Sunday, June 30, 2019 (Qualicum First Nations Campground, Qualicum Bay, BC)

We woke to clear blue sky this morning...it's going to be a beautiful travel day! We weren't in any hurry this morning since check-in time at our next destination is not until 2:00 and it's only just over an hour's drive. With check-out here 11:00, we're still going to be early.

After big hugs, we said goodbye to Ray and Anne...it was great spending time with you this past month...and pulled out of Thunderbird RV Park a few minutes before 11:00. We headed over to the Inland Highway (19) and then cut over to the old highway (19A) once past Campbell River...it follows the coastline and is slower but the scenery is nicer and we're not in any hurry. This was our route...

A funky little Art Shop in Black Creek...we met the owner a few weeks ago at the diner across the highway when we were here with Ray and Deb...

We pulled into the spot on the left in Union Bay thinking it was a good place for a bathroom break and lunch. It was a nice spot for a break but you cannot pull through and exit at the other end, so we had to turn around when we left...good thing it was fairly wide. A fellow from this small community did stop for a chat...we learned that you are able to camp overnight at the north end of the lot for a max of 2 nights at $5/night. Good to know!

And the Saloon is across the street...serving good food, too, we're told!  It's a popular biker's stop on this Sunday...

Denman Island...

 Oyster farms...

 Lots of people digging for clams...

The Fanny Bay Inn...last time we were there was a few years ago now, when we met Earl and Allison there for lunch...we may have to return!

We pulled into Qualicum First Nations Campground at about 12:30...it's a narrow driveway through a canopy of trees. This is truly a campground...not an RV park. It has waterfront and off-waterfront sites that have water and 30 amp power...along with open dry-camping spots for both RV's and tents with no defined sites. They have also recently added one and two bedroom cabins. All are in a rustic setting. There are no sewer hook-ups at the sites, only a sani-dump (thank you, Ray and Deb, for your blueboy...since we are here for a month, Steve will definitely be using it!). There are washrooms and showers in the building where the office is located and portable "Johns" scattered throughout the campground (I'm glad we're near the office building!) The cost for us at $875/month ($29.16/night) isn't too bad but the nightly cost varies from $40/night (serviced waterfront) down to $25/night (basic boondocking spot) is a bit rich in my opinion. Having said that, this area is a prime vacation area in the summer.

After checking in, we continued the short distance to our site, C2. The serviced off-water sites are set in a dry grassy area with some large trees...and are very unlevel! We got out and had a look, discussing what to do...Steve really didn't think we'd be able to level off. So we walked back to the office to see if there were any other options available. We are staying for a month, so another site that would be open for that length of time was a no-go. The only other thing we could do is camp in the dry camping area until after the long weekend and then move into another site...but we'd have to move again...nothing was open for a complete month. So we went back to the rig and decided to give it a try. After getting situated on a spot that we figured we could work with, we managed to get level side-to-side and with fingers-crossed, we unhitched and hoped like hell we'd be able to get level front-to-back. And we just did it! Whew! Thank goodness for the stack of lumber Steve keeps in the truck...most of it was used for the back stabilizers!

We both did our set up...me inside and Steve outside...and then it was time to try to find the satellite signal...another challenge because of the huge trees around us. Steve's first choice didn't work out so he moved the dish over a couple of more feet and finally latched onto a signal...yay! He just had to figure out why we had no sound. And he got that fixed too! Life is good!

Lots of people noticed us coming in so wanted to stop by and talk about the truck which slowed Steve's setup a little. By the time we were both done, we were hot...time to relax in the shade! Looks like we're into at least a couple of hot sunny days!

After sitting and enjoying our view for awhile, Steve decided to go for a walk around...I declined the offer to join him, I had already overdone it and my knee was sore.

This is a vintage motorhome...a 1977 Barth...we had a nice chat with the owner. He has "plans" for it...should be nice when he's finished...

Tony is a car buff and has this beautiful 1950 International. He's also getting a custom build done on an old 1967 fire engine cab over truck so took a picture of ours and sent it to his builder for ideas...

After dinner, I felt like getting out for a little stroll, so we took a walk around the campground loop and then sat down at the beach for awhile...such a gorgeous evening!

I think we are going to like it...stay tuned for more pictures around the campground!