Join us, Allan & Mary-Ann for our travel adventures in Bailey :)
But first our first visit to Ladysmith
Spot the wall art, artist?
2 Ladysmith Jeep Duckings 🦆 Duck 52 & 53
The water front
Our site comes with this decorative firepit, not usable just cute
Bring on the fire!!
Life is good!!
10/15: Our drive to Kyle & Megan’s. This photo is a good recap of the drive, rainy and trafficy
So wonderful to see Kyle again. Wonder what shenanigans they are cooking up.
The day view, the night view
The cheers view!
10/16: This is a very hilly area, our walk mostly down brings up to a road, look up – there’s their home. 2nd photo with Allan’s big zoom. Took us 1/2 hour to get here walk back all uphill. Perhaps we should call for a pick up.
10/17: It’s turkey day!
Peeping time!
Out it comes!
Looks perfect!
The FEAST
The left overs! Can’t wait for turkey sandwiches tomorrow
Today we move to our Winter resort in Ladysmith about 1-1/4h from Kyle & Megan’s. I feel like this will be the winter of Euchre and hot tubbing!
Although we were warned we likely will not be able to get into our site till 2, Carol, the admin, said we could wait in a queue. We decide it doesn’t much matter where we wait so we leave Surfside at 1040. Stop for our last diesel fill at a station. It’s a little tight so we didn’t hook Bob up. I’ll drive him. Race you, Allan!!
There are no, easy access, diesel stations we’ve found near our destination. Bailey doesn’t have snow tires and they are mandatory. All not in our favour as we use diesel for heat and shower water. We have a plan! We will buy 2 fuel cans and add to Bailey’s tank once a week-ish.
We arrive at 1151, yahoo!! First in line.
Our welcoming committee!!
We thought, most would have left yesterday after the long weekend. Allan goes in, sure enough our site is ready; site 51 🙂
Mostly set up! Davy and the carpet will come out if the rain ever stops!
Our firewood arrives! 2 recycle boxes of wood – $10 each
We said we’d embrase the rain, off we go for a stroll around the park. It’s a little fishing hole, catch and release
Trail to the creek
A walking trail, will explore this one another day
Hummmm, when’s salmon spawning? Wish they’d date this flyers
Another adventure begins!
Our visitor this morning, there are 6 who we see frequently on park grounds
Our winter park allows wood campfires! Yahoo! Allan found a deal on kindling so off to the town of Qualicum Beach. $20 for this box is a deal
Then walk around this cute, little town. Yes, this photo was not planned.
Oh look, a glitter chair
UPS is determined! There are at least 3 pick up notices on the door of this closed business.
Duck #51
Life is full of choices!! We can hiberate or expose ourselves to Mother Nature’s tantrums! We are now busy convincing ourselves tantrums rule!
Englishman River Falls Park, here we come!
Magestic!
The big drop off!
Driving back we encounter this. She’s walking her horsey!
I’m a little bit not happy about geese. Not at all happy with this quantity
End the day with walking to pick up Indian food. Super good & hot. I’ve finally warmed up!
Chef Allan’s Breakfast creation!
Crepini egg wrap, topped with mashed cauliflower, breakfast sausage, eggs & cheese. Keto friendly, delicious and likely never to be had again!!
Outing #1 – Our friend, Mags, suggested we visit a mural in Parksdale. She sent us the link, Canada 150 Mosiac Communities in each province and territory across Canada will create sections of the overall mural that will connect Canada through art. Every participating city or town will create a section of the mural made up of 400-750 individual tiles that symbolizes their community. Full story click here We tried and failed to find it yesterday. I emailed both the town and the Canada 150 folks. Phil, from Canada Mosiac quickly responded the mural was in City Hall.
Here it is! A true work of art and community
Proof we did find it, this time 🙂
Next we walk to Mount Arrowhead Brewing Co. Sadly, no amber beer but we are good sports and have a their Arrowhead Blonde, not our favourite but OK on a sunny day.
Next up! A walk to the boardwalk we can see from Bailey. Surprised we haven’t been yet but it has been pretty windy.
Back in the park we see our local deer
and bunny.
The road behind Bailey, ducks like the pond.
Then the sunset. Not spectacular but OK, The street light lines the boardwalk we walked earlier.
Today’s adventure, huge trees! Morning starts with this beautiful sunrise and 🦌 Our last Parksville park was in a wooded area, never saw a deer. This one is in town and many deer 🙂
Really tall, wide trees, that’s an understatement! Why?? Would someone deface the sign? It reads “Christopher Columbus”
Another biggie!
The loop!
These beautiful scenes require no words!
An explanation may be needed with this amazing photo.
A creek runs through the Grove
Next destination – Qualicum Bay. Road leading in
It’s very nice, but oh so windy!
We cut our walk short and head back. We are greeted by what appears to be the resident 🦌
Packing up in the rain isn’t so much fun. Fortunately, because we had to change sites yesterday most of it was already packed. Notice the logs blocking off the entrance. We were told we could go back to our initial site. Not so easy!
The drive between the 2 campgrounds is only 7 minutes. We take the scenic route making it more like an hour cause our tanks are messed and could use some agitation.
This poor guy isn’t having a good day. Hope they are OK
Stop 2 in Parksville. Spot the deer in photo #2!
All settled…
Hoping for more sunshine than rain tomorrow!
Wine time!
Riverbend Cottage & RV Resort we are here for 5 days. Then off to another Parksville resort, then on to Cassidy for our new Winter home. BC has a 6 month then you are a tenant rule with all the tenant benefits so parks do not allow, a more than 6 month stay.
The park has beach access, too bad it’s not a heated beach
Debbie, Dodger (17 years old) and Donnie and Lucy make it to the park! So nice to hang with them, wish we were spending the Winter.
10/03 – It’s a goat 🐐 kind of day!
One of the neighbouring stores, Coombstock! Coombaya The Hippie Store. Tie-dye clothes, unique and groovy men and women’s clothing. Awesome store and owner!
10/04: We didn’t learn till last night that a tree cutting service is coming to remove some dead trees. We can stay in our sites, just move up 15′-(that would block the road) not comfortable with that. There is an empty site almost directly in from of us, we get permission and move there. Donnie & Debbie are not so lucky, they are asked to park on the side of the road. Tree guys are coming at 8, will be done by 4 and we can return to our sites.
They didn’t show 851a, doesn’t sound bad but we are all thinking they aren’t coming at all.
A little cramped in this spot
These guys are fearless! The branches are removed from the 2 trees.
Allan, Donnie & Lucy watching the show
The 2 arborists
The fallen tree, when it landed it sounded like a clap of thunder! 2 more to come down
Moving the logs
Guess they have a 3 tree limit, they were supposed to be here till 4ish, but are goine by 230p
The Man, The Stump!!
10/05 – It poured all night, really poured, it’s still pouring, we were surprised to see the crew back
Day starts off with a Jackpot!
Off to the ferry to the island. It will be amazing to be with Kyle & Megan again. Pouring rain as we get packed up to go… Still a 🙂
Getting close to the ferry!
Get to the ferry a little early @ 147 for the 315 sailing
Lane, 23, we’re close to the front
Waiting to board
Time to board! Arriving so early = front row seat!
We’re off! Sights along the way
Docking, open sesame
Exit ramp, down
#2 off the ferry! Bailey wasn’t happy to not be #1
Back on solid ground
First stop, Parksville for 5 days where we will meet up with Debbie & Donnie. They were our neighbours in Kelowna last Winter.
Set up and the resort’s beach
