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Marsha Mildon
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Marsha Mildon
Lowtide at Beachcomber
By Marsha Mildon
Looking for a human and dog paradise for your next RV trip? If so, Branden, my Golden Retriever, and I agree that the Saanich Peninsula, southern Vancouver Island, comes close to perfect. Here are our favourite dog and human places from the last few years of RVing.
The Saanich peninsula combines farmlands and fresh food markets, lovely vineyards with wineries, and forests, First Nations Reserves, small urban areas, boutiques, beaches, coastlines, and glaciated mountains plus many trails and activities for dogs and people.
Branden's Top Three RV Parks
Branden's choice for the summer season is Beachcomber RV Park (mid-April to mid-October). For most dogs, living right at the beach and Georgia Strait is wonderful. Beachcomber is set in a valley with the beach on one side and a treed hillside on the other. It is a one-minute walk to the beach where dogs can run off-leash for kilometres. With spaces for 40 units at the beach and 20 on the hillside with a grassed centre for kicking back, this is a small, relaxed park. There is 15 and 30-amp power available, water, Wi-Fi, and a picnic table at every site, a small snack store, and a sani-station. The road down to the park is narrow and curvy, but even very long rigs manage it. The manager assists everyone in backing into spaces because there are no pull throughs. There are boat launches for motorboats plus easy access for kayaks and other small craft. www.beachcomberrv.com
For Snowbirds: RV Parks off the Saanich Peninsula
For those who plan to spend part or all of the winter season on our Canadian Riviera, Branden and I recommend two parks off the peninsula.
Beehive RV park: This park is in a rural area on the opposite side of the Saanich Inlet to the Saanich Peninsula. You can reach Beehive via Hwy 1 or a small vehicle ferry between from Brentwood Bay, one of the urban areas on the peninsula. If you buy tickets for the ferry, it is fairly inexpensive to travel back and forth to the Peninsula. Sites have full or various partial versions of service, pull-throughs possible, and there is a small laundromat in the office building. Wi-Fi is available on some sites. I enjoyed the quiet countryside feeling and forest trails. Branden especially enjoyed the 5-10 minute trail to the beach. www.beehivecampground.com
Branden's Four Top Dog Walks
Centennial Park: This is a forested area next to some playing fields on Wallace Road.
Most of it is flat; we see many people with their walkers and dogs. Despite being small and easy walking all year, the rainforest cedars, ferns, and spring wildflowers give the sense of being deep in nature. The park includes picnic tables, doggy bag dispensers, and a water tap. Good parking. www.centralsaanich.ca/hall/Departments/planning/community_services/Parks/Parks_Inventory/Centennial_Park.htm
Island View Park: If you are staying at Beachcomber, you are already on a beach about two kilometres from Island View. If not, this is a popular beach for many dog owners. The rules now require that "Between June 1 and September 15, dogs on leash are allowed to pass through but are not allowed to stay in beach and picnic areas." However, locals have used Island View as an off-leash beach and swimming area for at least 20 years. Exactly where the ‘on leash' area ends and the well-controlled dog area begins is hazy. www.tourismvictoria.com/listings/Island-View-Beach-Regional-Park
Mount Tolmie Park: One of several hill/mountains on the Saanich Peninsula; there is good parking at any one of several parking areas and right at the top. There is a main trail plus several mossy and rocky paths at all times of the year. The Garry Oak ecosystem has interesting trees and wildflowers. This park requires dogs to be ‘under control' of their owners and provides a wonderful run. The paths are not flat as at Centennial, but the main one is easy uphill, and you get a 360-degree view at the top. www.victoriatrails.com/trails/mount-tolmie
Gowlland Tod and Mount Work Parks: Part of Mount Work, Durrance Lake provides an easy trail and freshwater swimming. Usually, it does not contain dangerous blue-green algae. The major areas of these two adjoining regional parks provide wonderful hiking (not walking). They range from the Saanich Inlet to the top of Mount Work and beyond. Branden's favourite trail runs from the parking lot on the Gowlland Tod Road down to McKenzie Bight shoreline where dogs enjoy swimming in the Saanich Inlet. Although it is challenging, some prefer the trail to the Mount Work summit where the views are sensational. The size of these two forested parks means there is wildlife, so if your dog might chase a deer, you should keep him on a leash.
www.tourismvictoria.com/listings/Durrance-Lake-Regional-Park/64677/
Gowlland Tod - www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/gowlland_tod/trail_map_middle.pdf
Mount Work - www.crd.bc.ca/parks-recreation-culture/parks-trails/find-park-trail/mount-work
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Couple Walking Dogs at LVM Resort
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Gabys Restaurant
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Centennial picnic area
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Tolmie view
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Tolmie paths
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Durrance Lake
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Entry to Beachcomber
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Mill Bay ferry
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RV Yacht float home
Branden's Top Two Dog Stores: Being a dog-friendly area, the Saanich Peninsula has pet stores everywhere, ranging from large chains to individual locally owned stores. Branden and I go to Reigning Cats and Dogs in Sidney. The owner tries out the products with her own dogs, so I feel totally safe with whatever I buy there. There are toys, treats, various foods from kibble to freeze-dried raw, clothes, and information different from many dog stores.
250-656-4700, distinctlysidney.ca/listing/reigning-cats-dogs
Buddies: For those who make their own raw, Buddies on Keating Cross Road devotes itself to bringing in a wide range of raw meat, probably wider than your grocery chain.
250-652-2411, www.buddiesnaturalpetfood.ca
Branden's Groomer: On a short RV visit, your dog probably is easily cared for. For longer periods, you may want a professional groomer. Branden and I use Groom That Dog by Janet Lynch,
groomthatdog@gmail.com, 778-977-3647
Branden's Top Two Veterinary Hospitals: If you need a veterinarian, we use Sidney Veterinary Hospital as Branden's regular veterinarians: skillful, caring, reasonably priced, but busy. www.sidneyanimalhospital.com 250-656-333, 9842 Second Street Sidney. The only alternative hospital we use is the Central Victoria Veterinary Hospital on Roderick Street. Like all emergency services, they have upfront fees for different hours and can seem expensive. But their veterinarians work miracles; I've watched them do it. www.centralvictoriavet.com 250-475-2495
There are hundreds of things to enjoy on the Saanich Peninsula (e.g. dog shows, obedience and agility trials). The above suggestions are special places for RVing dogs and their humans that Branden and I enjoy.
Marsha Mildon