Highlights of Vancouver Island

Arriving by Ferry from Port Angelus

While visiting Vancouver Island is not new to us, bringing our truck and trailer on the ferry for a week of camping was! 

We had three different campsites planned, two in beautiful forests, and one across the harbor from Victoria, where we were entertained by sea planes landing and taking off, or flying over our trailer, ferries, sailboats, canoes and rowing clubs making use of the harbor. We also saw a cruise ship docked for the day!

Stoney Hill: What a View!

From our first campground “up island”, we drove through a residential area to a “regional park” for a hike with views of the Salish Sea. The trail led through groves of trees and out to the edge of the stone bluffs in several places, providing panoramic 180 degree views!

Historic Kinsol Tresle Bridge

Once a working railway bridge, this trestle had fallen into a dilapidated state, but has been rehabilitated into a functional bridge that takes pedestrians and bikes high above a stream for an enjoyable outing with some great views! 

Work first began on the trestle in February of 1911, as a main line. The project ran out of funds and a new owner finished the bridge in 1920 as a logging railway. The twelve story high bridge carried some passenger trains as well in its early days. 

It’s an amazing example of the incredible  engineering of the early 1900’s that the load of a logging train could be held aloft twelve stories by a timber bridge!

Malahat Skyview

This was a new adventure for us! An elevated boardwalk led us through the forest to the base of the spiral ramp which provided a gradual ascent to the top of the tower. 

At 250 meters above sea level, the tower offers some of the best views on Vancouver Island, including a sweeping panorama of Mt. Baker, Finlayson Arm, the Saanich Peninsula, and islands in two countries. After enjoying the views we could choose our descent: 

a return walk down the ramp (Lori’s choice) or the fast route on the Spiral Slide (Steve’s choice)!

Throughout the grounds we were treated to fantastic lifelike driftwood sculptures, created by Tanya Bub, including a cougar, an owl, an eagle in flight, among others!

Butchart Gardens

The Butchart Gardens is a 120-year-old world famous 55-acre display garden located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. 

The Gardens were created by Jennie Butchart on the depleted grounds of the family cement factory and home, and are still privately owned and operated by the family. 

No matter what season you visit this spectacular place you will be delighted by the variety of trees, lawns surrounded by seasonal flowers, and in summer an expansive rose garden bursting with colors and fragrance.

We have visited the garden on several trips over the years and enjoyed strolling the grounds and exploring the Italian Gardens, the Japanese Gardens and the Sunken Gardens. Good memories have been formed here with family and we said a prayer of gratitude for the great times we have shared here.

Our week of "Van Island" Adventures culminated with another ferry ride, this time bringing us to Mainland Canada near Vancouver where we will head toward the area around Whistler for a week.

We hope you are enjoying reading about our Adventures on the Road (and Sea)!

Snapshots of Washington

Port Townsend, WA, on the edge of the Puget Sound is noted for its Victorian houses and significant brick buildings which line the Main Street of downtown, many dating back to the late 1800’s. We enjoyed strolling the Main Street and browsing the shops, all just a block from the docks and wharfs. Many cafes and restaurants offered lots of options for a coffee or meal. We enjoyed a slice of pizza in the open air patio overlooking the harbor.

Dungeness Spit, at approximately 5 miles in length, is the longest natural sand spit in America. It juts out into the sea on the Northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula. It was covered in logs tossed ashore like they were twigs.  The sea beyond was a steel gray mass of wind driven waves. We walked only a short distance before the chilly winds drove us back to the shelter of the forested bluffs. 

A great benefit of travel is when our route brings us to a visit with friends who have moved away. Washington is now home for two couples who in the past attended our church.

Sean and Brittany were members of our church for the past year and have just moved back to Whidbey Island. During our stay in Port Townsend we took the ferry over to the Island for a day trip and to visit with them.  We enjoyed a beautiful botanical gardens, a fort, and a drive out to the bridge at Deception Pass.

The bridge is available to pedestrians as well as cars, but we were running short on time, so elected to just drive over the bridge and back, stopping at a view spot for some pictures.

After a couple of days in Port Townsend we moved our camp site out to an RV park near Olympic National Park to meet up with another couple who were part of our church family over two decades ago.

Pat and Sherry, and their dog Porter, are enjoying traveling in their beautiful Fifth Wheel for short vacations, but are looking forward to retirement next year when they can really get out on the road and see the country, like we are enjoying doing! It's so great to have life long friends that we still have a great friendship with.

From our base camp outside of Olympic National Park we enjoyed a hike through a beautiful forest.  This giant fallen tree had a massive root structure rising high above us, with new trees taking root on the host tree. What a sight it was!

Olympic National Park also has amazing Pacific Coast beaches where the forest comes down to meet the ocean. Massive logs and driftwood are strewn about at Ruby Beach, just a short walk from the parking lot. We enjoyed walking among the driftwood, sea stacks and stream coming down to the ocean. - What animal does the sea stack rock below look like to you?

 

Our upcoming Adventures on the Road include taking our trailer by ferry over to Vancouver Island, BC for a week. See you next time!