Thank you for another interesting and enjoyable video. In 1975 I drove from Chatham, Ont to Vancouver Island in a beetle. The Trans Canada was only recently finished the dual carriageway ended at Barrie and the road went through every town. On the island I saw the salmon run,avoided a deer by an inch. Discovered the hard way the island has a very high rainfall in the north, I was camping. I thought it beautiful. In Ireland we are level with Hudson Bay and get very long summer days dark after 11 light at 5 am but today very short. The North of Scotland I believe is more extreme. We have had a holiday home in Murcia, Spain for over 20 years. We have noticed that the majority of permanent residents from the Northern Europe go home as they get old.
Thanks for sharing your experience Andrew! There would have been a lot less people and development in 1975. It is special to be close nature amongst the trees and wildlife. Ireland is a special spot too. We did a trip there in 2018. The days are short right now but will soon start to get longer! Great idea to have a winter escape to Spain. ☀️😎
Loved this episode. The scenery is breathtaking. When I was stationed at Ft Lewis in Washington, my late wife and I celebrated our 25 year anniversary in Victoria. We took the high speed Shuttle from Seattle to Victoria Harbor. Stayed at big hotel and even had High Tea there. Toured the gardens the next day and then went home on the 3rd day. I’ve always wanted to go back. Perhaps I will this summer when I finish my Trans Canada Train Trip in Vancouver in June.
Glad you enjoyed this episode Roger! We have to agree that the scenery is indeed breathtaking.🩵 It would be nice for you to relive those special memories of your 25th wedding anniversary.
Very true and excellent video! I have visited and now live on Vancouver Island for a while and it is STUNNING and well worth it but there are some things to think about that no one tells you when you move here (and yes, sorry I am venting a little, LOL): 1. This is a very different pace of lifestyle and it generally is a different pace of work from lawyers to plumbers... progress often happens at a slower pace. If you find a good trade or professional HOLD onto them... Good idea to buy a house that is already built, as building or even renovating your own your contractor may or may not show up for the appointment LOL! There certainly are good ones out there but when living on the Island and get used to scouring online reviews don't assume they will do good work for you and that they are legitimate check their WCB and business license, and there are so many door-to-door solicitors wanting to fix your grass or lawn but there are water restrictions in the summer so it gets scorched no matter what you do. 2. Unless you are in an in-demand job like the trades or medicine, come here to retire, not to work... not impossible but it is tough to find a good solid well-paying job here in an environment you will like. Rent to see if work is a fit before you buy a house and get into debt 3. PLEASE - Be cautious about starting a business so many come and go especially restaurants and souvenir shops. It is so sad to see a bright, energetic new business owner, who doesn't know how this place works and is all excited about starting a business here just to lose everything a year or so later... People are willing to spend money on their homes and cars but otherwise and generally not so much, thrift stores and garage sales are a big attraction. Highly suggest trying to work for someone first, really test the waters, and rent (don't get into too much debt) if you are planning to move here or planning to start a business. 3. Sticker shock - The acronym for B.C. is "Bring Cash" which is very true. What may buy you a house elsewhere buys you a small apartment here, everything is more expensive which is why people watch their money here but there are deals to be had at times and you can grow a lot of your own food and freeze it! With the island what you buy generally is shipped by boat or ferry so it is more expensive often due to shipping costs. 4. Go into Panther mode if you are looking for a doctor. It is tough to find a GP as it is a more aging population with higher needs and fewer GPs to go around. I was lucky when I permanently moved here but had to grab the first doctor who was taking new patients and I was extremely lucky to get one. If you phone around also ask if they know of a doctor accepting new patients and yes you may have to drive up to an hour to Nanaimo or Courtney for a GP but better than going without, for some procedures, you may have to travel to Victoria or Vancouver as well but more and more is being done in Nanaimo. Victoria, in our opinion, is the best in terms of hospital care but things have improved with Nanaimo General. 5. The better weather means more bugs, slugs etc.. maybe plant things they don't care for like lavender and marigolds with fewer ground-level petunias... if you have a full lot you may have a full-time job as things can grow like Jumanji here with loads of foliage which is nice but pricey and highly advisable to research before you plant. Try to stay away from Wisteria or other invasive species of plants that will take over or have toxic components especially if you have small kids or a pet. Be careful and on top of Ivy as it can grow into your house and it did with ours LOL! BUT you can grow your own food if you play it right and so start planning right away if you think you want to have fresh fruit from your garden as some things take 3 years to give you fruit but save you loads of money in the end! 6. More power outages due to more windstorms here and trees around power lines that fall during wind storms. We generally have a few a year during the wintertime so make sure you have flashlights available and if you have an automatic garage door opener important to know how to open your garage door without the remote well before there is one and you happen need your car then. 7. Don't drive when it is snowing and be prepared. We get one maybe two dumps of snow and when it does people here often don't know how to drive and it is dangerous because there simply is not the snow removal equipment in some areas with schools often closed. Buy your shovel and salt before winter because there will be one, it is certainly short-lived but there will be at least one. 8. If Hiking, bring a pocket knife, bear spray and a long walking stick. Know and be well-versed in the use of bear spray before you go out knowing you spray downwind. There can be more wildlife and attacks do very occasionally happen so use common sense and avoid secluded out-of-the-way trails as cougars and bears have been sighted. We haven't had a problem but never go on a trail if we are the only ones on it. The list is longer than I originally planned but when you get going you come up with more to know but truly I must say if you can move here it is a great goal to have because this is a great place to be!!! Get to know your neighbours, the community events. There is a Milner Garden Christmas display well worth it! The sand castle competition in Parksville well worth it with sculptures from all over competing and amazing what they do! There are trails and adventures to be had from Coombs "Goats on the Roof" which has the BEST Italian food and quaint tourist shops around and "Coastal Carvings" probably the best First Nations art gallery before you cross the bridge... Countless trails with my favorite being Englishmen River falls... Rathtrevor Beach, Heritage Forest, and others are well worth visiting.
Hi Doris, Fantastic list of many things to consider and we agree with you on many points. Sadly it is hard getting a new doctor anywhere in Canada right now. And the cost of living has risen everywhere. I had not heard the BC acronym “bring cash” but it makes sense… part of the privilege of living on an island. We have learned a lot and have enjoyed exploring in and around Parksville. Nothing beats the more gentle climate. Lucky for us we haven’t had any lengthy power outages - might depend on location. Thanks so much for watching Doris!😊
@@staycool123 Glad you appreciated the list... I was worried it was a bit long but so important for people to know before making the leap. Although I don't know if I call it a privilege living here, anyone who wants to should find a way here but it is pricey because everything pretty much has to be shipped using the ferry and it is a popular place to be for good reason so enjoy your retirement, it is pretty amazing here!
I am curious about the bugs in the summer. I was once told that there are far less mosquitoes m black flies etc on Vancouver island. I always wondered if that was true or not.
Good question Lena! Where we are there are very few mosquitos and no black flies and that makes sitting outside very enjoyable. So it’s absolutely true, at least in the Oceanside area. We’ve noticed ants, and wasps can become a nuisance if they are allowed to build nests nearby. The various bee populations appear to be healthy and thriving and we see them all over the garden helping to pollinate.😊 Thanks so much for watching!
I was in Cambell River for a wedding almost 30 years ago and took a few extra days to drive the coast. What I saw was amazing. Hope to go back and visit in a few years when I retire. You picked a wonderful place to retire by the looks of things. I am still in Ontario and there is snow on the ground - I am a bit envious. Thanks for another great video.
Campbell River is a lovely area and very close to some amazing waterways. So far retirement life is great here and we look forward to sharing more with you. The only downside is being farther away from our Ontario families but we will make a point of visiting Ontario regularly. We are not missing the snow - although we will get a bit over here at some point. Stay warm Andy and thanks for watching!😎
Well, that was fun hearing your perspective on this beautiful corner of the world. We love visiting Vancouver Island. And living here (just south of the 49th parallel in Washington State) since 1971, I'm right there with you on what a fantastic place to call home. It definitely is like being on vacation every day. I look forward to your investigation into solar. We will be doing the same as it is about time to re-roof our home. And what better time to get solar panels installed. Cheers!
The Canadian travel bureau needs to pay you for your wonderful video. The north west US is an area I have not traveled to but I have heard so much news about BC and that part of Canada. I always wanted to take a Canadian rail trip. Glad to see the video and how does the cost of living com pare to Ontario? Enjoy
The Pacific Northwest is a lovely area and our little neck of the woods is pretty special. We’ve driven through the Rockies but haven’t yet taken the train… that would be fun! Cost of living is a bit more for some things like fuel but mostly similar to Ontario. Thanks for watching Buck😎
Nicely made video! Your sincerity and enthusiasm is genuine. I moved from Peterborough, Ontario, to the Cowichan Valley two years ago. My daughter currently lives in Ottawa. She visited recently and loves it here. I've been sharing with her many of the same experiences you both talk about. I will add that the number of small family farms is astounding, as is the variety of craftspeople, artists and musicians. I've remarked numerous times that 80-100% of the food on my plate came from farms that are within a short drive of my home. As hard as I tried in Peterborough, that kind of 'local eating' was not possible. Then let's talk about the wineries, cideries, restaurants, entertainment, and year-round outdoor access to every activity imaginable, and some that aren't! Like surfing in Tofino in January, and then snowboarding or skiing on Mount Washington the same day! I'm sending my daughter a link to your video right away! Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Thanks so much for your comment Greg! You’re right about local produce and variety of artists and musicians. We love the island vibe and equate living here to being at the cottage year-round… but better. The only downside is our daughters both live in Ontario but it’s only a flight away. Thanks for watching 😎
@@staycool123 Same for me. I have two sons and one granddaughter in Peterborough, and a daughter in Ottawa. It was a tough decision for me to move here, but my kids were totally supportive. My youngest son Jeremy said it best. "Ok, let's think about this for a minute. We see you once every few weeks or so, maybe for a quick bite or just a visit. If you move to the island then we'll see you when you visit us or we visit you. And it will be for at least a week. Every day. All day...LOL. So really, we'll see more of each other and probably do more things during that time!" That made my decision quite a bit easier! Cheers!
That’s great your family is supportive. These days families live all over the world and video calls make it easy to stay in touch between visits. Our adult children came to visit our first Christmas here. There was a big dump of snow the day they arrived and it didn’t melt until after they left! Not sure they believe us when we tell them about the mild winters!🤣
It’s amazing how many vineyards BC has and how beautiful they are with the mountains as a backdrop. There are over 30 on the island. Thanks for watching this episode Glenn.😃
19A is a lovely paved road along the waterfront between Parksville and Comox/Courtney it takes an hour with beautiful scenery. If you want no towns and no ocean views the new highway is the way to go from Parksville and Comox, both take roughly 60 minutes with little traffic.Courtney has a huge Costco (virtually empty except on weekends and Christmas), bulk barn and Art Knapp. Comox has an airport.
Thanks for the tips Janet! Comox/Courtney is a lovely area and we’ve flown out from that airport and once saw the Canadian aerobatic flight team Snowbirds there. We have lots more exploring to do and appreciate your insight. Thanks for watching😎
I have enjoyed your loop trip! We look forward to visiting Vancouver this fall after our Airstream adventure to Alaska. Thanks for the inspiration and tips on visiting your beautiful island. Ferry reservations, got it! Any campground suggestions? Merry Christmas!
Hi Margaret and thanks so much for following our Great Loop journey! Your Airstream trip to Alaska sounds wonderful.😃 We hope to make a trip to Alaska one day. We don't know all the campgrounds on the island (yet)... but there are many and one near us is in Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park which has a lovely setting and access to the beach (along with all the resorts). The BC provincial parks are booked through their website: env.gov.bc.ca. Once you access the website, find the map for many more campground options. Hope this helps!😎
Excellent introduction to Vancouver Island. When are you going to get a boat and enjoy even more of that beautiful country. We've had the privilege of boating with friends out there and it is magnificent. Art & Bonnie
Thanks for watching this episode Art & Bonnie! We are looking for a boat and hope to get one in the next few months… something smaller and faster than Stay Cool. Haven’t found the right boat in our price range but we’re looking! Can’t wait to get out onto the Georgia Straight and into Desolation Sound and beyond.😎
wow.. ok, so we will have to add some time to our cross country trip to visit the island.. we will try to plan it when you are there so that we can take you out to lunch! not exactly sure just when this will happen - could be a couple of years, but we will let you know :)
Vancouver Island is a great vacation destination for many people especially in spring/summer/fall. Everyone should try a cross-country trip at least once. You don’t realize how big Canada is until you drive across it! Let us know when you get to the island and we can give you some tips. Thanks for watching Jason😎
I will echo everything you said about the island, and the transition from central Canada as we have just done it ourselves. The winters are especially more tolerable, and the summers much less humid. As avid boaters, you have just scratched the surface.
I love y’all’s videos! Just really nice and fun - thank you! I really hope you have some more boating videos to come… Malcolm, dumb question- where do you buy your full zip sweatshirts? What’s the brand and where can I buy one :) they look well made. I live in a cold climate.
Glad you enjoyed this episode! Once we find the right boat, we’ll share boating out here on the west coast and we can’t wait! Malcolm’s full zip sweatshirt/jacket is from Costco… Field & Stream and Mondetta brand 🤷♀️
Thank you for another interesting and enjoyable video. In 1975 I drove from Chatham, Ont to Vancouver Island in a beetle. The Trans Canada was only recently finished the dual carriageway ended at Barrie and the road went through every town. On the island I saw the salmon run,avoided a deer by an inch. Discovered the hard way the island has a very high rainfall in the north, I was camping. I thought it beautiful. In Ireland we are level with Hudson Bay and get very long summer days dark after 11 light at 5 am but today very short. The North of Scotland I believe is more extreme. We have had a holiday home in Murcia, Spain for over 20 years. We have noticed that the majority of permanent residents from the Northern Europe go home as they get old.
Thanks for sharing your experience Andrew! There would have been a lot less people and development in 1975. It is special to be close nature amongst the trees and wildlife. Ireland is a special spot too. We did a trip there in 2018. The days are short right now but will soon start to get longer! Great idea to have a winter escape to Spain. ☀️😎
Loved this episode. The scenery is breathtaking. When I was stationed at Ft Lewis in Washington, my late wife and I celebrated our 25 year anniversary in Victoria. We took the high speed Shuttle from Seattle to Victoria Harbor. Stayed at big hotel and even had High Tea there. Toured the gardens the next day and then went home on the 3rd day. I’ve always wanted to go back. Perhaps I will this summer when I finish my Trans Canada Train Trip in Vancouver in June.
Glad you enjoyed this episode Roger! We have to agree that the scenery is indeed breathtaking.🩵 It would be nice for you to relive those special memories of your 25th wedding anniversary.
Very true and excellent video! I have visited and now live on Vancouver Island for a while and it is STUNNING and well worth it but there are some things to think about that no one tells you when you move here (and yes, sorry I am venting a little, LOL):
1. This is a very different pace of lifestyle and it generally is a different pace of work from lawyers to plumbers... progress often happens at a slower pace. If you find a good trade or professional HOLD onto them... Good idea to buy a house that is already built, as building or even renovating your own your contractor may or may not show up for the appointment LOL! There certainly are good ones out there but when living on the Island and get used to scouring online reviews don't assume they will do good work for you and that they are legitimate check their WCB and business license, and there are so many door-to-door solicitors wanting to fix your grass or lawn but there are water restrictions in the summer so it gets scorched no matter what you do.
2. Unless you are in an in-demand job like the trades or medicine, come here to retire, not to work... not impossible but it is tough to find a good solid well-paying job here in an environment you will like. Rent to see if work is a fit before you buy a house and get into debt
3. PLEASE - Be cautious about starting a business so many come and go especially restaurants and souvenir shops. It is so sad to see a bright, energetic new business owner, who doesn't know how this place works and is all excited about starting a business here just to lose everything a year or so later... People are willing to spend money on their homes and cars but otherwise and generally not so much, thrift stores and garage sales are a big attraction. Highly suggest trying to work for someone first, really test the waters, and rent (don't get into too much debt) if you are planning to move here or planning to start a business.
3. Sticker shock - The acronym for B.C. is "Bring Cash" which is very true. What may buy you a house elsewhere buys you a small apartment here, everything is more expensive which is why people watch their money here but there are deals to be had at times and you can grow a lot of your own food and freeze it! With the island what you buy generally is shipped by boat or ferry so it is more expensive often due to shipping costs.
4. Go into Panther mode if you are looking for a doctor. It is tough to find a GP as it is a more aging population with higher needs and fewer GPs to go around. I was lucky when I permanently moved here but had to grab the first doctor who was taking new patients and I was extremely lucky to get one. If you phone around also ask if they know of a doctor accepting new patients and yes you may have to drive up to an hour to Nanaimo or Courtney for a GP but better than going without, for some procedures, you may have to travel to Victoria or Vancouver as well but more and more is being done in Nanaimo. Victoria, in our opinion, is the best in terms of hospital care but things have improved with Nanaimo General.
5. The better weather means more bugs, slugs etc.. maybe plant things they don't care for like lavender and marigolds with fewer ground-level petunias... if you have a full lot you may have a full-time job as things can grow like Jumanji here with loads of foliage which is nice but pricey and highly advisable to research before you plant. Try to stay away from Wisteria or other invasive species of plants that will take over or have toxic components especially if you have small kids or a pet. Be careful and on top of Ivy as it can grow into your house and it did with ours LOL! BUT you can grow your own food if you play it right and so start planning right away if you think you want to have fresh fruit from your garden as some things take 3 years to give you fruit but save you loads of money in the end!
6. More power outages due to more windstorms here and trees around power lines that fall during wind storms. We generally have a few a year during the wintertime so make sure you have flashlights available and if you have an automatic garage door opener important to know how to open your garage door without the remote well before there is one and you happen need your car then.
7. Don't drive when it is snowing and be prepared. We get one maybe two dumps of snow and when it does people here often don't know how to drive and it is dangerous because there simply is not the snow removal equipment in some areas with schools often closed. Buy your shovel and salt before winter because there will be one, it is certainly short-lived but there will be at least one.
8. If Hiking, bring a pocket knife, bear spray and a long walking stick. Know and be well-versed in the use of bear spray before you go out knowing you spray downwind. There can be more wildlife and attacks do very occasionally happen so use common sense and avoid secluded out-of-the-way trails as cougars and bears have been sighted. We haven't had a problem but never go on a trail if we are the only ones on it.
The list is longer than I originally planned but when you get going you come up with more to know but truly I must say if you can move here it is a great goal to have because this is a great place to be!!! Get to know your neighbours, the community events. There is a Milner Garden Christmas display well worth it! The sand castle competition in Parksville well worth it with sculptures from all over competing and amazing what they do! There are trails and adventures to be had from Coombs "Goats on the Roof" which has the BEST Italian food and quaint tourist shops around and "Coastal Carvings" probably the best First Nations art gallery before you cross the bridge... Countless trails with my favorite being Englishmen River falls... Rathtrevor Beach, Heritage Forest, and others are well worth visiting.
Hi Doris,
Fantastic list of many things to consider and we agree with you on many points. Sadly it is hard getting a new doctor anywhere in Canada right now. And the cost of living has risen everywhere. I had not heard the BC acronym “bring cash” but it makes sense… part of the privilege of living on an island.
We have learned a lot and have enjoyed exploring in and around Parksville. Nothing beats the more gentle climate. Lucky for us we haven’t had any lengthy power outages - might depend on location. Thanks so much for watching Doris!😊
@@staycool123 Glad you appreciated the list... I was worried it was a bit long but so important for people to know before making the leap. Although I don't know if I call it a privilege living here, anyone who wants to should find a way here but it is pricey because everything pretty much has to be shipped using the ferry and it is a popular place to be for good reason so enjoy your retirement, it is pretty amazing here!
I am so happy that you kept your intro song from the Loop!!
It feels familiar doesn’t it?! Thanks for watching Lesli!😎
I am curious about the bugs in the summer. I was once told that there are far less mosquitoes m black flies etc on Vancouver island. I always wondered if that was true or not.
Good question Lena! Where we are there are very few mosquitos and no black flies and that makes sitting outside very enjoyable. So it’s absolutely true, at least in the Oceanside area. We’ve noticed ants, and wasps can become a nuisance if they are allowed to build nests nearby. The various bee populations appear to be healthy and thriving and we see them all over the garden helping to pollinate.😊 Thanks so much for watching!
I was in Cambell River for a wedding almost 30 years ago and took a few extra days to drive the coast. What I saw was amazing. Hope to go back and visit in a few years when I retire. You picked a wonderful place to retire by the looks of things. I am still in Ontario and there is snow on the ground - I am a bit envious. Thanks for another great video.
Campbell River is a lovely area and very close to some amazing waterways. So far retirement life is great here and we look forward to sharing more with you. The only downside is being farther away from our Ontario families but we will make a point of visiting Ontario regularly. We are not missing the snow - although we will get a bit over here at some point. Stay warm Andy and thanks for watching!😎
Well, that was fun hearing your perspective on this beautiful corner of the world. We love visiting Vancouver Island. And living here (just south of the 49th parallel in Washington State) since 1971, I'm right there with you on what a fantastic place to call home. It definitely is like being on vacation every day. I look forward to your investigation into solar. We will be doing the same as it is about time to re-roof our home. And what better time to get solar panels installed. Cheers!
We are loving island life! The Pacific Northwest is where it’s at! We’ll be sharing our solar journey in a future episode. Thanks for watching Todd.😃
The Canadian travel bureau needs to pay you for your wonderful video. The north west US is an area I have not traveled to but I have heard so much news about BC and that part of Canada. I always wanted to take a Canadian rail trip. Glad to see the video and how does the cost of living com pare to Ontario? Enjoy
The Pacific Northwest is a lovely area and our little neck of the woods is pretty special. We’ve driven through the Rockies but haven’t yet taken the train… that would be fun! Cost of living is a bit more for some things like fuel but mostly similar to Ontario. Thanks for watching Buck😎
Nicely made video! Your sincerity and enthusiasm is genuine. I moved from Peterborough, Ontario, to the Cowichan Valley two years ago. My daughter currently lives in Ottawa. She visited recently and loves it here. I've been sharing with her many of the same experiences you both talk about. I will add that the number of small family farms is astounding, as is the variety of craftspeople, artists and musicians. I've remarked numerous times that 80-100% of the food on my plate came from farms that are within a short drive of my home. As hard as I tried in Peterborough, that kind of 'local eating' was not possible. Then let's talk about the wineries, cideries, restaurants, entertainment, and year-round outdoor access to every activity imaginable, and some that aren't! Like surfing in Tofino in January, and then snowboarding or skiing on Mount Washington the same day! I'm sending my daughter a link to your video right away! Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Thanks so much for your comment Greg! You’re right about local produce and variety of artists and musicians. We love the island vibe and equate living here to being at the cottage year-round… but better. The only downside is our daughters both live in Ontario but it’s only a flight away. Thanks for watching 😎
@@staycool123 Same for me. I have two sons and one granddaughter in Peterborough, and a daughter in Ottawa. It was a tough decision for me to move here, but my kids were totally supportive. My youngest son Jeremy said it best. "Ok, let's think about this for a minute. We see you once every few weeks or so, maybe for a quick bite or just a visit. If you move to the island then we'll see you when you visit us or we visit you. And it will be for at least a week. Every day. All day...LOL. So really, we'll see more of each other and probably do more things during that time!" That made my decision quite a bit easier! Cheers!
That’s great your family is supportive. These days families live all over the world and video calls make it easy to stay in touch between visits. Our adult children came to visit our first Christmas here. There was a big dump of snow the day they arrived and it didn’t melt until after they left! Not sure they believe us when we tell them about the mild winters!🤣
Those winery photos look suspiciously like the Okanagan
It’s amazing how many vineyards BC has and how beautiful they are with the mountains as a backdrop. There are over 30 on the island. Thanks for watching this episode Glenn.😃
19A is a lovely paved road along the waterfront between Parksville and Comox/Courtney it takes an hour with beautiful scenery. If you want no towns and no ocean views the new highway is the way to go from Parksville and Comox, both take roughly 60 minutes with little traffic.Courtney has a huge Costco (virtually empty except on weekends and Christmas), bulk barn and Art Knapp. Comox has an airport.
Thanks for the tips Janet! Comox/Courtney is a lovely area and we’ve flown out from that airport and once saw the Canadian aerobatic flight team Snowbirds there. We have lots more exploring to do and appreciate your insight. Thanks for watching😎
I have enjoyed your loop trip! We look forward to visiting Vancouver this fall after our Airstream adventure to Alaska. Thanks for the inspiration and tips on visiting your beautiful island. Ferry reservations, got it! Any campground suggestions? Merry Christmas!
Hi Margaret and thanks so much for following our Great Loop journey! Your Airstream trip to Alaska sounds wonderful.😃 We hope to make a trip to Alaska one day. We don't know all the campgrounds on the island (yet)... but there are many and one near us is in Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park which has a lovely setting and access to the beach (along with all the resorts). The BC provincial parks are booked through their website: env.gov.bc.ca. Once you access the website, find the map for many more campground options. Hope this helps!😎
Thank you for your recommendation. We’ll keep watching 😊
Excellent introduction to Vancouver Island. When are you going to get a boat and enjoy even more of that beautiful country. We've had the privilege of boating with friends out there and it is magnificent. Art & Bonnie
Thanks for watching this episode Art & Bonnie! We are looking for a boat and hope to get one in the next few months… something smaller and faster than Stay Cool. Haven’t found the right boat in our price range but we’re looking! Can’t wait to get out onto the Georgia Straight and into Desolation Sound and beyond.😎
@@staycool123 Excellent. We'll be watching for more excellent video's from the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
Wow! I'm {{{{{SHOCKED}}}}} that y'all moved to Vancouver Island. What a beautiful place to retire to.
Ha ha ha! 😂 Isn’t it shocking?! It IS beautiful and we’ll share different parts of the island in upcoming episodes. Thanks for watching TMac!
wow.. ok, so we will have to add some time to our cross country trip to visit the island.. we will try to plan it when you are there so that we can take you out to lunch! not exactly sure just when this will happen - could be a couple of years, but we will let you know :)
Vancouver Island is a great vacation destination for many people especially in spring/summer/fall. Everyone should try a cross-country trip at least once. You don’t realize how big Canada is until you drive across it! Let us know when you get to the island and we can give you some tips. Thanks for watching Jason😎
I will echo everything you said about the island, and the transition from central Canada as we have just done it ourselves. The winters are especially more tolerable, and the summers much less humid. As avid boaters, you have just scratched the surface.
Still so much to see on the island and you’re right Tom, those Pacific waters are calling to us.😉
I love y’all’s videos! Just really nice and fun - thank you! I really hope you have some more boating videos to come…
Malcolm, dumb question- where do you buy your full zip sweatshirts? What’s the brand and where can I buy one :) they look well made. I live in a cold climate.
Glad you enjoyed this episode! Once we find the right boat, we’ll share boating out here on the west coast and we can’t wait! Malcolm’s full zip sweatshirt/jacket is from Costco… Field & Stream and Mondetta brand 🤷♀️
Marmots! Nice video :)
Still haven’t seen the elusive marmot 👀 Thanks for watching!😎