VANCOUVER
ISLAND
Tofino
On the morning of Saturday 28th June 2014 we caught a taxi from the hotel to the ferry terminal at Horseshoe Bay in order to catch a ferry to Nanaimo on the east coast of Vancouver Island.
On the morning of Saturday 28th June 2014 we caught a taxi from the hotel to the ferry terminal at Horseshoe Bay in order to catch a ferry to Nanaimo on the east coast of Vancouver Island.
We picked up another hire car at
Nanaimo Airport, a Toyota Corolla CE NVL and set off for the 5 hour drive to
the west coast to Tofino. Up until now we had
driven on roads that were virtually straight. We had been warned that the roads
on Vancouver Island were narrow and bendy; this did not present a problem as it
was like being back home in Wales!
Our accommodation was the Pacific
Sands Beach Resort www.pacificsands.com , which
sits on
the edge of Pacific Rim National Park. The rooms were
spacious with a balcony overlooking the beachfront on spectacular Cox
Bay, a short drive south from Tofino with great views
of the ocean.
 |
| (Click on pictures and blue links) View from our apartment drive |
It was cloudy with some drizzle and very windy the surf and
thunderous waves created white horses, ideal conditions for the surfers in
their wet suits. Bob went for a walk along the beach watched the surfers riding
the waves and seeing the huge logs washed up on the beach. We needed to
purchase some supplies and visited to our first Walmart- just like any supermarket
back home!
Tofino is famous for its spectacular rain-storms and pounding surf, between October and March; whereas most hotels provide fluffy white dressing gowns and slippers, this hotel supplied bright yellow rain jackets and sou'westers; rain was forecast for the Sunday so maybe we would get to wear them!
 |
| (Click on pictures and blue links) Bright yellow rain jackets and sou'westers; Better than dressing gowns! |
 |
| (Click on pictures and blue links) Kate Moss stand-in |
Bob went for a walk along the beach after unpacking ?? and watched the surfers riding the waves, wishing he was 40 years younger! There were huge logs washed ashore during the violent storms littering the beach.
 |
| (Click on pictures and blue links) Logs washed on shore littering the beach |
 |
| (Click on pictures and blue links) Surf watching |
(Click on pictures and blue links)
Surf's up!
(Click on pictures and blue links)
Surf's up!
Surf's up!
 |
| (Click on pictures and blue links) Nice wooden log cabin - but draughty |
 |
| (Click on pictures and blue links) Tofino coast |
As the weather was warm and sunny we decided after lunch to drive to the charming, seaside village of Tofino – famous for local culture and artisans. There were numerous eating places and quaint craft shops displaying local native work. We visited a long-house style Eagle Aerie gallery which displays the work of Roy Henry Vickers. We bought three prints to remind us of our holiday.
(Click on pictures and blue links)
Tofino signpost
As the weather was warm and
sunny we decided after lunch to drive to the charming, seaside village of Tofino –
famous for local culture and artisans. There were
numerous eating places and quaint craft shops displaying local native work. We
visited a long-house style Eagle Aerie gallery which displays the
work of Roy Henry Vickers. We bought three prints to remind us of our holiday.
 |
| (Click on pictures and blue links) We bought this one |
 |
| (Click on
pictures and blue links) Cyndi and yoga pose |
With
hindsight, we should have stayed for a few more days in Tofino because we were unable to see all that the area had to offer. We were on a very tight time-scale
with regard to dropping the car at Victoria
Airport.
We headed
for the Hertz office at Victoria airport and caught a bus back to the hotel;
this meant we saw parts of Victoria we would not have seen and was a leisurely
way to travel.
In the afternoon we walked down
to the harbour area which was buzzing with activity and preparing for Canada Day on Tuesday 1st
July .
 |
| (Click on pictures and blue links) Victoria inner harbour and Empress Hotel |
 |
| (Click on pictures and blue links) Arbutus tree with red bark outside the Empress Hotel |
 |
| (Click on pictures and blue links) As common as taxis |
We returned to the harbour area the
next day, where the area was buzzing with hundreds of people who clearly fully get
into the spirit of celebrating Canada Day - both the residents and tourists
alike. There was lots of flag-waving, faces with a red maple leaf drawn on them
and most of the crowd were wearing red! There were stalls selling local crafts
and the smell of the lovely food made your mouth water.
 |
| Click on pictures and blue links) Too hot for the Wolf crosses |
 |
Click on pictures and blue links)
Cooling of f
!
|
We walked along the waterfront
to Fisherman’s Wharf and
looked at the variety of colourful house boats moored up and watched a local
seal being fed by tourists.
(Click on pictures and blue links)
As common as taxis
We took a water taxi back to the main harbour. These
craft can only be
described as ‘cute’; if you asked a child to draw a boat it
would closely resemble these. The manoeuvrability of the boats was demonstrated
when a number of them performed a ‘water ballet’ in the main harbour area in
front of the crowds.
(Click on pictures and blue links)
As common as taxis
(Click on pictures and blue links)
As common as taxis
We sat on a grassy area in the
glorious sunshine listening to and enjoying a blast from our past at a free Ska
Festival. We wandered around watching a very clever juggler who had the crowd
enthralled with his dexterity. We walked along to the grassy area in front of
the Council buildings the other side of the harbour hoping to hear the other
free concert; unfortunately they were having a break!
 |
| Click on pictures and blue links) Free ska festival |
 |
| Click on pictures and blue links) First in the mosh pit |
We walked back to our hotel for
a quick shower and change of clothes and walked back to Fisherman’s Wharf.
There is a famous fish and chip shop there called ‘Barb’s Place’. We joined the
long queue and waited for our fish and chips. We sat at one of the outside
tables enjoying the scenery and enjoyed a delicious fish supper.
|
| Click on pictures and blue links) Fishermans wharf and water taxi |
 |
| Click on pictures and blue links) House boats at Fishermans wharf  |
Click on pictures and blue links)
House boats at Fishermans wharf
Click on pictures and blue links)
House boats at Fishermans wharf
The end of our trip was now fast
approaching but we still had three full days to spend with Sue on Mayne Island.
No comments:
Post a Comment