Day 8: Pacific Rim NP - Miracle Beach PP: back to the east coast!

20.7.24

We leave the Pacific Rim National Park, which has treated us to fantastic weather, and drive the long winding road back towards the east coast. Passing by Lake Kennedy, where we stop briefly, and continuing past Wally Creek to our first stop today: Cathedral Grove. 

On our first attempt, we couldn't find a parking space. 

Today we are lucky and snag the very last parking spot along the road. Amazing! We walk first along the boardwalk on the opposite side. The highlight is the turnoff to the stream where two uprooted trees lead like a bridge over the creek. 

My boys, of course, have to walk and climb over it. 

You can also admire the massive roots of other toppled trees here. On the opposite side, we then admire a 'Big Tree', but we've already seen several of this kind. In the camper, I enjoy the air conditioning. It's already about 30 degrees outside. Wow.....🥵

The next stop is Sprout Lake Provincial Park. We actually only want to check out the Day Use Area, but end up 'staying' there. Boats are being launched here like on a conveyor belt. It's Saturday, and Canadians are flocking to the lake in droves. With kayaks, canoes, rowboats, powerboats, wakeboarding boats, jet skis, and small yachts. There's everything to see. 

The Day Use Area is located at a small beach next to the boat ramp. We grab our swimwear and snacks for lunch and set up our camp at a bench by the lake, go swimming (the water is surprisingly warm), and then have our snacks while watching the lively activities on the lake. The highlight is a gigantic seaplane sitting in the lake in front of us. 

It's the firefighting plane 'Hawaii Mars', a flying tanker that has been 'anchored' here at Sprout Lake for over 10 years. 

Unfortunately, we only see it from the back, but it's enormous. 

(EDIT: The firefighting plane 'Hawaii Mars' apparently left its anchorage for its last flight in August and is now at the BC Aviation Museum)

When we leave, the parking lot is completely full of boat trailers. They were also parked along the road up to the exit of the Provincial Park. Wow, it's chaotic here on the weekend. 

We spontaneously decide to drive to Qualicum Beach. 

We drive down the road along the beach - packed full - but at the end of the beach, we actually manage to find a parking spot.

The low tide is fading, but there is still a sandbank. Canadians are sitting on the sandbank, on the beach, or even directly in the water with their camping chairs. We grab our chairs and look for a shady spot under a tree. It's so hot! The thermometer says +33 degrees. Unbelievable. We weren't expecting such temperatures.

I explore the sandbank but feel too squeamish to walk in the sea. Everywhere there’s eelgrass and dead crabs/crab parts, and tiny mini crabs/crabs everywhere in the sand!? No, that's not really my thing 🦀🥴

The Canadians aren't bothered by all of that; they're splashing around, swimming, or sitting in the water...

On the beach, below our camper, there lies a dead seal - or rather, what's left of it: the fur and fins are clearly visible. 

Yikes, it looks like someone 'let the air out' 🤢

We chill for about 15 minutes on the chairs in the shade when we notice that the tide has taken over the sandbank where I was just wandering. Wow, that went fast. When the tide reaches the beach, we pack up and continue. The thermometer shows +34 degrees....!!! Unbelievable!

We walk the nearly 2 km 'Seal Trail' in Seal Bay Nature Park - however, the name 'Seal' is misleading because there are no seals here... but there's plenty of shade 😅

The circular path through the forest is nevertheless nice, but we somehow thought we would see more 'sea'...

In the evening, we reach our last stage destination for today: 

the Miracle Beach Provincial Park.

The name 'Beach' is also misleading here. There is no 'beach' in the sense of a 'beach'. A lot of stones line the 'beach', completely unsuitable for swimming (we have high tide when we explore the 'beach').

Several brave locals are now taking to the sea with paddleboards or going for a swim. It's a duck dance over the many stones in the water, then they sit briefly in the water before getting back out. It doesn’t look particularly inviting. We watch the sea for a while. The highlight of the park is opposite: 

the mountains and rock formations from the mainland are amazing! 

Sitting by the sea and looking at the snow-capped mountains. An incredible sight.

Our site 86 is located right behind the shower house and restrooms, very convenient. I take the opportunity to shower, then we sit outside....

...and listen to the neighbor's generator....😱

Signs inform us that both a bear and a cougar were spotted at the campground yesterday 😱

Wow, we better have the bear spray with us when we go to the beach later.

When we entered the campground, we were informed that charcoal grills and fires are allowed here. Crazy, according to Fire Ban Info, I'm not even allowed to light my citronella candle (which I haven’t been deterred from doing so far). 

So, the rules aren’t very clear - it was exactly the same at Rathtrevor Beach PP a few days ago.

But good, we don’t have charcoal, no gas grill/fire, and to be honest, I’m not really in the mood for a fire at +27 degrees in the evening 🔥 😅🥵

Tomorrow it’s supposed to rain... 

So far, we haven’t been able to complain. Uninterrupted blue skies, sunshine, and temperatures of nearly +30 degrees, today even up to +34 degrees. Let's see if the forecast holds true.

My e-SIM from Airalo is doing great, even at the Pacific Rim NP on the campground I still had internet. Let’s see how it goes further north. So far, we have been using mobile data extensively for planning, sending photos, and of course, checking the weather forecast 😛

For the statistics:

Campground: Miracle Beach Provincial Park

26 €; Site 86

Distance traveled: 250 km

Distance walked: 8 km

Photos: 171

Weather: Lots of sunshine up to +34 degrees