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Published: September 1st 2006
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Friday 25th Aug Jumped on the 254 bus
(3.25CAD pp) to out of the city to Horseshoe Bay (you can't miss it, it has the destination printed out on its forehead) to catch the breathtaking 1.5hr ferry journey (11cad pp) across to Nainimo on the East shore of Vancouver Island. From here we caught the
Tofino Bus, an express bus that brings you south west to Tofino/ Ucluelet in about 3hrs
(35CAD pp). Get the return, it works out cheaper!
The picturesque village of Ucluelet (pronounced U-klew-let) on the West of the island was our base for the next few days. After getting settled in the Ucluelet Lodge on main street
(a series of rooms above the local pub - bring earplugs if staying over the weekend. Its gets really noisy, tel:250 7264324) we took a pleasant run on the lighthouse loop trail and saw wild deer close-up on the way. Yes, we have brought our running shoes. What better way to see a place than to take a jog around - one, its faster, two, its free and three, a good reason to chow down the hotdogs, Fish & Chips and pizza's later😊
Ucluelet's sister town Tofino is
some 42km to the north. Transport provided by the same Tofino Bus people is expensive (24cad pp return). James the friendly bus driver took us right to the pier from where we enjoyed the early morning mist shifting about Meares island in Clayquot Sound and the seaplanes were being readied for its first trip of the day.
There we hopped onto the bus again to be dropped off at Schooner Beach to walk all the way to Wickininish
. The 10k mainly beach walk towards Ucluelet, starts off through a rainforest. Half way through, the sea mist rolled-in dressing up the whole area with an eerie, muted clock. Whip out the camera for some fun photo/videography. Four hours later in Wickininish a substantial portion of fish and chips was devoured within minutes.
Sunday 27th Headed to Campbell River (midway up the East coast of the island) via Nanaimo. Unfortunately no direct bus. In Nanaimo, we took the Island Express van service to Campbell (27.50 cad pp). Should have spent more time in U-Key to kayak the Berkley Sounds and do more walking in the area. We will be back next time with better planning, targetting later autumn
Seaplanes North shore
Seaplanes are a big things round here... to avoid the crowds cheaper and more readily available accommodation. Plus renting a car will be a strong consideration.
When in Campbell, check out out Patti Finn's Seafood for Dungeness Crab and a bucket of cold local beer. Its located on the marina decking itself. The owner is a one heck of a host and a true blue sailor/ fisherman to boot. For those that know us, we love our food, so you can't go wrong with our food recommendations! Richy is no fan of crabs but he tucked in the delicious crustacean and worked through all the tiny bits to the big chunky pieces of meat inside.
Monday 27th Salmon cannoning! All you need is to donn on the 7mm wetsuit, hood, mask and snorkel and jump straight in to go rapid snorkelling with salmon in the fast moving Campbell river.
(Paradise Found Tours).
At 125cad pp, we felt it was a bit of a rip-off especially if you compare it how much a day's diving would cost. Rich took the underwater camera but failed miserablely to capture any decent shots of the 10kg+ salmon flying by - it was like trying to photograph a passing aeroplane
RaRaRa.....
Our's is the big one on the right... from a rollercoaster!
A nice run the following morning along the marinas in front of Quadra Island finished up Campbell River for us and midday we jumped on the daily greyhound bus run
(47CAD pp and 3hours trip) to Port Hardy where 'The Highway Ends and the Adventure Begins'. With effectively only about half a day in rainy Port Hardy (the first rain of the trip) an easy trail near the Info centre took us to a beautiful estuary, along the banks of a forested river. We watched in amazement as literally hundreds of wild salmon jumped up one after the other in the shallow water willing their time before making the long journey upstream on the next big rains. Their was more in store on the forest walk with close up encounters with a bald eagle and a juvenille black bear and a great blue heron. San was walking ahead and the eyes of small bear and big San locked. It scampered up the tree and San scampered backwards on the path!
Inside Passage, here we come!
A shockingly early 4am pick-up
(6.50CAD pp) the following day to the ferry terminal to board the 'queen of prince rupert'.
Using the Blackberrys....
Nice to be using a different type of blackberry... Well we need to recoup the costs for dishing out on a business class round the world ticket somehow! C&N backpakers was nice and bright but the high ceiling provided great accoustics for Richy's snoring and the footsteps of other guests. Bleary eyes were soon soothed with the sights of a fifty strong pod of dolphins riding the bow waves, fantastic gold tingged misty forested islands and humpback whales. What you get to see? An excellent feast of fiord land Canadian style with fog, rain and sun as a backdrop to the many inlets, mountains and waterfalls. A midnight arrival in Prince Rupert and check-in to Pioneer hostel saw some serious zzzzzzz till late the next day.
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Have an amazing time!
I am glad that both of you are exploring much with relish! Look forward to seeing both of you during winter! Enjoy and have fun!