Vancouver Island

We had just three days on the Island, and could have stayed twice that. We had a cabin at Oyster Bay, a lovely spot just a few Kms south of Campbell River, about 250 Kms north of Victoria, the capital. It was quiet and peaceful, and we overlooked the Inside Passage, where ships passed us by, three or four a day.

This one I think is the Holland America Lines, Niew Amsterdam, it sailed past us the first day we were there in the afternoon, so it was well lit up by the sun. We saw some Princess ships, as well as Disney Wonder, but they came past at night, lit up overall, but not photographable.

The shoreline was littered with driftwood, some as the result of logging, but mainly from storms inland on the mainland, which had taken down trees, and washed them down rivers, breaking them up on the way. It is legal for the residents to take it for firewood if it is less than ten feet long, but there was so much it just lay there.

Just along the way from us was a number of elaborate wood carvings, done mainly with chainsaws. (See also top). Each year this area holds a competition, and after judging the entries are put up for sale. Those not sold are placed along the shoreline for miles,

Just down the road was a field full of Bison, bred for the table, and domesticated. We could have bought Bison chops, or sirloin. It is a very dark meat, but tasty in a gamey sort of way.

Near Campbell River is Elk River falls, about sixty feet high, the river falls into a canyon that is crossed by a suspension bridge which tend to spring and swing a bit if you get a few people on it

Look to the extreme right of the picture on the stanchion and you may spot a Rotary Wheel, the local clubs are extremely active and they raised the funds to build the bridge, and the approaches to it. Rotary was in evidence all around Campbell River, we saw the wheel everywhere we went.

There is so much fallen timber in the forests too, but it is illegal to take this, or even to collect it for campfires, as the forest service in BC leave it for insects and small animals to nest in. Some of it gets washed down of course, and ends up on the shoreline.

The ferries over here are push me- pull you! They are the same either end and ply back and forth without turning round. They don't even tie up while loading, just run the engines to keep them steady. It takes up to two hours to get across, but the ferries can unload and reload in less than half an hour, on at one end and off the other. Each takes about 500 cars, lorries and RVs, and they don't waste any time!
 We were on the island for too short a time, but had to get back to the mainland as the car needed to be returned.