We are up for a good laugh so we'll look you up. Can't wait now. Thanks for everything - see you soon

Hi GillnSue,

 We will be hanging out with two other couples from Britain that we became friends with on other Olivia trips, so you should be able to track us down.  Just listen for the laughter.    h & G

Hi, Gill and Sue: If you haven't found a place in Parksville yet, I highly recommend Park Sands Resort (http://parksands.com/). It is right on the beach. We stayed there last year in our 20' motorhome/van and really enjoyed it - within walking distance of the village and there is a boardwalk along the beach where you can walk to the Pacific Prime Steak and Chop Restaurant, a very nice (although expensive) sea-side restaurant: Pacific Prime Steak and Chop Restaurant. You can walk forever (several hundred yards) out on the firm sand at low-tide. Of course, best in bare feet - sand and any water on it is heated nicely by the sun. I will message you with other suggestions.

Susan

Highway 19A sounds good thank you, if we bring a map maybe we can catch up on the boat please

It takes quite a bit to get on unpaved roads.  It's paved all the way to Tofino and all the way to Port Hardy.  You may want to get off of the Inland Island Highway and take the water route  Hwy 19A anytime you can.  Much nicer and although it winds around a lot it is all paved.

If you do get off on unpaved roads, they are all well maintained and if they call for 4 wheel drive, they will tell you before you head out on them.  There is quite the road from Port Alberni to Bamfield, that I would not recommend taking a large camper on.  Let me know if there is a specific route you want to take.

Heather

Thankyou again you two. We will do that it we're not going to the airport so it will be nice to go from Nanaimo to Horsehoe instead of retracing our steps. Can you tell us what the unpaved roads are like please?

Gill and Sue

 

With the route you are suggesting, it would be the Tsawwassen (you don't pronounce the T, so SaWaSen) to Schwartz Bay outside of Victoria.  I would highly recommend that you make a reservation on the website Grassilander posted.  It's only $15 and with a big motorhome will guarantee you a place on the ship.  There aren't usually reduced fares, but sometimes the do Coast Savers and you would see those on the website.  Sunday evening/Monday morning and Friday evening and prime sailing times, so avoid those  if you can.

Back to the mainland the Nanaimo/Departure Bay to Horseshoe Bay is nice................unless you are dropping the motor home at the airport, in which case the Nanaimo/Duke Point to Tsawwassen is the best bet.  You are only 25 minutes from the airport there.

As for camping.................sorry, we gave that up before we came to the Island so I can't help you out.

H & G

http://www.bcferries.com/files/fares/pdf_format/BCF_Fares.pdf

Can you give us some info on the ferry from Vancouver across to Vancouver Island please with a 28' motor home. What are the best crossing points, and is there a cheaper time of day etc to cross, we will be coming over on the Monday after the cruise. We intend (we think) driving up highway 1 from Victoria (after a couple of days there) to Parksville then onto highway 4 and making our way to Tofino taking in everything on the way. Also can you tell us what the unmade roads are like, are they fit for a motor home and have you any suggestions of good campsites for overnight stays, we've seen some on the net but recommendations are always better. Thanks for any help you can give. Gill and Sue