Day 12: Ida Lake - Port Hardy

Last full day of riding on Vancouver island. I had planned to spend one night camping in Port Hardy and then riding out to San Josef and back the following day, before taking the weekly ferry from. port Hardy to Prince Rupert, but decide to enjoy a few days in and around Port Hardy.
Gravel tracks drop me on the outskirts of PH (more bear sightings today - up to 8 black bears now) where there is a camp ground with showers and charging. It's $23 and I'm really looking forward to a hot shower only to be told when I arrive that there is no hot water. The cold shower is freezing - big disappointment. Decide I'll wild camp the next few nights, and make use of the recreation centre, where I can pay $6 for use of the pool and shower. It's a great deal - and a great pool. I go the following two days - lane to myself. Will make use of these elsewhere where I can. Sorts out my showers on the road. Port Hardy is a small town - centered around a few shops. There's a McDonald's, which I spend more time sitting in than elsewhere .... free WiFi clean toilets, cheap coffee, tables with charging ports - it ticks most boxes - odd and sterile place to be compared to the wilderness around, but it also provides a snapshot of this town - predominantly first nations people living here - many of whom look in poor health (drugs, alcohol obesity). That also includes some of the Caucasian population. Spend my second night wild camping beside beach, which is fine, but my intuition tells me it's too close to the town. The next night I camp 10km away above sea and closer to airport. A great spot with seals and eagles flying, but as it's accessible by track, a few vehicles come in the night - see my tent, then drive off. Doesn't really scare me, but a little stressful.
Looking forward to the ferry to Prince Rupert