Who exactly is Selva?

Selva is an 18 feet  V6  Dodge Promaster converted into a camper by safaricondo.com. It has 2 solar panels, hot water on demand, a bed that is between a double and a queen (that opens at the touch of a button), 2 fridges (with independant controls),  2 burner propane stove, plenty of storage, heat from vehicules gas supply (.02 liters an hour but when I have access to electricity I use a tiny ceramic heater) a ‘cassette’ toilet (more or less a porta-potty).  The windows open out so can be open wide, there is also a pull out screen for the side door and a screen that you can velcro on if your back gate is open (let me know if you want to see it – happy to give a tour)

Since getting back home I have parked on Dallas road, Esquimalt Lagoon and on the street where I live. People are very interested. It is the ideal BC vehicule. Until you get to Alberta and BC you see few truck and camper combos nor many Westies or Eurovans. They are the choices for the west as they can bring us most places that are not accessible to bigger rigs. Plus our concerns with gaz guzzlers (needed to support the camper) and our need for comfort (and a bit more space, oh and reliability) as we age mean that those two choices are not completely satisfactory. Therefore, my little camper-van, that can easily serve as only vehicule, I have sold my lovely Ford Escape, is ideal.

Trip trivia, bringing Selva home

5 525km, longest day was 630 km

Routes taken, 6 provinces:

Québec, 20 to Montréal, then 30 (stops, St-Nicolas – home of Selva, stayed in nearby Koa to test all systems)

Ontario, 30, 5, 10, trans Canada (stops, Brockville (friend), Ottawa (family, actually stayed in parking lot at parent’s care home), Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park (Mattawa), Pancake Bay Provincial Park, Neys (provincial park closed, stayed at private park next door), Davy Lake (Ignace) Ontario is HUGE

Manitoba, trans-Canada, 2 (Ste-Anne with family)

Saskatchewan, 2 becomes 13, 37, trans-Canada (Pangman -on the street)

Alberta, 3 (Taber municipal park – see photo above)

BC 3, 5, 10, 17. ( Jaffray – Will-o-bend RV, Christina Lake – Cascade Cove, Manning Provincial Park)

favorite part of the road – no contest: 13 in Saskatchewan, in particular between Weyburn and Gull Lake (slept on the side of the road, beneath a grain elevator in Pangman, Sask. free, yet priceless)

Will have to go back for many friends missed on the way.

Why the ‘hurry’? BC does not, as opposed to most other provinces, provide you with your licence plates before you leave – because they need to inspect your vehicule, even if it is brand new. So I crossed the country on temporary transit permits. I had to do much research before leaving.  Once in BC I was only able to have one day permits! as, God forbid, I would do any sightseeing on my way across the country.  Trust me you do not want the whole story – if you do let me know.

Most beautiful campsite: Pancake Bay Provincial Park

Campsite least likely to return to in foreseeable future: Pancake Bay Why? 57$ a night for a provincial park – 0 services

Many provincial parks already closed – check ahead when travelling on the fall.  BC has most year-round camping (yeah!)

Food on the road – camping in style – must haves if you are going by…

Québec (ville de) : Marché du vieux port, must get cuisses de pintades confites (confit of guinea fowl legs), foie gras d’oie (only supplier of goose, as opposed to duck, liver), ice cider, charcuterie etc (the only thing I did not get there was bread as good as our very own Fol epi)

Northern Ontario: Campers store at Pancake Bay (Agawa trading post) near Batchawana Bay, excellent smoked trout

(if you are looking for trading post for native arts and crafts that are not mass produced wait till Upsala Ontario  (The Beaver Post) – they have the ubiquitous stuff but some very good local things as well. I got a bead and deer skin purse that is quite unique (my own trip addiction – every trip = a new purse – at least – I got 2 in Italy but hey it was Italy!) . In addition, the ballet slipper style mocassins that I really like (and can be found in Victoria at the Cowichan Trading Company on Government) are less expensive there)

Eglis sheep farm (Minnitaki, Ontario, between Dryden and Vermilion Bay) were you can not get lamb meat (due to bizarre butchering rules) but  you can get excellent elk

Winnipeg, Forks Market: Tall Grass Prairie Bread Company

New Bothwell, Manitoba – of course for cheese

Osoyoos and Keremeos BC for  fruit and veggie stands (oh and wine there and in between)