Adventures in the RV: Nanaimo + Victoria

We finally did it!

After years of remodelling our 24 year old, 30 foot beast of an RV, which Sean named ‘The Hammer’, we hit the road for our maiden voyage. We decided on a road trip to Vancouver Island, a place nearby, but far away enough to stretch The Hammer’s “legs.”

Brannen Lake RV Park and Campsite

We took the ferry over to Nanaimo and headed over to our first stop, Brannen Lake RV Park and Campsite, to have an authentic, woodsy experience. Although there was a convenience store, hot showers, flush toilets, (a non-negotiable for me) and laundry onsite, it still had that rustic, camping feeling. For one, there is no WIFI, unless you go over to the registration office, and also no music or noise allowed from 10pm until 9am. And it was hella dark when night fell.

But that’s ok, because we had everything we needed in our home on wheels. Sean did such an amazing job reno’ing the Hammer so that we don’t have to go without our creature comforts. It was also surprisingly comfortable that the two of us were able to move about and not feel stifled in such tight quarters.

The next morning, after cooking up a glorious breakfast with the forest as our backdrop, we headed to Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park in Parksville. The tide was out when we got there and we enjoyed a nice walk along the 5 km of beach.

But Victoria beckoned and we really wanted to see if The Hammer would be fine to do the 2 hour drive non-stop. Or would we have to pull over every so often, so the engine wouldn’t get overheated?

Salish Seaside RV Haven

Thankfully, it was all good and we made it to the Salish Seaside RV Haven in Victoria without any issues. Where Brannen Lake RV Park was rustic, Salish Seaside RV Haven was modern and new, a total redesign of the former West Bay Village RV Park. Owned and operated by the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations, the Haven is located right by Victoria Harbour, so most of the sites have spectacular waterfront views.

My favourite thing was the amenity building, featuring sizeable washrooms and showers, laundry room and a club house with balcony. Because the Salish Seaside RV Haven is new, everything is clean, clean, clean. There are strict rules prohibiting washing dishes, cutlery, BBQ equipment or animals in the showers, washrooms or laundry room. Plus the water pressure in the shower is really good.

Yes, the Salish Seaside RV Haven costs more than Brannen Lake RV Park, but it’s worth the splurge for a couple of nights, especially if you’re on the road for a while. It’s also close to downtown Victoria – either via water taxi or taxi cab.

We met up with Sean’s sister’s, brother in law and nephews at Fisherman’s Wharf for some fish n’ chips. Yes, Victoria has its own Fisherman’s Wharf, and although it has its charm, it’s not anywhere close to San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf.

After a delightful dinner on the rocking wharf, Sean and I walked off our dinner and basked in the beautiful sunset, before hopping into a cab back to Salish Seaside RV Haven.