Day 9: Miracle Beach PP - Strathcona PP: Off into the Wilderness!

July 21, 2024

From the East Coast into the wilderness

The view from my mobile bedroom shows: no sun, no blue sky....

Okay, but also no rain!

According to the weather forecast, it should rain around noon. Our plan was to visit the Elk Falls - but in the rain!?

After a leisurely breakfast today and a detour to the 'Beach' (it looks even less appealing here at low tide, as it's just rocks and seaweed everywhere), we're heading to Campbell River to visit Walmart to stock up on supplies.

It's drizzling a little as we stop by Dollarama and start heading toward Elk Falls Provincial Park.

We have lunch in the parking lot and then make our way to the falls, passing a huge construction site. They are building a reservoir here!?

First, we walk to the Suspension Bridge. The waterfall is impressive! We walk along the trail around to see the waterfall from the other side, and the sun actually comes out, and we even get a rainbow. Spontaneously, we walk back onto the bridge and see the falls in the sun.🤩☀️

What luck!!!

In the afternoon, we reach the Strathcona Provincial Park and our campground for the next 2 nights, the Buttle Lake Campground.

We settle into our pre-reserved site number 14 and explore the lake. A few years ago, the water level must have been significantly higher, now the campground is no longer directly by the lake, you have to walk a few meters to reach it.

We follow the path along the lake to a small beach. Spontaneously, we grab our swimming things at 6 PM and jump into the lake. Wonderful and not so cold at all! A refreshing dip after yesterday's hot day.

We enjoy the view of the lake for a while before having burgers from the pan (yes, still a fire ban!) and enjoy a sundowner with the 'lake view in the distance' from our campsite.

For the statistics:

Campground: Buttle Lake Campground / Strathcona PP

€17.50; Site 14

Traveled: 79 km

Hiked: 8 km

Photos: 260

Weather: sunny, 23 degrees