Day 6: Victoria to Fort Flagler State Park
We sadly left our nice guest suite and continued on our road trip. We caught a big ferry down to Port Angeles in Washington State and only got marginally grilled by customs. The sour reception was made sweeter by the cheap on board duty free, through which we managed to get a bit bottle of Captain Morgan and a carton of Budweiser for only $38.
Given the cold temperature and likelihood of rain we had decided to travel down the more Eastern coastal route of Washington, and not go through the Olympic National Park. While this was something I really wanted to experience, it is pretty chilly, with snow making a lot of campground inaccessible, and I can't imagine we'd enjoy it too much if it was raining the whole time. I hope we will get the chance to go there in the Summer months.
We stayed in Fort Flagler State Park, a 19th century established military fort. We went for a look around the fort itself but it didn't really have any information, and was covered in graffiti. The campground itself was overlooking the water and it was a beautiful sunny afternoon. I made Panang Curry for dinner, which sounds amazing but in actual fact it was turkey mince (half price), drowning in curry sauce, poured over gluggy rice. It looked like slop but it tasted pretty good and it was hot and filling.
I failed again at the shower, as I only had two quarters and thus three minutes of hot water time. And three minutes later I was left in the cold with a head full of conditioner. Using my creative side I managed to wash out the conditioner under the cold hand basin faucet and then dry off under the hand blower. Success!
Day 7: Fort Flagler to Ocean City
It rained during the night and we got up and went pretty early and just drove west towards the 101 coastal road. Another stopover in Walmart and we picked up a little TomTom GPS which will help us greatly, despite sometimes getting confused and thinking we are driving on water...
We drove through Aberdeen, which is the hometown of Kurt Cobain. As you enter the city the sign says "Aberdeen; Come as you are". It was raining very heavily by this time so we trucked on through to our campsite, Ocean City State Park.
Here we encountered a new pinnacle of shit weather. Zane cooked dinner in hail. Luckily it was an easy meal to cook (noodles) so it didn't take long and we were soon enough nice and warm in the van.
Day 8: Ocean City to Astoria (Oregon!)
Unfortunately the weather hasn't improved so we haven't had much of a chance to enjoy the coastline. We are now in Oregon, right up at the tip, near Astoria. We're pulled in for the night and I think it'll be another quiet one.
We stopped in Astoria today for some clam chowder in this little smokehouse that has been open since 1920. Then we went to a microbrewery and had some truly foul beer. Mine was quite nice but Zane got the IPA and Keiths it wasn't. The flavour card describes it as 'a big straight forward blend of citrus notes and flavours followed by a smooth malty finish'. In my own words, 'a thick, heady brew that goes down like soup and leaves you retching with its acidity'. I had to help Zane finish it off and there were chunks down the bottom and two hours later I can still taste it in the back of my mouth.
I'm pretty excited as we have just found out that there is a Crab, Seafood and Wine Festival in Astoria this weekend and buses that will take us from our campsite to the event. I think Zane is keen to continue down the coast but I hope I can talk him into staying just one more night.
Much Oregon love,
T and Z.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Day 4 Tofino and Ucluelet* Appologies for my incorrect spelling in previous blogs. Woops!
We spent a really nice day exploring the surfer towns of Tofino and Ucluelet. We had a look around the shops and a delicious lunch at Sobo in Tofino. I had a wild lingcod fillet on a potato cake with carrot and broccolini and Zane had prawns on a green salad with satay sauce and roti bread.
We stopped in at Chocolate Tofino, a store that makes all their own chocolates and ice-creams. Due to the large amount of Aussies in the area they are even doing chocolate bilbies this Easter! We continued our day of splurging and had ice creams Belgian Chocolate and Lavender Honey for me, Hazelnut Chocolate and Maple Pecan for Zane. Delish!
We went for some walks through the Pacific Rim National Park, one through a dense, temperate rainforest and one through a bog wetland area. Truly amazing to have two completely different habitats so close together. We walked around the point of Ucluelet in the afternoon, past the lighthouse and along the coast.
Day 5 Ucluelet to Victoria
Victoria is Vancouvers largest city, and home to some family friends of Zane's who are generously housing us for two nights. It was bliss to have a shower today and not have to take coins and worry about running out of hot water when you're all sudsy. We had spaghetti Bolognaise with fresh made pasta for dinner, Banana and Chocolate cake for desert and wine out of a real wine glass! Also looking forward to a sleep on a proper bed tonight!
Tomorrow we're going for a big walk around Victoria, through the park down to the water and to see all the sights, and hopefully some seals!
Much back-to-comfortable-living-for-a-brief-amount-of-time love,
T and Z
We spent a really nice day exploring the surfer towns of Tofino and Ucluelet. We had a look around the shops and a delicious lunch at Sobo in Tofino. I had a wild lingcod fillet on a potato cake with carrot and broccolini and Zane had prawns on a green salad with satay sauce and roti bread.
We stopped in at Chocolate Tofino, a store that makes all their own chocolates and ice-creams. Due to the large amount of Aussies in the area they are even doing chocolate bilbies this Easter! We continued our day of splurging and had ice creams Belgian Chocolate and Lavender Honey for me, Hazelnut Chocolate and Maple Pecan for Zane. Delish!
We went for some walks through the Pacific Rim National Park, one through a dense, temperate rainforest and one through a bog wetland area. Truly amazing to have two completely different habitats so close together. We walked around the point of Ucluelet in the afternoon, past the lighthouse and along the coast.
Day 5 Ucluelet to Victoria
Victoria is Vancouvers largest city, and home to some family friends of Zane's who are generously housing us for two nights. It was bliss to have a shower today and not have to take coins and worry about running out of hot water when you're all sudsy. We had spaghetti Bolognaise with fresh made pasta for dinner, Banana and Chocolate cake for desert and wine out of a real wine glass! Also looking forward to a sleep on a proper bed tonight!
Tomorrow we're going for a big walk around Victoria, through the park down to the water and to see all the sights, and hopefully some seals!
Much back-to-comfortable-living-for-a-brief-amount-of-time love,
T and Z
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Day 3: Nanaimo to Ecluelet
We have had some bad luck over the past day or two. A number of times we have lost our way. But it hasn't been our fault every time. When we first arrived at Nanaimo the boat dropped us off at a different port to the one we were expecting and thus our campgrounds were north, and we went south. For a long time. Eventually we realised and had to go all the way back to the port, to find that the grounds were literally a 2 minute drive from where we had started, but in the other direction. Then we got lost on the way to Walmart. Then the next day we got lost on the way to Walmart again. Then I was driving to Ecluelet and we missed the turn-off. I was overtaking a car and Zane was telling me to do things and it was just all too much and all of a sudden we had missed the turn-off. Then when we got to the Tofino-Ecluelet highway between the two towns we got lost again. We took the wrong turn and our destination once again was just beyond where we'd turned off. And once again it took us a while to realise. Oh well. All fun and games. I think the moral of this story is that we should buy a navman but we are tight. And maps and a keen sense of direction is less reliable but also more fun way to travel.
As I have mentioned, I drove to Ecluelet. I could not have picked a more windy, narrow highway to drive on. It was all white knuckles and tense shoulders for Zane and I. But we got through unscathed and with no tears shed (just). Despite the sheer terror it was a really pretty drive and good practice for me.
Yesterday we went to the grocery store and they had some in-house smoked meats so we got a big ham sausage and a nice slab of lean bacon. We had spicy Mexican rice for dinner last night and this morning we had yummy perfectly boiled eggs (the yolk was a little runny, not rock hard like my attempt the day prior. Clearly Zane is now BBQ AND egg man), big thick slices of smokey bacon and sliced tomato on yummy toast. It was so good. The best thing was I had a lazy morning in bed reading and Zane brought me a coffee and the announcement that breakfast was almost ready! Bliss!
We are going to treat ourselves to a nice seafood lunch in Tofino and then we are going to do some walks in the National Park this afternoon. It is a beautiful sunny day and we are starting to get feeling back in our feet after a chilly morning.
Much love,
T and Z
We have had some bad luck over the past day or two. A number of times we have lost our way. But it hasn't been our fault every time. When we first arrived at Nanaimo the boat dropped us off at a different port to the one we were expecting and thus our campgrounds were north, and we went south. For a long time. Eventually we realised and had to go all the way back to the port, to find that the grounds were literally a 2 minute drive from where we had started, but in the other direction. Then we got lost on the way to Walmart. Then the next day we got lost on the way to Walmart again. Then I was driving to Ecluelet and we missed the turn-off. I was overtaking a car and Zane was telling me to do things and it was just all too much and all of a sudden we had missed the turn-off. Then when we got to the Tofino-Ecluelet highway between the two towns we got lost again. We took the wrong turn and our destination once again was just beyond where we'd turned off. And once again it took us a while to realise. Oh well. All fun and games. I think the moral of this story is that we should buy a navman but we are tight. And maps and a keen sense of direction is less reliable but also more fun way to travel.
As I have mentioned, I drove to Ecluelet. I could not have picked a more windy, narrow highway to drive on. It was all white knuckles and tense shoulders for Zane and I. But we got through unscathed and with no tears shed (just). Despite the sheer terror it was a really pretty drive and good practice for me.
Yesterday we went to the grocery store and they had some in-house smoked meats so we got a big ham sausage and a nice slab of lean bacon. We had spicy Mexican rice for dinner last night and this morning we had yummy perfectly boiled eggs (the yolk was a little runny, not rock hard like my attempt the day prior. Clearly Zane is now BBQ AND egg man), big thick slices of smokey bacon and sliced tomato on yummy toast. It was so good. The best thing was I had a lazy morning in bed reading and Zane brought me a coffee and the announcement that breakfast was almost ready! Bliss!
We are going to treat ourselves to a nice seafood lunch in Tofino and then we are going to do some walks in the National Park this afternoon. It is a beautiful sunny day and we are starting to get feeling back in our feet after a chilly morning.
Much love,
T and Z
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Day 2: Kelowna to Nanaimo
After a disturbed and chilly sleep we weren't really in the mood to cook brekky so we hit the road around 7 and popped into Starbucks to use their wi-fi and have some coffee and we were onthe road by 8.
We were aiming to get the 12:45 ferry from Tsawasson Terminal in Vancouver to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. We had just decided to skip staying the night in Van and head straight over to the island as it was a pretty cold and wet day in Kelowna. So we had roughly 4 hours and 45 minutes to get to a place that was 4 hours and 37 minutes away. Don't worry Mum, we didn't speed, we just drove efficiently. We also stopped for breakfast and filled the tank and washed the windows, all efficiently. We have it down to a fine art. Zane fills and I squeegee.
We were around 40 exits before our exit when we saw a sign directing us off the highway onto another road and towards the ferry terminal. We thought we'd better follow the sign but it took us to a road laden with red lights and slow drivers. We were previously making good time, having stopped at Hope for fuel and food and all ready to do the last dash to the terminal. Well, I had left my hope in Hope and it was a nailbiting last 30kms through traffic to finally get to the terminal only to be told that the next boat to Nanaimo would be at 3:15, roughly 2 and a half hours away. Damnit! Should have trusted Google directions all along!
So we paid and pulled in and followed the man's directions onto a waiting boat, on which there were already lots of cars and trucks. We thought nothing of it until we started to pull away and we realised that as luck would have it, we were the very last car allowed on the 12:45 boat. Hoorah!
So here we are at Living Forest Campgrounds. We have a nice little spot, from which we can see the ocean and the mountains. In the morning we're going to go for a walk around the campground and then I'm going to drive to Tofino. Zane did all the driving today as he is a more efficient driver.
You know what really grinds my gears? Shitty showers. There is a myriad of attributes a shower can have that make it shitty, and I've experienced all of them. The shower here has perfunctory heat but unalterable pressure, so initially I was jetted right up against the icky wall by the sheer force of the water spraying at me. And the shower curtain was harbouring some pretty festy mould and the curtain would brush up against my leg eeeeew.
I also don't like having to stretch in strange angles and perform complex yoga positions to adequately wet my hair. I'm 6 foot and I can't touch my toes. My inflexibility sometimes hinders my shower enjoyment.
Not since our travels before settling in Fernie have we had the chance to experience such vast and various amenities and, while sometimes hit and miss, make me appreciate a nice, hot, well-placed showerhead and a nice warm bed. On that note, we stocked up at WalMart and now have a sleeping bag. Here's hoping tonight is a bit warmer!
To Tofino and Ucluelet tomorrow!
Much camping love,
T and Z
After a disturbed and chilly sleep we weren't really in the mood to cook brekky so we hit the road around 7 and popped into Starbucks to use their wi-fi and have some coffee and we were onthe road by 8.
We were aiming to get the 12:45 ferry from Tsawasson Terminal in Vancouver to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island. We had just decided to skip staying the night in Van and head straight over to the island as it was a pretty cold and wet day in Kelowna. So we had roughly 4 hours and 45 minutes to get to a place that was 4 hours and 37 minutes away. Don't worry Mum, we didn't speed, we just drove efficiently. We also stopped for breakfast and filled the tank and washed the windows, all efficiently. We have it down to a fine art. Zane fills and I squeegee.
We were around 40 exits before our exit when we saw a sign directing us off the highway onto another road and towards the ferry terminal. We thought we'd better follow the sign but it took us to a road laden with red lights and slow drivers. We were previously making good time, having stopped at Hope for fuel and food and all ready to do the last dash to the terminal. Well, I had left my hope in Hope and it was a nailbiting last 30kms through traffic to finally get to the terminal only to be told that the next boat to Nanaimo would be at 3:15, roughly 2 and a half hours away. Damnit! Should have trusted Google directions all along!
So we paid and pulled in and followed the man's directions onto a waiting boat, on which there were already lots of cars and trucks. We thought nothing of it until we started to pull away and we realised that as luck would have it, we were the very last car allowed on the 12:45 boat. Hoorah!
So here we are at Living Forest Campgrounds. We have a nice little spot, from which we can see the ocean and the mountains. In the morning we're going to go for a walk around the campground and then I'm going to drive to Tofino. Zane did all the driving today as he is a more efficient driver.
You know what really grinds my gears? Shitty showers. There is a myriad of attributes a shower can have that make it shitty, and I've experienced all of them. The shower here has perfunctory heat but unalterable pressure, so initially I was jetted right up against the icky wall by the sheer force of the water spraying at me. And the shower curtain was harbouring some pretty festy mould and the curtain would brush up against my leg eeeeew.
I also don't like having to stretch in strange angles and perform complex yoga positions to adequately wet my hair. I'm 6 foot and I can't touch my toes. My inflexibility sometimes hinders my shower enjoyment.
Not since our travels before settling in Fernie have we had the chance to experience such vast and various amenities and, while sometimes hit and miss, make me appreciate a nice, hot, well-placed showerhead and a nice warm bed. On that note, we stocked up at WalMart and now have a sleeping bag. Here's hoping tonight is a bit warmer!
To Tofino and Ucluelet tomorrow!
Much camping love,
T and Z
Day 1: Fernie to Kelowna
We got up early this morning, 6am to be exact, and after some last minute cleaning and a farewell to SilverRock we were off on the road. It was a nice ride through Cranbrook and surrounds but unfortunately the greasy A&W brekky wasn't sitting too well so Zane and I were feeling a bit queasy. We powered on nonetheless and soon enough it was my turn to drive!
I don't want to toot my own horn (pun intended) but I think I am doing pretty well for someone of my limited driving experience. Living on Hamo and driving the golf buggies has certainly helped and despite getting a bit confused every now and then about what lane I'm meant to be in, Zane thinks I'm doing pretty well. Today I changed lanes, overtook TWO cars, turned at intersections and even drove through some treacherous snowy conditions. (*Read: about 1mmm of snow dusted on the road).
Zane eventually relaxed, but I don't think he will ever get used to my crooning along with the tunes. I sing in the chord of strangled cat.
So we made it through the beautiful Kootenay Pass and, thanks largely due to my awesome navigational skills, we made it to Kelowna in record time (thanks also to the time difference, we gained an hour).
And now I'm sitting at our little table in our litle campsite and tapping away while the friendly little birds and big duckies get closer and closer. This orange juice is MINE wildlife!
We're staying in the Bear Creek Provincial Park tonight and it's a really pretty campsite, right on Okanagan Lake. We got fairly lost in downtown Kelowna but we managed to find a Safeway and a Liquour Store so we are just about to cook up some Tuna Pasta and have a nice glass of wine and watch Anchorman. It seems fitting that we should know the movie back to front, seeing as we have named our car Veronica Corningstone after one of the characters.
It's our first night trying out the van-bed so I hope it is comfy and my make-shift curtains stay up during the night. It is actually my very first night camping ever so I'm pretty excited. I'm betting I'll wake up pretty often, thinking bears are coming to eat our food and/or faces.
Tomorrow, on to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island!
Much outdoor love,
T and Z.
UPDATE. OMG We got up an hour ago and I am only just getting feeling back in my feet. It was SOOO cold last night! It as 2 degrees when we got up this morning with a flat air-mattress and moderate frostbite. All good fun though. In Starbucks using wi-fi and having a coffee and then it's off to Walmart to get an eggshell mattress. Note to self... unpack sleeping bag and wear extra thermal layers at night!
We got up early this morning, 6am to be exact, and after some last minute cleaning and a farewell to SilverRock we were off on the road. It was a nice ride through Cranbrook and surrounds but unfortunately the greasy A&W brekky wasn't sitting too well so Zane and I were feeling a bit queasy. We powered on nonetheless and soon enough it was my turn to drive!
I don't want to toot my own horn (pun intended) but I think I am doing pretty well for someone of my limited driving experience. Living on Hamo and driving the golf buggies has certainly helped and despite getting a bit confused every now and then about what lane I'm meant to be in, Zane thinks I'm doing pretty well. Today I changed lanes, overtook TWO cars, turned at intersections and even drove through some treacherous snowy conditions. (*Read: about 1mmm of snow dusted on the road).
Zane eventually relaxed, but I don't think he will ever get used to my crooning along with the tunes. I sing in the chord of strangled cat.
So we made it through the beautiful Kootenay Pass and, thanks largely due to my awesome navigational skills, we made it to Kelowna in record time (thanks also to the time difference, we gained an hour).
And now I'm sitting at our little table in our litle campsite and tapping away while the friendly little birds and big duckies get closer and closer. This orange juice is MINE wildlife!
We're staying in the Bear Creek Provincial Park tonight and it's a really pretty campsite, right on Okanagan Lake. We got fairly lost in downtown Kelowna but we managed to find a Safeway and a Liquour Store so we are just about to cook up some Tuna Pasta and have a nice glass of wine and watch Anchorman. It seems fitting that we should know the movie back to front, seeing as we have named our car Veronica Corningstone after one of the characters.
It's our first night trying out the van-bed so I hope it is comfy and my make-shift curtains stay up during the night. It is actually my very first night camping ever so I'm pretty excited. I'm betting I'll wake up pretty often, thinking bears are coming to eat our food and/or faces.
Tomorrow, on to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island!
Much outdoor love,
T and Z.
UPDATE. OMG We got up an hour ago and I am only just getting feeling back in my feet. It was SOOO cold last night! It as 2 degrees when we got up this morning with a flat air-mattress and moderate frostbite. All good fun though. In Starbucks using wi-fi and having a coffee and then it's off to Walmart to get an eggshell mattress. Note to self... unpack sleeping bag and wear extra thermal layers at night!
Friday, April 15, 2011
It has been an epic fortnight of closing down our work, cleaning, getting some final tracks on the mountain and drinking. Probably more drinking than all the other activities combined. Hot Dog day was awesome fun, with most of the mountain dressed up in rad 80's gear and congregating around the Wallaby run. A jump was built and many hours were spent drinking and laughing at some spectacular stacks. Myself and some mates built a fairly impressive snow bar, which was later to become a sweet fort to protect us from the incoming snowballs from the creators of a rival snow bar.
On the weekend Zane and I had our final days of work and went back up on Monday to do some cleaning and organising. After that we went out for some drinks and shots and shots and shots and I had a nice little nap on the couch and then more shots. It was great fun hanging out with the work crew but after that, and then the staff day my liver needs some serious detoxification. Staff day was another beautiful sunny day and we made the most of it, skiing all day and having an occasional beer in the sunshine.
Today Zane and I went down to the states in our pretty new car (I even drove!... Part of the way...) Whitefish is a really pretty little town and I hope next Winter we will get the chance to take full advantage of the reciprocal agreement with RCR and go down riding for a day or two. I've heard the mountain is heaps of fun and the drinks are cheap and plentiful.
Eurgh I can't even think about drinking. And yet it is the final weekend up on the hill tomorrow, known as Fernieval, therefore there will be heaps of beers and drinking and bands and eurgh more liver poisoning! When will it end??
Sunday, April 3, 2011
It was a nice spring day today so I went for a walk around Annex park and took some photos. Spring has sprung! No one has told the Grizz it seems, as we have received over 60cms of fresh snow over the past couple of days. It takes the base snow pack to over 4 metres!
Our new car!
Only a few weeks until we begin our road trip!
Much love, T and Z
Our new car!
Only a few weeks until we begin our road trip!
Much love, T and Z
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