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Breathtaking Sproat Lake, Near Port Alberni on Vancouver Island

(+8 insets) (this pano is terrific at full size!)

Trip Talk: The Problems of Structured Travel

Have you ever been on a really, really long trip before? The longest I’d ever been away was a 28-day whirlwind tour of Europe when I was a mere 21 years old. Steve had been on a three-week trip before we met but this trip to Vancouver Island was to be six whole weeks when all was said and done. Even though we’d planned our accommodations and made possible itineraries for each destination, we hoped there would be ample time to relax and just absorb the surroundings wherever we went.

We’d learned from our past trips that the acceptable minimum stay at each destination was four days, with five days being better. However, as it turned out, the very fact of having a finite amount of time took away our desire for carefree spontaneity. As well, we felt an obligation to do and see as much as we could at each place because in the backs of our minds we couldn’t help thinking that we may never see this place again. We didn’t want to “miss anything”.

But isn’t that the opposite of what a vacation is supposed to be? What’s the point of rabidly running around an area to the point of exhaustion? Granted, Steve and I didn’t actually do that. We did our best to be reasonable and not put too much into each day. However, both of us still felt a level of disappointment whenever we moved on to the next leg of our journey. It was rare that we felt that we’d had enough time to experience a place as we’d wanted to.

One day while we were on a gorgeous hike to a place called Marble Falls, we spent some time chatting about the trip so far. We both felt stifled and pushed along just when we were getting to know a place. We felt frustrated that we couldn’t just have a day to do nothing at all if we liked.

Steve wanted to be able to just go out fishing for the whole day if he wanted. Or maybe just stay in the rig and take a day off by playing a computer game. Or whatever he felt like that wasn’t necessarily the best choice for the day.

I was upset because taking any time at all to write about the trip felt too selfish so I just didn’t. As well, macro photography was something I did only a few times during the entire six weeks. I need to be creatively free without pressure so I can creep around and be “in the moment”. Because we had limited time at each spot, I couldn’t just relax and enjoy my creative pursuits. That made me very unhappy— I felt like I wasn’t allowed to express myself creatively and that’s not what I’d signed up for.

We needed a different approach to allow us to feel satisfied by our experience of each place. In other words, we really need to go “Full-Time”. Instead of spending 4-5 days at a place, we need to spend an undefined amount of time that allows us to stay as long as we want until we’re ready to move on.

That means we’ll need to sell our house. No surprise but we have all the more reason to work towards that goal. Ugh. Not a chapter I want to be part of but the end result will be freedom and enough coin to afford a bigger, better RV. Something for us to look forward to!

————

Today’s Pictures

One of our campsite destinations was near a place called Port Alberni, located fairly close to the center of Vancouver Island. With so many fun activities available to us, we decided to try fishing at nearby Sproat Lake. Tempted by reports of excellent fishing, we soon made our way out to the large, four-armed lake by way of a relatively short hike. The hike turned out to be a lot longer than we anticipated and our fishing gear got heavier and heavier as we trekked along. However, we didn’t know how beautiful the trail would be and soon felt the misjudged time was well worth it to find this gem. We were surprised by a super cool suspension bridge, a little waterfall, and lush beautiful forest along the way. Eventually the trail spilled out onto the shore of Sproat Lake and the sight simply took our breaths away!

Main Image: the view of Sproat Lake when we got to the end of Fossili Trail.

Inset 1: Steve catches a branch! Fishing turned out to be a bust for us, but we loved being out there in such a pretty place. Steve did catch a small Sculpin, but they’re not good for eating unless you’re ocean fishing and get a really big one.

Inset 2: Vertical panorama of the trail we walked on. What a lovely forest it was!

Inset 3: Panorama of verdant Fossili Trail. So lush and green!

Inset 4: Another vertical panorama of the trail, I just love the way these pictures look!

Inset 5: The wonderful suspension bridge along the trail, we were so happy because we love these bridges so much. What’s funny is that I’m afraid of heights and suspension bridges bounce, sway, and move freely as you walk on them. Terrifying much? Um, yeah. But my love for the construction and appearance of these marvels supersedes my fears and I am able to force myself to cross them without freaking out! :)

Inset 6: Where we parked the truck, I noticed a possible view if I scrambled over some boulders and fallen trees. With Steve urging me on, I approached the opening in the forest and I saw a huge meadow lined with timber. I really liked the way this row of tall, slender trees looks, standing guard over the vista.

Inset 7: This is a panorama of the timber-lined meadow when I moved past the trees.

Inset 8: On the way home I asked Steve to pull over so I could take this picture, which shows how beautiful the area around Port Alberni is! :)

Pam, I think you would have loved this hike and the lovely time we spent out at the lake. Most of the forests we visited on Vancouver Island glowed vibrantly. They felt so welcoming and left us content and happy. Forests at home feel almost desperate from the heat and lack of water. What a difference. I expect that’s the same where you live too. Well, I do hope that you are having a good day! *BIG HUGS*

Explored on 9/10/19; highest placement #6.
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33 comments

Pam J said:

THE PHOTOS ARE BRETHTAKING

TIME SPENTTRIP PLANNING IS NEVER WASTED

THERE ARE SEVERAL SPECTERS YOU NEEDFACE.

SELLING YOUR ABXHOR POINT IS NOT THE WISEST WAY. BUT TO SELL AND BUY SOMETHING SMALLER IS THE WAY TO GO. IT WIL FREE AS LITTLE CASSH TO UPGRADDE THE RV.... BUT LEAVE A FIRM BCS TO RETURN TO.

IT SLDO LEAVES SECURTY OF THE TIME WHEM THERE IS ONLY ONE OF YOU ONLY.DONT RUN SWAYB FROM THAST POINT IT WIL SAVE THE ONE LEDFT FROM STSRTING S SAD TIME CARRYING AN ALBATROSS.

IT SADLY HAPPENED TO FRIENDS OF MINE. THEY CAME BACK FROM THEIR 6WINTER MONTHS ESCAPE IN THE RV.... SO HUSBAND DROPPING FROM S HRSTT STTACK IN THE RV GSRSGING PLCSE. THEY HAD HOWEVER MDE SOUND PLANS.... THEY HAD A SMALL SECURE PLACE FROM WHICH THE REST OFTHE LFE FOR TH REMAINING ONE COULD BE RUN FROM..DECIDE WHAT YOU WNT AND NEED.. BUT FACTOR IN A SINGLR LIFE AS WELL... IT WILL SAVE DISTRESS AND HERTACHE WHEN YOU ARE LEST LIKELY ABLE TO RESPOND TO IT

YOU WILL ENJOY THE ADVENTURE MORE KNOWING THE PLANES ARE IN PLACE.
4 years ago

tiabunna said:

A beautiful set of images and interesting reading, Janet.
4 years ago

William Sutherland said:

Impressive series!

Admired in:
www.ipernity.com/group/tolerance
4 years ago ( translate )

uwschu said:

sehr schöne Serie, mein Favorit ist der Blick in die Baumgipfel, die scheinbar nicht enden wollen.
4 years ago ( translate )

neira-Dan said:

Superbes espaces , et photos !!
Belle semaine Janet
4 years ago ( translate )

Dominique 60 said:

ce panorama est vraiment joli !!
4 years ago ( translate )

©UdoSm said:

A beautiful series...
4 years ago ( translate )

Annemarie said:

indeed most beautiful Janet
4 years ago ( translate )

╰☆☆June☆☆╮ said:

Beautifully captured, what a lovely series.
Wow, selling the house is a really big step :-))
4 years ago

Keith Burton said:

A terrific series of pics as usual Janet...............it must be difficult deciding which ones to share each day! The main image is amazing, especially viewed large as suggested. I love the blue tones of the sky and the water and particularly the row of little fluffy clouds in the distance. The large rock in the bottom left foreground anchors the shot nicely!

A cracking set of PiPs too. I love the shot of Steve fishing - the expression on his face and that pose are priceless! To be fair, he's caught a very nice branch :-)))

It was intriguing to read about some of your disappointment about the trip. I just wonder if you had over-planned things and then felt obliged to follow those plans? Is it possible just to turn up and stay as long or as little as you like in a rig the size of yours - I would have thought most places would require you to book a specific period?

Selling your house is a very brave decision.............but you need to do what makes you happy I suppose..............interesting times ahead..!!
4 years ago

dgmphoto said:

Very impressive landscape image
4 years ago ( translate )

Eva Lewitus said:

You are so right about not having enough time on trips.I also felt that when walking, especially in cities, you get the feel of the place, much better then just seeing through a vehicle and trying to imbibe whatever is offered to your eyes, or even to your lense.
4 years ago

Jeff Farley said:

Breathtaking it is Janet - a beautiful capture.
4 years ago

Nicole Merdrignac said:

Superbe photo avec notes. Nicole. Merci de vos visites très sympathiques et enthousiastes.
4 years ago ( translate )

Roger (Grisly) said:

Terrific narrative to accompany the stunning images Janet,
4 years ago