Vancouver Island with the TCer

Sorry you had trouble finding your way to the ferry. The problem is, they have recently changed the designated route, greatly improving it and making it faster,but most GPSs have not been updated yet. We got lost last time we did it,what you have to do is follow the signs.
look forward to hearing about the rest of your trip.

jefe 4x4 wrote:
I hope the trip plays our better than, "good ferry workers". How about some pix? Or are U waiting for the end. O.K. I see a TR in your future.
jefe

In progress, Trip Report Funny how when traveling the days go so fast, could be the sleeping that does it :B

I hope the trip plays our better than, "good ferry workers". How about some pix? Or are U waiting for the end. O.K. I see a TR in your future.
jefe

Well good, you made it. Hope things do run smoothly for you GPS aside.

Well I am on the Island.

A few things to note:

1) GPS sucks
2) Vancouver road signs are horrible
3) Ferry workers are GREAT
4) GPS sucks


1 & 2) On my way from Hope to Tsawwassen I was forced to rely on road signs and my GPS to get me to the ferry terminal and what a mess. I knew better as I got into Hope late the night before from Kamloops and never got a Internet password from the campground and so never had a chance to check the route but I thought how hard can it be? HARD!!! Lots of new roads that are not on my GPS and the signs are not easy to follow. LOVE the sign as you are driving to the ferry dock "DO NOT RELY ON GPS, OBEY POSTED SIGNS" You got that right....... splash!!!!

3) I get to the ferry terminal late for the ferry and I was prepared to wait for the next one and as I pulled up to the ticket booth the lady says "How long are you?" Just as I reached for the sheet I have for the sizes of the rig she goes "You are under 20', here you go". I am 22' but she would not hear of it as I looked smaller. Into the line up I get out to shut off the propane and get waved on board, so much for waiting for the next ferry. Shut off propane on board and away we went - Thanks BC ferry workers I appreciated it, very professional and helpful!!

4) Get to the island and with construction and what not GPS again lets me down. As I am checking in at the campsite the host tells me "Yah GPS really sucks for Vancouver", the understatement of the day! At least I am at a campsite for the night :B

Jordan river is nice too and its about an hour from Victoria. Its right at the mouth of the river as it enters the ocean. Stay on the river side of the camp ground, less windy there. Watch the surfers and maybe some whales as well. French beach is also nice and its before Jordan River.

tuna fisher wrote:
When we were in Sooke everyone was complaining about the rain, we loved it. Desert people can spend thousands of $$$ on a trip and enjoy the rain.

How true! We were in Vancouver a couple years back and it was raining and we went for a long walk and it was great. Must be a drier rain than we get :B

Took the whale tour out of Tofino one year, well worth it, myself I liked the boat,inflateble wit 3 225's man that thing flew. Now whale breath is not pleasent to say the least, that's how close we got. Don't forget to visit the Ho rain forest, very neat, especially if your from the desert, like us. When we were in Sooke everyone was complaining about the rain, we loved it. Desert people can spend thousands of $$$ on a trip and enjoy the rain.

Thanks Pando2, I will be going that way to Nanaimo so will add the campground to the list.

At this rate the whale tour may have to be put off as I am finding more and more stops to make, not a bad thing.

If you drive north from Victoria on highway 1 towards Mill Bay there is a provincial rustic campground at Bamberton which is on the water, lots of trees. It is about 20miles from Victoria. Don't forget to stop at the two viewpoints at the top of the Malahat, beautiful views.