Family Cottage - Victoria BC, CA

IMO Mum & Jim

 

4142026 - 4192026 We made the Blackball Coho ferry in plenty of time and the crossing went by quickly. We drove out to the University of Victoria and parked. We could not go to the Airbnb until after 3 so we walked and lunched until it was time. 

Designated Area

After checking in and a quick dinner, we went out to a Old Time jam and played for about 2 hours. This was my first time at a jam inside with both cochlear implants with the music program on. It was a little discouraging with all the filters off but I think I could hear better because there was less background noise. But I still have difficulty following a conversation in a group. I always miss the tune that is called. I suppose it might get better the more I am around it, but my playing is still uninspiring. 

We fell into somewhat of a routine, breakfast, walking, lunch, lounging at the Family Cottage, dinner, TV then bed. Here are the places we walked: 

• Tuesday 41426 University of Victoria 

• Wednesday 41526 Main Beach-Thetis Lake

• Thursday 41626 Beacon Hill lookout- Todd and I did a WhereIgo maze geocache. 

• Friday 41726 Saxe Point Park

• Saturday 41826 Mt. Douglas Park This is where I fell and injured my leg. 

• Sunday 41926 Uplands Park and Dallas Road 48.407436, -123.346736
  

Gus of the beach

While walking on Saturday, I was sort of bushwhacking away from the group and took a tumble. I tried to break my fall and sprang my left thigh muscle and stopped my fall with my right knee on a rock. I hobbled to the nearest trail access and Todd, Kate and Gus went back to and got the car. They dropped me off at the Airbnb and I iced it. Later it was getting around good enough to go to dinner and attempt a night cache. 

Dallas Rd Tidelines

    The next day, Sunday, we went to the beach area in front of Mom and Jim’s apartment “Tidelines”. Todd had worked this out, we dug a small hole below the high tide line, poured out their ashes. Decorated with drift wood and daisies and remembered their stories over a bottle of wine. It was very nicely done and made a nice memory.  After walking and dinner we went back to make sure the high tide had washed it away.

    In the morning, I caught the ferry back to Port Angeles and started my trip back to the habitat in the desert.

Photos album of Victoria.

Sun City to Victoria BC

 

Wheelers Pass Road Dispersed Camping - Pahrump Nevada 

Look west Pahrump NV

4082026 GPS: 36.2152, -115.9586 I got a good start out of the desert habitat and the 5 1/2 hours drive to Pahrump Nevada went by quick. Pahrump, Nevada, is famous as a rural, fast-growing getaway an hour west of Las Vegas, known for its proximity to Death Valley National Park, wineries, and motorsports.

    There were plenty of spots to park. The gravel road was rough but I found an empty spot and pointed the Van north and set up. There was snow still on the mountain peak to the west, A good place for an overnight.

    I headed north after breakfast, next stop Sportsman Beach on Walker lake, about 4 hours NW.

Pahrump photos

Sportsman Beach BLM Campground - Walker Lake, NV

Walker Lake - Mt. Grant

4092026 GPS: 38.6914, -118.7716  The drive from Pahrump was uneventful and went by quickly. The camping area was a pleasant surprise. Nestled in the shadow of Mt. Grant the views were splendid.  I got a space right on the lake right next to one of the geocaches in the park. The cost was only $6 and there was plenty of spaces to pick from. I walked to the pay station and then strolled down by the bank of the lake. The water was low and it looked very mossy. It appears the area has suffered from severe ecological decline, with high salt levels leading to the collapse of its fishery.

There are boat ramps, but I didn’t see any boats in the lake, and no one was fishing. According to the Nevada Department of Wildlife conservation efforts are ongoing to restore the lake's water levels, which have declined significantly over the past century due to agricultural diversions from the Walker River. Around this campground they have posted signs showing what the water level was in past years. So today it is a nice place for a overnight, but there used to be much more going on here.

Sportsman BLM Campground

I really enjoyed my stay, finding the few geocaches and visiting with other campers and their pets. I packed up early in the morning thinking that maybe I should stay another day, but there were dark clouds coming over the mountain so I hit the road heading towards Reno and into California. Not sure where I'm parking next, I have my eye on a couple rest stops but it looks like all the campgrounds are still closed in the Shasta mountain area. There is a parking area right on the CA/OR state line that might serve, weill see.

Sportsman's Beach Photos

Oak Slope Campground - Emigrant Lake, Ashland OR

4102026 42.158309, -122.619725 Well shortly out of Reno entering California it began to rain and would rain all day. I  drove through the Lassen National Forest from Susanville, past Mt. Shasta, although I did not see Mt. Shasta because it was raining, stopped for gas in Weed before crossing into Oregon.

Oak Slope Campground

I found the parking area at the first exit but it was just a muddy turnout on Highway 99 with road construction. So I got back on the 5 and after 8 hours of driving stopped at the Oregon State Welcome Center Rest Area I could rest here for 12 hours, I was the only one there, plenty of spots to park. I don't know why, but I just didn't feel right.

So I drove into Ashland and found a nice paved camp spot on the hillside north of Emigrant Lake in Oak Slope Campground. I didn't have any cash so I wrote and check and hunkered down in the van and let it rain.

In the morning the sun was out and the park was very nice. I went for a walk and took my time, again thinking it would be nice to spend another day, but there was more rain coming and I have a reservation at my next stop on the Umpqua River less than a 3 hour drive north.

I was able to dump my grey tank, fill up on water and I even got a nice shower. It was raining again by the time I left. I bet this place is nice when it is not rainy, maybe I will find out someday.

Oak Slope photos

Tyee Campground, Umpqua River - Roseburg OR

Tyee Campground

4112026 43.484506, -123.483565 I had high hopes for this campground. I originally booked 2 days, I changed it to 1 after the refrigerator repair. Surrounded by tall trees right on the banks of the Umpqua river, only one of two rivers in Oregon with headwaters that begin high up in the Cascade Mountains and meanders on down to the Pacific Ocean. I stay at Umpqua Lighthouse State Park on my way back from Thanksgiving last year.

This is a small campground and must be well used by locals during the summer. But in April, there was plenty of room, only a few other campers. Not sure what is going on in space 10 which looks like an abandoned yard sale. I only saw 2 other people and they were the camp host making their rounds.

stairway to Umpqua river

Tired of waiting for the rain to stop, I donned what rain gear I walked down to the river and up and down the stairs to the river. I walked the entire park which only took a half hour.

There was no cell signal and Starlink connection was weak and unreliable, but good enough to listen to baseball. So I pretty much spent my time inside the van staying dry. I cooked up a can of soup and enjoyed the game.

It rained all night and the tall trees dropped water on the van roof. Of course I was not bothered and by the morning the rain stopped for about 15 minutes, but I didn't notice. I slept until well after sunrise, but I didn't notice.

Tyee campground photos

Glenwood Dr. Vanway - Olympia, WA

Glennwood Dr. Vanway

4122026 - 4132026  Safely parked at Todd & Kate's, thus ending the first phase of this trip where we will spend a week in an Airbnb. Once settled we enjoyed a salad and delicious sausage rolls.

The next day was all about getting ready for the trip to Victoria. I decided to go ahead and take the Van, mostly because I will have all my stuff with me. Also I will not be taking up space in the car so it can be packed for a week in a Airbnb. I also want to be able to say I took my Van on the Coho Ferry.

In the morning we got ready for a busy day. I was able to get my COVID 19 booster shot at Walgreens and then we went on a nice walk/geocaching at the Grass Lake Nature Trail. After our walk, we gathered up the string instruments and had a quick Jam at a friends in Olympia.

Then it was back to Glenwood to make final preparations for a 0430 departure to get to the ferry on time.

Grass Lake Nature Trail.

Quebec - Ontario Canada

 0620-062325

During this trip I try to stay on the country roads and avoid the speedways as much as possible. So it was no different when leaving New Brunswick. At first the GPS did not suggest alternate routes to the Casino parking lot on the border of Quebec but right around Moncton, GPS alerted that she has found another route that would save me 8 minutes! Why ever should I question the GPS, but I did check it against another app and it had the same results, so I took it thinking I would see more of the countryside, which surely did. The route through Northumberland turned out to be one lane logging road, mostly dirt, or in my case mud! Basically I went over the mountain rather than around. When a logging truck came by, I had to pull way over to the side, almost in the ditch, to let him pass. I didn’t time it, but I doubt I saved 8 minutes.

I arrived at the Grey Rock Casino just before 9pm. When in the casino and had a burger for dinner. Coincidentally, the couple I parked next to left Murray Beach this morning as well. Kelvin and Kristy are headed  home in North Ontario, 30 minutes east of Thunder Bay border crossing. I told them I had considered going that way, but I’m not sure I have the time. In the morning, they were already gone and they left a note on my windshield inviting me to there property. I pinned the note to the vizor and thought I can decide when I see how the next couple days go. 

Heading northwest, the drive into the Quebec province was very beautiful. The ridge line road followed a long skinny lake, Lake Témiscouata,  winding through small logging towns with colorful building and vistas showing thick timber and green meadows. 30 miles past the lake the road turned 90° to follow the banks of the St. Lawrence river  I earned the Quebec Souvenir by quickly finding a cache off the hwy witha scrabble up a nice trail. I picked another one near the river with a pier.  When I arrived St-Jean-Port-Joli, the church bell was ringing as I parked right next to the wharf.  I walked around, gathered the information for the cache, jumped back in drivers seat to log the cache. I looked up and there was man standing in front of the van giving me the thumbs up. He came around to the window and Louis and I talked about vans, he called them trucks. We went into the cafe across the parking lot and had he bought lunch and beers.  I followed Louis into town and on to his house/workshop so we could see his his van. We shared numbers and I told him to follow me on this Blog. 

It took the rest of the day to get to the maple farm, Aux Petits Plaisirs (To the Little Pleasures) in Warwick, the owner was waiting for me when I arrived. Part of the deal with Harvest Host you are expect to shop during your stay, so the owner was there to make sure I could shop. I bought maple candy, butter and some sausage made with maple. There was another RV there, a senior couple from Quebec. They were there to watch their Granddaughters soccer match in the morning. Our conversation was short because I do not speak much French and they did not speak much English. Once I got RAMVAN some what level, I took a walk around the farm. The road side geocaches both had Did Not Find (DNF) logs so I let them go. The weather that day was wonderful, sunshine all day. When I left in the morning, it was raining pretty hard. I hoped that it did not ruin the soccer match. 

I set the GPS for directions to a city park Virtual cache in Montreal, the second-largest in Canada. The

Title of the cache is called Moi, mes souliers (Me, my shoes), about Félix Leclerc, Author, composer and performer. he is considered the father of Quebec song, as a literary and poetic genre. His songs celebrate the imagination of childhood, nature, the country, love and the world of ordinary people, still close to their pioneering origins. (GC9P6D4) It also says that with his influence, Félix Leclerc was help Quebec maintain as a French speaking country.  There is a youtube video if him singing Moi, mes souliers  To get credit for the cache you have to locate the information panel nearby and answer 3 questions. Then you need to take a picture of your shoes with the Félix Leclerc bigger than life size statue. I love these interactive virtual caches that have you learn about influential

people and culture. After uploading and logging my find, I took a nice long walk around the park. I sensed a feeling that people were eger to get out in the sunshine. Many joggers, walkers and bike riding. There numerous activities for children, duck ponds and play grounds. Really it was pretty much like any city park. I enjoyed my visit.  I arrived back to RAMVAN and found no ticket, it was Sunday so I assumed like most places there is no fee for parking, but everything was in French so I was not sure. When I got in I had to leave quickly because there were others waiting for me to leave. The route out of Montreal to Bedrock Campground in Ontario took through a really long tunnel under the St. Lawrence River, fascinating!  Soon I was out of the city and back in the countryside. 

I had decided to stay at a provincial campground because I wanted to dump my grey water, refill fresh and

most importantly take a shower, in a shower. On my way, right after crossing the border into Ontario, I pulled off and found a quick cache at the entrance to a truck stop, thus earning the Ontario souvenir!   I arrived Ferris Provincial Park, Bedrock Campground just before 5 pm and got all set up. I checked for geocaches in the area and was please to find some along a over grown trail along the bank of the Trent River. It was about 85° felt like over 75% humidity so I figured geocaching first, then shower. Honestly, the hunt on this trail was a little creepy, lots of bugs and I was sweating like a horse. I found 3 traditional, a letterbox and a Multi all in good shape and well hidden. Evidence the local Cacher's are keeping an eye on things.  When I got back to camp, I was soaked through, muddy and thirsty! I pulled my cold water out of the fridge and got ready to take my shower.  Tomorrow I will be driving past Toronto and out of Canada. Not sure how the traffic will be and I do not plan to go into the city. I decided not to travel to Northern Ontario, I feel I have enough time to slowly make my way home.  Northern Ontario can be it's own adventure in the future.  Here is a link my shared photo album for Quebec and Ontario, thanks for reading my blog. 

Plage Murray Beach - Provincial Park

 0618-2025 46.17747, -63.97891

You should have seen the custom officer's face when I told him I going to visit "Saint" Edwards Island while I am camping at Murray Beach. I made it to the At the Canadian border. He asked so many questions, he didn't even give me time to correct myself! Maybe if I would correctly said "Prince" Edwards Island, he might not have made me itemize the contents of my refrigerator.  Looking at me hard, the officer said "Where did you get the eggs?" "Roaring Acres Farm in Connecticut" I responded. He told me to park the van and go inside. Entering the building, looking for the group W bench, I thought the next question will be do you now Todd Thedell, but the pretty lady at the desk just asked my name and said I was good to go.  
So I entered Canada, jumped on Hwy 1 and headed east. I stopped in Fredericton for lunch at Tim Hortons, in Canada Tim Hortons is as popular as McDonalds is in the US, but they have good coffee. After lunch I found a Micro cache in the parking lot and earned my New Brunswick Souvenir. 

I arrived at Plage Murray Beach - Provincial Park and checked in at the office. Site 101 was right on the edge of the loop, only a short walk to the beach and the North Atlantic. My spot for the next 2 days. The view out the van door pretty nice. 

In the morning I packed up and drove to Cape Jourimain and took the 7 mile bridge across the bay to Prince Edwards Island (PEI), there was a virtual cache and a couple traditional caches in the park at the end of the

bridge, Earning the PEI souvenir, I paid the toll and went back across the bridge then headed to Nova Scotia. Just across the province line, I found a peanut butter jar cache in a tree behind an old church.  

I visited a nearby park, right near the water, found 2 small caches and walked  around enjoying the beautiful weather. 

It was still early afternoon by the time I got back to site 101 and set up. Plenty of time for a long walk on the beach and in the ocean. Although I was looking forward to visiting Quebec, I could have stayed here for a week. 

👀 NB-NS-PEI👀