Sunshine Coast Camping

We left Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal at the end to August, bound for Langdale terminal on the Sunshine Coast. We were over height and over the standard 7 ft length, so we reserved our spot on the ferry. The reservation cost $15.00 and the ferry fee was $254.50 payable at the terminal. Sounds like a lot, but the return ferry is free.

Loaded up and ready to go

We stayed at Porpoise Bay Provincial Park on two sites to accommodate the whole family.

Having booked this months in advance and with the high temperatures the province had been experiencing, we expected a warm and sunny week away. What we got was rain and cold temperatures. I definitely didn't pack for the weather we got.

We got out for 2 hikes;

• Smuggler Cove Provincial Park Trail accessed from Hwy 101. Heading north, turn left onto Brooks Rd, 1.4km north of Half-moon Bay. The trailhead is 3.3km from Hwy 101.

The trail is 1.5km and takes about 20 min each way, if you don't stop to play along the way. The forested trail leads to the secluded anchorage of Smugglers Cove and then to a spot with views across to South Thormanby Island and north to Texada Island.

Boardwalk over the beaver ponds

Smugglers Cove

• Skookumchuck in Egmont

The hike takes one hour each way and you need to plan on being there at the best viewing times which depends on the tides. 

Skookumchuck means "Strong Water". Tidewater is forced through Skookumchuck Narrows and forms the Sechelt Rapids. The difference in water levels between one side of the rapid and the other can exceed 2 metres (6.5 ft) in height. 

The hike is 4 km with some elevation change. Our "best viewing time" was 6:25pm so we had to hike back in the fading light.

Extreme kayaker

We got out in the kayak once and saw jellyfish, an eagle, seals, and spawning salmon.

Jellyfish under the kayak

Visiting Gibsons, BC

On our last full day of camping, we drove to Gibsons. It was named the Most Liveable City under 20,000 in 2009, but is most famous as the location for the CBC TV series The Beachcombers which ran from 1972 to 1990.

Molly's Reach was the hub of activity on the Beachcombers

Tugboat used on the Beachcombers
Persephone

We had a bear visit in the middle of the night at our campsite. He knocked over the bar b q and climbed a tree when we came out of the trailer. We had tried to burn off the food waste in the bar b q but guess the bear wasn't discouraged by that. 

The trailer is home now and we are already talking about where the whole family will camp next year. 

Next big trip is to Nice, France in December. In the mean time, I'm going back to work next week after a great summer break.

My upcoming trips

Summer is the time for camping and this year the family is taking the trailer and tent to the Sunshine Coast of BC at the end of August.

Dave and I will be flying to Nice in the south of France for two weeks in December to meet up with our son and his family who will be spending 6 months there. 

Check in later for info and pictures on these trips.

Huatulco, Mexico

I had planned to travel again during spring break, but an opportunity arose where both Dave and I could travel together so I quickly booked a trip, found 2 teachers who will willing to take my classes and we were off for a weeklong February break.

Huatulco (pronounced was-TOOL-co) is in the state of Oaxaca on the Pacific coast of Mexico. It's official name is Bahias de Huatulco referring to the fact that this resort area is clustered around nine bays at base of the Sierra Madre mountains. The area spans 20 miles of the Pacific coastline and includes 36 beaches. Visit Mexico
claims that this area is one of Mexico's most relaxed destinations.

We took a six hour direct flight from Vancouver with a plane load of Canadians and arrived to find a part of Mexico that was also full of Canadians.

We stayed at  Las Brisas with 3 private beaches and its own coral reef.

We stayed from Feb 13-20, which included Valentine's Day. The resort had roaming cupids handing out chocolate.

The resort is surrounded by 50 acres of botanical hillside gardens and getting around requires using stairs. There are carts that take you around but consider this; to get from the restaurant/pool/bar level to the lobby level where you will find these carts, you will have to climb these.....

and possibly these, which is just one set of stairs you may need to climb to get to your room....

We were in the lower section

Some of the stairs we needed to climb to get from the beach to our room.

The obligatory view from our room. It was worth the climb.

Our favourite breakfast restaurant was the Mexican restaurant. It was open-air with a great view of the snorkelling beach and the coral reef. 

Loved all of the wood around the resort.

We took a city tour on Sunday, which turned out not to be such a good day as most shops were closed. The charming little town of  La Crucecita was one of the stops. So nice to see that there are no traditional fast food restaurants in the area.

We took a sunset sail tour as we can only see the sunrise from the resort. 

 We also took a tour to see crocodiles and turtles raised to be reintroduced.

Iguana in the mangrove

And lastly we took a snorkelling tour. We love snorkelling and this time we saw a puffer fish, eels, a baby shark and many colourful fish. It was so nice that we could snorkel right at our resort but we wanted more.

One of the many beaches along the way

Face in the rocks

Two whales

Lunch break at a beach only accessible by water

We came home on Friday and Dave had to leave for work in Indonesia on Monday. I was so happy to be able to share a holiday with him and I am now planning how I can whisk him away for another.

Tofino

Surfing on Cox Bay

Beach walking

Starfish

After the rush of Christmas, we took the family to the west coast of Vancouver Island.

To reach the village of Tofino we drove from our home to Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal just outside of Vancouver. We took the ferry to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island and traveled north on Highway 19 for 43km (26 miles), took exit 60 onto Highway 4 West (also known as the Pacific Rim Highway), drove 156km (97 miles) through spectacular ancient forest in Cathedral Grove, historic Port Alberni, and around beautiful Sproat and Kennedy Lake. We traveled over a windy road until we came to the junction between Ucluelet and Tofino. We turned right and traveled north through Pacific Rim National Park to our hotel which was just out of Tofino (28km-17miles).

We booked one cottage and 3 deluxe beachfront rooms at The Long Beach Lodge Resort.

We went on beach walks, short hikes, walked around Tofino, and ate some fabulous food. One restaurant we went to was named Canada's #1 best new restaurant. It was not too expensive and was enjoyed by our group ranging in ages from 3 years - 85 years old. I would recommend Wolf in the Fog.

One member of our group went surfing in the cold Pacific water. I sat in the hot tub.

Family bonding at its best!

View from our room

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Cottage

Path to the cottage

Start of an easy hike

End of the hike

Las Vegas during Christmas break

Being a teacher I have to work my travel plans into school breaks. Two weeks in December was made for traveling. On December 20 my husband Dave, daughter Jen and I drove across the border into Washington to take a flight on Allegiant from Bellingham. Our destination was Las Vegas.

Show girls on Freemont Street

It was our first time on Allegiant and found they charge for everything. It cost us to carry on luggage and would have cost $5 per boarding pass if we had them printed at the airport. In 2 1/2 hours we were in Vegas.

We wanted a place to stay that had 2 bedrooms and found what we wanted at the Desert Rose. It was a block and a half off the strip and had no casino, so was quiet.

We started our trip with a bus ride to Freemont Street and headed to the Golden Gate Casino where the shrimp cocktail was first introduced to Las Vegas.

Jen planned all of our activities and she did a great job. We saw a murder mystery that evening. Marriage can be Murder was a lot of fun. We watched the light show on Freemont Street and took the bus back home. I have been to Vegas 3 times, but not for quite some time and found the Freemont Experience Light Show has become much more commercial and shorter than I remember. Worth going to see though.

Day 2 of 3 was spent on the strip looking at a lot of hotels and some minor gambling. Jen and I had been playing My Vegas on Facebook and earned enough points to eat morning brunch for free. We went to The CSI Experience at the MGM Grand and were researchers at Television City Our evening entertainment was the cirque show Love at the Mirage.

We flew home on December 23 to have Christmas with the family.

This is where I've been...so far

Bonnie has been to: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Fiji, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Luxembourg, Macao, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Peru, Romania, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Venezuela. Get your own travel map from Matador Network.