So after saying “ciao bella” to Victoria we drove west to Sooke for a day’s hike up through the potholes. Susannah made the 300ft decent without ropes or carabiners, despite the (implied) government warnings and (possible) recent injuries of several experienced climbers.
On the way home we tuned in the radio and put our feet up. Kicking ass kicks ass.
Back down to glorious Victoria and a wander around downtown. The following day entailed a trip to the misty morning Marina, a babe on a boat and a greedy seal!
(Barbara overjoyed at being recognised by Shannon’s postwoman who remembered her from Banff ten years ago!)
Susannah
After a night on Denman we caught a second ferry over to Hornby Island. Hornby is a bit more popular and it dines out on its artistic community. As usual, when we turned up everything was still closed for the season but we were lucky to have the place to ourselves. We found a micro gin distillery. They don’t advertise but a friendly guy told us to follow pictures of a frog and we easily got there.
Hornby also has a Free Shop where we dropped some of the van’s clutter and replaced it with more free clutter. They live by the words ‘recycling makes me Hornby’.
As always, we found a few beaches and continued Susannah’s bakery tour of Canada by picking up more cinnamon buns.
I loved Denman more than anywhere else in Canada, possibly the world so we went back there for another night. I’m not sure why we’re not still there now.
Ben
We’d heard a lot about Denman and Hornby Island which are both just off the east coast of Vancouver Island. A ten minute ferry from Buckley Bay got us to Denman first which was like stepping back in time. Dirt roads, colourful farmhouses and a small general store where the locals hang out. We were hooked from the start.
We had read about a small island off Denman that you could walk to when the tide was out and camp for free. Tempted, we decided to check it out. Starting on the coast we walked north to the point where there was a clear sandy path to the island (complete with deer tracks). On our way we had heard the barks of seals which seemed to be coming from the rocks ahead. 3km later and we’d made it although there was a not a seal in sight! We never quite figured out where the noises were coming from which was quite maddening!
The island was rugged with long grass, a sandy beach with shells and driftwood scattered about. We decided it wasn’t the best camping spot as there was little shelter plus we had no tide charts with us so we headed back spotting a bald eagle and a hawk on the way.
After a short drive, we found a small campground on the east coast of the island right on the beach. Running low on supplies, we headed back into town for supper and found the super friendly Earth Club Factory Bistro where we devoured vegetable torte and thai chicken soup whilst listening to the latest Green Party candidate’s manifesto.
Susannah
From west to back east via Sprout Lake and Cathedral Grove.
The giant sea plane in the picture is used to sweep up water and then spray it on forest fires. What a helpful plane!
Kennedy Lake was recommended to us by a few people. You get to it via a logging road through a quarry. The road was so bad it still gives me nightmares. The van blew a break light and the petrol gauge stopped working. Susannah said that my tummy ache was unrelated to the van’s troubles (and not sympathy pains).
We took the boat out for it’s maiden voyage. It’s two person capacity claim felt slightly ambitious, and I still had the tummy ache so we enjoyed separate outings.
This marked the end of our trip to Tofino.
Ben
Long Beach. Another day, another beach.
Downtown Tofino
Having stayed in Tofino just over a week we were lucky enough to enjoy the town’s bounty including the best bakery in Canada. Many of you know that I do like a sweet treat so we managed to encorporate a visit here each day. Personal favourites included: the apple crumble muffin, the cinnamon bun and the dark chocolate and almond scone.
We also treated ourselves to a dinner out and stumbled upon SoBo. Ben and I both went for pizza having found these tricky to cook on a camp fire.
Another huge bonus of us being there for a while meant we caught Monday Night Movies at the Community Hall. $8.00 for a comfy seat and the unforgettable “5 Broken Cameras”. Everyone should see this movie. Fact.
Susannah
Drove south to South Beach and walked round to Wickaninnish Beach. They are both beauties. We found out that the horizon is 10k away. We enjoyed snacks on the rocks and now we are hoping for sponsorship from Wotsits and Nature Bars to fund the remainder of our trip. For direct payments and inquires please call 001 403 434 0045.
The next day: blue skies again and a morning race to the top (and down) of a tiny island before the tide came in and stranded us. We made it! (but with very wet shoes).
Susannah
