Seeing More of Vancouver Island

Marina at French Creek

I drove through two campgrounds. Even if there had been a vacant spot, I would not have wanted to stay. For all the available forests on this island they cram the campsites into the smallest possible area providing each spot only the width of an RV.
I drove to the marina and found a parking spot. Even though there were other cars, no one was in them because they were all on their boats or had taken the ferry.
I had a nice view.

Cruise Ship across the Strait

Sailboat on the Strait of Georgia

Additionally there was a nice restaurant across the parking lot.

Sunset from the French Creek Grill

The restaurant cat and a wee field mouse came out to play. I don't think the cat really wanted to catch it; just wanted to make it run. I couldn't get a good picture, but I wanted to save this to remind me of the cute entertainment.

Cat and Mouse at Play

I am confident there are more Canada Geese permanently residing in Denver's city parks than there are in all of Vancouver Island. A few stayed with me in the marina.

Canada Geese in for the Night

Low Tide in the AM

The next morning, I headed west on route 4. Guess what I did again today? This time, the stroll was in what is called the Cathedral Grove.

A Very Nice Walk in the Woods

Goblins

CG Eassier to Walk than Avatar Grove

A Tree Grows from a Burnt Tree

Vandals Set Fire to this 500 YO Tree

There were only a few placards explaining what you were seeing. For example, one explained how vandals had set fire to this tree and they removed all of it but this trunk so we could witness the result of carelessness or disrespect. One of the others described butt rot. There were very few others describing all the ferns, leaves, plants, trees. I think they just liked the name of this one. Please note that butt rot is different than root rot, but there was no placard showing us root rot.

Seeping Butt Rot

Stalker

800 YO Biggest Tree

This 800-year-old tree (the biggest one in the forest) is taller than the Tower of Pisa in Italy. But not nearly as big as those Bazil and I saw in the Redwood Forest of California.
Perhaps it is okay I couldn't find the big tree a few weeks ago. I wouldn't have been that impressed!

I drove on to Port Alberni to visit their museum. Too bad, it is closed on Sunday. I stopped for brunch instead.

No One to Take My Picture

Continuing along on route 4, the road crosses over more than one mountain pass - summit around 600 meters - less than 2000 feet. Not even half as high as Denver, but you climb this elevation in just a few miles instead of gradually arriving at it across the plains of Kansas and eastern Colorado.
I was surprised to see snow on the very high mountains on the horizon.

Snow on the Mountaintop

The road is so narrow, there was no place to pull over and get a good picture. This road was not paved until 1972. The first gravel road was bullt in the 1930s as a combined government and lumber industry project to provide employment during the depression. Until then, there was no way to get across the island. The only access to the towns and settlements along the coast was by ship.
The campground I chose had a spot with "a view of the water."

I Am Not Impressed with VI Campgrounds

Could not find anyone interested in chatting a while. Someone had asked me if I ever get lonely traveling alone and I replied that if I do I just find someone to talk to for a while. Well, guess what? I got a wee bit lonely tonight.

Another Chevy Van

This crazy, wild Chevy van pulled right in beside me. What a hoot! I thought surely these folks would talk to me about our vans and get a conversation going. No such luck. Fortunately, I had a good book and some knitting.
For two hours the thunder rumbled and then the rain poured.
I was cozy in my van and glad that I don't do tent camping.