I just thought I would tell you all about our weekend, since it was such a unique experience for me. Our eldest son and family recently purchased a remote off-grid cabin and 66 acres in north/central British Columbia. He went with my DH in March to inspect, receive keys etc, so DH has spent a weekend there already. I went with DH on Thursday and returned yesterday.
The drive is about 6.5 hours from our house, and involves a ferry ride across a lake. The paved roads end for the last 20 minutes, so gravel roads through mostly cattle ranch land and forest, some of which had burnt in a large forest fire in 2018. This area is on a high plateau; spring comes late and there were not really signs of spring. Trees were still leafless, and grassland was brown still. Pockets of old snow were in shaded areas.
We arrived and after unlocking the gate, drove down the long wooded drive to see a log cabin on the edge of the forest, with open grassland and a lake beyond. The property is half forest, consisting of mostly spruce, pine, hemlock and (I think) aspen. The grassland is mowed for hay by a nearby rancher. The forest on the opposite bank of the lake looks desolate, since it burned in the fire. It is just blackened tree trunks, but I'm hoping it will show green undergrowth when the spring really starts there.
We opened up the cabin, which is about 20' x 30', two stories and has a front porch. The interior is one large room, with raw log walls, a central propane heater, kitchen area well equipped with cupboards, sink, propane stove and fridge. We didn't get the fridge started, apparently there is an issue with it. We kept all our cool food outside on the porch in hard sided coolers.
Upstairs, or up a ladder, really, are two large bedrooms, one with a queen bed, designated as the guest room, and the front room with a queen and two singles, with a nice bay window overlooking the lake. The front room had two closets, one which held a porta-pottie. Details on that at some other time... no indoor toilet!
DH turned on the propane, and we lit the stove for warmth. I settled in to explore. There were signs of mice in the upstairs closets built under the eaves, and in one corner of the kitchen. My son has a bearskin rug that our dog did not at all like, so I rolled it up and put it up in their room. The ladder up was too steep for the dog, so we set up her bed in the corner, which satisfied her.
We had two full days there, many hours were spent cleaning for me, and for DH, sorting out the shed and outbuildings. There is quite a bit of gear needed for off-grid living! We did get a chance to meet the neighbours, at a farm just south of the property. When we walked over, the husband (around 70, was milling logs with his own mill, and the wife had just finished making doughnuts, so we had a nice visit. They showed us their holding, 3 horses, greenhouse, garden etc.
Both days I walked the property, though a path in the woods, along the far fence line, and back through the grass field along the lake, which has a very steep bank and is not that easily accessible. There were signs of moose, bear and wolf. I did carry a a walking stick and had my dog, but will buy some bear spray for safety. On the lake were ducks, geese, and the woods were full of birdsong.
We headed home Sunday tired from physical work, but mentally refreshed. We will go up again for Victoria Day long weekend with DS and family, but I admit it is a long way to go, and while my DH loves it, I can't see myself spending more than a few days at time so remotely. It does give me appreciation for all those pioneering people that came before us to settle this large country.
Thanks for reading if you have stayed the course.
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Trip report: my remote weekend experience...
(42 Posts)That sounds amazing CanadianGran. Not just the beautiful scenery, and the stunning view, but all the wildlife around. Take care not to bump into anything too large and fierce!
I’ve been a couple of times to Canada to visit my brother and family. They lived in a couple of different areas, but the one I remember most, is when they lived in Kakabeka Falls - the long straight roads, very little traffic, took almost 48 hours from the Airport, with a stop-over at a quaint motel . I just love Canada 🇨🇦 🍁
I’m very jealous!
Not for me I’m afraid, I like my comfort to much and reasonable access to services, but if they’re happy and I’m glad you enjoyed your few days.
Thank you for painting such a vivid picture of your stay. It looks amazing.
Much as I think I would like to live off grid, I know, deep down that I couldn't do it. I like my creature comforts too much and, as I'm a big wuss when it comes to spiders and bugs, I'd be a nervous wreck.
My late husband wanted to emigrate to Canada but his parents talked him out of it. A few months later he met me. We were planning a holiday there when covid struck so we never made it.
Maybe, one day, I will pluck up the courage to go.
Lovely picture in my head and beautifully written but I can’t think of anything worse (for me) I don’t need luxuries in fact I love camping and the outdoors but isolation I don’t do
You say ‘his family’ so does he have children ? won’t they miss out on school and friends and all the socialisation (although
I can see the attraction of not being in a highly populated area)………but nobody, but an old couple for miles and miles
Wouldn’t make up for all the beautiful wildlife in my head astounds a lovely place fr a weeks chill out visit any longer wukd set me gaga
Sorry for that last sentence it should read
It sounds a lovely place for a weeks chillout visit, any longer would send me gaga
It sounds wonderful and If like to think I could do it but I couldnt. Unless I'm on the set of Virgin River which looks fabulous. All mid find there.
Really enjoyed reading that CanadianGran ........ Thank you!
Sounds amazing, CanadianGran. Thirty years ago I would have relished an experience like that. Sadly I’m far too risk averse these days! I was okay reading about yours until I got to the wolves and bears bit!!
That really is an escape from the world CanadianGran, did you see much wildlife? I was interested to hear about your dogs’s dislike of the bearskin rug - the instinct is strong, as he can’t have come across a bear before.
Looks wonderful - I’d give that a go.
Many years ago DD1 had a Canadian boyfriend and went to BC with him for his sister’s wedding. It was to be at his family’s holiday chalet. Well, I thought Little House on the Prairie - how wrong I was - a magnificent 3storey wooden house with an all glass front, overlooking the most amazing scenery!
Since then, I got a bit obsessed with The Rocky Mountaineer and whale watching, but DH fell ill, then we had COVID and he died before we could go on my dream trip.
Loved reading this. It makes me realise how vast Canada is compared to the UK. I hope your son and family enjoy many happy times there. Definitely the pioneering spirit needed!
Bluebell, he purchased it as a recreational property, so will not be living there full time. He's the redneck of the family! He has always wanted a piece of property, and loves the remoteness. he will spend about 4 or 5 days a month there, with longer stretches here and there. He has 2 kids 10 and 8, and it just so happens that the woman next door loves to teach kids how to ride, so she mentioned to us that she looks forward to having kids around. My DIL was a bit reluctant at first about the property, but she knew how important it was to him, and admitted she enjoyed the peace and quiet when she visited last month.
I will admit I can do a few days or a week at a stretch if I bring sketchbook, knitting and books to read, but I do like to be able to get to a town within 20 minutes!
Casdon, yes, the dog definitely didn't like the bearskin, she kept well away! BTW, my son shot, and butchered the bear, and tanned the hide to make the rug. A lot of work, but that's him. He did give us some sausages made from the meat, but I admit it wasn't to my taste.
That does sound delightful, and without any light pollution the night sky must be fabulous.
My aunt when living in Canada with three children also owned a log cabin by a lake which they visited for prolonged stays during the summer in the late 50s early 60s. It sounded an idylic holiday for the children who had total freedom and who were able to water-ski etc (they owned a speedboat). She also describes how they used to lay on the beach at night looking at the stars etc. But I don’t think it was so remote, but of course back in the day it was a lot quieter anyway.
I think I would pass on shooting wildlife😮😡
Oh I see Canadiangran I thought you meant they were moving there full stop Nice to use it’s a getaway that’s more possible in my head I still couldn’t do it for more than a weekend I enjoy people too much, the novelty of the wilderness would soon wear off for me however beautiful but different things suit different people however you lost me
with the thought of butchering a beautiful wild animal and making a rug out of it gives me the shivers, (just like it did the dog) I hate any kind of trophy killing
It was going so well, until the bear was murdered!
Thank you for telling us about your incredible trip .
I love Canada and enjoyed staying in a cabin by the side of Lake Champlain . It wasn't as exciting as your holiday though !
Sounds wonderful, aside from no toilet or shower.
Quite an experience, though I’d pass on shooting bears! We’ve had similar trips to upstate New York to friends who live full time in a cabin. There was one of the last hand-built cabins, there is no machined wood in it. They do have electricity though heating is wood from their own land. They also have a bathroom but had no TV or internet on our last visit.
It’s a wonderful place to get away from it all, I’d happily sit all day on the porch watching birds and wildlife - we have wonderful photos of bears nonchalantly wandering through in the background! We’ve also seen wonderful displays of fireflies, when the whole night sky seems full of them. The worst aspect of the place is the black flies. I don’t know if you get them in Canada but they’re tiny insects that take a triangular chunk out of your skin. You don’t feel that but you might feel the blood trickling down your neck/face/arm and later the intense itching. 🦟
Some folk more or less live off the land. They’re families who’ve lived in the area for maybe 200 years or more. They shoot deer and turkey to eat, keep poultry and grow as much of their food as possible. They’ll take a trip to town twice a year for essentials. I can see the appeal, to be honest! No one bothers them and they bother no one.
My OH would love this and wishes he had done it when he was younger but I don’t think I could cope full time, would get panicky if anything went wrong. Lovely for a holiday though.
Sounds wonderful if I was writing a novel and wanted peace and quiet and no neighbours. Unfortunately I dont think my computer would run on propane! So if would be back to a sit up and beg typewriter. I would probably have loved somewhere like that when I was in my 20s but not for me in my late 70s. I need my comforts now.
Sounds wonderful. Having just moved from the middle of nowhere to a flat in a busy area I am craving nothingness.
A couple of small wind turbines, battery storage, a reed bed drainage system, big roaring fire in the hearth (not in the surrounding woodland) and it would be comfortable in no time. A rocking chair on the porch, a good book… yes please!
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