Hi, my name is Brett from BC Canada

[SleepRobber]

Hey gang, newbie here looking forward to the site and what it has to offer. My current set up is a 2010 F-350 diesel with a 9.5 ft 1993 Bigfoot Oakland Camper.

[Borrego Dave]

Originally Posted by SleepRobber

Hey gang, newbie here looking forward to the site and what it has to offer. My current set up is a 2010 F-350 diesel with a 9.5 ft 1993 Bigfoot Oakland Camper.

Welcome to FGRV Brett, nice looking slide in Bigfoot. I still miss my slide in for quick trips.

[Island Claire]

Hi Brett
Welcome. Nice looking set up.

[fortunare]

Originally Posted by SleepRobber

Hey gang, newbie here looking forward to the site and what it has to offer. My current set up is a 2010 F-350 diesel with a 9.5 ft 1993 Bigfoot Oakland Camper.

Hi, welcome. We've been to BC before, Whistler, towns nearby, Vancouver, Victoria. Plan to return in late August, September. Was wondering if you've ever driven North in Vancouver Island. Seems like there is just one main road near Georgia Straight but no main road coming back along the Pacific Ocean. Any suggestions welcome. Mike fortunare@gmail.com

[Franswa]

north island...

once you cross the bridge over Campbell River you are headed WEST and can expect the climate to be noticeably different than the rest of the east coast and center of the island....in a nutshell, it's colder and it rains more

you are right there is no road on the pacific side....if you saw that side of the island from a boat you'd understand why

the only main, paved road is highway 19 to Port Hardy...besides that the road to Port Alice from Port Hardy is paved....as is the road to Coal Harbour......the road from Campbell River to Gold River is paved also

after that there are untold thousands of miles of gravel (logging) roads....some are wide enough for two vehicles and regularly used by various vehicles to get to places like Zeballos, Winter Harbour and Thasis on the west coast.....most are LOGGING roads and using these requires great care and following certain protocols (like following a logging truck in or out) is a good idea.....during dry season these roads are DUSTY to the extreme....after a while you get to recognize the tell tale signs of an "active" logging road versus one that is not being used this season

then if the forest fire rating gets to be high enough all logging (and traffic) stops for a while...seen this happen for as long as a month

so along the paved route you will find any and all services...spaced about fifty to seventy miles apart.....for the rest of it there is NOTHING but dirt roads, lakes and small, free "rec sites" to camp at....with outhouses if you're lucky...nothing else

oh and Welcome Brett....nice rig....where do you park that thing...exactly...(it's a big island)

[Franswa]

more pics...

[Island Claire]

Hi Mike,
If you are on the island in Sept, we will be having our boler meet up in Sooke, near Victoria, at the Sooke River Campground on the 15th to the 17th.

Francois, it would be great to see you as well. Would love to learn more about some of your "haunts" We have traveled the island extensively, but previously had to stay to the main roads due to our tow vehicle, but are hoping to get off on to the side roads more. Love the north Island.

Mike it usually takes 6 to 8 hours to go from one end of the island to the other depending on your speed and traffic. Enjoy.

[Franswa]

thanks Claire.....I have a real hard time with planning anything ahead of time...but this might just happen....I did the Pacific Marine Road circle "thing" a couple of years back and really enjoyed it....I was thinking of doing it again after the kids are back in school (and provincial parks like French Creek have their "geezer discount" on again after Labour Day).....I'd like to take it a little slower this time around....

BTW have you ever taken Humpback Road??? Geez!!! early one morning I took it, trailer in tow, as a short cut as I was heading for the Malahat from Sooke and wanted to avoid Langford traffic.....what a mistake !!!! There are actually signs on that road that tell you when to "honk your horn" !!!! that's how steep and narrow the thing is in places.....astounding....looked like a regular paved road in my map book.... it's paved alright but there were places my trailer barely fit between some big trees!!!! that was an early morning shocker!!!

[Island Claire]

I love Humpback Road. Used to use it all the time when we lived in Sooke, but without a trailer. Not many people used it back then. It really should have signs saying no trailers as it really is not designed for them. Hope you can make it. We are thinking of doing Port Renfrew before the rally.

[SleepRobber]

Lots of places to RV on Vancouver Island, I was raised there all my life but presntly live on the mainland (Vancouver).

I will be camping out at Nootka Sound for 3 weeks starting on the 11th of August so looking very forward to that date. 😆 Gonna be catching some big Chinook salmon out there.

Thanks to all who replied!!

[Jan Dyke]

welcome from the Fraser Valley, I could probably put my boler inside your camper with room to spare
Jan