All of which is to say: Pete was always going to take to backwoodsmanship like a bear to the forest. Indeed, he was extremely excited by the prospect of actually sleeping in a tent rather than just playing in the kid's one we got for half price in Ikea. The fact that we were going to go on a ferry to get to the campsite almost made him explode with expectation.
We caught the boat from Horseshoe Bay over to the Sunshine Coast, and it was well-named, for this weekend at least. Temperatures soared into the high-teens and many locals wandered around in a daze, it still being officially winter here. Our campsite was in Sechelt, a short drive from the port, and we stopped on the way for fish and chips. We weren't going to rough it too much.
The campground was large, spotless, and impressive, and shockingly there was only one other tent there. The owner did look slightly surprised when we knocked on her locked office door, but there was a handful of RVs to keep us company. I imagine they turn the water supply on in the summer, and we were warned that the bears hadn't hibernated this year but that they rarely come into the campground. Canadian bears - so much more polite than their American counterparts.
In the end the whole thing was a massive success, with Pete sleeping through the night, no bear encounters (a bit of a disappointment to some), a tasty al fresco dinner and breakfast, beach trips, and then lunch in a café on the way home. Far more luxurious than when I was a Cub but there we go. I also don't remember aching quite so much after sleeping on the ground back then. Could I be getting too old for this? That's not a good thought when Father and Son Camp isn't for a good few years yet. Time to start taking that cod liver oil.
How much do we need for one night's camping? Roughly the same as for a week, actually.
Did we remember to pack the baby?
How Hannah likes every camping trip to begin.
Fun on the ferry.
How Pete likes every camping trip to begin.
The 'Tent Mahal' is up again. Pete got the east wing, we took the west.
One day, this will look as dated as all those family camping holidays to France...
Down on the beach.
Pete is ready for bed and/or boxing.
It's so much fun to wake up outdoors!
Possibly false advertising.
Leave only footprints, take only memories. And the baby you arrived with.
Down on the Sunshine Coast.
First camping trip, and first kite flying! Those power lines were a lot further away than they look, honest.
I'm #1 so why try harder?
Back on board, and sailing away from a rather fabulous weekend.
