Strathcona Park, Vancouver Island

July 15th-23rd

Key Takeaways: 

• Strathcona Park on Vancouver Island is one of the most beautiful places.  
• The best campsites are free.
• A Rainbow Community gathering is in our future (want to come with?)
• Quiet birthdays are cool too.

We left Campbell River with our bellies full of fish and chips and wandered around some old logging roads in search of a recreational site to camp. Using a borrowed 10-year old backroads map, we knew there were once rec sites in the area, but kept coming up on abandonned/closed down roads&sites. Still a bit sheepish of logging roads with no cell service after our flat tire, we settled on a new-ish rec site that was conviently completely free. Having a legit waterfront campsite for the cost of nothing can't be beat!

Not bad, eh?

We love our early morning coffee walks!

Finally sun was shining and we decided to make a move towards Strathcona Provinical Park. We had a few hikes we wanted to do, and we wanted to strike while there was a temporary break in the rain. Although a huge park, we based ourselves around Buttle Lake, and explored the area. It's where my new found obsession with alpine meadows bloomed. And although I'm not sure they are considered alpine meadows-- there's mountains, lakes and wildflowers all in the same vista and it makes me heart sing and glow and jump for joy! You'll also notice the transition from tuques and sweaters to bathing suits in this post. This is the stretch where summer weather finally made an appearance. 👏

After Strathcona Park we decided to keep heading west to the Gold River area. Gold River is a town with laundry and some groceries and two liquor stores. I really feel like they've got their finger on the pulse. While hanging around Gold River waiting for our laundry, we bumped into a free-spirit named Tree who invited us to checkout the Rainbow Community gathering just outside of town. Never hearing of it, he told us more about the community- Just some nature-loving, freethinking folks who share a couple good meals and conversation each day. You had us at "good meals" Tree. Buuttt if you know us, you know we get stuck in places once the old van gets put in park, so we didn't make it out. See you next year, Tree. And blessings.

We ended up staying at Muchalat Lake for almost a week. Since the weather started to feel a lot more like summer, we lounged at the beach, read books and swam a lot. I also celebrated my birthday lakeside-- being far from crowds and cell service, one of the quietest birthdays to date-- A sunny day with Tyler and Jamie, long afternoon paddle followed by evening champers and campfire nachos. Following a year of significant change, substantial solotime, which lead to some serious reflection, and noteworthy shifts in perspectives and priorities, this birthday celebration was so fitting. Simple and wonderful 💕

Birthday bliss!