East Sooke Regional Park - Aylard Farm Parking Lot, British Columbia, CanadaSooke East Reg Park
A lazy start
This morning we slept
in again – coffee in the sunshine and nice relaxing breakfast. We would have
been early out and about if Gine wouldn’t have been so eager to bring the
newspaper and throw them out – only her cellphone was with them… so Paul nearly
did a dive in the dumpster to get it all out….
We head East: Sooke
East Regional Park
Every day something
different – today Gine says we go to the Sooke East Regional Park. And yes we
have our new beach chairs which are exceptional as they are not only a beach
chair but also backpack and cooler – so packed up and then we head down to the
beach.
- Did you know that at some time European investors owned much of the land of Sooke East. They had big visions of private luxury resorts and a hunting preserve – good for us they had some financial difficulties and were forced to sell and in 1970 the Victoria Capital regional district bought most of it and Sooke East Regional Park was born
- Even once forested today it is still wild land – because it was selected logged and most of the trees are second growth 80-100 years old, there are still some trees over 250 years old
- Here you can see the Garry Oak – the Arbutus tree and the twisted tortured Shore pine (what a name!!!)
Paul: Sun tanning at
Aylards Beach
Today we both have
different ideas – Paul decided new beach chairs – sandy beach – sunshine – nice
view that means relaxing in the sunshine and sun tanning.
Gine: A walk along the
bluffs
Gine decided it is so
beautiful here and so much to see a walk along the bluffs with views on the
ocean and bays is needed. So first heading east – to the top of the Creyke
Point – here we were a few years ago and yes the view is fantastic – after
heading back to Paul – he was not so convinced that he needs to see it again.
Now into the other direction where we never went before: here the path was a
bit more “natural” lots of roots and up and down – over rocks – so it was not
as fast, always glimpses on the ocean – amazing trees and then the first
outcrop and soon after the second the “Squeaky Point” and soon after came the
map we are at the Petroglyphs at Alldridge Point, right from there on the huge
rock was the “sea monster””
- The coast salish made them by skimming bruising the surface of the sandstone to chip away the darker and leaving the rough lighter cystals exposed
- It is said that it is an elephant seal which acted as a game-warden to the community. It is told that there was a mammal whisperer and with the help of the seal managed the communities fish intake so they didn’t deplete whole species.
- They think that the petroglyphs are around 2000-3000 years old – there are over 300 sites along BC’s coast – and they think all petroglyphs older would have been eroded away from wind, ocean and weather
- By the way it is forbidden to touch it
A bit of climbing
around the area and checking out all the amazing views – and then heading back
– with more amazing views through the trees – it is so gorgeous here.
The water is cold
Back a bit relaxing
together in the sun – which is hot, so we decided to go in the water, which
Paul previously checked as it is super clear with some green sea weed swimming
around but as per Paul very cold. Paul went in way more – Gine froze her feet off
only by putting them in. Because it was so beautiful here and so much fun to
watch the ocean – listen to the waves as the tide came in with the cool rocks
we stayed way pass coffee time… before putting on our “beach-chair-backpacks”
to head back.
A late coffee
4.30!!! yes that is
really late for coffee – but we still love it – and it is nice to relax after a
relaxing day.
Does it all work???
Today is another
inspection day: on the way driving back we turned on the AC (to cool the RV, as
it was so hot and to check that it works – which it did!!!). Now back at the
campsite we turned on the AC inside the back and had it run for a bit – works
too!!! Next one is that Gine said we need showers – so we will check 1) the hot
water tank and 2) the shower: we heard the hot water tank going on… perfect
then Paul was the first one checking out the shower and he needed a bit to
figure out how it worked (that was why he was the first) and see there it works
too. We did discover that it is important to dry off all really well – our new
shower curtain is so light it dries fast and also the drying off the shower is
super easy.
Guess we get more
ready by the day with our RV!!!
Another sunny day
Another beautiful
sunny morning – It is so perfect to have coffee in the morning sun with a view
– and today we deserve a nice breakfast…. A bit of lazying around and
organizing our life and then we are a bit later on the way to:
Let’s check out
Witty’s Lagoon
We were here 3 years
ago and had it in good memory – but it was a huge empty lagoon with also some
seaweed and a long way to the water – so Paul was not so impressed, even there
would be also a lot to discover and explore – we did a short walk through a
“river” and around the corner but decided it will be more fun and so we headed:
Back at the Beach of
Sooke East Regional Park
We already know
everything – we set up our chair and enjoy the beautiful scenery and sunshine.
Gine started to walk along the beach and between the rocks to find more little
coves and more climbing over rocks – which is all so much fun seeing the funky
trees here (none of them grows straight) – seeing all the cool rocks and little
bluffs. Back a bit of relaxing and we walk along the beach – climb on some
rocks to have better views – and having a lot of fun.
Coffee with Mandy
& more time at the beach
Today we decided to
walk back to the RV to have coffee with Mandy – and then we went to the 2nd
Round being at the beach. This time Gine went over to the bluffs at Creyke
Point to climb there a bit more around – which is a lot of fun – especially
with all the moss hanging on the trees, the bluffy rocks and the amazing view.
This is such a cool area with the unique forest – the views everywhere – the
rocks, bluffs and coves – I really love it. And yes we had to go back in the
super cold water again – before we head back with our “backpacks”. Another
amazing day!!!
It’s windy at the
campsite
Already on the way
back to the car we encountered some wind and when we arrived at the campsite it
was super windy: as per Paul it was challenging to BBQ!!! Oh and we decided
today we hose each other off – ok, so the water is cold!!!! And the wind blows
the water towards you – but at least now we are free of sand, salt and feel
fresh. Did I mention that I think we got a lot of sun today!!! Because it was
so windy – Gine decided not to go outside after supper (and yes we also had
supper inside) – so Paul watched the first time a movie in our RV – and it
works!!! Especially since he brought in a chair to be more comphy.
A copy cat
We use that phrase if “a
person copies another person’s behaviour”. By the way in the old days the word “cat”
was used in term of contempt of another person (really!!!), in 1897 Constance
cary wrote in her memoires “our boys say you are a copy cat if you write in
anything that’s already printed”
Ok – so for us it has
another meaning: Because Mandy is a copy cat: yesterday Gine went to the
bathroom and as she was sitting on the toilet – Mandy went to her litter box
(which is also in the bathroom). And then it happened again when Paul went to the
bathroom – so is Mandy a Copycat???
A long drive home
This morning we got up
to another day of sunshine and would you believe it – today was the first day
Mandy went outside of the RV!!! Afterwards we started our long drive home –
with some construction on the Malahat – lots of red traffic lights in Duncan…
phone calls Paul got because we want to sell the Sportstrack. Finally home, we
open the door and Mandy runs to the front door: Welcome Home.
2025-05-22