Sayward – May 10-12, 2008

 Paul's birthday Camping weekend
It’s Paul’s birthday weekend, and so we decided to go again camping… and he wanted to go to Sayward, because here lives a guy collecting and selling old radios. And so we went to this super tiny little town.

Right after Campbell River is a sign Sayward: so Gine expected a town… not a few single houses… but then here we are in the middle of no-where

 Camping at Kelsey Bay
An RV park on the ocean, sounds great, so when we came there we discovered it is 5 camping spots... and we are the only ones here – also the bathroom has instand hotwater…

 Kelsey Bay wharf
It was only when we were hear, that I learned that here was the ferry station for the north island, since there was only a gravel road until in 1953 they finally built a paved Hwy. so from here you took the Ferry if you wanted to go North like Port Hardy, Bella Coola or Prince Rupert… and what is left is still a nice huge Warf and ferry station… perfect for us to sit in the sun and enjoy the super nice scenery and view on the K’usam Mountain.
This is not only a good place for coffee – it is also a great place to watch seals…

 Sayward town
Not that far away and the weather is nice… so we decided to walk along to the town… and checked out the one super tiny – super pricy and not with a whole of fresh produce for sale… so if you live here, and you have to go all the way to Campbell River for shopping… ok it’s cute, you have nice views… it’s great for camping – but I would not live here.

What’s to know about Sayward?

• It was founded in 1911 by a guy with the name William Parsons Sayward
• The wharf of Kelsey Bay was the southern terminal for BC ferry until 1978 – the only way to go to Port Hardy in the old days and the start to the northern routes – until Hwy 19 was built
• Only after WWII was a gravel road built to connect to Campbell River and only in 1979 the road was finally paved
• There is one store here (how much longer) and around 300 people live here
• Kelsey Bay is named after Charles Kelsey: in 1906 he was on the way up to Alaska – but he never made it up there, first he stopped at the Topaz harbour and then ended in 1925 up here: and started to operate a store – telegraph office and founded a post office here

 Bill’s Trail
Bill is the guy collecting old radios and he has a lot… he also loves to play piano – and likes to meet people and also to show them Bill’s trail: a trail he built and goes up every day on Mount K’usam. And you can’t visit Bill without a coffee – checking out radios and going up to a view point. So we did not went up all the way to the top which would have been 5261 ft. elevation and 8 km one way, but we went to the view point – to the end of the trail: saw his machine he uses to make the trail, so the shelter, saw the outhouse, saw the water system built… and Bill told us, that he walks up there every day and works on his trail… no wonder he is so fit.

When later on we visited him again, because if you need an old radio, that’s the place to come – same if you need a tube for an old radio… and radio shop is full with old treasures.

 
 Happy birthday Paul
Even away from home we can have a birthday cake and presents… and enjoy a wonderful sunny birthday…


 Rain up North
Also we learned as soon as you leave Campbell River behind, the weather changes and the northern part of the island has a lot more rain… and to proof it… one morning we woke up and there was rain…

 Sayward treasures
And there is more to see here: Sayward has a huge fallen tree, some cool old farm machinery… some nice totem poles and the very best homemade cinnamon buns!!