Fort Rodd May 12-June 10

Fort Rodd May 12-June 10

What a beautiful national park! I was the 1^st Volunteer Camp Host for their new oTENTik program and stayed here in my trailer for a month, and a rainy May it was, but it certainly had its bright spots. I had an awesome trailer site right above the beach – what a view. And the people were great, both campers and staff.

Fort Rodd Host Campsite

 They have built 5 tents on platforms, each decorated `with a theme, Dunsmuir, Army, Marine, First Nations – a new “glam” way of camping. There is room for six people in each tent, and they have a picnic table and fire pit outside.  There are fridges to store food and nice big barbecues to cook meals. The best part of camping here is to stay overnight in this great place, a relaxing respite from the city. 

It’s so peaceful, there are a couple of paths through the oak forest, as well as lovely open grassy fields and a panoramic view of the ocean that’s stunning. The fort and big gun emplacements are interesting to explore and so is the newly renovated lighthouse. In there you can pretend you are bringing a ship in past the lighthouse, and if you make an error in navigation, you are replaced!

While I was here, there was a re-enactment weekend where equipment and vehicles from previous wars were set up and the participants walked around in uniforms from the past.  And they shot off all sorts of guns, luckily using blanks, in a very noisy demonstration. I found it strangely horrible though to watch them later enact a battle in the bush shooting at each other.

Other events…There was a live play put on by Kaleidoscope Theatre.

 A stage was set up one Friday night for bands to play on and it was a good fun night for kids.

There are interpretive programs that run all summer.

And there were numerous military and naval activities that were interesting to watch. I especially enjoyed watching the ships going in and out of the Esquimalt Harbour, the crews all out on the deck saluting the Admiral’s house. Or it could have been the flags, I am not sure which. And the towering cruise ships were amazing to watch too as they coasted in to dock at Ogden Point or anchored out.

A very big gun! Luckily they didn't back up any closer...

 It was pretty amazing to come back from at a walk at the Esquimalt Lagoon and see that huge gun parked right beside my trailer. Even Baloo looked a bit askance at our new neighbour.

The other really good part about this park is its location – five minutes away from Thrifty’s grocery store, West Shore Rec Center where I enjoyed swimming, and a library.  Esquimalt Lagoon, a protected place for birds  is also right nearby, and what a great walk it is along that beach that seems to go forever. I am not sure how many miles you can walk, but it’s fun to see how far you can go. Plus, it’s only 20 minutes to downtown – to my favourite books store, Munroe’s, and next door, my favourite snack place, Murchie’s Teahouse. And I had visitors! My idea of a great place!

Raining, but still a fun picnic! Abby was totally comfy.

Luke checking out Grandma's home on wheels