Week Two Update | Remote Winter Caretaking BC | Feeling at Home

Our Second Week at the Lodge: Settling In and Tackling Unexpected Challenges 🌲
In this video, we share our second week at the remote lodge, where we'll be caretaking until May 2025. It's been a busy week of preserving food and dealing with a couple of windstorms. We also focused on securing the dock in case of large swells. Unfortunately, our fridge and freezer started malfunctioning, causing us to lose some vegetables due to temperature issues.
Despite the challenges, we're slowly getting more comfortable in our new environment, and it's really starting to feel like home. It's crazy to think that this will be our life for the next 8 months! Thank you for the tips on our last video-we're still learning how to perfect these long-form videos, and we appreciate your support!
Join us as we continue to prepare for the long winter ahead.
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COMMENTS
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We want our channel and our comments section to be an inclusive space where everyone feels welcome to watch and contribute. For this reason, comments that are inappropriate or hateful will be reported and/or deleted.
Please discuss and debate with respect, and report inappropriate or hateful comments directly to KZbin.
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CREDITS
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Music & Song Credits:
All music in this video was composed, performed, and recorded by epidemicsound

[@SecretAgentMan.]

I was a guide there for 10 years about 10 years ago now. Crazy to see that literally nothing has changed there. Still no railing on the upper deck for the two main bedrooms! That old hitachi excavator is still sitting there by the old gen shed!😂 the head smasher basement. The black astroturf on the dock is new….

[@Claysanabus]

Haha that’s hilarious! We were wondering around the railing too lol. We were thinking about making a sauna somewhere in the woods, we’ll see how adventurous we get!

[@sarahcooper3378]

Good work folks. Quite funny that the fridge quits, the generator quits, the water system is not up to snuff......all in the first week. Its typical lodge antics. 😂. They will have just about kept their heads above water for the season, but after that, they really dont care. Those docks take a beating every winter. Take care and look after each other.

[@stuartguy4479]

Love it when YT recommends a channel like this, what an adventure you’re on for the next 8 months, saying hi from the UK 👋🏼

[@Claysanabus]

Awh! Love this, so glad we found each other 😆👋🏼 Thanks for the support!

[@rodmitchell8787]

At 1:58 you can just barely see the helipad I used to land the Astar helicopter on just to the right of the of the lodge, looks very over grown, probably hasn’t been used in many years 😏 Great channel, brings back fond memories 😊

[@Georgesmomsu]

This was great! So much better without subtitles and the music was great. Stay safe out there .

[@Claysanabus]

Thank you so much!

[@kathiecarter5396]

Really enjoying watching your adventure. I was surprised at how bad shape the lodge was when they handed it over to you. The music was too loud on week one and we couldn’t hear you very well. A bit better on week 2. Don’t think you need a music background but if so, please keep it low as we really enjoy hearing what you have to share. It must have been quite the adventure to figure out all that food for 8 months. Will be interesting to see what you end up with at the end. Be safe and enjoy the adventure.

[@regmcguire5582]

Completely agree. Just found you guys, interesting, but I hate the music over everything. If I wanted to listen to a music video, I would do that. Please lose the music for most of the video.

[@kris-ch7dm]

I know it takes much longer to do tasks when you are filming. Please know that your effort is soooo appreciated. The video was informative and enjoyable. Thank you !!!!

[@Claysanabus]

Thank you for the kind comment! It is much appreciated! We will keep doing our best.

[@colinkaak9874]

Nice job! You’re not alone when you have all of us friends watching you! Music levels perfect, and so relaxing.

[@Claysanabus]

Thank you!❤

[@gerryrozema8338]

Have to disagree. The music detracts tremendously from the location and scenery, makes the clip hard to watch

[@bruce.KAY-bike-drifter]

Yes, @colinkaak9874, I agree with you. I like the music. The mellow vibe is good. The photography is superb. There are too many critics on here.

[@oneadVANtureatatime]

AWESOME ADVENTURE! I am tuning in for the ride! WOW, that is a lot of food prep! SO BEAUTIFUL! We have a small KZbin channel, and I can tell you sound is the BIGGEST pain in the ass! If I may give you a piece of advice. Your filming is incredible...keep doing what you are doing. If you do not have a microphone and wind muff, filming outside is going to be very challenging. I would save your music to cover those spots when the sound is not good and your drone shots. All the other ambient sounds (without wind interference) we want to hear WITHOUT the music. Oh, and people greatly dislike music playing when you are talking.... lol-- speaking from experience! GREAT JOB! KEEP IT UP..... See you next video

[@Claysanabus]

Hey! 👋🏼Thank you, this is really helpful and insightful recommendations! Really appreciate it. Haha we are excited to be starting this journey on KZbin and have a lot to learn when it comes to creating content on here! It’s so hard to film when we don’t have the proper set up 🙃 It’s such a different platform than we are used to! 😂 We do have some small mic’s! We’ll have to play around with them and figure them out! Do you use a microphone? We checked out your channel and we are excited to follow your journey as well! 😆 really appreciate your comment!

[@oneadVANtureatatime]

@@Claysanabus we do all our filming with a GoPro 12, DJI action 4, DJI mini 4 pro drone and iPhone. GOPRO: We have a LOVE/HATE relationship with the GoPro! It tends to glitch a lot and I swear it hates my husband! As soon as he touches it…..glitch. We use a media mod with our GoPro that has a built in wind muff abs the Volta charger which has reduced the glitches somewhat. We are trying to get away from GoPro. The DJI action 4 is new to us. So far we love it and it hasn’t glitched. We bought the DJI wireless mics that work great! A wee bit of a learning curve with the mics. The DJI mics 2 are suppose to be great for the iPhone too! The iPhone is terrible for wind noise! So you will definitely need a microphone with wind muff but the video quality is really good especially on the newer phones. Having said all this….USE WHAT YOU GOT FOR FILMING! Your filming is great! Your camera presence is great! You’re not doing any nervous ticks that I can see…. Go watch some of our earlier videos….wait please don’t 😂😂😂 Just remember to move the camera slowly. People don’t care about video quality as much as sound quality. Sound quality is where you will get the most complaints. I am not an expert by any means but I would be happy to share anything I have learned. If you would ever care to have a phone call, I would be happy to do so. Lots of things to discuss. Oh and some complaints will have no merit! Sometimes you gotta decided your artistic vision! Most Sincerely, Carrie

[@adrienneherbert781]

Great video. You two are going to grow so much with what your are learning ❤️

[@mywildholm]

Hey guys - way to go! Nice gig! We own a 62 acre island on a lake in Northern BC! We had to buy a little barge to bring all of our goods over but it's truly the most incredible life ever - 100% off grid (obviously)! We're happy to watch your journey!

[@Claysanabus]

Wow! That sounds absolutely amazing! Do you have a channel? Would love to see what living is like for you guys! And thank you! 🤗

[@albertalakeland]

I am across the Hecate from you folks. Welcome. 🌧😆

[@paulinakoopen1754]

You’re obviously doing well. Quite an overwhelming amount of food to pack, freeze and prep for longevity - plus the maintenance. You two are perfect for the job.

[@Mollymarieiv]

Love your videos! A little tip! When using a mandolin and your getting to the end of what your slicing, use a fork to pierce&hold it so you don’t nick a nail or a finger❤

[@Claysanabus]

Thank you! That is very helpful, I did try to use a fork afterwards though I think I had scared myself too much 😂 Definitely don’t want to loose a finger 1 month in 😆

[@kenaidog6974]

All you need is some good books next to the fireplace and some sandwiches. Chillax.

[@babasooze678]

I am so impressed! Wow!

[@Claysanabus]

Thank you so much!❤

[@ChrisAndEmilie]

We love your channel! Looking forward to your next video!

[@Claysanabus]

Thank you so much! that means a lot, glad you are enjoying it!

[@elizabethharttley4073]

Hi, I'm here to cheer you two forward thru the seasons. I'm glad the music is quieter for the most part. Could you consider a notation in the corner of temperature 🌡? I know it's going to change thru winter. Love the b roll images, slow and steady. Show and tell your back story, show the wildlife and flora. I admire the sense of adventure to undertake this journey. Carry on

[@Claysanabus]

Thank you so much! Lots of great ideas, we appreciate it and look forward to adding more to our content!😆❤ - Still learning how to fly the drone, we lost our first drone 10 years... we might have a little PTSD when it comes to flying over the ocean again 😅😂

[@elizabethharttley4073]

@@Claysanabus wow thanks for responding. Understandable to be concerned about equipment losses. Heart ❤️ 💙 💜

[@WezleyB]

👍👍

[@edradford3866]

Frozen cream even! All Right!

[@alexa-wq1sj]

I love watching your videos, I find this job so interesting, especially how you preserve food. It must be such a race around the clock!

[@Claysanabus]

Thank you! It definitely felt like that, especially never having done it before. We still have lots of peaches, pears, lemons, apples that we need to preserve or freeze!

[@canuckchuck1]

You guys have great content that’s informative yet somewhat zen like. I look back in life now (being 54 and married with 2 grown kids, cats and dogs) and see what you’re doing and I’m a little jealous of time however I wouldn’t be in the solid financial position I am today…then I question myself to understand if that really matters. Well done, keep the content coming.

[@Claysanabus]

Thanks for kind comment! There’s always a possibility, even when the kids are older😊 there’s opportunities everywhere!

[@bruce.KAY-bike-drifter]

Yeah, I can relate @canuckchuck1. At 72, I have regrets about being a workaholic for too many years. But, hey, you are never too old. I get out there mountain biking and bikepacking now, determined to make the most of the years that are left.

[@cherrypi_b]

Great videos, and I'm looking forward to be with you on this fantastic adventure! Maybe some advice: use music sparsely. Maybe to go with a short montage or for intro/outro but right now it's way too much, too loud and too generic. It's not needed :) A better mic would also be great but I guess it's too late for a delivery hehe. Have a beautiful and cozy winter out there!

[@Claysanabus]

Thanks for the tips, We will keep them in mind. We are working at improving with each video! 😀

[@montanatyrell6420]

❤Now thats allot of fruit and veggies to put up!❤

[@Claysanabus]

Haha 🤣 yes have to eat them though before they go bad!

[@johnlinn]

A couple big Jackery power boxes might have been worth it. Save on that diesel.

[@Claysanabus]

We did think about this and thought that it would be a nice option to have. We should have more than enough diesel and gas to get us through the season! Next time, when we have more time to organize, we'll be prepared! It would have saved having a window open to run cords from the generator while its cold out!

[@dwh7651]

Thanks for sharing your adventure. I'm sure you will find kick-back time once issues are dealt with and you become familiar with the property. The music is fine.

[@Claysanabus]

Thank you so much! Appreciate your kind words ☺️

[@Alsokal]

so awesome guys! loving these videos so much!

[@Claysanabus]

Thank you!!!😆😍

[@rynellmunt1381]

Lots of things can be dried, just in a low oven when you’ve finished cooking other things, like the lemon zest or herbs and onions, and it will keep for a year or more. Slices would take longer, but preserved lemons are amazing! Something to keep in mind.

[@crashnetpratt5032]

I also am a great fan of dehydrating.

[@Claysanabus]

Very true!

[@janetrothwell4448]

Looking forward to following your adventures! I am on one of the southern gulf islands.

[@Claysanabus]

Thanks for your support! Hows the weather done there?😄

[@irenekegel5988]

Enjoy , what an experience ..you can do in Switzerland caring for an alp house ..omg so amazing

[@Claysanabus]

Wow! a spot in the alps would be incredible!😀

[@irenekegel5988]

@@Claysanabuslol not easy ! Trust me you can watch on KZbin them in the summer

[@heartwideopen]

Fantastic watching you taking care of this lodge! If next summer you are available for more caretaking work, we are looking for someone like you to care for our homestead while we take a week or two off.

[@Claysanabus]

Thank you! ☺️ Sounds amazing, we’ll have to stay in touch somehow!

[@coolhand6669]

hey guys i watch your videos and I love them you're really lucky you're in a beautiful place i've been there before and wow is it a beautiful Island so every chance you get when there's a really low tide you really need it to go out and do low tidy gathering for all kinds of stuff because you're going into the winter months and you'll be able to get clams and other things are on the rocks you know there's eight types of seaweed there and most of the stuff makes really good eating. And especially when you get days that the water is not so washing machine but nice utilize it really because you're going to put the gorgeous spot just be careful because you can change especially in the winter from nice boating to really bad . Can't wait to see more videos enjoy that place really

[@Claysanabus]

Thanks so much for the kind words and awesome advice! We're definitely planning to take advantage of those low tides and stock up on all the goodies nature has to offer. It's such a beautiful place, and we’re grateful for every moment here. We’ll be sure to stay safe, especially as winter approaches. Can’t wait to share more with you-thanks for watching!

[@q_estionall7424]

Great video! Use of music much improved.

[@Claysanabus]

Thank you! Working at it!😄😂

[@angelacarberry4744]

Looks like you’re the perfect couple for that job. Good grief however all that cooking😩curious why you froze the cream. Is it for your morning coffee? Didnt know it was even possible.

[@Claysanabus]

😅Yeah! It is a lot of cooking! We froze the cream in order to be able to preserve it longer so we are able to have cream in our coffee and baking months from now.

[@r96wie]

Love that I've found this channel so early in the journey Did you have to pay for your food delivery or is it included in the job? Did you have a say in what food was ordered/supplied or do you just get what you're given? Can't wait to follow along for the Winter 😊

[@Claysanabus]

The company we work for provided all of our food. About a month before we arrived, they asked about our food preferences, and the chef placed an order based on that list. There were a few items they couldn't source, like certain baking ingredients for specialty desserts and some liqueurs, but it wasn't much. We managed to pick up most of what we needed before heading out!

[@cherrypi_b]

I recommend doing some Q&A's on video during your time there. People are curious :) Just collect some questions via comments or mail beforehand.

[@Hillarybray]

Love your videos!! Hillary from Parksville!

[@Claysanabus]

Thank you! Hello neighbour! 👋🏼

[@lollymackenzie8609]

Love this! I may have missed where your water comes from. Collecting rainwater in cisterns or lucky to have a great well?

[@Claysanabus]

The lodge has a Desalination/Reverse Osmosis system that takes seawater and runs it through a series of filters. It purifies the water to around 65 PPM (Parts Per Million), while the average water cleanliness limit for hospital use is 500 PPM. We are pretty lucky to have such clean water way out here! As well as Rain water collection and a small creek near by that we can draw from in an emergency situation.

[@lollymackenzie8609]

@@Claysanabus That is brilliant. We rely on cisterns and rainwater and it can get a little tense. Except this year we had some great rains in July and August. Phew! We live remotely on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Cape Beale Lightstation. Now I feel spoiled because we get resupply every month! Very impressed with your food supply and curious how that will play out. I find it daunting to order monthly!

[@dans1741]

I truly don't think a small town would starve over just an 8 month visit. With the amount of food you guys got. Lol

[@Claysanabus]

Definitely think you are right on that! Wish we could have ordered our own food

[@paulnieuwenhoven5842]

Strange, there isn't any battery bank to support the continuity of power supply

[@Claysanabus]

My assumption of why there is not a battery bank is because when the lodge is running during the summer season, the power requirements are too large. A small one would come in hand during the off season, for the small personal use!

[@dualwanderers4404]

Wow!! Just Sub’d 👍🏽. Just HOW on earth did you figure out how much food you needed for 8 months?!!! 😮. Is there a source that you used, please? Impressive! Looking for forward to following along

[@BrentWall-t9o]

🇨🇦🇨🇦👌👌

[@chartlook1]

Trick.. to keep mice at bay, place some Irish Spring Soap around. They don't like it.

[@RobSharp-wo5qj]

Did you have to bring in all your food with you or will you get resupplied during your stay?

[@Claysanabus]

In the first video “ First Week “ we show that all our food got brought in by helicopter and it was supplied by the company. We won’t be getting in any more shipments during our stay!

[@2StandThere4]

How do you get a job like that? I'd love to do that and live in such a place. Thanks for the insightful video 😊

[@Claysanabus]

We shared a little bit about it in our fourth week that we uploaded last Sunday!

[@2StandThere4]

@Claysanabus Thank you, I will watch it for sure! The owners should be so grateful for the two of you, as you have been working so hard. Good to get as much squared away as possible from the start 👌

[@SharonGrattan]

How did you guys fair with the storm? We are getting slammed in Rupert right now.

[@Claysanabus]

We are pretty sheltered at the moment! But I think that will change over night and into tomorrow. Hope all is well in Rupert!

[@SharonGrattan]

@@Claysanabus water spouts in dodge harbour. Glad you’re protected!

[@pnugent723]

Do you all have a food dehydrator?

[@Claysanabus]

No, all we have is ovens for dehydrating

[@crashnetpratt5032]

Wow, so much food..... but.... Where is the chocolate?

[@Claysanabus]

I know!! 😅🥲 I didn’t bring enough good chocolate, they do have some here! It might be gone

[@marcdufour4746]

Spent time off-grid in winter near Prince George in the 80’s and I’m wondering, do you have no way to resupply thru the winter?

[@Claysanabus]

Hey! We don’t have any way to resupply during the winter, we have to make do with what we currently have!

[@robertjones-iv7wq]

This is where an industrial medium size freeze-dryer seems mandatory. Also, rifles: any for hunting. But short & auto for protection, larger calibre). Shotguns (auto) with a slug barrel could be much better, but a .pistol, auto, 44mag, 10mm or .357 or equivalent, would be much better for close-in, and a chest holster. Both of you need diligent practice and hope you never need to use it except in practice. Personally, I don't like .44 mag except in a lever rifle. When SHTF around the property, your reaction time is imperative, and chest-mounted big handguns are your best bet. At that point everything is close-in, very fast, and needs to be stopped now. AND you do have to aim and aim well with your heart pounding a thousand miles a second.. And I didn't see a single plastic container for freezing soups, stews, fruit salads or stewed veggies. Not correct. Freezer bags are good, didn't see those either. Where are your canning jars & equipment? Do you have scheduled fuel delivery? What happens to that?, if the weather is really rough for a couple weeks? Can your fuel delivery boat collect a phoned-in order to a store and deliver it? Are you prepared to use dried or canned milk in recipes? Did you order/take in with you an emergency supply of lumber, screws, nails & sealants, etc..? or is it already on hand? Doing the tire bumpers tells me the owners were/are NOT prepped for worst-case. As a caretaker/handyman, it's up to you to be prepped. If I was "the guy" taking on your job for over a year without a break, I'd need a small barge to bring in my stuff to make sure everything stays in good nick. (And, I'd include the freeze-drier, hopefully someone for company, and groceries, and I'd start preparing the minute I was hired.) As much as I'd like to, I don't believe I'd have the time to fish or shore harvest for dinners. And then there's my dog, and her needs. Oh, and cases of wine, a few of beer, and a couple cases of scotch... It IS 2-years after all!!! Good thing my oldest daughter is a top-notch wine-maker with several medals to prove it. Good Luck to you both!

[@Claysanabus]

Thanks so much for all the thoughtful advice! We're still learning as we go and appreciate the suggestions for prepping and staying prepared out here. Definitely taking notes for future improvements. Cheers!

[@amandarode4580]

This is such a dream job! Question: why doesn't the lodge just shut down completely during the off season? Wouldn't that be cheaper for the company?

[@Claysanabus]

Yah good question, I am not really sure. I think they would be worried about boats coming in and people breaking in. They have a fair amount of food left here and mice tend to get inside, so we try to keep them away. Believe they just want a presence on the property.

[@amandarode4580]

@@Claysanabus that makes total sense!! Love your videos!😃

[@tanyad7894]

It's not just about having a presence. It's not good to have a place sit, cold & wet. Mold grows. All of the repairs and maintenance need to be done as well (as is very apparent with their experience here!). It is also a deterrent for critters that are much more damaging than mice - but there will be those that are attracted to the food and warmth as well... so there will be more things to watch out for! The structure itself may be compromised if a tree falls in a storm, or flooding could happen. It'll be an adventure for sure! ~ I'm so glad to join you on it, you two! It was my late husband & our dream to have a remote fly-in fishing lodge, but he was in a fatal MVA shortly after getting all his endorsements for commercial float plane (I finished my private license after that) when I was only 32. It was a lost dream, so now at 52, I can see why I wanted to do this vicariously through you - but I'll also be reminded why I now stay closer to my small town on the Island. Have fun, and stay well!

[@amandarode4580]

@@tanyad7894 those are very good points! I am very sorry to hear about your late husband 😢. So heartbreaking 💔. I truly hope you can live out your dream in some capacity ❤️

[@tanyad7894]

Not to scare you guys! It doesn't mean all of that will happen - just that it could happen.

[@dadejazzba402]

Watch out dude...she's a vampire!

[@susanivany3467]

Where is your cat? 😊

[@Claysanabus]

We unfortunately couldn’t bring them 😥 but they are happy with my parents, getting lots of cuddles and roaming around their property!

[@susanivany3467]

@@Claysanabus they’ll be so happy to see you when you return. Lots of cuddles with your parents in the meantime will make the time go quickly and well. ❤️🐾🐾❤️

[@judyeuller7602]

I personally dont like mysic playing over dialogue. I find it distracting and as senior, it does interfere with my understanding dialogue. Well. I turn off the audio and turn on closed captions. But overall, i love your videos.

[@Claysanabus]

We will definitely take that into consideration for the 3rd video! We appreciate your feedback🧡

[@judyeuller7602]

@@Claysanabus thank you. That's all I can ask for. 🙂

[@BarfussR]

Yeah, same here. All that music really isn't necessary with such good and catching footage and it kind of disturbs that British Columbia peace and quiet that we all long for 🏔️. Just use it once in a while with background images and drone stuff to give us hints of an athmosphere. That being said, I've watched your first two episodes and I'm an addict 👍. You are doing so good.

[@judyeuller7602]

@@BarfussR well said. I agree 100%

[@Vwpsst20]

Looking forward to your adventure but do consider lowering your music when you’re speaking! The music is distracting and makes it hard to hear you.

[@Claysanabus]

Thank you! Working at the music volume in each video!

[@Starfish2145]

Looks gloomy 😳

[@Claysanabus]

It can be at times when its rainy, but when it is sunny out it is absolutely beautiful!

[@spetersca]

Looking forward to seeing more videos. Don’t put your cut finger in your mouth!! So much bacteria in there!!

[@Claysanabus]

Thank you! it was definitely not a thought out action 😂

[@heleneGelle]

The music is still annoying.

[@Claysanabus]

Thanks for the heads-up! We're still learning the art of video-making-sounds like our music might need a little less 'enthusiasm' next time! We will do our best!

[@jimmoulds3539]

Can you please turn off the irritating back ground music. We cannot watch with the on going music. It is unnecessary. Thanks.

[@rymad5768]

Turn off the music, I love your content but cannot take the backround music all the time.....when when flying a drone for scenery othwise I want to hear the backround noise not music.....stay safe out there😊

[@Claysanabus]

Thanks for the tip! Will improve on the next one!

[@HartPfortmueller]

Yes, no music!!!!

[@lesliestrutt2717]

Yes music is still annoying. Needs to go away

[@Claysanabus]

Thanks for the feedback! We appreciate your honesty and will work on improving the music for our future videos!

[@HartPfortmueller]

Get rid of the music.

[@quirie6]

I enjoy your content but the music is really annoying. This is only intended to be helpful.

[@Claysanabus]

Thank you! thanks for the input, we got a lot of private messages saying that they like the music but, behind it quietly. So you are saying remove the music completely?

[@karipreston1204]

@@Claysanabusyou will never please everyone….the music is just fine

[@FarwestCoporation]

Please careful with spinning and filming. It makes a lot of people dizzy.

[@Claysanabus]

Thanks for the input! We will do our best to work on it!