Buttle Lake Campground, British Columbia, CanadaButtle Lake Camping - Martin & Beate’s Visit June 19-28, 2023
How often can you
drive to the airport
Today Martin and Beate
came for their visit – we are totally excited and look forward to seeing them.
The plane was late and finally they arrived – but without suitcases!!!! So on
Tuesday and Wednesday we drove twice more to the airport to pick up each day
one of the suitcases….
Checking out Comox
Besides checking out
our newly renovated house and garden – we went on one day around town so they
could see some of our beautiful area and so we go to the Marina – walk out to
see not only the glacier and the bay but also some seals – then some more
walking around the Filberg Heritage park to admire some of the Towns history.
Also important is local shopping in our supermarkets – and having icecream with
coffee. Or Walking down to our house beach.
A walk along the ocean
What would you like to
do? Walk along the ocean – so what is better then circling Goose Spit… Gine
said it is one hour ok it took us close to two hours… it was so cool to walk
along the edge of the water to enjoy the views and to talk – and yes we have
plenty of talking. Beate found lots of Sand dollars and shells
We go camping!!!
You can’t come to
Canada and not go camping – our decision was to go to Buttle Lake Campground to
be in the mountains and to explore from there. And very excited it is the first
time we take our new Motorhome – so lots of packing and deciding where does
everything go – do we have all in?? Also: what do we need for 4 people? Finally
and hopefully all is packed and the RV is full!!! We are on the road – we need
to fill up and gas and we don’t have the key: good thing we are still close to
home – so turnaround and Paul got the spare key (good thing he knew where he
had it) – now we only don’t know where the other one is. Finally we are heading
north – along the ocean and into the mountains.
Setting up Camping
Gine said before we
set up anything we need to check out the lake – and so we walk over and stand
there at this beautiful lake – each time we come we are amazed on how beautiful
it is and this time we can share it with Martin and Beate. Now we are ready for
some hard work: setting up the tent – blowing up the air mattresses, get the
tent set up, the new stove (we decided last year that ours was in need for
replacement) – as well get both paddleboards pumped up – all the chairs out and
we need some coffee with Tim Hortons donuts!!! Because we are in Canada.
On and at the Lake
What to do next? Are
we lazy and hang around the camp site or should we head to the Lake – the lake
won. The guys decided sitting in a nice relaxing chair is all they need – Beate
and Gine were a bit more adventures and started paddling all around Rainbow
island – and the best thing was on the way there we had the wind in the back so
nice and easy paddling. Once around the corner we discovered the strong winds,
headed over to the old tree stumps and decided to shortcut the paddle back via
carrying the boards over the land divider (ok that was not that simple as the
strong wind nearly blew away our boards) – did I mention that paddling here was
rough – with the high waves and the strong wind. Once over in we go and more
tough paddling against the wind and the waves – yes we will be super tired
tonight. But we made It back.
Is the new Camera
French???
Gine got a new
waterproof camera and as it only arrived on Wednesday we charged it but it was
not proper said and the camera talked in French – with was crappy because Gine
couldn’t understand what the Camera said and only later we discovered that the
Camera said that Gine didn’t put in a SD card… guess we didn’t save the
pictures on the water!!! Martin fixed the problem.
Real Paddle boarding
and Swimming
Beate was also eager
to learn the Stand Up Paddling – with the paddles out we went and a lot of
non-scheduled jumping in the water happened – but then she got is and was on
the go. She went then right away for a swim – when Gine and Paul paddled across
the lake to check it out and have fun – and on the way back we went in the
water to clean ourselves off from all the hard work. That is when Beate pointed
out how alike we are: Martin and Gine, as we both need forever to go in the
water with the argument that it is so cold, as where Beate and Paul only go
in….
A typical Camping meal
is burgers
And that is what we
had – in the nice wonderful forest setting. But before we can head to bed we
need to sit and admire the red mountains glowing over the lake.
Good Morning Sunshine
A beautiful day awakes
us, and with our coffee we head down to the lake to sit and admire this
wonderful view. Beate and Paul sit and enjoy the sunshine and the view and gine
went for a walk along the lake – and after a breakfast a day of exploring
Strathcona Park is on the plan.
And the Camera says NO
The drive along the
lake is beautiful and we did stop at some time so we can take in the amazing
views on the mountains. Parking and we head up to the Parking lot when Gine’s
Camera suddenly stops to take pictures!!! System Error!!! And no turning off
and on the Camera didn’t work anymore. Gine jogs back to get the other camera
and the others start slowly downhill towards the falls.
Lower Myra Falls
First the upper
viewpoint – to get a first taster and then to the lower viewpoint – we think
this is the most wonderful waterfall on the island – and it is always so much
fun to be here. We sit enjoy – scramble around – and then head back to more
adventures.
Scenic Stops at the
lake
Ok we can’t stop on
each beautiful spot – but at least at some – and one of them is at the end of
the lake – the next one where we can look over to the Myra falls. Yes from here
they look fairly small. Kaarst Creek day use is another favorite spot: here the
views are so amazing up and down the lake – now the question is do we need
another “little” walk????
Kaarst Creek Falls
Yes we go, as there is
no more bridge Gine said we go up this way then it is not that long to turn
around – and see there only a bit climbing down the old bridge foundation over
a board (careful nails!!) and over some more stones and up near roots – but
then we are back on the trail…. And soon we are at the end of the Canyon – by
the way here it is fairly cool!!! To see the waterfalls – since the big rocks
tumbled down we are not able to go to the water anymore – still as per Martin
“They are bigger than the Guetersteiner waterfalls” which Gine compared them
too – through the green forest it goes down and nearly at the end we had to go
under some trees and climbing over some trees – guess this trail is not really
maintained anymore!!! Still lots of fun. By now we are tired and it is decided
that we are heading back to the campsite.
Back at the lake
After all that
exploring we deserve a break with drinks and chips like real Canadians. And
then Beate and gine are back on the water with the paddle boards – so much fun
– the swimming even more!!!! This evening nearly everyone decided that they
want to relax: Paul reading at the Lake – Martin and Beate around the
campground and Gine heads out to the other side of the lake to check out the
mountains – which are always amazing.
2025-05-22