After the fun at Inland Lake a few of the visiting friends had decided to do another camping trip and I was all over that. Although several things changed over the course of our planning I did end up camping AND I wasn't alone.
Candace lives at Garnet Rock and there's an RV park there as well so I went for a weekend of Glamping (that's Glamour Camping with full hook-ups). I'm happy to report that Miss P is functioning perfectly and is an absolute pleasure to use and enjoy.
I headed out on Friday evening after work, with the daylight hours extending until about 9pm it's easy to have lots of time after work to do things before running out of daylight. One thing I haven't quite mastered yet (and especially not around people) is the ability to quickly maneuver Miss Perception into a spot. I do take my time and sometimes need to give a few tries. Candace came by to watch and although it only took me about 5 minutes and 2 attempts it was hilarious with her asking "what are you doing?" and me saying "you wanna give it a go?" Then we both laughed and I tried again. I had the coveted spot in the park, #47 - it's the end spot with a big open grassy area at my front door that lead right to Candace's front steps. It was fun being neighbours for the weekend.
Once settled in and setup, I noticed that Texada Island looks closer from here than from my home in the Townsite, party because of the angle and partly because of distance so it was a treat to have Texada so close and when I looked to the right there was Myrtle Rock. I felt very much at home since I grew up just across the street. I also used to babysit Karla and Bo right here at Garnet Rock when their parents managed the Park. Although things have changed here over the last 25 years there was also a lot of things that triggered memories and smiles. Karla and Bo were probably too young to remember but we spent many hours together down at the beach, sometimes they'd wake up on the weekends and their parents would have to do work around the Park so I'd take them down to the beach for a while - gumboots and PJ's - what fun. We'd look a tide pools, turn over rocks and find crabs and other crawly things. I dug out a couple of pictures of us back then, I remembered that I used to french braid Karla's hair all the time, she loved that and I also noticed that big black tire near the tide pools, 25 years later and it's still there. Will be interesting to see if it's there 25 years from now.
The weather was fabulous on the weekend, a bit too much wind to put my kayak in the water but the blue ocean and warm weather were fantastic. I did head out to the farmers market on both days and noticed how convenient and close the Park was. When I was growing up I always felt like we were "so far" from town but now Garnet Rock feels quite close.
My favourite things about this spot:
- the people - both the managers and the guests. It was so much fun connecting and chatting, sharing a hot drink or an evening by the fire.
- the views - everywhere you looked you were surrounded by beauty, both the natural beauty of the ocean, trees and water and the incredibly well maintained grounds with grass that would put any golf course to shame, delicate flowers planted all around giving pops of colour and interest wherever you looked and the whimsical sitting areas, one with stage-coach inspired benches and a little gurgling fountain overlooking the ever-changing ocean and onto Texada Island.
- the facilities - full hook ups as well well as easy beach access and very clean bathrooms/showers.
- proximity - close to town, right across the street from Duck Lake Road so you can be in the forest, on trails and fishing up at a lake within minutes.
- access to nature - a few days before I arrived a pod of orcas had swam by, on Saturday morning I watched a pod of dolphins make their way south, eagles, hawks, blue herons, crows, robins, and a multitude of other birds flying around.
- watching the water traffic - little fishing boats painted in bright colors chugging on by, the bright red colours of the Coast Guard boat, tugboats with loads heading to Vancouver and other loads heading up the the mill or further north.
During the weekend I enjoyed:
- spending time alone on the beach collecting shells and sharing some of that time with Candace too as we filled our pockets and little satchel with treasures like a bunch of 6 year-olds, the wonder of the ocean and the shoreline lives on forever.
- a weekend full of music, the first night Candace and I jammed at her place and the following evening by the fire with Sharon joining the jam too giving us a guitar and 2 ukulele's, it was fun to hear others play and play together as well.
- playing a Canadian Trivia game and learning that Sharon and Mariah know a lot about Canada!
- music practice on Sunday night with Carina and her two daughters. There were 4 of us in my little trailer and it didn't feel cramped, Carina and I on the bed in the back and the two girls at the dining table.
- maximum capacity - our Sunday music practice turned into a current visitor record when Uwe and Petra (my new German friends) came in to hear us play as well, now there were 6 people hanging out with Miss Perception. It wasn't bad as long as no one moved!
- restful nights of sleep and happy mornings peeking out the window to see what was happening on the water (Saturday morning around 6am is when I saw the dolphins and after watching them into the distance I put my head back on my pillow and went back to sleep).
- taking Uwe and Petra to Duck Lake, Yew Trail and and Mud Lake.
- my first shower ! Well in the trailer. With the hot water heater working well and a warm day I thought it was the perfect time to see if lathering up in Miss Perception is feasible or just a novelty. Feasible!! Not the same shower as I'd have at home but more hot water than I needed. The welcome mat also doubles as a shower mat - oh the joy of small spaces and multi-functional items.
Garnet Rock is a place I'll happily go back to. It felt cozy, familiar and friendly. The views are spectacular and it's got everything I could want in a camp site. Thank you for a wonderful weekend !!
