Tofino

The drive to Tofino is 4 - 5 hours!  What....  I thought Vancouver Island was just a day trip island, no it isn't.  You need to allow at least a week to travel here.  The roads are excellent, John is doing a great job driving this Jeep.  The car is so high off the ground, that I got a stiff arm the first day from lifting myself into the car.  Sue and I have to sort of slide down the seat until our feet hit the pavement.  It is great when John parks close to the pavement then it is not such a long drop.  Now I know how my sister feels!  The scenery on the drive is EPIC, my word you know you are in Canada.  Here are some shots, taken from the car - so not the best photography but it still gives you a sense of the grandeur.

First stop is Chemainus. Chemainus, a charming coastal town, where art and history blend seamlessly with the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Known for its famous outdoor murals, which depict the town’s rich logging history and community spirit, Chemainus has transformed from a humble mill town into an artistic gem. As you wander through the streets, you’ll discover vibrant artwork on nearly every building, adding a sense of creativity and warmth to the town’s relaxed atmosphere.  See for yourself.

Muralled out?  In the car we hop and next stop is Cathedral Grove.  Cathedral Grove, located in MacMillan Provincial Park, is a majestic ancient forest.  Home to towering Douglas firs, some of which are over 800 years old and reach heights of 75 meters (250 feet), the grove feels like nature’s cathedral, with massive trunks and a canopy so high it filters the sunlight into soft beams.  We couldn't get a parking, but to be honest the Douglas Firs are all around you so we had a look up and up and up to see how tall and majestic they are.  The photos do not do it justice so you have to take my word for it.

Next stop is Port Alberni where we stopped for lunch in the quaint little cafe, had the best salad, had a drive around to the lake/estuary.

Back int he car, all fuelled up and off to Sproat Lake.  Sproat Lake, is another of Canada's large lakes, surrounded by huge fir trees.  Just spectacular.

As you can see it is a gorgeous day.  Unseasonal for the part of the world.  Next Stop Kennedy Lake which is the largest Lake on the Island and spanning roughly 64 square kilometers (25 square miles), this lake is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers.  As we didn't bring our fishing rods or kayaks there was little point stopping, so we drove on by admiring the views of the Lake from the car.  then onto our final destination Tofino.  We are staying at the Wickaninnish Inn - quite the mouthful when sober, try tell the taxi driver that at 2am in the morning!  A quick drive into Tofino and then back to the Inn.  John has clearly told them it is my birthday, because the guy at the gate wished me a happy birthday, then so did reception, I had a birthday gift in my room and then when they didn't have Coke Zero they drove into town and got it for me - another birthday gift.  BRING IT ON!!!!

Our room is on the third floor and looks out onto the ocean - it is fabulous.  A king size bed at last....  John will be happy as he no longer has to duck for cover every time I turn over.  Some photos of our room and the views.

We had a lovely dinner and cocktails made by our Aussie barman.  We can't have too big a night, as we are up again at 6am to go for a bear watch boat trip.  I slept so well, woken by the alarm, John on the other had was awake at 3am and didn't get back to sleep.  He could have done with a lie in but bless - we were going into the woods to look for a surprise.  It is cold and rainy, misty and very atmospheric.  We are on a boat so we get to try out our winter gear at last.  

The black bears near Tofino are one of Vancouver Island’s most iconic wildlife species. These bears, which are smaller and often darker than their mainland counterparts, thrive in the island's dense forests and coastal habitats. Around Tofino, particularly in the spring and summer, black bears are frequently spotted along the shoreline during low tide, foraging for crabs, clams, and other marine delicacies. This unique behaviour provides excellent viewing opportunities for us, especially as it was a king tide.  With a healthy population on Vancouver Island, black bears play a crucial role in the ecosystem, helping to disperse seeds and maintain balance in the food chain. Their presence near Tofino adds a touch of wild beauty to the area’s stunning natural landscape.  Below is a youtube video of the sightings, it is 4min 45 sec long.  There are also some photos below.

Starving, we go into Tofino for breakfast and a coffee, then home to relax next to our fire in the room and soak up the rainy atmosphere.  Enough sitting around, a walk on the beach in the rain and then back in front of the fire. 🔥  It is just gorgeous.

Last night we ate at the fancy restaurant where we are staying and birthday wishes were in full flurry.  I have to admit everything about the place we are staying is great - except the food and beverage service.  Again tonight we seemed to be in a dead zone and had to ask for a drink.  Anyway - first world problems, the food was excellent.  I had crab, which didn't have a price on it!  I should have asked because it was mighty pricey.  But I loved it and after all it was my birthday (NOT). They presented me with a personalised menu.

Today we did a 5km walk through a rainforest.  It is another whiteout day, hope the weather clear for our whale watching trip.

The weather was still a white out for our Whale watching trip - but it still went ahead.  It was freezing but our Uniqlo puffer jackets were excellent and kept the wind out.  We saw 4 grey whales, I was rather hoping to see an Orca - but no luck today.  On average, a Grey Whale consumes 1,100 kg of food daily, and they have a unique way of doing it! Grey Whales feed mostly on small bottom-dwelling invertebrates by scooping and filtering large amounts of sediment through their baleen. In doing so, huge amounts of sediment – and the life it contains – is suspended closer to the surface, providing sea birds and fish with an easy meal as well as re-introducing important nutrients for other marine life throughout the water column. We saw dolphins, lots of seals playing, seals basking on the rocks - keeping away from the Orcas and the adorable sea otters.  The sea otters were so cool - they just relax , floating on their backs, they playfully roll and do somersaults.  There is a short video of the whales and otters, I could have bored you senseless with the amount of footage we took - I was restrained.  Enjoy.

That is the end of our Tofino leg, tomorrow we drive to Victoria, catch the ferry and then meet up with the family.