Ideal Cafe in Campbell River, BC

I is for Ideal Cafe

If you read my post about our North Vancouver Island road trip (if not, click here), I mentioned stopping at the Ideal Cafe not once, but twice. We had breakfast there heading north and returning south on our four day excursion.

The Ideal Cafe has been in operation in Campbell River, BC, since the early 40s. It's a favourite for locals and visitors alike.

If you were just passing by, you might not be tempted to stop. But don't let the humble exterior fool you. Inside it's a classic diner style cafe with good eats and friendly wait staff.

New owners in 2011 made improvements without losing it's character catering to loggers, fishermen and families.

It's open for breakfast and lunch from 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. We go mostly for breakfast, but on occasion arrive at lunchtime for a sandwich large enough to share. In addition to their regular items, there are daily specials and all day breakfast, a huge plus for Wayne. And it's a licensed establishment offering spirits including some unique "hard" shakes.

You can find out more about the Ideal Cafe online:

• Facebook
• Yelp
• Trip Advisor

Click on "view larger map" for a better view of the location for the Ideal Cafe. They are between the split of Highway 19 north of Campbell River. You can enter their large parking lot from both the north and southbound sides. We've even parked there with a truck and quad trailer with no problem.



Next door is Ideal Tackle filled with reasonably priced new and used fishing gear. Now how good is that? Fill your tummies and then go out and catch something fresh for dinner.

What are some of your favourite restaurants, cafes and dives.


For ABC pictures from around the world, stop by the ABC Wednesday blog. This is the twenty-fifth round of the meme originally established by Denise Nesbitt and now maintained by Beverly, Roger and Melody.

And a Wednesday linkup My Corner of the World at Photographing New Zealand.

Thanks for visiting part of my world this week. For more great posts from Our World Tuesday, click here.

And also a meme called Through My Lens by Mersad.

I'm also posting on Travel Tuesdays at Intelliblog and  Tuesdays with a Twist at Stone Cottage Adventures. -- Margy

"Out of the Silence: After the Crash" by Eduardo Strauch and Mireya Soriano

Wayne and I share a Kindle account and have recently joined the Amazon Kindle Unlimited program. For $9.99 a month, we both have access to free ebooks. Not all Kindle titles are available, but there's lots to choose from. And it's a good way to discover indy authors that might otherwise go unnoticed.

My first unlimited ebook was Out of the Silence: After the Crash by Eduardo Strauch and Mireya Soriano (Amazon Crossing, 2019). It's an account of the 1972 plane crash stranding a Uruguayan rugby team and its supporters on a glacier high in the Andes.

Of the 45 people on board, 28 survived the crash. Reports heard on a small radio gave hope for a quick rescue. Ten days later, the devastating news came that the search had been called off. Yet, after 72 days and a miraculous trek out of the mountains by two of the men, 16 were finally rescued.

Eduardo Strauch was a young architect at the time of the crash. He recently chose to tell his story following the discovery and return of his jacket and wallet by a hiker exploring the old crash site. It has recently become a destination for survivors, families and explorers.

The book depicts the harrowing experience to survive even after hope for a rescue was extinguished. It's a testament to the will to live, and finding spiritual strength in the face of adversity both on the mountain and after returning home.

Other books and media about the El Milagro de los Andes (The Miracle in the Andes) include:

• Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors by Piers Paul Read (Open Road Media, 2016)
• Miracle in the Andes: 72 Days on the Mountain and My Long Trek Home by Nando Parrado and Vince Rause. (Broadway Books, 2007)
• I Had to Survive: How a Plane Crash in the Andes Inspired My Calling to Save Lives Kindle Edition by Roberto Canessa and Pablo Vierci (Atria Books, 2016) 
• Into the Mountains: The Extraordinary True Story of Survival in the Andes and Its Aftermath by Pedro Algorta (LID Publishing,2016)
• Alive -- Movie DVD or rental
• I Am Alive: Surviving The Andes Plane Crash -- History Channel documentary (DVD, 2011)

Up the Inlet -- Come boating up the inlets of coastal British Columbia where the mountains drop into the sea, and lifestyles focus on independence and a different sense of purpose. Follow along as we cruise northward from the Strait of Georgia to Cortes and Quadra Islands, and beyond.

Across the Galactic Sea -- Spaceship Challenger is on mankind’s first galactic voyage using a high-tech blend of space jumps and cryogenic hibernation. Captain Tina Brett leads her ship towards the ultimate goal, first contact with alien intelligence, until a navigational glitch changes everything.

Flying the Pacific Northwest -- Airports of Western Washington and Oregon form the backdrop for adventures in the Pacific Northwest. Take the controls of a Piper Arrow as your personal flight instructor leads you to out-of-the-way spots. For armchair aviators and experienced pilots. This book is an escape so realistic you’ll swear you’re airborne.

Check here if you need a Kindle or free Kindle App.

Visit the monthly Book Review Club for teen/young adult and adult fiction over at Barrie Summy's blog.

Also shared with Your the Star at Stone Cottage Adventures. -- Margy

More Boating Adventures in the Northern Strait of Georgia

Fish cleaning station at Discovery Harbour Marina.

This summer we've taken our 2452 Bayliner out on the chuck (ocean) more than usual. In less than two hours can reach exciting destinations. This is one of the reasons we decided to retire in Powell River, BC.

We retired early from our careers in education so we could enjoy experiences like this. I just read an interesting post by Debbie Dabble about early retirement. She has lots of good suggestions if your are planning or beginning yours.

Harbour seals waiting for a free meal in Campbell River.

Back in Campbell River at the Discovery Harbour Marina we watched fishermen clean their salmon and the harbour seals and gulls waiting for a free meal.

Sunset over the Heriot Bay Inn Marina.

At the Heriot Bay Marina we enjoyed a quite dock with wonderful sunsets and tasty dinners on their Inn's Herons Restaurant's outside deck.

Heading home passing Cortes Island in the Northern Strait of Georgia.

After four nights out on the chuck we caught a good weather (light winds) window to head back to our homeport, Powell River's Westview Harbour.

 The way the waves were rolling, it reminded me of the introduction to a 1950s TV show from my youth, Victory at Sea. Well, maybe not quite that big! -- Margy

Available Online: "Farther Up the Strait" by Wayne J. Lutz

from
PowellRiverBooks.com

Farther Up the Strait

Coastal BC Stories

Boating on the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, and the islands to the north. Read stories about the people and places of coastal British Columbia, where the mountains drop into the sea and lifestyles focus on self-reliance and a different sense of purpose. This book, based on the original Up the Strait, has more great boating stories and adventures.

Go to PowellRiverBooks.com 
or use one of our online partners.

Print for $16.95
Kindle for $1.99
Other ebook formats for $1.99

Evening on the Front Porch

We never get tired of the view from our float cabin's front porch. Evening is my favourite time, especially in the summer.

Tonight there was a clear blue sky behind Goat Island highlighted in rich setting sunlight.

A few clouds in the west cast their shadow on Goat Island. Tonight it looks like two snakes slithering quickly across its surface. -- Margy

North Vancouver Island Road Trip

The Salish Eagle at the Powell River Westview dock.

Summer means Wayne and I are at home on Powell Lake in Coastal BC. Life in our float cabin is like a vacation every day, but we do leave for other adventures. Last week we hopped in our Tucson to take the ferry to Comox on Vancouver Island.

The trip across the Strait of Georgia takes about an hour and fifteen minutes. Our condo in town is above the BC Ferries terminal. That makes it handy plus an interesting view from our balcony.

Our truck towing the double quad trailer on a previous trip.

The purpose of our three night and four day road trip was to explore backcountry roads and campgrounds on North Vancouver Island. We are preparing for a future trip in our truck towing two quads on a long trailer.

Many unpaved logging roads are rutted and potholed. Some backcountry campsites are too small for a truck and large trailer. Scouting in the SUV will make future truck and quad trips easier.

We started north to Campbell River using the Old Island Highway 19A. It's the scenic Oceanside Route. We gassed up at the Discovery Harbour Centre that we know so well from our boat trips, then stopped at the classic Ideal Cafe for a late breakfast. We eat here every time we drive through Campbell River.

The Ideal Cafe is a classic breakfast and lunch spot.

Two lane Highway 19 north of Campbell River is wide and uncrowded. We had a mix of sun and rain, but that didn't stop us from exploring logging roads and potential campgrounds.

Island Highway heading nort

If you would like to read more about our offroad adventures, click here to go to the Powell River Books Blog.

The first two nights we stayed at the Quarterdeck Inn and Marina Resort in Port Hardy, the end of the paved road and the gateway to Bella Coola, the Central Coast, Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii via BC Ferries. The hotel is south of town with lots of boat and fishing action to enjoy. Try the Sporty Bar and Grill in town for good beer, pub food and interesting people.

The Tucson and Wayne at Georgie Lake and a logging train display in Woss.

North Vancouver Island is strongly linked to the sea for fishing and transportation. We enjoyed exploring Sayward, Woss, Coal Harbour, Port Alice, Port McNeill and finally historic Telegraph Cove while we were there.

Port Alice, Port McNeill and the boardwalk at Telegraph Cove.

To conclude our road trip, we stayed in historic Telegraph Cove. In the early 1900s, it was a fish saltery, lumber mill and the terminus of the Campbell River telegraph line. We stayed in the new lodge overlooking the cove, or you can choose to stay in the suites with kitchens, one of the historic homes or cabins, the forested campground, the marina or nearby RV park.

To celebrate our road trip, dinner at the Killer Whale Cafe in Telegraph Cove.

Thanks for coming along on our North Vancouver Island road trip. Even though it was a holiday long weekend, we found rooms and campsites readily available. If you want an exciting yet relaxed vacation, come north. You can arrive by car via BC Ferries to Victoria, Nanaimo or Comox. You can fly from Vancouver to Comox on WestJet, Air Canada or Pacific Coastal (my favourite) and rent a car to use on paved roads. You'll be glad you did. -- Margy