Date:         Sat, 7 May 2016 08:28:10 -0700
Reply-To:     Alistair Bel <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alistair Bel <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: Vancouver Island
In-Reply-To:  <72611093-51B2-47B8-94B6-7BC2155630FE@shaw.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Forgot to add that I have some pics of the areas described below, on my blog.
For example, pics taken with David B. On a trip to bamfield and port Alberni a few years ago, and a cold April.

https://shufti.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/another-logging-road-trip/

Alistair

> On May 7, 2016, at 8:12 AM, Alistair Bel <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
> 
> Ok, a couple of options for the southern part of the island. I'm leaving out the obvious tourist attractions.
> 
> From Victoria head west to port renfrew. On the way there are a few provincial campsites that are worth a look. China beach, Mystic beach, sombrio beach. There is also a fairly rugged hiking trail ( similar to the famous west coast trial) that runs along that section of the coast.
> Any one of those parks is worth an overnight stay.
> Jordan river is popular surfing spot with a small campsite.
> At port can head out westwards and have a look at botanical beach. Very much worth it if you are into intertidal life.
> 
> Port renfrew itself has a native run campsite in the beach. It can be a a zoo on summer weekends. 
> 
> Fairy lake provincial campsite is close by, but again, it can be a zoo. 

> 
> The road goes north thru port renfrew, over a second bridge, and you have the choice of turning left or right.
> Turning right, and this is all paved, the road winds along Harris creek and then on to cowichan lake. This is now part of a popular circle route back to Victoria, very popular with motorbike riders. Some very nice views of the creek (popular in winter high water with those crazy extreme type river kayakers). No real campsites along the way, but old logging roads here and there if you want to explore.
> 
> Back at the choice of turn, if you take the left the road winds north then west to follow the Gordon river watershed and on again to cowichan lake. The road turns to gravel after the bridge over the Gordon. Just a little further is the famous avatar grove, big trees, really big.
> 
> We head on this road to do our camping and exploring , but turn off and head west. No campsites where we go, and road can be rough. If you are in the mood for that let me know and I can give you hints to navigate the confusing system of logging spurs.
> 
> Back in the Gordon river road to cowichan. Lots of side roads, again rough, to explore.
> 
> What ever road, Harris or Gordon, you take you end up at cowichan lake. You can then head east (paved) to cowichan village and then on east to the main island Hwy and back south to Victoria. If you do that stop at the logging museum in Duncan.
> 
> But if you head west (gravel) you have a couple of prov park choices on the south side of the lake. And then if you continue west towards nitinat lake, there is a somewhat hidden site on nitinat river , nitinat falls. No organized sites, the road down is tight, can be tricky at bottom if you want to get onto the river gravel. But it's an option.
> 
> On to a T in the road, left to nitinat village where there are many kite boarders in the summer. The lake gets very windy in the summer afternoons. Mini industry serving (originally windsurfers) kite boarders.
> 
> At the T if you go right, and over bridge that spans the nitinat river ( gravel bar camping below bridge, but do you want to camp there?) you will be on the fairly well marked road to bamfield.
> 
> You can turn off that road and get lost along the way :-). One example is the alternate route to bamfield that passes flora lake. Nice little forestry campsite, buggy though, but if weather hot and dry it's worth a stop for swim and overnight. 
> 
> One of my favourite watersheds, the klanawa, is reached via this way. Lots of rugged calling to be had, again if you're game let me know.
> 
> Bamfield has marine research station and is the north end of the famous west coast trail. Pachena bay is very much worth a visit, somewhat like a mini long beach, but a bit more sheltered.
> There is a native run campsite near the national park there, right near the bay. 
> From bamfield you can head north east on gravel, along the side of the Alberni inlet and end up at port Alberni.
> You can stock up on crack and OxyContin here :-)
> But has a super cool working steam sawmill, very much worth visit.
> Then you can head west to Tofino and long beach etc, or east back to the east side of the island and the main island hwy.
> 
> Alistair
> 
> 
>> On Apr 30, 2016, at 8:14 AM, Bruce Todd <beeceetee@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>> 
>> Hi all -
>> 
>> Just beginning to put the first plans together around a trip to Vancouver

>> Island in late July early August and so I am asking the group for great
>> suggestions of where to camp and explore.
>> 
>> I received some really great suggestions last year from the group that made
>> our trip to Washington & Oregon memorable.
>> 
>> Thanks in advance,
>> 
>> Bruce Todd
>> 86 Westy Syncro