Despite popular believe amongst my friends I am in fact a country girl at heart! I grew up on a farm and dirt & mud don’t phase me. Of course I don’t deny enjoying the finer things in life like my Lululemon collection, white tipped gel nails, pedicures, wine, and fancy hotel stays on our vacations! This however doesn’t mean I don’t know how to camp! I can and have stayed in a tent on many adventures. This past weekend Kevin and I decided to sneak away for a little rustic camping experience of our own!!
On Thursday afternoon we packed up Kiana (yes our car has a name, don’t judge) and headed up to Boston Bar BC.
As you can see Muffin and I were very pleased by this!!! After a brief stop at our favorite diner in Hope and a couple hours of driving we arrived at Blue lake resort and checked into their Eco cabin!!!
The Eco cabin doesn’t have a whole lot of visual appeal but what it lacks in that department it makes up for in privacy and amazing mountain views!!
The interior of cabin is much less rustic and I was intrigued to know that all the building materials in this cabin were reused from other projects! Of course there is no power or running water, so city girls need not apply! Inside the cabin was a cozy bed, dining table, futon, wood stove and dishes for two!! Oh and a composting toilet on the covered deck! Very handy if you want to avoid the 1/3 km walk to get to the actual bathroom at the general store and the 1/3 km walk back to the cabin!!!
Once we unpacked and set up our temporary weekend home we trekked down to the lake. The lake is gorgeous and was the perfect temperature for swimming and relaxing on hot summer days. Apparently the fishing is decent as well.
After our walk we headed back to the cabin to make dinner and watch the sunset. The view off the cabin deck was priceless. The stars were plentiful and Kevin and I sat out there for hours talking. Unfortunately the area is under a campfire ban but we found other ways to pass the time!!
I will be honest with you and tell you the Eco cabin isn’t for the faint of heart! It is located at the opposite end of the resort from everything else. Privacy aplenty! Meaning more wildlife, more darkness, and more unidentifiable noises!! Oh and bats!!! The whole weekend was insanely hot and I spent a good portion of the time in a bra or bathing suit. I learned quickly that if you sport your super sexy headlamp bats will swoop at you on the deck to catch the Mosquitos the light attracts! This in turn leads to panic.
I should also tell you that the abundant wildlife includes a super cute pack rat that likes to work all night as soon as the lights go down! By work I mean make a lot of noise running through the walls and roof of the cabin. I was in panic mode for a few hours thinking there were critters inside with us but I learned thanks to my spy skills the cabin was in fact wildlife free. Well unless you count Muffin as ferocious wildlife.
But seriously I can tell you nothing except a few bees got inside the cabin with us. I can tell you this because I left a snack out for any visitors and it wasn’t touched all weekend!! Our covered deck was another story!! Of course it is doorless so it’s pretty much free territory! We had a lizard visit us while we ate lunch and later in the evening the worlds biggest beetle.
It was indeed an adventure!
The resort boasts some amazing walks and hikes. We took in the sights of the beautiful waterfall hike and the other easier trails before conquering the big mountain hike!
On our first hike we discovered the area is home to millions of tiny frogs and snakes. The frogs amused me for hours.
My favorite adventure of the trip was the hike up to the lookout point high above the lake. The hike itself is fairly intense and quite an elevation gain but well worth it. It proved to be a great workout in the midday heat. The view at the top is rewarding and stunning. It really puts into perspective how small and insignificant we are in comparison to the vastness of the mountains.
Once we were back on flat ground we spent most of our day in the lake. The swim out docks provided hours of tanning and relaxation. The lake was amazing. The views were breath taking and the quiet time alone with my husband was perfection. I was thankful for every minute.
In all it was a fantastic weekend. The resort itself has many other less rustic cabins and a large lodge, all of which looked appealing on the outside. They also have many camper/ tenting sites. They offer boat rentals, have shower/ laundry facilities and a well stocked store incase you forget something. The resort has a few areas that could use some TLC but it is a work in progress and I’d definitely return! The staff were all very friendly and helpful. That atmosphere among the campers was upbeat and everyone seemed happy to interact with everyone else.
It isn’t a five star hotel my friends but it is a great little resort with a homey feeling and lots to see and do!
I can honestly tell you I have really realized a lot about who I am and about my life since I’ve gotten sick and watched my brothers health fail. I think what’s hit me the most is the realization that if you can do it now, do it now because tomorrow you might not have that luxury!!! Whether its staying in a rustic cabin, conquering a fear, swimming halfway across a lake or hiking up a mountain… Do it while you can in case the day comes you can’t.
Life With The McGavins 