When I was a kid, I remember arguing with my grandpa one day that my birthday is in the summer and he insisted it was in the spring. Being that my birthday is in the beginning of May, of course he was right but I only knew two seasons in Winnipeg. It was winter for half the year and summer for the other half. This year winter on the west coast has lasted way too long, we've had a lot of rain and there has been a lingering chill in the air.
Despite this, I took a week off for my birthday and went camping around the island. I was afraid we might freeze to death but we survived! We even had a few days of sun in a row, but on our last night it rained. Thankfully, it happened on our last night because the tent was soaked and our blankets were damp.
We started off on Denman Island, spent my birthday on Miracle Beach, then headed south west of Vancouver Island and explored Sooke, Sombrio Beach, Jordan River and Port Renfrew, finally returning home through Lake Cowichan.
This has been something that I've wanted to do since I moved out here. I have spent time visiting a lot of the same places I have in the past. However, as there are so many beautiful places on this island it was great to finally explore new territory.
Back home camping trips in Manitoba were usually done in the same locations, always starting on May Long weekend in the rain but we could usually count on sun for the rest of the summer. There is something about being on the open road and then sitting around a campfire that I enjoy immensely.
This long weekend we travelled back to Port Renfrew, where we had previously been rained on and enjoyed a beautiful night camping right on the beach again. All the dogs came running over as we were cooking steak with bacon, baked potatoes and asparagus on the fire.
We watched the fog and clouds roll in that evening and awoke to a beautiful sunny morning until the fog rolled in again. We then packed up, in search of the sun and stopped at a view point to make breakfast wraps over looking the fog covered water. It looked like our view was of a snow covered area as the fog was so thick and low, otherwise it was a beautiful sunny day.
Birthday Campfire
Port Renfrew Campfire
Denman Island Sunset
“You gave me life, now show me how to live. ”