Slideshow “Campbell River, Vancouver Island, BC”

Vancouver Island, BC

We explored the area around the town of Campbell River from August 8 to September 7, 2010. We have the usual practice of staying 4 weeks at the same place. This is long enough to recover from the stress of moving, tends to satisfy the sedentary side of our nature and provides enough time to experience more of an area. Moving again, however, gives wings to our wandering side which is always enchanted by new territories.

Our principal activity is hiking and each excursion is different. There is always a surprise which awaits us. An animal emerges in front of us, a new flower draws our attention, or the people we meet by chance. Sometimes there are even exchanges of confidences that take place in these spontaneous encounters. Perhaps like Ted says (or a forgotten author), there is more truth in these chance encounters than with close relations because we cannot prepare in advance for a performance like we usually can and the knowledge that we will never meet again, have a liberating effect.

We do not have photographs of all of these beautiful and usually simple adventures. Sometimes, we must give up the camera when it would be too intrusive. For example, one day we went to our favorite bench at the edge of the sea to watch the birds and “Peter the carpenter” came to sit down beside us. We had exchanged idle pleasantries on the trail already. Never had we met someone more attentive to our stories. He was interested in all of our adventures and how we met, asking us good questions. In turn, we felt his loneliness and search for companionship. Unforgettable and unexpected moments of a benevolent and cordial listening.

Summer is the tourist season in most campgrounds and Salmon Point RV Resort was no exception; it was a busy place, mostly visited by people from the surrounding area. The small families with children were numerous and when the swimming pool attracts children, the adults invade the hot tub.

Summer also means heat and this August was very dry and hot on the Island. We took advantage of all the available liquid surfaces: lake, river, sea, swimming pool and hot tub.

We are at present near Eatonville, Washington, close to the Mount Rainier national park after a “wet” stay on the Olympic Peninsula, WA, camped close to the beach of Port Crescent where the sound of the waves rocked us to sleep for 25 nights. But that will be the next story.