Florine Huininga

Our last nature campsite is located on the Pacific Ocean, in Pacific Rim National Park! We're staying there for 3 nights and quickly hit the beach upon arrival! It's so different from the rest of the nature we've seen! Yesterday, we explored the coastline by hiking the Pacific Wild trail combined with the lighthouse loop near Ucluelet [12 km and 300 m elevation gain], a truly beautiful rugged coast🌊! In the evening, it started raining heavily and the wind picked up, of course, we already knew this was coming, so we hiked the coastal route early and could chill in the camper in the evening. Today, it was still rainy, we visited the village of Tofino, obviously went to enjoy the storm on the beach 😁💨, and decided to explore the rainforest on this rainy day! Wow, it's so beautiful, and yet another type of nature, mosses and ferns grow everywhere they can! It's so green and so fertile, and again so different from the rainforest we visited in Guadeloupe in May! It's great that they are trying so hard to preserve this nature! 🌲🥰 The last night in Pacific Rim National Park was intense; it felt like we were parked under a waterfall! 😅 And that was indeed the case because during the first half of our journey, waterfalls were flowing down from the mountains everywhere, and the streams were extremely rugged! (More than 100 mm of rain fell in 48 hours! 😅)

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Victoria is a beautiful town with terraces, lovely palaces (with British and French influences everywhere). We had a beer at Fisherman’s Wharf and dined at a nice restaurant with local wine ? (which has become my big favorite by now), what a delightful evening! During the beer this afternoon, we had a great idea! We're going to do another whale-watching tour on our last morning!! So, at 9:00 AM, feeling quite hungover, we're ready for the boat! What an amazing excursion! In 4 hours, we saw at least 4 whales ?, hundreds of sea lions and seals ?, entire groups of harbor porpoises ? (kind of like little dolphins), 2 pelicans, and the highlight!... a big killer whale, which we sailed along with for half an hour! It was magically beautiful! So nice to go into the last night with this highlight! ? We went on this amazing tour with: https://www.eaglewingtours.com

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We drive for 3.5 hours to our campground halfway across the island near Campbell River. After parking, we grab two beers and hear a sound behind the RV by the stream... we see a beautiful bear about ~6 meters away, and he's just as startled by us as we are by him! Then we realize that there are at least 4 black bears fishing for salmon right next to our camper the entire evening!! While the white-headed eagles fly above us and the sky is clear enough to see the Milky Way! Amazing! It can bring tears to my eyes! What an incredible experience! Such beautiful animals and the natural setting is just breathtaking! Wow, wow, wow! In the evening, we gaze at the Milky Way and hear the splashing of these amazing salmon hunters all night long! Again, wow! https://bcparks.ca/elk-falls-park/

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We start our first morning on Vancouver Island with a hike of [5km, 200m elevation gain] through a dense temperate rainforest near Port Hardy. We walk together, and it's truly climbing and scrambling on this forested trail... (that's why it takes us 1.5 hours) but our destination is very special! An old crashed American military plane lies in the forest... this is the memorial site for the two crew members who lost their lives. Very impressive! On the way back, we see fresh bear tracks and scat on our path... is it a bear?! We quickly talk louder and ring the bell! Luckily, there are no Grizzlies on Vancouver Island, only black bears.

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Whales in the Inside Passage! We continue our journey to the north of Canada. Besides the long drives, we hope to do some hiking, but because it's less touristy, the trails aren't easily accessible for the camper, or we don't find the parking lots safe enough... so, no hikes for now. The nature leading to Prince Rupert is stunning! It's pouring rain, and waterfalls seem to appear everywhere in the high mountains of the west coast! (Apparently, it's one of the largest temperate rainforests)! Clearly! We have to leave the campsite at 5:15 AM to check in for the 17-hour ferry ride from Prince Rupert, through the Inside Passage, to Port Hardy (on Vancouver Island). The nature along the way is breathtaking!! We're left in awe, and some nature enthusiasts on board hold their cameras for 14 hours straight (with the most bizarre equipment) to photograph the whales! We see 6 whales and several seals, but just for the view, you'd gladly take such a detour again! 😍 Wow! Canada continues to amaze us, every single day!

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We drive to Smithers and originally planned to go on a beautiful hike. However, the hike led deep into the mountains, and when we arrived at the parking lot, we didn't see any other cars. Moreover, the surroundings of the parking lot didn't seem safe, and we decided not to leave our RV there. We also felt uncomfortable about taking the hike as the only visitors, especially considering the cloudy weather. Additionally, the hike was mainly praised for its scenic views. So, we continue driving to the campground. We have a view of a glacier, which is beautiful. However, due to the clouds, the glacier is not very visible. We eagerly search the evening sky for the Northern Lights since there is a high chance of witnessing this natural phenomenon tonight. Unfortunately, we only see a green glow on the camera and not with the naked eye.

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While driving through Prince George, we smell the forest fires throughout the camper. We head to a campground that had received poor reviews on TripAdvisor, which, in the end, doesn't match our experience at all. Yes, it's not a natural campsite in a dense forest, but the staff is friendly, we have full hook-ups, and we can do our laundry. So, we are completely happy. The campground owners inform us that there have been a lot of bears on the campground recently, causing children not to play freely in the playgrounds and the trash bins to be locked not only at night but even during the day. Quite peculiar... no bears in sight for us!

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We had high expectations for 100 Mile House. It was supposed to be a beautiful marshland area, but due to the heat, there was nothing left of it. We take a stroll around a lake (108 Mile Lake) for 10 km, but to be honest, we don't find it very exciting. We drive to the Ten-ee-ah Lodge, which we were really looking forward to, but the road leading there was a dirt path that was awful to drive on. However, the lodge campground is fantastic! The campground is situated by a lake, where we rent a boat in the morning to explore the landscape for a few hours. In the evening, we first have dinner at the lodge, a 3-course meal served for all camping guests who have made a reservation. It's very enjoyable and delicious! While boating, we stop on an island where eagles fly over us! Moose have also been spotted in the water here, but unfortunately, we don't get to see them.

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We're heading to Wells Gray Provincial Park, which means we're leaving the high mountains behind... Wells Gray is a hill covered in forests and, most importantly, a lot of waterfalls! (Yes!) Upon entering, we immediately visit Dawson Falls (the mini Niagara Falls) and then drive to the campground (via a dirt road for over 40 minutes, where it turns out we lose a pedal from our rental bikes 🤣, they were securely attached though!) The campground has a café that closes at 5:00 PM, which we can't use, but it's located by a beautiful lake where we enjoy the sunshine! After a good night's sleep, we head to the biggest waterfall I've ever seen! Helmcken Falls (141m high). We hike via the Helmcken Rim Trail [9 km, 150 m elevation gain] to the waterfall, where the two of us are in awe! 😍 So tall! Wow! Apparently, the waterfalls and basins were formed from volcanic fields that were later filled with glaciers and now contain streams of water! Very unique! After this, we go to Baileys Chutes, where we enjoy watching the salmon jumping upstream! We meet a lovely Belgian couple whom we later camp next to and have a delightful evening with, chatting, drinking beer, and going to bed feeling a bit tipsy! In the morning, we visit a third waterfall and then drive to our next location, 100 Mile House! Another beautiful campground, where we can enjoy a nice dinner in the restaurant! 🥰 Lovely!

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Onward to the next campground in Jasper National Park! Just when you think it can't get any more beautiful... it turns out to be even more stunning! Once again, we're by a beautiful river! Short stroll, chopping wood, campfire lit, laundry in the bucket, cooking pasta, a glass of wine, and just relaxing! 🥰🏕️

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The 'Rampart Creek' campground has no staff, and our spot is right by a really nice creek! 😍🏕️ Once again, a beautiful spot! Where we could potentially spot wildlife (didn't happen, but it was definitely a great spot for it).

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Lake Louise! We decided to give it a try, set the alarm for 5:45 AM, left the campsite at 6:00 AM, and by 6:45 AM, we were at the Lake Louise parking lot. We managed to secure the second-to-last camper spot... Yes! The shuttle buses were already unloading tourists from 6:30 AM, tourists who would either stay at the lake or hike to the (lovely!) tea house next to Lake Agnes. So, these mountain goats embarked on an adventure! We took the Agnes Trail to the Little Bee Hive, passed by the tea house, and continued on the Plain of Six Glaciers trail. There, at the base of the magnificent glacier, stood another (quieter) tea house... [18 km, 750 m elevation gain, and 5 hours of walking], with stunning viewpoints of this deep blue water at every corner! Incredibly beautiful place! Wow! Now, tired yet satisfied, we're heading back to the Icefields Parkway.

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We leave the beautiful trail in Glacier NP behind and head to our campground in Yoho National Park! It's truly a breathtaking location! 🏕️😍 Glaciers, forests, a little stream... and in the evening, a crystal-clear sky without pollution, making it a fantastic spot to see the stars! The Milky Way, shooting stars... wow! We're going to sleep very contentedly 🥰. After breakfast and coffee, we're heading towards Lake Louise (Banff)! Another day filled with magnificent nature ahead!

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According to many reviews, it's the most beautiful in all of Banff, Two Jacks Lakeside... that promises a lot! It's stunning! When booking, it was challenging to secure one of the 13 RV camping spots, and we completely understand why! With our own forest path, we can walk right onto a beach of our own azure-blue lake 😍🏕️ Phew! Can it get any more beautiful?!... Cook some food, light a campfire, and see if we can spot some stars! 🥰💫

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Hidden lakes in the mountains! Yesterday, after a five-hour drive, we arrived at Revelstoke National Park! We parked the camper at a beautiful campground and immediately started our first hike [8 km, 300 m elevation gain]. We had a nice meal in the camper with a local wine 🍷 and ended the day with a campfire 🔥. This morning, we woke up at our own pace and embarked on a long, challenging hike that has been on our wishlist for a long time! We walked from the parking lot to Eva Lake and Miller Lake, two hidden gems high in the mountains [17 km, 530 m elevation gain]. It was tough, we were exhausted (clearly, we need to get back into shape 😉), but it's truly one of the most beautiful hikes we've ever done! Throughout, we had views of about 8 glaciers! ⛰️ We didn't see any bears, but we heard that 2 other trails were closed off because there were too many berries (and thus too many bears). What a landscape!! Amazing! We've definitely earned our rest! 🍻

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Today is the day, we get to pick up our Camper (RV)! We were picked up at our hotel at 10:00 AM, heading to the rental company. After a brief explanation about the camper, we can hit the road! Within half an hour's drive from the coast, we are already driving among the tall wooded mountains, a very special experience! Our first stop is a nice forest campsite by a stream near Harrison Hot Springs, but not before we've completely loaded our beautiful new home with food, drinks, and other provisions for the coming weeks! Upon arrival at the campsite, we enjoy a beer in the sun, make some burgers, and set up the camper! Tomorrow, we have to drive quite a distance because we're skipping a campsite on the route due to the wildfires near Kelowna that have caused a lot of damage recently (and still do). But from that moment on, we'll be driving into the Rockies!

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Vancouver is our starting and ending point for our journey through Western Canada. We had a good flight but were very tired after arriving at the hotel following a long day of traveling. We ate some burgers in the pub underneath the hotel and went to bed (way too) early. This meant we had a huge jetlag in the morning and started our first day also early. The weather is dry, around 20 degrees, and pretty quiet in Vancouver due to the long Labour Day weekend. We strolled around the city center and, after a few hours, began a walk around Stanley Park, along the harbor, past the Wooden Canadian Totem Poles, and underneath the Blue Cable-stayed bridge. Almost at the end of the walk, we found a fantastic restaurant where we enjoyed the sunny hours with rosé and a great lunch while taking in the ocean view. This place was truly lovely. After [25 km of walking], we returned to our hotel, completely satisfied! We look forward to picking up our RV tomorrow and starting our journey! In general, we love the city of Vancouver a lot; it really has a great atmosphere! The only thing we did not like that much were the drug addicts lying around the city, completely absorbed in their own world... So, it's time to visit nature again!

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Central Park holds a special place in our hearts. Sjoerd proposed to me in this beautiful, quiet spot with the New York skyline in the background! We were in New York the week before Christmas, which created an epic and romantic atmosphere!

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This is the last stop of our amazing sailing trip! After our arrival, we go ashore to visit a food market and have a local beer in the pub. It's raining a lot, but it doesn't matter, as we have already gotten wet three times today. The swell is quite heavy tonight, so we are rolling along with the waves as we sleep and will navigate back to the harbor tomorrow. It truly is a great last night!

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From this great bay, we had the opportunity to snorkel in the Jacque Cousteau National Reserve, which is a famous and lovely place to see the underwater world! But after the tour, we jumped into the water next to the boat where we had the pleasure of seeing even more beauty. We swam with turtles, sea stars, and eventually encountered a scary coral devil as well! We ended our day, before dinner, by swimming in a thermal bath at the end of the bay. That was a weird experience! The next day, we went on a tour of the island, starting with a tropical rainforest walk to a hidden waterfall in the middle of nowhere! It was so beautiful, warm, and wet! Really impressive! After that, we visited a plantation where we could see and taste coffee beans, red bananas, and all kinds of fruit that you can imagine!

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We stayed the night within the bay of Island Cabri, where we went snorkeling before sunset. While swimming, we found ourselves surrounded by a group of thousands of small fishes! It was amazing to experience that moment together!

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This is one of the most beautiful bays in the world, and it is absolutely true! This place is amazing! We snorkeled around for an hour, where we saw a lot of fish and coral, before we left for our next bay within the beauty of Les Saintes!

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For our honeymoon, we went to Sri Lanka. We loved this country with its lovely people, jungles, tea plantations, and all the amazing animals we saw during our safaris!

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After arriving at Terre-de-Haut, we took a dinghy to the town and started our trail to the top of the highest mountain on this small idyllic island. We climbed for 2 hours, 300 meters in height, to the fort and back before sunset. What an amazing view! We absolutely loved it!

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We stayed for one night at the bay in front of the village Terre-de-Haut. The village has a great atmosphere! At one point, we drove around the island to see the views and Fort Napoleon. This place stole our hearts!

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Before we go to our destination for the night, we went to this small idyllic beach to spend a few hours. We relaxed, SUPed around, and chilled on the boat while we enjoyed the view!

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We stayed in the bay in front of the village of Saint Louis. During the day, we took a tour around the Rum Island.

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Petit Terre is an uninhabited island where we could stay one night. It truly felt like a privilege to spend the night and wake up in this amazing location with only 3 other boats. In the morning, we woke up early to visit the island next to the boat where we could walk around among hundreds of iguanas. During hours of snorkeling around the boat, we saw lemon sharks, turtles, barracudas, and all kinds of other big fishes.

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We started our sailing trip by meeting the crew, our fellow travelers, and our fantastic sailing ship, thanks to DreamYacht Charters! We began with some seafood and rum punch. Next week, we will start our adventure!

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Before our sailing trip starts, we stay at the Club Med Resort for a few days. We enjoy the beach, the fantastic meals, and the free use of catamarans and SUPs.

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The last day of our round trip in West America ended in Los Angeles. We arrived at the hotel around sunset after a really long drive with our Ford Mustang on Highway 1. We both really enjoy racing around in our Mustang! Due to the long hours we had to drive, we could not entirely follow the lovely coastal route, but it was still beautiful! Our hotel was located directly across from the Santa Monica Pier; it was the view from our room window too! We walked around on the pier in the evening, and after a very expensive breakfast, we enjoyed the beach until our plane departed to take us home.

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This day, we visited the Old Faithful National Park! Wow, these geysers look so unbelievably cool! The smell is terrible; it really smells like rotten eggs! But that does not matter, as we walked around for hours among all different kinds of geysers, bisons, through the woods, and enjoyed great views of the park! This really is amazing!!

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During our holiday in Bali, we booked a tour to hike Mount Batur during sunset! The climb was really steep, and the tour guide had a tough time! At the top of the volcano, we boiled some eggs and baked bananas! It was really cool that this was possible using natural volcanic steam. After sunset, we had to walk back down through the jungle and drove out of the huge crater! It was a fantastic day!

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Due to Corona it is really difficult to find a nice sun holiday destination. Luckily we are fortunate and are able to travel to Greece! ??We booked our Hotel at Ixia Beach, so that we could visit both Rhodos City and Lindos by cap. ?️ It is really quiet and we wander around the old city.. The Quietness due to corona gives us a save and lucky feeling! All restaurants try to make our day as lovely as possible because of the lack of tourists. We love the great ancient buildings, the colourful flowers ? , the warmth and especially the great Greece food! Yes, we definitely fall in love with a place and atmosphere that normally not exists at all! We absorb the vibe and save it in our minds! ❤️☀️

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We visited London between Christmas and New Year's. Just a city trip to discover this cool metropolis! We loved walking around, watching the Queen's Guard, the London Eye, Big Ben, and of course, the Tower Bridge. We drank Guinness, ate fish and chips, and strolled around Hyde Park with takeaway coffee. We visited the Notting Hill neighborhood and with the 'Top 2000' playing in our earplugs, we strolled through the city center. And because we loved it so much, we took a dinner boat tour on the Thames! Fantastic! The London Eye is a great recommendation! Via this Iconic way, we have a great view over the City center and the Thames! https://www.londoneye.com

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