The view from our site

[gabeck]

Didn't want to be off topic, so I started a new thread instead of posting to View from Rear Window.
Being retired, I shot this picture from my zero gravity chair on site at Qualicum First Nation Campground near Qualicum Bay. There are eagles, gulls, seals, numerous other birds and some flying ants here. Leslie claimed she saw a whale.
We have water and power and there is a free sani-dump on site for $35 a night.
Ferry fare to get to the island, tug and trailer and two seniors ( midweek ) was $161.

Is this a cg one is likely to need reservations well ahead of time .....in fall or spring ?

 

[gbaglo]

Nope. No reservation. It is a reservation.
I asked if they were expecting crowds next weekend ( Victoria Day long weekend ) and was told they just don't know. Used to do $20,000 weekends, but not lately. I think the ferry fare has a lot to do with that.

We came back on Saturday. Got charged $144.30 for 34' Oversize Vehicle, $33.80 for two adults, $1.85 fuel rebate and 30 cents Port Fee for a total of $176.55. Heading over, I got charged for a 35' trailer and tow as clerk rounded up instead of down ( cost $150.65 ). So, best round down yourself.

 

[J Mac]

just out of curiosity gbaglo, what was the intended topic for this post?

 

[gbaglo]

Nothing really. I just didn't want to post in the View from Rear Window, since it wasn't.

 

[gabeck]

Nope. No reservation. It is a reservation.
I asked if they were expecting crowds next weekend ( Victoria Day long weekend ) and was told they just don't know. Used to do $20,000 weekends, but not lately. I think the ferry fare has a lot to do with that.

We came back on Saturday. Got charged $144.30 for 34' Oversize Vehicle, $33.80 for two adults, $1.85 fuel rebate and 30 cents Port Fee for a total of $176.55. Heading over, I got charged for a 35' trailer and tow as clerk rounded up instead of down ( cost $150.65 ). So, best round down yourself.

Yeah ..it is definitely not a cheap crossing , more worthwhile if one can stay -maybe a couple of weeks . But $35. per night is pretty good , have never paid less than about $45. at West Bay by Victoria . Can't seem to find too much info on the cg itself , do they have washroom with showers ?

 

[gbaglo]

A washroom with looney showers. I didn't use them, but was told two minutes of hot water for a loon, runs for five ( whatever that means ). Lots of Johnny-on-the-spot crappers sprinkled throughout.

 

[gabeck]

Thanks for the info ! Hmmm......maybe 2 minutes hot and the rest cold ?

 

[cpaharley2008]

Reminds me of Osoyoos,
Don't forget my first loonies for the shower there Gabi, just like last year. BTW, we are bringing you some special teas and spices. See you in 2 weeks plus 2

 

[gabeck]

Lol .....we will have them !! Special teas and spices - sounds like a nice surprise - we'll look forward to seeing you guys on the Wed . Can't wait !

 

[MyronL]

Ok, I see a need here, ...back on topic. Got to join in and chirp about the bird shot I got over the weekend at the site we were at... Gilbert Ray State Park, just south of Sonoran Desert NP, north of Old Tucson movie set site. I was set, sitting patiently at the picnic table (blue arrow) with my longest lens, hoping, barely half-expecting, to get even a postage stamp size pix of the birds picking at flowers up top of distant Saguaro cactus (green arrow) when... this bird lands at the Saguaro right above my table! He was almost too close for my lens.

 

[Patandlinda]

Ok, I see a need here. Got to join in and chirp about the bird shot I got over the weekend at the site we were at... Gilbert Ray State Park, just south of Sonoran Desert NP, north of Old Tucson movie set site. I was set, sitting patiently at the picnic table (blue arrow) with my longest lens, expecting, hoping to take a postage stamp size pix of the birds picking at flowers up top of distant Saguaro cactus (green arrow) when... this bird lands at the Saguaro right above my table! He was almost too close for my lens.

Very cool Myron ! Pat

 

[gbaglo]

Nice shot. Using same technique - patience.
Lens I used is a 300 mm f4.5 for the Olympus OM1. With an adapter, it fits my Olympus OMD and becomes a 600 mm f4.5, but it's manual focus and manual exposure. Only way I can use it is to frame, pre-focus and wait for the subject to enter the frame.

 

[MyronL]

Thanks, Right back at'cha... Nikon D700, very old Nikkor 400mm 5.6 manual focus with 1.5X extender, that makes 560mm, I think. F8 @ 1/200 sec, ISO 200. Not the sharpest lens, but a very good value.

 

[currinh]

Myron:

Wow, one of these must be the one you saw. Taken at our sight in Organ Pipe NP in 2014. The grill was maybe 12' away.

I used a Camera, with a lens from my Bag. Full auto Point and Click mode. Geee, I wonder why mine aren't as nice and sharp as yours? But discounting quality the shots are from our site.

 

[craiginpetaluma]

Got this photo yesterday as we were scouting campgrounds on California coast for a group trip later this month.

 

[DonF]

Not quite our site, but close enough

We're bouncing around the southeast once again and I thought I would share a few of Cheryl's photos from our 1st week of the adventure we're calling Escapin' #3.
The Egret photo was taken near Hunting Island State Park, St. Helena, South Carolina.


While based at Crooked River State Park in St. Mary's Georgia for several days, we spent a day on Cumberland Island National Seashore.

 

[cpaharley2008]

Beautiful......

 

[float5]

Just gorgeous.

 

[ksitte]

Well, not exactly from our sight but certainly with kayak paddling distance. While looking for loons in all the wrong places on Placid Lake, MT over the Mem Day weekend, we were softly trumpeted by two gorgeous trumpeter swans who decided to greet us, up close and personal. What a sight! At one time, these beautiful birds were on the verge of extinction. We kept a good distance from them and especially from their nesting area.

 

[gabeck]

After nearly three weeks of around 30c we had a little shower and cooler weather , out our front window at Radium Hotsprings Redstreak CG ......