We were so excited to reach camping season this year! Last year we
didn't go at all because I was recovering from a C-section and we had a
new born and a not-even-two year old. We decided to start our season
off by going to Tofino. We figured that any hiccups could be solved by sandy beaches and Tacofino.
We
camped at the Long Beach Campground right off the golf course. The
campground looked nice but upon closer inspection, we cannot in good
conscience recommend anyone go here. This was not a new campground, and
yet there was only one bathroom and it was at the front office. There
were no outhouses or anything amongst all the campsites. That meant
that our campsite was far enough away that if our 2 year old had an
emergency, we were too far to walk and not have an accident. So we
actually ended up driving to the bathroom a lot. It was ridiculous.
Also, there was a lot of garbage in the surrounding bushes and even in
some of the sites. The owners obviously don't care very much about
their grounds so I would recommend finding a different place. The only
good thing was that because it wasn't BC Parks, there was a nice soft
ground to peg the tent into- not like the gravel that is often in BC
Park campgrounds.
Like I said, this was our first camp trip as a
family of four, and our first camp trip in 2 years so we were a little
rusty. We forgot all the things we said we needed to remember 2 years
ago- like the big broom so I wouldn't have to crawl around sweeping out
the tent. K couldn't remember ever camping, so it seemed brand new to
her. She was soo
excited she couldn't contain herself. She was just bursting with
enthusiasm. Let me tell you -- that got old...fast! She didn't stay
cute-excited very long; pretty quickly it turned into the
annoying-crying-I'm-just-going-to-die-if-we-don't-do-everything-right-now
kind of excited.
After we got set up, we took the girls to the
beach for a bit before dinner. They loved the sandy beaches and
crashing waves. Both girls immediately ran into them. Poor B wiped out
her first day and was hesitant in the water for the rest of the
weekend (video
HERE). We had great weather and soaked up every bit of Tofino beach goodness. That night we relaxed around camp, introduced K to her first (in memory) campfire and s'more
and attempted our first night in the tent together with two kids. K
got her very own sleeping pad and sleeping bag and thought it was so
cool. B slept in the play pen. Our bed was particularly comfortable
this year with our new thick, warm, heavenly double sleeping
bag. I don't know what it is, but I have never been so comfortable
camping!
The night was less than ideal. K slept fairly
soundly, although she did keep trying to get out of her sleeping bag
(not knowingly, but I still had to wrestle with her because it was too
cold for her to be rolling around the tent without it). B was the real
treat: she was up several times. Cole and I were so tired and getting
up out of a warm bed while camping is almost worse than getting up out
of bed at home. The night before camping the girls slept horribly so we
were already tired and the lack of sleep in the tent was not helping
our moods. I think B may have been a tad cold. Her head is not as full
of hair as K so I think it was getting cold. She was also getting over
a yeast rash, and that was probably not helping. Unfortunately, on top
of everything else, they got up with the sun. K was still so excited,
she didn't want to remain in the tent, even though I brought toys to
keep them occupied in the early morning so we wouldn't have to rush out of
the tent. It was a big struggle to keep K in the tent and eventually
we all got up for breakfast. We were feeling like maybe camping was not
our favourite thing anymore and felt really disappointed. Cole even
threw a muffin angrily in the fire and said we should go home. (He's a
peach without proper sleep).
We persevered. We headed out for lunch later that day, and the girls fell asleep in the car during the 8 minute drive to the Tacofino
truck. We decided to leave them sleeping and go get and eat lunch by
ourselves (the taco truck is in a parking lot- so we could see the van
the whole time). Wonderful, delicious Tacofino. We were there during a professional surfing competition (on purpose- we like to watch)
but this meant that the lunch line was longer than usual. Probably
took 40 minutes for us to get our food. You know it's good when
everyone is willing to pleasantly wait. I've written about Tacofino
before so I won't go into this time. Suffice it to say, it was
heavenly- and totally deserved after that terrible night. I never take
pictures of it because I'm too busy enjoying it.
The girls woke up, and we drove to Chesterman
Beach. It's outside Pacific Rim National Park so it does not incur the
visitor's fee. We had a lovely afternoon of sand and surf. As always,
the crows were ready to attack your picnic site as soon as you leave,
no matter how well you've covered things. Also, too bad I didn't get a
picture of it, but Cole came prepared this season with a great little
utility wagon to pull all the beach stuff, and B fit perfectly in the front. Everyone we passed stopped and admired the cute baby in the wagon full of beach chairs, a cooler and toys. It was seriously precious.
That
night, things started to calm down. The day at the beach seemed to
cure everyone's bad moods. Even K seemed calmer. We put the girls to
bed a little earlier, K even turned down her s'more. Cole and I were so
exhausted we didn't stay up much at all, we headed to bed pretty soon
after the girls. But everyone slept blissfully well. B didn't make a
sound, K stayed in her sleeping bag. I added a sweater with a hood to
B's PJs and that seemed to do the trick. The day at the beach probably
didn't hurt. We slept so well, we all slept in (of course on the day we
need to pack up).
Packing up took longer than expected. But
thankfully we were one of the only ones camping so checking out late
went completely unnoticed. We survived our camping trip- and mostly it
was a good experience. It was a great trial run and the magic of Tofino
softened whatever grumpiness resulted from the learning curve. We made
a list of what worked and what didn't and were determined that our next
camping trip, in two weeks, would be much smoother. I also hoped that
it was soon enough, K would remember what camping was and be less wound
up because it wouldn't be new anymore. We spent the afternoon at the
beach watching some of the finals of the Rip Curl Surf Competition,
enjoyed one more meal of Tacofino and then drove home, the girls asleep
most of the way back.
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| had to be jailed in the play pen while camp was being set up |
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| K helping daddy with the tent |
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had a huge fascination with the van all weekend-
here she managed to unlock the door all by herself |
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| all ready! |
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| she loved toddling around in the tent |
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| the kids side |
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| mom and dad's side |
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| our handy dandy gazebo in front of our tent |
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| fire pit, table and cooking station |
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| riding bikes and soccer |
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| Paradise! |
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| lots of wind makes for great waves |
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| loves the beach! |
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| following daddy into the surf |
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| K got to stay up to make a s'more |
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| roasting the 'mallow |
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| big bite |
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| loved her "fire treat" |
