Outlaws in the Wild West Coast - text version

Camping #4

Location: Secluded beach by secret trail from radar hill ( tofino's outlook/makeout point).

We hitched a ride last night around 7pm. Got picked up by the nicest family in a mini van. They were from the Long Beach Reserve of Esowista. I sat next to Julie who had just gotten her G.E.D and showed me her graduation photos. Instead of the regular square cap she wore one made for of cedar bark with beautiful red beads interwoven.

After we got dropped off at the top of the hill we hiked down with all our food and tenting supplies. A good hour and half hike.
The beach was breathtaking. The moon was full and so bright there was no need for flashlights. The tide was very high and the waves alive.

Our tent was set up beach front. We woke up around 11am and start setting for a breakfast of campfire bacon and eggs.
I was burrowing in the sand when I heard footsteps.

It was the park warden. Earlier that morning while fishing, Ty had seen a boat trying to anchor on shore but couldn't succeed because of the erratic waves. That boat was the provincial park trying to get us.

There plan B: send park ranger down the trail. He was chubby and mean. With his previously pressed uniformed all ruffled up. He told us they have a zero tolerance camping policy in provincial parks and we needed to ship out immediately. I asked if we packed our tent up and didn't stay the night could we still enjoy the beach for the day. He said no firmly. He stood around waiting for us to pack up.

He asked Ty and Jesse.E a string of questions before I got to them. One of them admitted we had stayed the night. He said that law enforcement will need to speak with us at the top of the hill. I then told them to not give any more any information about anything. No names, ID, where we work, Nothing.

Quickly Ty hie our rods in a large black garbage bag since we do not have licenses.
I grabbed the bottle of Rye lying by the fire.

There was mention of a large fine. I had heard of the illegal camping fines being $500 and upwards.

As we were packing the warden went off into the bush possibly looking for other campers.
I told Ty and Jesse that we should make a break for it because I am not
A) talking to law enforcement or
B) paying a B.S fine.

They seemed reluctant at best. I barked at them to haul ass. I remembered a route in the path that diverged by a creek. We sped through. Ryley could not make this trip but he did lend me his emergency pack, hatchet and a compass.
I took out the compass. We didnt make a sound a headed off road into the woods to hide out till things cooled down.
When the manageable area ended we unloaded our packs and supplies under a dead log and kept going.

There were three fallen trees 20 feet above a creek embankment. I pointed and mouthed the words down there.
Down we went.

I told them we need to be still and quiet for a few hours cause there is no way anyone is going to wait that long to give us a fine even a hefty one. Mostly cause it costs more to pay there pay cheques. Ty knew that park rangers get off work at 4:30 and Jesse. E knew that the RCMP stop patrolling at 6pm. So we had a time period.

The logs were warm and fairly dry. The peat moss was great cushioning. We all fell asleep for 3 hours.
I scared a squirrel who was scurrying mere centimeters from my face.
We were surrounded by cascading moss and tiny little white flowers laden the dead wood.

I had marked our path with sticks in an X pattern so we would know the way back. We met our supplies and cooked our eggs and bacon on a traveling stove that lit with fuel pockets. The breakfast of Camping Bandits.

Our co-worker Andy waited for us at the top for a quick getaway.
All in all another great camping trip.