We weren't in any rush to finish packing the trailer this morning as check-in at the campground isn't until 1:00, and it's only about an hour and a half away (taking into consideration that the last 11kms or so is on a gravel logging road). So just before 11:30, we had the trailer hitched up to the truck and were on our way.
We made our way over to the Island Highway (19A) and headed north, having a nice leisurely drive along the coastal highway. We continued through Campbell River until we reached Duncan Bay Road about 2 kms north of Campbell River...where we turned left, following the GPS directions to Loveland Bay Provincial Park on Campbell Lake. As you can see, Campbell Lake is huge...
It was just before 1:00 when we pulled into the campground and made our way to the site I had reserved for 4 nights...site 6 (yellow dot on map below), $11/per night (seniors rate available until June 14). There are no services, just pit toilets (very nice ones) and garbage cans. This provincial campground happens to have sites on the lake, which is very unusual.
Our friends, Jim and Wayne, are in a double site (25/26) on the waterfront, so after getting the trailer levelled, we walked down to say hello. They are here for 2 weeks, along with another brother, Ian, who is in a site on the other side of the boat launch. It is their annual fishing trip and derby...we'll have our own derby with the five of us over the next 4 days while we are here. There will be more family members arriving on June 11, I believe, for the "big" derby.
They have a huge beach area perfect for the boats, so Steve will keep his there...thanks, Jim and Wayne! Next on the agenda was to get the boat in the water, so we drove down to the boat launch...Steve took the boat over to Jim's while I drove the truck back to our site.
Here is our site all set up...
As you can see, it is a beautiful sunny day...and hot! I believe the temperature was up to 25c/77f. The boats lined up on the beach...ours is the first one, then Wayne's and Jim's is the far green one...
Jim demonstrating a new contraption he just got to help put his socks on (he has problems bending with his sore hip). He thinks it's pretty slick!
Tuesday (June 2) and another absolutely beautiful day! Steve was out on the lake by 8:00...over to him...
Upper Campbell Lake (and the adjacent Lower Campbell Lake) on Vancouver Island was flooded in 1958. The flooding was intentional and engineered to create a massive hydroelectric reservoir by raising the water levels by roughly 30 meters (nearly 100 feet).
Of course before they flooded these areas they first had to be logged so the shoreline is peppered with stumps (and as I later found out entire trees coming up from the depths below that busted off my gear).
Jim suggested I follow him and he'd show me where to fish and areas to avoid...
Back to Dianne...
That afternoon, I went out fishing with Steve...
We both caught one fish...well, Steve let me reel in one about 13" on his rod. The other one was slightly bigger. I didn't get anything on my rod...does that count? Thanks for the fishing tips guys!
Steve here: When it was time to go back in, the motor had no power...WTH!!! I just had it serviced for this issue after my previous trip at Comox Lake when I had a prop strike. Jim and Wayne suggested pulling the spark plugs to see if they were firing. The top plug was wet and the bottom plug was dry so I swapped the plugs and fired up the engine. Once again I removed the plugs with the same result meaning the plugs were fine. Jim rebuilds and sells old motorcycles and knows a lot about motors and said it must be my coil. As it was late in the day I decided I'd phone Boat Land in Campbell River in the morning...
Relaxing by the fire after dinner...
Wednesday (June 3) clouds started rolling in and it was cooler. Unfortunately, a big change in the weather is on its way bringing much cooler temperatures. It's called Juneuary!
Steve here: I called Boat Land and was told the only place that might have a coil was Seaworthy Marine Recycler. Our motor is an older 1995 Johnson 2 stroke that is no longer made, and parts are getting harder to find. I called Seaworthy and explained my situation. He wasn't confident that it was the coil but perhaps the Power Pack which manages the motor ignition timing and spark distribution.
With the boat motor loaded into the truck, Steve and I headed into Campbell River to Seaworthy Marine Recycler. What a great find! It was a large tidy property lined with hundreds of old motors and motor covers. The owner Kevin has been in business for 27 years and works alone. He had Steve load the motor onto a cart then tested the coil and determined that it was fine, so they left looking for a Power Pack in another building. Luckily he had one new one left in stock but no used ones. Steve didn't want a used one anyway. Being old school Kevin takes cash only, so we headed off to the bank while he worked on the install. On our way back we stopped off at River Sportsman to pick up another couple of packs of worms and some fishing gear. On our return Kevin had just finished up and we left $252 poorer. It was awfully nice of him to look after us right away as it's the busy season now for boating. On the positive side our next camping/fishing trip is at our favourite secret lake in late July, miles from anywhere so we're glad to have had the motor fail here.
Once we got back to camp Jim gave Steve a hand carrying the motor back down to our boat. Once Steve got it mounted he took it for a quick test run and all was good.
We both headed out fishing after lunch. While Steve was dealing with his fish, my gear was just hanging off the side of the boat. I made the comment that I was going to catch a fish while my gear was just dangling there. Well to my surprise when I lifted my rod out of the water I had a small 6" fish on!
Steve's fish, maybe 11"...
Thursday (June 4) morning Steve headed out fishing bright and early. I relaxed for a bit, then got cleaned up and headed out for a walk. I did 3 laps around the campground, just over 4 kms.
Over to Steve now: I had a much better day with a total of six fish but nothing very big...Kokanee (land locked sockeye salmon)
As you can see by all the clothes we are wearing that it is chilly...along with a bit of rain...
We had planned on leaving tomorrow, even had the boat loaded back onto the truck, but the forecast is pretty ugly tomorrow and not really wanting to drive and get home in the rain, I thought I'd check the reservations and see if by chanced our site was available. I had checked the other day and the campground was pretty well full for the weekend...well I guess others had checked the weather forecast and cancelled. There were now a number available, including ours. Sweet!
You are unable to reserve sites less than 2 days away, so Wendy, the campground operator came by at 9:00 Friday morning (June 5), I paid her $11 and we were good for another night.
So we had a relaxing day, starting with a walk around the campground. The lake is so calm...but that didn't last. We had a very windy afternoon. This is the beach and picnic area for those without waterfront sites...
As predicted, we had rain but it didn't start until much later than we were expecting. It wasn't a downpour all day though...just off and on and very cold out (13c/55f). That afternoon, we were all sitting down by the lake when Steve commented "Do you hear that noise on the water"? Within seconds it started hailing and it was pelting down for a long time....here is a short 39 second video...
Wayne commented that the lake was misty so Steve went down for a photo. Hard to believe we were in shorts a few days ago hiding in the shade!
Ian was the winner of our mini derby with an 18" fish. We each put in $5. Congrats Ian!
Saturday morning (June 6) we pulled out of the campground around 9:45...and had a very slow bumpy ride on the gravel road until we hit pavement. It's amazing how fast the potholes reappear with lots of rain.
After stopping at the Shell gas station off the highway in Campbell River to dump the tanks ($10) , we arrived home at noon. It wasn't raining, so I immediately started unloading the little trailer and Steve the truck box. By late afternoon, we were both tuckered out!
Although it was a short trip it was great catching up with those we hadn't seen in years.
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