A "Pleasureway" Journey to Remember – Part Two From Sea to Shining Sea and Back
Agnes and Jean Claude Levesque

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We met Agnes and Jean Claude in our last issue. They had purchased their Pleasureway, “that incredible little bundle of adventure” in June at the Arbutus RV Port Alberni location and set out on a 17,000km journey from Ladysmith BC to Halifax NS. Here’s the rest of their story -
Our adventure began with a first night at Green Lake Provincial Park. Here we were able to snuggle into a lovely campsite near the lake. From August 20th to October 10th we wandered Canada and the USA. During that journey we only had one day of rain. We slept in and ate at a campsite every night except our last night and then only because we felt that we needed to experience at least one hotel stay.
Some of the highlights of our adventure that other travelers might enjoy include:

• Prairie lightening spectaculars that abound on hot summer nights one of which we enjoyed in Camrose, Alberta.

• Sipping a gin and tonic snug in our rig after a day of travel as the cloud burst thundered down around us in the municipal park in Dauphin. This was the most beautiful municipal park we have visited. A walk along the riverbank in the cool of the morning was unequalled.
• Our visit to Hecla Island and Gull Harbour in Manitoba was a first for us and one we will do again. The campsite was outstanding and the hiking was perfect.
• The journey from North Bay, Ontario to Pembroke through the Ottawa Valley region was scenic. Already the hint of colour in the leaves whet the visual appetite for the spectacular colour we knew to be ahead on our journey to see the Fall colours in the forests of Eastern Canada and the US.
• For those wanting to RV and see the sites of Montreal, we recommend the KOA on the northwest of Montreal. A fabulous park with good connection to bus, train and metro for a comfortable way to travel in the downtown core. There is nothing like an open-air dinner at a patio restaurant near Place Ville Marie to get you in the spirit of the city.
•  Take the "old" highway and stay off the freeway as you travel up the Gaspe. You will pass through scenic villages and find spectacular seaside parks.  

Trois Pistoles, Gaspe Campground, Quebec

• A journey across the Confederation Bridge to PEI cannot be missed. Lobster dinners at picnic tables also are a must. Camping at Summerside was a delightful experience as we were able to drive our little home right up to the edge of the sea and watch an incredible sunset as we sat under the awning sipping wine and chatting with new friends and fellow campers from Switzerland.

Sunset beside the sea at Summerside PEI

• Our 3-night stop at Halifax was pleasurable because we were able to stay in Dartmouth and connect to Halifax by bus and harbour ferry to historic Halifax. If you go, do not miss taking the Harbour Hopper Tour…a real adventure filled with fun and history. The amphibious vehicle journeys through the historic sites on land then enters the harbour itself for a tour as the guide relates the facts about the harbour disaster. Truly, a great tour not to be missed. Especially on a day in late September when the temperature soared to over 33 degrees Celsius! Oh and be sure to have fishcakes for lunch…a delicious east coast treat served to us by a young lady who hailed from Mill Bay! Such a small world!

• Coming back through the States provided many adventures as well. The Fall colours provided an extra pleasure to our journey.
• Pennsylvania was a state of great exploration for us. Harrisburg, Hershey City, Gettysburg, all held different adventures. Historical reminders of the civil war were everywhere. The scenery held great variety. We loved as well our tour of the Hershey Chocolate factory at the theme park in Hershey City. Our vehicle tour of Gettysburg brought history to life. The highlight of Pennsylvania was the time we spent in the Amish country. Such incredible people who live their lives in peace with the environment.
• If you journey through West Virginia, take your seasick medication first! Our "home on wheels" never was level except at night in the campgrounds. Long, steep hills going up and then down and then up and down for endless miles and days got to be a little much for us. Worse were the huge trucks roaring by at 75 miles per hour, as was the speed limit on most sections of the freeway. We were happy to roll into the beautiful state of Kentucky!
• Visit the Kentucky Horse farm at Lexington. We were amazed at the knowledge we gained about racehorses and breeds of horses.
• The people of Kentucky are the most welcoming and caring people we had the pleasure to meet. From the Sales manager at the Chev. Dealership where we had an oil change who wished us "Godspeed" and safe journey and "y’all come back now" as we left to the fellow campers who insisted we join their campfire in the evening at the Green Lake State Park near Harrodsburg.

Scurrying across the mid-states we had an urgency to reach and explore Colorado before the snow set in. Kansas became tedious with endless prairie and dusty smelly feedlots. However, the Kansas State Fairgrounds RV Park at Hutchinson redeemed Kansas for us…mainly because right across the street was a BBQ rib restaurant called Hog Wild BBQ pit. Oh do you have to love those ribs!!! Hubby says he would drive all that way again for another feed of those delicious smoky ribs…yum!!!

 Home on the Range!

• Moving westward into Colorado we spent an incredibly memorable camping night at Lathrop State Park. As we sat in the gathering darkness we began to witness what would become the most vivid sunset we have ever seen. Everywhere one turned a new and awe inspiring colour show appeared.

• As we headed over the North La Vista Pass to Pegosa Springs we saw our first snow on the sides of the road. Time to head home it said to us.
• Utah with its incredible rock formations provided more scenic journeys and of course a stay at Moab had to be included in our trip.
• The most spectacular colour we saw on the trip surprisingly came as we journeyed over the pass from Leavenworth to the Pacific coast. The vine maples and sumac bushes ran in rivers of red down the mountain sides.
• Of course no adventure across the continent and back can be complete until you catch the first scent of salt air from the Pacific Ocean.

And so ends our first camping adventure in our Pleasureway. Over two months in our little gem and not a regret. Thank you, Shannon Charlesworth, and Port Alberni Arbutus RV and Marine Sales, for guiding us to the ownership of our Pleasureway RV. Our next adventure is to explore northern BC and Alaska and the Yukon. And to think, we can pack it all into a recreational vehicle that slides into any scenic campsite or parking space at the mall with equal ease!
We would love to hear about your RV’ing adventures. Would you like to see your story published? Send it in and if we publish it we’ll send you a $50 Parts Gift Certificate and copies of the Guide (on request) to share with your friends & family! Please e-mail your submission to arbmark@arbutusrv.ca or mail it to – Tracy Nice, Arbutus RV & Marine Sales, 3350 Spitfire Road, Cassidy, BC V0R 1H0. Please feel free to include photos along with your story.