Trip to Tofino

Once again we have been having too much fun to blog, and besides that, my photo software went all wonky, so there was no photo posting. We are back now, so all the dangers you see in this blog are no longer a danger to us.

It was a dark and stormy day. We left early in the morning (for us). We left plenty of time because we are good risk managers and don't want to miss our transportation connections. Good thing, because I took us on a detour tour of Tsawassen-the town instead of staying on the route to the ferries. Nevertheless, we had time for Starbucks and a "Victoria's Secret" crepe (little play on words here-Victoria is the largest city on Vancouver Island-perhaps the cheese was a bit sexy too-emmental) while we waited to board the ferry that would take us to Vancouver Island.

Our ferry was the Queen of New Westminster, a lovely ship full of cars, trucks, bikes-both foot pedled and motorized, RV's passengers, dogs and really big trucks loaded with such things as logs and lumber. I'll confess that it boggles my mind a bit, and makes me a bit nervous to be in the bowels of such a ship with so many heavy things. Hats off to the people who load them-ballance them. It didn't help that a fellow passenger told tales of one of these ferries sinking a few years ago. I kept looking at the kayak strapped on a nearby car and thinking that if I could get it off the car fast enough, we could put Stella inside and hold onto the outside until we could be rescued. Probably not a feasable plan, but...

It should be said that we were in the Honda with plans to stay at the Tin Wis Best Western. Probably we could not have found a space long enough on the island to take the RV, but even if we could, Marcia was clear that she did not want to drive 36ft on winding mountain roads. A good plan considering the overhanging rocks, narrow roads and 10-18% grades!

Our ferry ride was actually quite pleasant. I entertained myself collecting tourist maps and brochures and snapping photos of harbour seals, kingfisher, Vancouver skyline, cargo ships with lots of cargo and very very very long trains. I noticed other people, probably regular commuters, were watching movies in their cars. There were plenty of computers going, and we took out our Palm e-books. Stella hunkered down in the back seat. You may hear her version later.

We arrived safe and sound and headed up the coast to Nanamio.

Check out this website for a map of Vancouver Island. Our route was from Tsawassen to Nanaimo, north on route 19 to Parksville, and then route 4 west all the way across the island to Tofino on the Pacific coast.
http://www.ulyssesguides.com/loa/bc/vancgulf/maps/vancouver-island.jpg