What’s good for the goose...

Friday, July 18, 2008
SOOKE, VANCOUVER ISLAND — Our settling place for tonight is a real bonus. We looked at the BC camping guide for a campground near Sooke, our destination for today, and found a couple of possibilities, but the guide says you can’t reserve a space less than two days prior to arrival. So we had to just show up and hope there would be space — on a beautiful weekend at the height of camping season.
We left Parksville at a good hour and figured we would arrive in the early afternoon, so that might improve our chances. We stopped for an early lunch in Nanaimo, because I spotted a Tim Hortons by the road — always an attraction for a lover of good coffee like Val. I thought I could accomplish my goal of consuming a Naniamo bar in Nanaimo, since Timmie’s sells them at most places, but to my surprise the cashier said they didn’t carry them at this one any more! Of all places to drop that particular delicacy! She suggested I look at the grocery store in the same mall, and I did find them there, but in a package of six. That’s just too many — they are so rich! I’ll have to look again when we pass through Nanaimo the next time.
After quite a bit of seacoast scenery, we entered a section of highway that cut through great rock formations and climbed steeply. There were lots of tall pine trees and Douglas firs on either side of the road as well. Then we were into strip mall suburbia for great stretches as we approached Victoria at the south end of the island. Our destination was Sooke, so we took the bypass route without going in to Victoria proper; that comes later.
We turned in at the sign for Sooke Potholes Provincial Park to see if there was any chance of a camping spot there, although it was still a fair distance from Sooke. There were lots of people enjoying the swimming area — where there are quite a few deep "potholes" in the Sooke riverbed that give the park its name. Then we saw the sign that said "campground full". We continued on, looking for the kiosk where we could ask someone for suggestions, but it was very poorly marked along the narrow road. We guessed they saw little need for clear directions to an area people flocked to in droves. Finally, we found the registration office and the fellow there said even the walk-in sites that are not reservable were already filled.
So on we went toward the town of Sooke, catching glimpses of the bay and the Pacific Ocean beyond. Closer to town was a visitor information building, so we stopped there to inquire. They too told us that most provincial campgrounds fill very quickly on summer weekends. However, there was a municipal campground just a short way up the side road that might have space — and it included services like electricity and showers, which the provincial ones do not.
What a lucky break. The Sooke River Campground is a large, grassy stretch with generous sites, each separated from the next with towering fir trees, and right next to the river where flocks of geese congregate — and even a beautiful white swan! We were delighted, and booked it for three nights on the spot.
We had a bit of time to explore the place and relax before setting off for the Point No Point Resort where we were meeting Alan and his girlfriend Peggy for dinner. The road twisted and turned through forest and along the coast some 14 kilometers beyond Sooke itself. We passed many bed and breakfasts along the way, and finally arrived at our destination. Al said he’d be heading there right after work and should get there by 7 o’clock, so we were a bit early. The receptionist gave us a map of the resort and invited us to have a look around. What a lovely spot, right on the water, with a rocky beach strewn with bleached driftwood looking out to sea, and lots of intriguing walking paths down to it. There are a dozen or so small cabins.
By the time we got back to the office, Al and Peggy were registering, so when they turned around, there we were! We were supposed to eat a gourmet dinner in the restaurant, but they had space for only two, not four. So while we figured out what to do, we went down to see the cabin they would be using. It was lovely, with a little deck overlooking the water, a kitchenette, a two-seater rocking chair and even a hot tub outside! It would have to be hot to entice me, with the very fresh breeze coming in from the water.
Peggy suggested we order room service for dinner from the restaurant and eat at the cabin. She had brought fixings for a crab cake appetizer which she set out to prepare while we waited. She used to have a catering business, and her expertise was quite evident in the delicious and beautifully presented dish she set before us a few minutes later. Al popped out to pick up the main course later on and we had a lovely evening of good food, wine and conversation.
While it was still somewhat light — at least not pitch black — we made our way back to our campground. We watched a huge orange moon rise above the deep blue sky over the bay. We’ll be seeing more of my brother and Peggy on Monday.