The Big Vacation - Day Four

Day Four started out with a lovely light drizzle, of course, so we packed up camp quickly.  That was when we discovered our battery had died.  In the rain, we had kept the back hatch open a little too long trying to organize under some sort of shelter, and between that and using the air pump to deflate mattresses and the kids hiding watching sponge bob, we were sunk.  Dad wanted to go back and see the beach again, but the kids were intensely opposed, so dad stormed away to find someone to help. 

Fast forward through major talking-to by mom.  Dad came back with help, battery was boosted and kids miraculously agreed to venture down to the beach one last time before leaving the West Coast.  Then - tender mercy.  The sun broke through and we had the best time.  We explored Comber's Beach where a huge amount of driftwood logs washes up, waves crash up right to the tree line, and we saw sea lions sunning on a rock.  No one was sad we went back...

The sea lions sun out on these rocks in the surf.  There was a women there with binoculars and she let us all take a better peek.

Dan gazing longingly at the sea.  He truly loves it.  We had to tear him away to get back across the island!

This afternoon it was back across through Port Alberni (where Dollerama provided new toys to keep the excitement going) and over to Parksville where we set up camp in the Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park.  We went to check out the beach and were privileged to watch a storm blow in.  The sea was calm, we were having a great time shell hunting, and then in a matter of minutes dark clouds and wind blew in.  We raced the rain back to our tent and were safely seated in the van before it really began to pour.  So much for roasting hot dogs.  Good thing they had a McDonalds, with a t.v. so we could catch up on all the latest news.

So far, the weather had been pretty uncooperative.  We wondered what day 5 would have in store?