Strathcona trip

 31 May

Ralph River Campground, Strathcona Provincial Park

3:45.  I arrived around 2 o’clock, after departing Parksville at 8 am.  I stopped in Courtenay at the Canadian Tire—the best stocked CT on the Island, I think, and I was down to one bag for my vacuum cleaner.  No replacements were available in Parksville or Nanaimo, and Courtenay is enroute, sorta.  

Campbell River is really growing. Yuk.    Lots of what look like time-share condos along the shore.  Gottoo be a cultural change from the salmon fishery and logging town.

I headed west on Highway 28 for Gold River at around 11:30, starting to be ready for a bite to eat and a biffy break.  Nothing really presented itself until after maybe 30 km, a sign pointed to “Miller Creek Forest Service Recreation Site.”  I thought it was worth a look.  Indeed it was.  It’s quite a big campground, with a host-manager, lots of well-maintained spaces, many of which are on a big, man-made lake.  I’d stupidly neglected to bring along my Vancouver Island Recreation and Camping Book, so I’ll need to read more about the lake on my return.  And keep the book in my truck for future reference. 

In any case, it was a nice place to stop and eat my cheese bun and apple and drink my coffee.  I think I’d like to head back up there to camp one day—there were other campers, but the sites are widely spaced, and it was very quiet.  And the seniors’ rate is absurdly cheap—$9 per night!

I made my way to the turn-off for the park, and drove the 40 k to Ralph River.  I’d never stopped here before.  It seems very nice, simple, but new biffies, and again, well maintained.

I set up camp in a fine site along the river,

and took about an hour’s walk exploring along the river, which

runs into Buttle Lake within the campground. 

I hadn’t thought to bring my camera or binoculars, but there is a really interesting looking stand of alder, willow and other scrub at the point where the river joins the lake.  (Another man-made lake.  Not to complain.). I could hear flycatchers and a kingfisher.  I’ll make my way back there early tomorrow morning, with camera, bins, and bear spray.  

Or at least, I hope the weather cooperates.  It’s been grey and ominous almost all day, but now the sun is out.  There is no phone or internet access here (ah, Wilderness!) so I can’t check the weather forecast—as I recall it called for rain mid-morning tomorrow.  Time will tell.

It’s now 4 o’clock and I’ve enjoyed a nice cup of tea.  I think I’ll get a fire going, and cook my usual half steak over the campfire.  

It’s good to be here.

1 June

As almost always when camping, I slept well last night, but wakened at first light and was up and eating breakfast by 5:30.  It was cloudy and rather humid.

I walked back to the shore of the lake, in hopes of seeing it full of birds.  It wasn’t, but it was a good walk.  

There were many robins, a couple of chipping sparrows, violet-green swallows.  I heard Swainson’s thrush, and a warbling vireo.  

To my considerable annoyance I’ve stupidly forgot to bring a second battery for the camera or its charger, so I’ve been keeping the camera turned off as I walked.  I was just setting it up to photograph a yellow warbler in the willows when a smallish black bear dashed across the path—didn’t get a photo of him, either.  He left in some haste, as have bears I’ve encountered in wild places before.  He was small, but not a cub, very black and glossy.  His manner said clearly, “OH NO!!  A human!  Time to clear out, fast!”  Bears are mostly sensible about these matters, I gather.  I continued on, with bear spray in one hand and my camera in the other but didn’t have cause to use either.  

I arrived back at my camper just as a light rain began, which has continued intermittently all day.  Mountain rains tend to be cold, and this one has been no exception.  I’m now in my camper, sipping hot tea, but think I’ll set up my grill under the canopy and see if I can cook the rack of lamb ribs from Prevost.  

It’s starting to look as though it may clear.  Maybe another short walk before I start grilling.

Strange walk. Shows as a “nature walk” on maps. Steep,narrow, lots of big blowdowns.

 I had to give up eventually. 

Back to my campsite,  we’ll see what lamb rack will do. 

(It turned out simply delicious.)

River is up by at least a foot after high snowmelt. 

2 June

River is now up by two feet.

I slept in until 7 am this morning.  Cooked my usual camping omelet.  

I decided to check out the trail that said, “Beach access.”  At this stage in the season, there really isn’t any beach.  It’s the end of the lake, with views of the mountains across the way and the debris torrent.

. 

Again, not particularly birdy.  Some patches of blue, and again, humid.  I decided to make my way (tiresome phrase—I’ll need to find a new one) back along the shore to the point at which the river runs into the lake.  

For some annoying reason, I have a bunion that is quite painful, making me limp.  Tiresome.  I tried Tylenol first thing this morning, and I guess it helped a bit.

The walk along the shore isn’t really beautiful.  The stumps of trees along the lake don’t do much for the view, but the distant views of mountains are fine.  Made my way (that damned phrase again) to the inflow of the river.  Very swift this morning.  Sat for a while, enjoying the view, then came back to camp and a rather nasty corned beef sandwich and a really good apple.

Took an embarrassingly long nap, drank tea, sat reading under my awning, until a cold rain began to fall at about 4 o’clock.  Now (5:15) sitting inside my camper, enjoying my heater and some wine.  Actually it sounds now as though the rain may be abating and I can get a fire going outside.

...Rain didn't abate, but intensified.  

3 June 

It bucketed down throughout the night and all the time I packed up camp.  I got thoroughly wet and muddy, but warmed up once I got on the road.

It was, despite iffy weather, a good trip.