We packed up this morning and left Port Hardy. But not quickly. We had to make a million stops, like the busy Co-op where a totally swamped young employee refilled our propane tank while juggling everything else at the store. We are equipped with two 20 pound tanks and went almost two weeks on the first one! It’s powering our fridge and mostly just boiling the kettle once in awhile.

Then we found the town’s sani dump and dumped our tanks and added a bit more water to our water tank.

Even the dump station has a beautiful view!

Next up, we met Colette at the grocery store to pick out camping snacks.

Then, the fish store!

Jeff got frozen halibut, and rock cod. I picked out a can of albacore tuna and another of sockeye salmon that was canned in Port Hardy.

Then the A&W to grab lunch to go. That’s where I realized Ms Sasquatch’s toes match Colette’s!

I ordered their limited time, wild caught cod sandwich! It was okay. A bit greasy, too much sauce, very little coleslaw. But the fish was good.

Port Hardy is a really nice, clean looking town. You get a hint of challenges with drugs and/or alcohol. But the businesses are clean and the streets are nice. The people are all friendly. There are many homeowners who clearly put a lot of effort into their lawns and flowers. I heard a fisherman in the grocery store talking about the quota he still had to catch. I can see why my friend likes living here!

Then we were off to find a camping spot! With no reservations we had back up plans to our backup plans and headed towards Port Alice.

We stopped at the Marble River rec site and there were plenty of sites so we found one with some sun on it and stayed! We didn’t even make it to Port Alice!

Colette planned to sleep in her car with her dogs and we found a site big enough for her to fit too. And being a rec site, it’s free! That means you should bring your own toilet paper and carry out your garbage. But the sites are large and have a picnic table and fire pit, with plenty of trees between each. Quite private.

We put out the camper awnings and had some snacks. There were deer flies but the zapper racket worked well.

Unfortunately a fire ban started at noon today. And it is in effect until Halloween!! I’m unsure if that is the whole island or province or what. We don’t have a great signal out here to check.

We went for a hike in the afternoon, trying to find the river.

The river access, in the other loop of the rec site, was steep and narrow. The dogs dunked themselves and then we walked back. The river looked nice and clear though so it’s probably a decent swimming spot.

We made it until 10pm or so until it was just so cold and damp we needed our beds.

Good day! Good snacks. Good company. Good campground!

Good night!