Saturday, August 1 to Saturday, August 8, 2026 (Cluxewe Resort, Port McNeill, BC - PART 2)

The weather still isn't as nice as we've had in previous years but did improve somewhat this week...at least it was better than last week!

Saturday morning (August 1) Steve and I had to go into Port McNeill...for what, I can't remember...but as we approached the turnoff into town, we noticed emergency vehicles. There had been an accident, and a bad one by the look of these 2 pickup trucks. We have no idea of the injuries...

Back at the campground, it was back to sitting on the beach and watching any action going on. I love just sitting and watching the fishers, boats and anything else going on. Lots of eagles too!

Rob fishing...

We had a beautiful morning Sunday (August 2)...lots of blue sky, to start at least.

Lots of clouds hanging over the mountains to the east and the wind came up, but Steve was still out there giving it a shot!

34 second video of jumping pinks...

Our site is across from the river estuary, with no wind and some blue sky...

So we all congregated at the edge of our site enjoying the sunshine and some beverages...

Friends of Rob's joined us. They also come up here every 2 years to fish for pinks. Left to right...Greg, Darcy, Chris, me, Rob, Angie and Dennis...

Monday morning (August 3) we had a cloudy, foggy start to the day...

This is a Princess Cruise ship...not sure which one though...

Rob has caught another one...

Jim and Nan, more good friends arrived this afternoon...how lucky are we to have Rob and Nancy for a few days last week and Jim and Nan this week? Too bad they all didn't come up at the same time. Both Jim and Rob went to school with Steve, so long time friends!

We tried sitting down at the waterfront but it was just too windy and cool, so we found sunshine at the front of Rob and Angie's site. Left to right...Nan, Rob, Jim and Steve...

Steve realized that we hadn't taken a picture of our site. Not much room and very dark at the back...and SO many pine needles! They were just brutal when it rained...shoes off at the door of the trailer! I was constantly sweeping or vacuuming pine needles last week with all the rain! 

Nice ride!

Tuesday (August 4) and another cloudy/foggy start to the day...

Conner and Jim...

If fishing videos bore you to death then make sure you at least watch the two Drone Videos tours of the Cluxewe Resort and Cluxewe estuary... 

Good fishing though! 1:49 video 

With a family of four Rob was kept busy cleaning everyone's catch which I think was wearing him out... 

Happy hour was at Jim and Nan's cabin. They ended up renting the same cabin Angie had...

Steve's catch on his GoPro...

                                                                       

Wednesday morning (August 5) it was time to get some salmon ready for the smoker. He'll be adding one that Steve caught too. 

Freighter loading up at the Orca Sand and Gravel just down the beach from us...

43 second video of a Humpback whale tail slapping in the distance. We watched it for several minutes before Steve thought to try getting a video at such a long distance...

2:52 video with Steve...Dianne and Jim each snag a fish...

Nice one Steve!

And I caught (snagged by the tail) my first and only pink! Snagged fish can be kept if caught in tidal waters but not in lakes, streams and rivers...

Steve's fish with mine along side...time to clean them both, honey! We vacuum packed them and put them in the freezer along with another one Steve caught. 

Jim snagged one by the tail too!

Angie, Conner and Rob...

Steve, Jim, Rob, me and Ange sitting by the campfire...(should have edited the next door lady out of the picture!)

That freighter now loaded is on its way...

44 second video of Pinks teasing Darcy...

Yum...good job Rob! 

Thursday morning (August 6)...1:01 Drone video of Jim fishing...

After a morning of fishing we went with Jim and Nan to visit Telegraph Cove. The last time we were there was 2 years ago with Chris, Angela and Isaac. That winter, on December 31, 2024, a fire started at the north end of the boardwalk and quickly spread and consumed the pub, restaurant, 2 tour operator offices and the Whale Interpretive Centre. Such a tragedy for a well known, popular tourist destination!

Well they were determined to rebuild and in the year and a half since the fire, the boardwalk, Old Saltery Pub and Killer Whale Cafe have all been rebuilt and reopened. 

The Whale Interpretive Centre has reopened for the summer season with new skeleton displays coming together. Some interior finishing work on the physical building remains ongoing. We went in and all there is are some display boards and a TV playing what the museum used to look like. Having been in it 2 years ago and seeing the amount of things on display....well...OMG what a loss! They stopped construction for the summer season so they could open with what they had but they will be continuing on the construction and hope to have it all finished by next summer.

We had lunch at the Old Saltery Pub...

The back of their menu...

The Whale Interpretive Centre is in the building on the left...and Prince of Whales operate whale watching tours from here...

Remnants of a burned home with just the fireplace left standing...

It was nice seeing Telegraph Cove rebuilt with the buildings looking the same as they did 2 years ago. I'm looking forward to returning in another 2 years to see how the Whale Interpretive Centre is.

Back home, we enjoyed some afternoon sunshine...Views of the river estuary from an empty site...

A young Eagle...

Friday (August 7) was the last fishing day...we leave tomorrow. So Steve was up and out by 8:30 fishing. Out of the 14 he's caught we only vacuum packed three for the freezer, and smoked a fourth...

3:06 video...Steve caught 5 more on his last day of fishing... 

It was an absolutely beautiful day today...of course, we leave tomorrow! Lots of fishing for everyone today! 

46 second video of Rob...

Rob with another later on in the day...

Bryce, Rob and Conner...

Conner was a fishing machine. His count to date was 97 fish, so Grampa told him to make it 100 before we all leave, which he did!

Angie...

5:08 Steve's "Drone Video" tour of Cluxewe Resort...

Steve here...

When I'm flying my drone my only view is through my phone, so I have no idea if I've actually got any shots of fish until I do my editing on the laptop. Luckily I did and the water was black with large schools of pinks! 

4:01 Steve's "Drone Video" tour of the Cluxewe estuary. Watch for schools of fish...

33 second video of jumping Pinks and a cruise ship...

22 second video of Cluxewe beach with Angie and Bryce kayaking. Rob had also seen a black bear in the campground a couple of times. It was apparently patrolling the beach nightly looking for all the salmon carcasses that wash up on shore...

Happy hour that afternoon was back at Jim and Nan's, where we had a small beer tasting event.

Not quite as big as our beer tasting events we have had down in Quartzsite but Steve and I introduced them to the concept and everyone enjoyed trying them. Least favourite to most favourite left to right...

A picture of Conner, Angie, Bryce and Rob as we leave Jim and Nan's cabin. They also leave tomorrow. It has been wonderful spending time with you both!

Saturday morning (August 8) once we had packed up the little trailer and it was hitched to the truck, we walked down to Rob and Angie's site to say goodbye. It was another beautiful day...

We pulled out of our site and said goodbye to Cluxewe Resort...a great 2 weeks, albeit a little cool, cloudy, wet and windy. Oh well, we have no control over mother nature!

We stopped in Campbell River to wash the trailer and give the truck a quick spray down. With current water restrictions, vehicle washing is not allowed so we wanted to wash the trailer before putting it into storage. 

Once we arrived back at our RV Park, we backed the trailer into our site in front of our 5th wheel and had a very busy afternoon emptying it out.

Now we have 4 days to finish up with the gear from both the truck and trailer after 3 weeks of camping...and then get packed up for our 2 month stay house sitting for Ray and Deb at Lake Cowichan.