I have a home !!

Now that I have a real home again, four months of wandering and discovering new places are over.  Of course, everything is still lost and will be for awhile.  I am settled into my apartment overlooking the beach and the sea here in Parksville.  At low tide, the water recedes a long way, leaving a very big sandy beach, perfect for kids but still great for adults to swim.

Book sales of 'Living On the Edge' have been very good, despite limited promotion.  The comments have been very positive and interesting, surprising to me.  It is a strange feeling to be asked for my signature on copies of the book!!

It has been raining relentlessly, as it has been all fall.  I expected rain while travelling to the North and the West coast of the Island, normal for there.  Lots of nice days helped to make the trip north a very pleasant experience.

One of best days in Campbell River included a visit to the dam and the waterfalls.  Elk Falls Provincial Park is minutes out of town.  A suspension bridge takes you to the falls.  The power-producing dam was releasing water to the falls at eight times normal flow, to raise the level of the Campbell River, to help salmon make their way upstream to spawn.  The falls were spectacular.  Btw, home for five weeks was at a Lodge on the Campbell River, lots of fishermen, and a few seals having lunch.

Continuing on that road to the west for an hour or so, takes you to a small town called Gold River.  Not too far past it the road ties you into waterways to the west coast.  The town is isolated enough that there is no cell phone coverage, unless there is Wifi.  It is an amazing place with friendly people, where nobody is in a hurry.

Heading northwest from Campbell River to Port Hardy, the highway goes inland through forests, lakes, and rivers, a trip well worth taking.  The first town out of CR is Sayward, not much activity there, but as always, interesting.  Indigenous symbols adorn an awesome welcome sign.

Other communities along the way included Telegraph Cove, out of season but still quite active.  In season, it fills with tourists.  Port McNeil is situated on an inlet, with ferry service to Alert Bay.  The road runs through Woss and Nimpkish along the way, forestry towns.  Port Alice was slightly out of the way, did not visit.  Near the end of the road lies Port Hardy, a larger town with everything.  A major ferry port just out of town runs to Prince Rupert and Bella Coola.  

Minutes on a ferry from CR went to Quadra Island, running every hour with full loads.  Quadra is a fairly big island with some beautiful spots, like Rebecca Spit camping site.  The day trip was worth it.

All for now.

Neil

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