John Harvey Photo

Rathtrevor Camping

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Life in Camp

Night Lights Without Night
One of my friends believes that camping should be a human right for kids.  We try to go every year and I appreciate trying new places.  This year we were originally thinking of camping near Merritt on Nicola lake, but Helen found a bunch of nights at Rathtrevor at the same time so we decided to change our location.  The island location worked well for us because it dramatically reduced the travel time after camping to go visit family.


Last year at Shuswap lake, Nara really enjoyed the biking.  Claira tried really hard to be bike ready in time for this years camping.  Their number one fun activity was going for bike rides.  As soon as they were out of the tent in the morning they were on their bikes.  They ended their day on their bikes.

Funny Stuff At CampNara Riding ByClaira Still In Pajamas

We were pretty lucky with our neighbors - our last night was almost spooky because our neighbors were almost clones of us - two parents, two daughters, roughly the same age.  The kids couldn't help themselves showing off whatever they could.

Kids Put To Bed

We arrived the first night a little later than we wanted to - we missed a ferry by about 10 cars.  When we arrived, we had lots of chores (setup a tent, find the bathrooms) so we didn't really stop going until the kids were asleep and the sun was setting.  Being on the East coast of the Island, you don't get the super dramatic sunsets, but the colours are still nice.
Sunset At Beach

Camp Critters

BC Parks is mostly a friendly place for wildlife.  There were rabbits in many of the grassy fields and you would see a deer at least once a day.  I counted at least 4 different individual deer in a day. 

Wild RabbitDeer At Camp SiteDeer In The Tall Grass

We saw butterflies fly through from time to time and eagles resting in the trees surveying the shore.  On a morning walk, I heard a bunch of crows making a racket and found them bothering a great horned owl.   I took a few pictures and backed off.  I walked back to the camp site and got the kids.  The owl didn't like the kids - the owl flew when we started walking up.

Lorquin's AdmiralGreat Horned Owl

Beach Activity

Rathtrevor is best known for it's beach.  The large sandy beach comes out every low tide and families haul out to play on the sand and swim in the shallow, warm water.   We came prepared for some tidal exploration.

Sand Dollar With Magnifying GlassLooking At Hermit CrabCrab In Magnifying Glass


The kids really enjoyed finding crabs.  They learned that most stones have crabs hiding underneath so the kids rolled over every rock they could find.  The favorite was hermit crabs because they come with a house and they often try to hide in their house.

Looking For Hiding CrabsHermit Crab Looking OutWet Purple Shore Crab

At the very edge of the ocean you could often find sand dollars.  We have found these before at other beaches, but they were pretty common here. 

Live Sand Dollar In PalmArray Of Small Sand DollarsNara With Sand Dollar Sandwich 

It's a long walk out to the waters edge.  You have to watch you don't get too much sun.

Walking On Sandy BeachNara Playing At Beach
 

Day Trip - Englishman River Falls

Super Scenic Waterfall

Our camp site had lots of sky so it got hot during the day.  The beach also doesn't have cover so we wanted a hike in a forest to keep cool.  We decided to go to Englishman river falls.  I've been a few times before.

Maidenhair Fern Fronds

Nara On Fallen Douglas FirClaira On Rock
The forest really was cool and I enjoy a walk in the trees.  The kids really want to walk anywhere but the trail.


Missing Bottom Waterfall
The waterfall at the end was almost non-existent.  I suspect the falls only go over the rock when the river is really running.  Today it was a nice calm pool that really invited swimmers.



Great Horned Owl
Species: Bubo virginianus (Great Horned Owl)
Altitude: 3m (9 feet)
Location: Go To...
Claira Still In Pajamas
Person: Claira
Tags: biking, camping
Crab In Magnifying Glass
Species: Hemigrapsus oregonensis (yellow shore crab, hairy shore crab)
Altitude: 7m (22 feet)
Location: Go To...
Nara Playing At Beach
Person: Claira, Nara
Location: Go To...
Tags: beach, gymnastics
Looking For Hiding Crabs
Person: Claira, Nara
Altitude: 1m (3 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: beach, rock
Wet Purple Shore Crab
Species: Hemigrapsus nudus (purple shore crab)
Altitude: 4m (13 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: crab
Sand Dollar With Magnifying Glass
Altitude: 7m (22 feet)
Location: Go To...
Funny Stuff At Camp
Person: Claira, Nara
Super Scenic Waterfall
Person: Claira, Nara
Altitude: 181m (593 feet)
Location: Go To...
Claira On Rock
Person: Claira
Altitude: 143m (469 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: rock
Night Lights Without Night
Altitude: 13m (42 feet)
Location: Go To...
Sunset At Beach
Altitude: 9m (29 feet)
Location: Go To...
Array Of Small Sand Dollars
Altitude: 6m (19 feet)
Location: Go To...
Looking At Hermit Crab
Altitude: 6m (19 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: beach, crab
Live Sand Dollar In Palm
Species: Dendraster excentricus (eccentric sand dollar)
Location: Go To...
Deer At Camp Site
Species: Odocoileus hemionus ssp. columbianus (Columbian Black-tailed Deer)
Tags: deer
Kids Put To Bed
Walking On Sandy Beach
Wild Rabbit
Altitude: 3m (9 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: invasive, rabbit
Nara On Fallen Douglas Fir
Person: Nara
Tags: stump
Lorquin's Admiral
Species: Limenitis lorquini (Lorquin's Admiral)
Altitude: 1m (3 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: dorsal
Missing Bottom Waterfall
Altitude: 134m (439 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: waterfall
Hermit Crab Looking Out
Species: Pagurus granosimanus (grainyhand hermit)
Altitude: 1m (3 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: crab
Maidenhair Fern Fronds
Species: Adiantum pedatum (maidenhair)
Altitude: 138m (452 feet)
Location: Go To...
Nara With Sand Dollar Sandwich
Altitude: 3m (9 feet)
Location: Go To...
Deer In The Tall Grass
Species: Odocoileus hemionus ssp. columbianus (Columbian Black-tailed Deer)
Altitude: 3m (9 feet)
Location: Go To...
Tags: deer
Nara Riding By
Person: Nara
Tags: biking, camping, tent
Tags: crab(3), beach(3), deer(2), rock(2), biking(2), camping(2)
People: Claira(6), Nara(6)
From: John Harvey Photo > John Harvey Photo - Camping > Rathtrevor Camping

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Last Modified Saturday, January 21st, 2023 at 23:59:32 Edit
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