Our Island Home – On The Road

Our new winter home is at Living Forest Oceanside Campground & RV Park in Nanaimo, British Columbia, on beautiful Vancouver Island.

I need an attitude adjustment. Betty & I arrived at our winter campsite two weeks ago, and it’s a great spot! More like a provincial or state park than a private campground, our site (#191) is large, quiet and private. Tall trees and shrubs border our angled site, with neighbouring RVs on staggered lots, rather than on top of each other in a grid pattern. So what’s my problem?

Our pull-through site (#191) has lots of room to park and put up our add-a-room.

As is our custom, our sign lets people know where to find us. A picnic table & fire pit are also included. BTW, those are real live plants below the sign.

Before I share my problem(s), let me relate how we got here.

The road back from Tofino & Ucluelet was just as tricky as the journey west.

Construction had the highway closed for much of each day, with one lane open for alternating traffic.

The views were amazing, as long as you weren’t driving…

The old growth forest, Cathedral Grove, was just as majestic on the trip east as it was heading west.

Now at our campground there are forest sites, oceanview sites, and oceanside sites.

Of course the oceanside sites have a long waiting list.

A campground cafe – closed because of the Coronavirus – has a patio with a great view of the Nanaimo harbour.

Because of COVID-19, full-time snowbirds like us are unable to travel to Florida, Texas or Arizona for winter. The only area of Canada where the weather is mild enough to winter in an RV is southwestern B.C,, including southern Vancouver Island. As a result, many campgrounds are full. We were fortunate to be able to book the last pull-through site (#188) in Living Forest for next November to April 2022.

So what’s the problem? This is where Betty says I need an attitude adjustment…

The title of this post could have been:

RELENTLESS RAIN

ACHING ARTHRITIS

CORONAVIRUS CONTINUES

DEPRESSING DARKNESS.

Our overlandish odyssey has taken us to 39 states and 9 provinces so far, with all having advantages and disadvantages. On Vancouver Island, Betty & I love that the temperature rarely drops below freezing, and snow is not a common sight. But the rain…

I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis last summer, and a rheumatologist in Winnipeg has been testing which medications are effective for me. Unfortunately, the meds I am currently taking are not working, and the damp climate is making any movement much worse. I will be unable to attend my next appointment with her in early January, due to the Coronavirus.

Ah yes, the Coronavirus. While we are sufficiently sheltered in our campsite, Betty & I have watched with consternation the continued growth of this pandemic. Months ago we booked flights back to Winnipeg for Christmas, but have now just informed our kids and grandkids that we will not be joining them this year. Likewise, we have not been getting together with friends and acquaintances on Vancouver Island, and it feels sad to have to maintain this level of isolation. But we know it’s short-term pain for long-term gain.

Finally – although I’m sure I could go on and on, but who would want to listen when there are far worse troubles in the world – the depressing darkness. As with the rest of Canada, we are approaching the shortest day of the year. The sun rises late and sets early, but because of the majestic tall trees around us, it rarely reaches our site. The lights are on in our motorhome for most of the day, but it’s not the same as experiencing the consistent sunlight we had in Arizona last winter!

OK, that’s enough belly aching. I’m sure I’ll get used to the rain; find a better treatment for my sore joints; celebrate a COVID-19 vaccine; and enjoy the lengthening days after December 21.

In the meantime, Betty will still be encouraging my attitude adjustment. Wish her well as she practices patience in putting up with her curmudgeon husband!

Cheers!

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