Latitude: 53.4060076
Longitude: -131.9185956
British Columbia, Canada
Full route map: https://whereami-167313.appspot.com/
Monday, 29 July 2019
Last reported position
Latitude: 53.4060076
Longitude: -131.9185956
British Columbia, Canada
Full route map: https://whereami-167313.appspot.com/
Surprise Lagoon
Make a hasty stop for a diaper change. Discovered a magic lagoon campsite. We'll be staying here tonight 😎
Sick and tired
It's hard work camping, taking care of a pre schooler, taking care of a mom taking care of a baby and catching ferries that you have to queue for at silly early times.
I think it all caught up with me. The intense vomit inducing ferry ride from Prince Rupert to Haida was the final straw.
I've always done badly when combining sea going vessels with waves. I was actually quite proud of myself for not being as badly affected as some. Finally though, I succumbed. Maybe due to carrying bags of vomit from Orion and Adina to the trash. Maybe because of the splatter. Maybe, probably, just the waves.
We headed to a rec site, Kagan Bay just outside Queen Charlotte, where a cold virus started wreaking havoc on my weakened body.
If you have kids, and you've ever been ill, you'll know that you don't get to go lie down and get better. No. Children are misery amplifiers. Well. Maybe someone out there has a 4 year old with empathy. I don't.
Many plus sides as I recover from my cold. The weather hasn't been completely horrible, Kagan Bay is beautiful. We've run into some really nice people. Orion got to play with someone his age all day, which made him very very happy.
My clothes don't fit any more. My clothes are too big. They must be stretching.
It's been a week since I last showered.
Thursday, 25 July 2019
Rough seas
We were fooled into believing that every sailing voyage with BC Ferries is a pleasant float on the pond. Sailing to Haida Gwaii was rough; very rough seas. Only one of us survived un-sickened. He is a trooper indeed. 
-- 
Prince Rupert - Take 1
A pleasant break at Prudhomme Lake outside Rupert. Fire, nice camp cooked meal, and Orion's and Rabbity's first theatre movie : the lion king! Why didn't anyone tell us the funky part of town is tucked away by the old harbour? More exploring when we get back. On to Haida Gwaii! 
-- 
To Prince Rupert
When someone is scary rude to you on the ferry and you report them (a baby coughing while nursing is no reason to be swearing under your breath, sir! ) you get upgraded to a private cabin and you discover that if this is a bit like a cruise, perhaps cruising with kids is not such a bad idea. Shall we give it a try in October? 
-- 
Bella Bella/Shearwater
A 4-day layover in Bella Bella to get to Prince Rupert — because clearly no one goes from Bella Coola to Prince Rupert (the BC ferries Chief Steward informed me that there are roads for that — only 8hrs! She couldn't imagine how this may take us weeks camping with kids). So, long story short, arrived in Bella Bella, essentially drove a hiking trail in search of a forestry road tent spot. Decided to haul a fraction of our stuff on the seabus to a "campsite" on Shearwater.
Thank you to Par and Johan Domeij for inspiring us to do this by sail boat next time (and how silly that we've come to the most amazing archipelago with an inappropriate vehicle!).
Thank you also to Angela and family for going out of their way to accommodate us for a night in Bella Bella. We've been seriously humbled by the generosity these Bella Bellians have showed to complete strangers 🙏
Monday, 22 July 2019
Last reported position
Latitude: 54.2408129
Longitude: -130.132671
British Columbia, Canada
Full route map: https://whereami-167313.appspot.com/
Last reported position
Latitude: 54.2977086
Longitude: -130.3430916
British Columbia, Canada
Full route map: https://whereami-167313.appspot.com/
Sunday, 21 July 2019
I love B.C. Ferries!
After a nice long break in the Great Bear Rainforest, we're on our way to Prince Rupert.
The ferries are comfortable and spacious. The views are out of this world. The staff are amazing. Bonus: when a fellow passenger is a psycho child hating @$&!!? crotchety crazy old man, you get upgraded to a private cabin for your pain and suffering.
We have a few days in Prince Rupert before heading to Haida Gwaii. We've seen some amazing things, and met some wonderful people - Haida Gwaii is going to have to work hard to top the last week and a bit.
Bad internet is worse than no internet
Shearwater, on Denny Island has been a surprisingly pleasant stay.
Shearwater is not designed for us. It's designed for people with boats. A campsite exists, but everyone was taken by surprise that someone wanted to use it.
When we arrived we were at a loss as to what we'd do for the next few days, but it soon changed. People on Denny Island and Campbell Island are incredibly friendly. Before we knew it we were getting invited to stay with people, and going on personalized tours with locals.
But man oh man, 1st world problems, the internet and coverage at Shearwater was really bad.
Saturday, 20 July 2019
Last reported position
Latitude: 52.167063
Longitude: -128.1477862
British Columbia, Canada
Full route map: https://whereami-167313.appspot.com/
Wednesday, 17 July 2019
Shearwater
Pic: off the seabus with too much stuff.
Last reported position
Latitude: 52.1483858
Longitude: -128.0920368
British Columbia, Canada
Full route map: https://whereami-167313.appspot.com/
Trust me...
Bella Bella doesn't have camping.
'No problem. Trust me. I have topographic maps of the whole island. There's this forestry road... seems to go to some awesome spots.'
Except. After driving for a bit, it doesn't look like a road anymore.
Plan B: Take the water taxi to the next island over.
There is no plan C.
'No problem. Trust me. I have topographic maps of the whole island. There's this forestry road... seems to go to some awesome spots.'
Plan B: Take the water taxi to the next island over.
Hygiene
Regular bathing is key to not feeling excessively grotty. It's easier for some than others. Our '"box for soft and squishy stuff" also doubles as baby bath.
I'm still on the lookout for a bathtub that's warm enough and big enough for me. We've found some lakes that are warm enough for a swim, but not on day that's warm enough for swimming.
Sunday, 14 July 2019
Bad mozzies
Prince Rabbity in his mosquito-less haven. The island had us fooled that BC was a mosquito-less paradise. Alas, mosquitoes flourish here too...
--
Last reported position
Latitude: 52.3924666
Longitude: -126.5558669
British Columbia, Canada
Full route map: https://whereami-167313.appspot.com/
A bear a day
The Great Bear Forest has not disappointed. We've spotted two bears.
We saw what we think was a brown bear yesterday, driving up into the mountains towards the glaciers. It probably wasn't expecting people. The road was technically closed due to a washed out bridge, but I know what all the offroad buttons on the Subaru does, so I just drove through the river.
The other bear, which we're sure was a black bear, we saw under a fruit tree on our way to Lost Lake, right outside Hagensborg.
Hagensborg is a pretty damn nice 'town'. It's the first small Canadian town I've been in that feels authentic. Authentic is maybe the wrong word. Most 'nice' places in Canada feel plastic and fake. Hagensborg feels real, not plastic, and it's nice.
Thursday, 11 July 2019
Picnic on the Bella Coola river
And what a surprise that food prices are cheapest we've seen in Canada in years....
Rest day
Boys playing at Rip Rap campsite — Bella Coola. A bit of breathing room after some hectic ferry chasing.
Wednesday, 10 July 2019
Last reported position
Latitude: 52.3931161
Longitude: -126.5567191
British Columbia, Canada
Full route map: https://whereami-167313.appspot.com/
Finally! The ferry.
We've been working towards catching this ferry for what feels like a month, but has only been a bit over a week.
Driving up to Port Hardy with a baby was no easy feat! Up at 4:30am this morning to load kids in the car and fold in the tent. We're exhausted, and looking forward to some relaxing.
Cars on boats. Genius. The only way to travel. Looking at whales, dolphins and mystery sea creatures (Kraken?) while getting kids to sleep.
Rainforest here we come! Bears, please don't eat us!
Rain
It looks like we have an interesting week ahead. Unfortunately my new half boot crocs (ordered online, picked up in Port Hardy) don't fit😔. Great day to spend on the ferry to Bella Coola!
-- Monday, 8 July 2019
Last reported position
Latitude: 50.6989912
Longitude: -127.4790426
British Columbia, Canada
Full route map: https://whereami-167313.appspot.com/
Genius life hack - going potty in the wilderness
Faeces alert.
So. The thing with preschoolers/toddlers is, that when the only available option is a pit toilet, it can get nasty.
So here's a life hack that Adina thought of:
So. The thing with preschoolers/toddlers is, that when the only available option is a pit toilet, it can get nasty.
So here's a life hack that Adina thought of:
Step 1. Compostible bag + potty.
Step 2. Bag the potty.
Step 3. Number 2.
Step 4. Neat package you can throw down a scary hole.
It all works out.
Almost 5pm, sitting in a Campbell River parking lot trying to get the baby to sleep.
We don't know where we're sleeping tonight. There was no miracle at miracle beach. We're going to go off the main route, hoping to find somewhere quiet to sleep...
An hours drive, and we find a really nice rec site at Brewster Lake. Our first 'two nighter'. Rest and recover!
Sunday, 7 July 2019
Lake front property
Two steps away from a beach. At Brewster Lake, outside of Campbell River. If we didn't have to hurry to catch a ferry on Wed AM at an ungodly hour, we'd probably stay here till we ran out of food... 
-- 
Thursday, 4 July 2019
Miracle Beach PP
It is a miracle we were able to get a site. It will be another miracle if we're actually able to stay for the weekend. Early hike to the office tomorrow to get on the waiting list.
Last reported position
Latitude: 49.8469669
Longitude: -125.1011793
British Columbia, Canada
Full route map: https://whereami-167313.appspot.com/
Running low on power
The 2019 Subaru Outback drives real nice. Our tent also looks real nice on top of it.
HOWEVER. It has some really bad design decisions driven by an obsession to gadgetize everything.
I really miss SIMPLE, gadget free cars.
When you open the front doors, a little glowy light goes on to cast light below the door, presumably for people who live in caves. There's no easy way to disable this light.
Seriously Subaru? You won't allow me to leave the door open? Not the best thing for car camping. Now I have to figure out how to disable these damn lights!
Wednesday, 3 July 2019
Last reported position
Latitude: 49.2079617
Longitude: -124.0679098
British Columbia, Canada
Full route map: https://whereami-167313.appspot.com/
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