Saltery Bay

Bronwyn and a Bull Whip Kelp

We were supposed to spend the whole of last week camping at Saltery Bay, but unfortunately, we had to cut it short. The trip started out well; sunshine and warmth on the journey there. Two beautiful ferry rides with a lovely drive in between. Even the 1000th listen through of "Rock the Casbah" (River's current favourite song) and "Rolling in the Deep" by Adele (Bronwyn's favourite) was okay. And we enjoyed a bright, sun-drenched afternoon in Mermaid Cove. Sunday was also a warm sunny-ish day. This is our 3rd trip to Saltery Bay and I think I covered the area and campground in previous posts. It is a beautiful place to visit. However, we'll probably have to go somewhere else next year, though Bronwyn loves it there. We like it too, but I am reluctant to go to the same place every year and so we're caught between making something a "family tradition" and exploring something new.

Earl's Cove ferry terminal

River loved the trip. For some reason that we can't quite figure out he calls camping "everyone". He kept saying, "I want to go back to everyone". I think it is something from last year. Sleeping was tough. River could not settle and appeared very anxious and agitated by the evening. This resulted in lots of silly behaviour; making noises, laughing, hand- flapping and screaming and babbling excitedly. It is very difficult to distract him. However, by the 3rd night he was settling in.

Bronwyn had a fabulous time jumping around the rocks and exploring the tide pools for crabs and starfish. But there is no question that it is also a lot of work...for us. It is the type of vacation where you need a vacation at the end. The old saying that a "family holiday"' is an oxymoron rings true. No way of getting around it; we were exhausted! We did get to do the things we wanted to: explored the rocks and shoreline, paddled in the kayak. I took Bronwyn out in the kayak for the first time together, which was fun...even if my arms felt like they were going to fall off by the end. We did a bit of swimming and made lots of fires. River was more adventurous this year, climbing and scrambling over the rocks. It was good to see him challenging himself, even if it was scary to watch. Visions of him falling off the rocks into deep water kept flashing before my eyes, making it difficult to relax. All thing considered, I think he preferred hanging around at the campsite where he could play around, line up the chairs and climb in and out of the van.

On Tuesday we woke to rain, but it cleared up in the afternoon. On Wednesday we woke to a solid downpour that had been going on all night. The forecast showed more of the same. We were not into completing any kind of survival challenge so, sadly, it was time to pack-up and make the journey back home. The weather has not been great this summer...I hope it picks up soon!

Bronwyn "roasted" fern branches

How to stop smoke getting in your eyes...wear goggles!

Saltery Bay revisited...sunshine, sea, and starfish

kayaking out of Saltery Bay

We're just back from a fabulous weekend camping in Saltery Bay. We had it all...sunshine from dawn until dusk, warm temperatures, a fantastic campsite and the campground was very quiet...and we were able to have campfires. I think it's the first time that we've had all of the above things on one trip!

A view of Mermaid Cove

Saltery Bay is on the sunshine coast. About an hour and a half drive from Powell River and just after the Earl's Cove ferry terminal. It is two ferry rides...but they time quite well and they are relatively short. On a beautiful summer's day they are fully part of the adventure. Here's some pics of River enjoying the wind blowing on the deck of the ferry.

We spent a week in Saltery Bay last year...my post on that is here. I included lots of info about the area in that post so I won't repeat all of that.

Low-tide and lots of tidal pools. The tide comes up to cover the whole ramp. Perfect for swimming when the tide is in

We headed out the Sunday before last; the perfect day to get out of Vancouver and avoid all the summer traffic. We didn't book our ferries or our campsite and we didn't need to. That in itself saved us around $50...yay! We arrived at the campsite just before 2pm (left our house at 8am). Most of the trip is ferries and waiting for ferries. There is only about 2 hours of actual driving involved. There was a hitch at the beginning of the trip. We discovered that we lost River's yellow ball. It was his favourite toy. He has loved that slightly deflated yellow ball since he received it from Bronwyn for his first birthday. We think it must have rolled out of the van when we were getting in and out on the ferry. Mark actually went back to the ferry to see if anyone dropped it in the lost and found. But to anyone else it's probably just a slightly deflated, scruffy ball.
It was even part of last year's trip...

River napping on last year's Saltery Bay trip

We did find another ball in Powell River. It is red with white spots and is slightly deflated. He seems to have taken to it. We think it was the feel, rather than the colour, that appealed to him....maybe. On Monday it was pretty windy and quite cool, but the rest of the days were beautiful and warm. The kids had a fantastic time. No water-fountains for River to get drawn into. It took him a while to get used to the beach and the water. We've spent the past 6 months toilet-training and he's finally got it. However, he's over generalized to the point that he thinks he must get changed every time his clothes get wet. So he takes his pants off every time they get wet...even if it's from paddling. We're trying to teach him that it's okay if he's in a bathing suit. But he hasn't got that yet. At first he wasn't keen on getting his hands in the sand, and he didn't like the water much. But then he got used to it a little. He usually spend 10 or 15 minutes with us and then he'd take off and Mark and I took turns going with him while one of us stayed with Bronwyn. The kayak was a major hit with both of them and Mark took turns taking them out. I took a couple of nice trips out myself.

Kayaking back to the shore

Bronwyn just had the time of her life. She enjoyed every beach we went to. We went to the Saltery Bay day-use beach...but it was like quick sand...I almost lost my croc (much to Mark's amusement). We also spent time at a couple of other beaches.

We watched crabs scurrying back to the tide, moon jellyfish drifting with the current and starfish huddled under dark rocks. But mostly we stayed at Saltery Bay and took out the kayak, sat on warm rocks, collected shells, threw rocks into the water, and watched the marine life under the crystal clear water.

playing at the beach

I was a fire-maker this trip. It was the first time I actually chopped logs with an axe. I have to say there is something very satisfying about swinging an axe and splitting logs...and then building a fire. I'm surprised I didn't chop logs before...I left it for "man's work". This trip River kept saying, "Mummy make fire". He loved watching the fire. Bronwyn is always too busy to sit and watch a fire. But River loved it. It was the first thing he asked for in the morning.

the centre of operations...nestled in the tall trees.

the family with our trusty VW van

The van worked out great. Mark and I take turns sleeping on the top with Bronwyn. The grand-master plan is to have both kids sleep up top. But that won't be for a while. It is way more comfortable than a tent. Ellee did okay. She's not that keen on camping anymore and it's a bit like bringing along your grumpy elderly relative. But she got into it after a while...once she'd had a couple of sausages. Probably our best trip so far!

Saltery Bay Trip

Mermaid Cove...

Saltery Bay and Mermaid Cove...

We spent the past week camping on the Sunshine Coast in a place called Mermaid Cove in Saltery Bay. We had a wonderful (bug free) 5 nights of camping. We decided to leave on the August holiday Monday so that we could avoid the crowds and the ferry traffic. The weather was beautiful. The trip to Saltery Bay involves a 40 minute ferry-ride over to the Sunshine Coast followed by about an hour and a half drive to the next ferry at Earl's Cove. We then took the 50 minute ferry ride over to Saltery Bay. The day was hot and hazy. This picture was taken from the ferry as we got closer to Saltery Bay.

The campground is only a few km away from the ferry terminal. The Sunshine Coast is an 86km coastline that stretches from Langdale/Gibsons (the first ferry terminal - close to Vancouver) all the way to Lund. The campground is surrounded by large old trees and the campsites are very big and well spaced. Mermaid Cove is a lovely rocky cove and when the tide was high we were able to swim and jump in the lagoon. Mark jumped into the lagoon from the "cliff"...I was too chicken (it was a vertigo thing).

Bronwyn ventured into the water, while Ellee set off to "save" Mark. Every time we swim she tries to save us. The problem is that she doggy paddles up to us and ends up scratching us with her claws!

When the tide was low we had a great time beach combing and exploring tidal pools. We saw lots of starfish. And quite a few beached jellyfish.

This is how River usually travelled over the rocks...

Nothing like a nap with your favourite ball after a hard day's play.

Ahhh....sisterly love...(i.e., "I don't want a picture with River!")

Palm beach in Lang Bay is close by and is a beautiful stretch of sandy beach. It was quite windy the day we went and the sound of the tidal waves as they crashed onto the beach, together with the rush of the wind was wonderful.

Here's a boy who loves camping!