Tofino, the great wild west coast of Vancouver Island

July 19, 2013

Tofino, the great wild west coast of Vancouver Island

Bidding a fond farewell to Pip and Derrick following Derrick taking us on an African safari slide show, we head to Tofino. Tofino has gone from a fishing/logging town to a hip surfing and tourist town, with the creation of Pacific Rim Park in 1970, and naming of Clayquot Sound as an UNESCO Biosphere. This is the Wild West coast of Vancouver Island, gorgeous long beaches, tide pools, kayaking, surfing, whale watching, etc. The weather is more variable here than the Mediterranean climate of SE Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, so it is cooler, a bit foggy in the early AM, then clear blue skies.

We stay at two different B and B's, both which are very nice; Tides Inn, and the Blue Bear, about a block from each other and basically at the end of the road, and both with ocean views. We find two great take out places ( the Wild Side Grill, and the Red Can Gourmet), so we have all four of our dinners gazing out at the ocean from our rooms/ decks. Tonquin Beach Park is just down the block and hill, and we catch the sunset several nights there.

At the Tides Inn we met Carl, Gordon, and the two Sues ; two English couples from Cornwall in SW England, doing a three week western Canada holiday together. Great folks - really enjoyed visiting with them.

There is a good bike path in town, which we rode several times. Uculet is about 40 km away, and we drove there and hiked a peninsula path, which was very beautiful. We visited Long beach and Schooner Cove twice in Pacific Rim National Park. You hike through the beautiful fir/ cedar forest on a wooden pathway ( fairly long, and lovely) to the beach. Long beach is well named- very long beautiful beach; Schooner Cove is around the corner and totally serene; we basically had the area to ourselves, while we walked the beach, and did tide pooling. Gabrielle, the Blue Bear B and B owner lent us her Park pass, and recommended this area, and it was wonderful. Saw lots of eagles while we were in Tofinao. One evening we biked to a reception for a local artist, then on down the path for gelato.

We didn't kayak here as the currents can be a bit tricky, but when we return, I'll bring the kayak, and do a day trip or two.