit toilet and a picnic table, firewood is “free”. Campers who prefer to erect their tent in a more wilderness setting use this site.  Most of these sites have been developed by the BC Forest Service, or by various forestry companies as a base from which to explore the backcountry of Vancouver Island.  A few yards drive from this dense rainforest is an RV campsite accessible only by crossing an old, narrow wooden bridge. Upon assessing the bridge condition against the weight of our rig, we decided to turn around and spent the night on the narrow roadside outside the park boundary.  The journey continued as we heading back to Port Hardy the next day but first we decided to stop at the town of Holberg and chatted with the locals.

It was a promising day on our way back to civilization. Curious as to what Georgie Lake could offer we made our way to it. The lake was located approximately 10 kilometres Northwest of Port Hardy off of the Holberg Road.  Georgie Lake is a unique campsite with limited eight small sites close to the lake, three on the upper level which can fit bigger RVs.  Walking trails, available boat launch and an outhouse is what this lake can offer to campers. Georgie Lake is home to some of the islands finest cutthroat fishing. After spending a night on this beautiful lake, we decided to go back to Marble River Recreation Site and stayed there one more night before we toured the town of Telegraph Cove.

Telegraph Cove is set on the eastern coast of Northern Vancouver Island, 30 minutes drive south of Port McNeill and 11 kilometres off the Island Highway via Beaver Cove Road.  These days, the tiny town is a major destination during the summer months.  Many original buildings still stand, the town is built on stilts, raised above the water on pilings and linked by a wooden boardwalk.  It is a unique destination for those seeking a pristine waterfront environment.  Fresh water and salt fishing; kayak rental; whale watching and water taxi excursions, diving; hiking, boating, yours to experience.  Telegraph Cove has grown to become one of the best towns in Canada to visit

Our next stop was Nimpkish Lake, situated on Nimpkish Lake Provincial Park south of Port McNeill.  Highway 19 runs above Nimpkish Lakes.  Eastern shore providing an awesome view of the steep forested slopes of Karmutzen Range that frame Nimpkish Lake. Surprised to find that the campsites were packed with hundreds of campers, although there we no amenities, we managed to find a spot with a full view of the mountain.  Different groups of people meet here every year for their windsurfing experience, which is very popular on this 22 kilometre long lake with strong and reliable winds that rise here on the summer afternoons, or just enjoy the view of the rugged mountainscape that surrounds the lake.  There are some hiking trails, which offer a scenic view of the surrounding area, but no facilities are provided in the park.

As the last chapter of our adventure was coming close to an end, we decided to camp one more time by the lake. Woss Lake Provincial Park is the perfect spot with its mountain scenic view which provides spectacular lake and wilderness camping.  It was a hot summer’s day as we parked our camper at the Woss Lake campground, it was so hot that after having lunch we went swimming in the clear blue water of the lake.  The following day the campsite was starting to fill-up with campers as the temperature was starting to climb  We spent our last day around the campfire under a clear, starry night...... the next morning we left for home it was over for now.