{"id":20313,"date":"2023-01-05T00:01:43","date_gmt":"2023-01-05T08:01:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/exhaustnotes.us\/blog\/?p=20313"},"modified":"2022-12-31T07:35:47","modified_gmt":"2022-12-31T15:35:47","slug":"toad-rock-campground-british-columbia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/exhaustnotes.us\/blog\/index.php\/2023\/01\/05\/toad-rock-campground-british-columbia\/","title":{"rendered":"Toad Rock Campground, British Columbia"},"content":{"rendered":"
By Mike Huber<\/h6>\n

When traveling I keep a loose schedule.\u00a0 I talk to people along my journey and gain insight on what is best to see, and just as importantly, what is best to avoid. In 2017 while sitting outside Starbucks somewhere in Washington state a couple asked where I was headed (I ride a GS1200; frequenting Starbucks is an ownership obligation). \u00a0I didn\u2019t have much of a destination in mind and the couple asked if I had my passport, which I did.\u00a0 They recommended visiting Toad Rock Campground in British Columbia. Just like that, Toad Rock Campground became my weekend destination.<\/p>\n

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I entered Canada through Idaho.\u00a0 It always seems once crossing the border everything just becomes more magnificent. Trees are larger, there is more wildlife, the mountains are higher, the water is bluer, you get the point.\u00a0 I crossed the Canadian border at Rykerts, B.C.\u00a0 This was a bit out of the way but it was what the couple had recommended.\u00a0 The main reason (besides 3A being a phenomenal road) was that I would take the World\u2019s Longest Free Ferry across Kootenay Lake to Balfour.\u00a0 Once I disembarked the ferry in Balfour it was just a short hop to Toad Rock. \u00a0It turns out taking the longer route was absolutely the right call.<\/p>\n

Arriving at Toad Rock, I dismounted from the GS and went to check in.\u00a0 The lady running the camp stated it was full, but I could find a patch of grass in the back and set up camp. I signed in and paid (I want to say $10 CDN but don\u2019t fully remember).\u00a0 She then looked at me, pointed and said, \u201cIf you\u2019re an asshole I will throw your ass OUT!\u201d\u00a0 To which I swiftly replied \u201cYes, Ma\u2019am.\u201d Later I found out she even makes motorcycle clubs remove their vests and colors to avoid any friction within the camp.\u00a0 This was all fine with me.<\/p>\n

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I rode to the back forty to find my piece of lawn, which was located well outside the wooded main area.\u00a0 The camp looked really cool with lights hung all through it to include a central gazebo with a stage, bar, and a very large refrigerator which was firmly held closed by a bungy cord.\u00a0 I asked someone what the deal was with this cord.\u00a0 They replied that there was a large pig that wandered the campground to scare the bears away and if you don\u2019t bungy the refrigerator, the pig will open the door and drink all your beer.\u00a0 Interesting indeed.<\/p>\n

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My camp was set up by 13:00 and I discovered a local loop for an afternoon blast around southern B.C. The loop entailed riding Route.31 around to Route 6.\u00a0 From Route 6 I dropped down into Nelson, B.C. Nelson would make a great stopping point for a late lunch and has a quaint downtown area to walk around and stretch. The roads were in great shape and outside the mountain views being minimized from several wildfires it was a perfect June day to enjoy this part of the province.\u00a0 What made the day even better was stopping twice to jump into an ice-cold mountain stream that hugged the road to cool off.\u00a0 The streams were cold and refreshing, especially after riding in full gear during the peak of the day.<\/p>\n

Upon leaving the streams my entire body would be tingling (like I just ate a piece of peppermint gum) from the extreme change in temperature it had just experienced. \u00a0Having been fully refreshed from my swims it was time to eat. My stomach was growling for a burger just as I entered the town of Nelson. \u00a0While eating a giant bacon burger and enjoying a cold Kokanee beer I suddenly heard a loud chopping through the air.\u00a0 I recognized that sound from years before.\u00a0 It was a Chinook helicopter coming to refill its water bucket in the lake to continue fighting the wildfires.\u00a0 Once that show was over and my burger was finished it was time to head back to Toad Rock and see what was going on at camp for entertainment.\u00a0 I would not be disappointed.<\/p>\n

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As I arrived at camp around 17:00 the pavilion in the middle was just getting warmed up and people were piling in serving drinks from the BYOB bar, retrieving beers from the refrigerator (and remembering to secure the beers from the thirsty pig), and talking with others. It wasn\u2019t long before riders were randomly grabbing instruments to play music. \u00a0Everyone was welcoming as they took turns sharing their motorcycle adventure stories.<\/p>\n

At this point I realized we all were in the middle of a great motorcycle story just living in the present here. The festivities continued late into the night.\u00a0 As the night wore on and people slowly began to drift off to their campsites, I decided it was time to return to my tent as well.\u00a0 The only problem was I couldn\u2019t find my campsite. I knew it was in the lawn section but that seemed impossible to find as I went by the same tents a few times as I wearily followed the colored lights strung throughout the trees.\u00a0 I began to worry that I\u2019d have to locate the owner to ground guide me back to my campsite. Does meandering the campground hopelessly lost constitute being an asshole?\u00a0 It was at this moment I saw a familiar landmark that marked my tent location and I haphazardly slid into my home for the evening. This was a day that fully encompassed what being a motorcyclist is all about: Living in the present, embracing each moment, and bonding with fellow riders.<\/p>\n

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More riding in Canada?\u00a0 You bet:\u00a0 Check out the Three Flags Classic<\/a>!<\/p>\n

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