Hilary
There's always something new to learn!
- Joined
- Feb 10, 2000
- Messages
- 6,483
Lake Cowichan
Friday, August 1st
We had booked our ferry crossing over to Vancouver Island (thanks to Shirley for the tip!
) and had a 30-minute window during which we could check-in at the terminal to take up our reserved place. The timing of our journey from Whistler to Horseshoe Bay was going to be critical and, as today was the start of a bank holiday weekend, we expected the traffic to be heavier than usual (whatever that was). The local radio station (Mountain FM) gave updates on traffic conditions and also said the wait times at the ferry terminal were up to two sailings i.e. if you didnt have a reservation you would have to watch two ferries come and go before you could get on one. We couldnt afford to miss our appointed check-in time, so set off from Whistler in what we hoped would be plenty of time.
As we seemed to be making good progress during the first half of the journey, we stopped at Shannon Falls to walk along the short footpath through the forest to the spectacular falls. Just in front of the parking lot was a picnic area with some trees, including one very large tree stump, about eight feet high, perfect for climbing. I was waiting by the car for DDs to emerge from the washroom and was watching a middle-aged Japanese lady wavering about on top of this stump, apparently having difficulty getting down. There was a younger couple at the base of the stump calling out instructions to her, but she was getting no-where fast. She had been there so long that I set the camcorder rolling (discreetly, I think ), absolutely sure that she would reward me with something to submit to Youve Been Framed! 
Well, eventually she made it back down okay, so Youve been framed will have to wait.
Back on the road for the ferry we were held up by a lumber train crossing the road all 3 engines and 91 trucks of it! Still, we thought we were okay for time, but did start to panic when we saw the queues of ferry traffic on the other side of the road, miles beyond the terminal. As we left the highway at the terminal exit we were stopped by ferry personnel who asked which crossing we wanted. When we said we had a reservation he said Lucky people! and told us to pass the roadside queues and head straight to the terminal entrance for check-in. Phew! The on-line reservation had cost about £7, but it was well worth it to make it on to the ferry in time.
The crossing to Vancouver Island was very picturesque as there is always some land on the horizon either the mainland, one or other of the Southern Gulf Islands or Vancouver Island itself. We arrived at Nanaimo and drove to Chamainus to see some of the murals dotted throughout the town. We didnt walk around the murals route, but drove past as many as we could find, and then continued towards Lake Cowichen to find the cabin where we would be spending our next two nights.
It was at about this point that I realised I hadnt got a clue how to find the cabin
. Well, we found the town of Lake Cowichan without any trouble and, almost straight away, saw signs for Greendale Riverside Cabins. At the entrance to the site was a small car park with a Honk horn for attention sign. We honked. A small figure soon came scurrying through the trees from a house nearby, and introduced himself as Curtis. Curtis took us to our cabin, Rhododendron House, and delighted in showing us around so that we could be sure it would be suitable. Curtis did everything with a flourish, and I got the impression that he would have been mortified if wed said No thanks, we dont like it. Im happy to say we couldnt fault a thing, even though Curtis rushed off to fetch some cleaning materials, and wouldnt let us take up residence until hed cleaned some smears from the door glass!
When Id booked at Greendale, I really didnt know what to expect in the flesh but, whatever it was, this was better! The cabin wasnt big, but it had a huge wrap-around deck just perfect for sitting out. The cabins were all set alongside the Cowichan River behind some trees on the bank, and there was a swimming hole right there. DH went straight in, but the girls and I just paddled to start with. We went to the local Co-Op (yes, really) and cooked in this evening, then sat on the veranda as it got dark. Magical.
Saturday, 2nd August
We took a drive a little further around the lake this morning and visited Honeymoon Bay, then headed back to the cabin for a lazy lunch and some swimming by the cabin (real Huck Finn style). The river today was very busy full of groups and families out for the afternoon tubing down the river! There were the tubes for the people, and most groups were accompanied by spare tubes with coolers fixed in them or tubes with a dog sitting on top!
It was a great spot for people watching. I had read about the Cowichan river being a hot tubing spot, so had packed two rubber rings from home, but they looked pretty pathetic alongside the professional versions, so we just watched!
In the evening we had our next pre-booked adventure a Sunset Paddle in kayaks on Cowichan Bay. We drove over to find the meeting place and wondered where the kayaks would paddle, as we couldnt see any quiet backwater as wed imagined. By the time we had to check-in, DD1 and I were getting apprehensive, despite the fact that I thought all our adrenalin-pumping activities were in the past. What could be more relaxing than a paddle at sunset? I said that if we were told to do a practice roll in the kayak, I wasnt going, and DD1 was with me. DH and DD2 kept quiet.
We met Lana, our guide, and Chris who would be joining our group, and we went through the usual safety drill, with Lana emphasising that she did not intend any of us to even get wet, let alone end up actually in the water. Despite Lanas best efforts, DD1 wasnt very reassured, especially when I joined her in a double kayak and she felt it wobbling
! We paddled out across the open bay, not up a quiet backwater at all. AlI I can say is that even the sight of some harbour seals basking on logs a few feet from us with the sun setting in the background didnt really make up for the sheer terror felt by DD1 all the way across and all the way back! I cant say I really enjoyed the experience very much either it wasnt how I had imagined it would be. DD2 and DH fared better in their double kayak, but none of us came away thinking wed love to do it again too soon, although Im sure Id enjoy it more on a smaller stretch of water. Oh well, Ill just chalk it up to experience .
Friday, August 1st
We had booked our ferry crossing over to Vancouver Island (thanks to Shirley for the tip!
) and had a 30-minute window during which we could check-in at the terminal to take up our reserved place. The timing of our journey from Whistler to Horseshoe Bay was going to be critical and, as today was the start of a bank holiday weekend, we expected the traffic to be heavier than usual (whatever that was). The local radio station (Mountain FM) gave updates on traffic conditions and also said the wait times at the ferry terminal were up to two sailings i.e. if you didnt have a reservation you would have to watch two ferries come and go before you could get on one. We couldnt afford to miss our appointed check-in time, so set off from Whistler in what we hoped would be plenty of time.
As we seemed to be making good progress during the first half of the journey, we stopped at Shannon Falls to walk along the short footpath through the forest to the spectacular falls. Just in front of the parking lot was a picnic area with some trees, including one very large tree stump, about eight feet high, perfect for climbing. I was waiting by the car for DDs to emerge from the washroom and was watching a middle-aged Japanese lady wavering about on top of this stump, apparently having difficulty getting down. There was a younger couple at the base of the stump calling out instructions to her, but she was getting no-where fast. She had been there so long that I set the camcorder rolling (discreetly, I think
), absolutely sure that she would reward me with something to submit to Youve Been Framed! Well, eventually she made it back down okay, so Youve been framed will have to wait.Back on the road for the ferry we were held up by a lumber train crossing the road all 3 engines and 91 trucks of it! Still, we thought we were okay for time, but did start to panic when we saw the queues of ferry traffic on the other side of the road, miles beyond the terminal. As we left the highway at the terminal exit we were stopped by ferry personnel who asked which crossing we wanted. When we said we had a reservation he said Lucky people! and told us to pass the roadside queues and head straight to the terminal entrance for check-in. Phew! The on-line reservation had cost about £7, but it was well worth it to make it on to the ferry in time.
The crossing to Vancouver Island was very picturesque as there is always some land on the horizon either the mainland, one or other of the Southern Gulf Islands or Vancouver Island itself. We arrived at Nanaimo and drove to Chamainus to see some of the murals dotted throughout the town. We didnt walk around the murals route, but drove past as many as we could find, and then continued towards Lake Cowichen to find the cabin where we would be spending our next two nights.
It was at about this point that I realised I hadnt got a clue how to find the cabin
. Well, we found the town of Lake Cowichan without any trouble and, almost straight away, saw signs for Greendale Riverside Cabins. At the entrance to the site was a small car park with a Honk horn for attention sign. We honked. A small figure soon came scurrying through the trees from a house nearby, and introduced himself as Curtis. Curtis took us to our cabin, Rhododendron House, and delighted in showing us around so that we could be sure it would be suitable. Curtis did everything with a flourish, and I got the impression that he would have been mortified if wed said No thanks, we dont like it. Im happy to say we couldnt fault a thing, even though Curtis rushed off to fetch some cleaning materials, and wouldnt let us take up residence until hed cleaned some smears from the door glass!When Id booked at Greendale, I really didnt know what to expect in the flesh but, whatever it was, this was better! The cabin wasnt big, but it had a huge wrap-around deck just perfect for sitting out. The cabins were all set alongside the Cowichan River behind some trees on the bank, and there was a swimming hole right there. DH went straight in, but the girls and I just paddled to start with. We went to the local Co-Op (yes, really) and cooked in this evening, then sat on the veranda as it got dark. Magical.
Saturday, 2nd August
We took a drive a little further around the lake this morning and visited Honeymoon Bay, then headed back to the cabin for a lazy lunch and some swimming by the cabin (real Huck Finn style). The river today was very busy full of groups and families out for the afternoon tubing down the river! There were the tubes for the people, and most groups were accompanied by spare tubes with coolers fixed in them or tubes with a dog sitting on top!
It was a great spot for people watching. I had read about the Cowichan river being a hot tubing spot, so had packed two rubber rings from home, but they looked pretty pathetic alongside the professional versions, so we just watched!In the evening we had our next pre-booked adventure a Sunset Paddle in kayaks on Cowichan Bay. We drove over to find the meeting place and wondered where the kayaks would paddle, as we couldnt see any quiet backwater as wed imagined. By the time we had to check-in, DD1 and I were getting apprehensive, despite the fact that I thought all our adrenalin-pumping activities were in the past. What could be more relaxing than a paddle at sunset? I said that if we were told to do a practice roll in the kayak, I wasnt going, and DD1 was with me. DH and DD2 kept quiet.
We met Lana, our guide, and Chris who would be joining our group, and we went through the usual safety drill, with Lana emphasising that she did not intend any of us to even get wet, let alone end up actually in the water. Despite Lanas best efforts, DD1 wasnt very reassured, especially when I joined her in a double kayak and she felt it wobbling
! We paddled out across the open bay, not up a quiet backwater at all. AlI I can say is that even the sight of some harbour seals basking on logs a few feet from us with the sun setting in the background didnt really make up for the sheer terror felt by DD1 all the way across and all the way back! I cant say I really enjoyed the experience very much either it wasnt how I had imagined it would be. DD2 and DH fared better in their double kayak, but none of us came away thinking wed love to do it again too soon, although Im sure Id enjoy it more on a smaller stretch of water. Oh well, Ill just chalk it up to experience .
