We left Charmaine and Geoff’s early today to afford lots of time for dawdling and sight seeing. Malahat Drive was awesome and then we did the Seaside Village Route including Cowichan Bay, Maple Bay, Crofton, Chemainus and Ladysmith where we rejoined the highway. We stopped and had breakfast at Brannon Boat Ramp in Nanaimo and then continued on our way.
Campbell River is kind of at the north end of civilization on the island. Beyond there the highway slows and narrows, and there are no cellphone bars to be had. It feels quite remote. I was very pleased to discover, though, that Apple Maps now has the ability to track you and give directions even when you’re not connected. I had forgotten to download the Vancouver Island map for Maps.me so we couldn’t rely on that for directions while we were in the dead zone.
Speaking of dead zones, I think my brain was one when I booked our Airbnb. I didn’t think to ask if the property has animals, and… of course it does - two cats (one of them a very fluffy Main Coon). Thankfully our host was very understanding and flexible and let us pitch the tent in the yard so I can sleep out there.
After we got settled at the Airbnb we took a drive up to Port Hardy to check out the ferry terminal and make sure we know where to go at 5am tomorrow. Then we went and had dinner in Port McNeil. At the Airbnb Brent slept inside and I slept in the tent. I could feel my lungs reacting to the cats already and he was really looking forward to spending a night in a bed sooooo….
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