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Published: April 8th 2010
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Cathedral Grove
Lake and trees at Cathedral Grove In the last week and a half we have had only 1 day with no rain! So we have been embracing the rain and getting out there and enjoying it, however there is only so much you can tolerate in the van! Speaking of the van, we discovered it doesn't suit the name Cher, and we discovered a misrepresentation of gender, so it is now Chad.
The last blog was while we were wwoofing, which was great. We had been missing some physical work, after a summer of house building. Unfortunately, due to the rain we weren't able to mill anymore wood for Renee and Henry, so we have enviously chopped them a winters' load of firewood and stacked it in the house. We also planted some trees and made a stone surround for a new vege garden. Hopefully the donkeys won't get in! In the afternoons we tried to get out for a walk and enjoy the scenery. On Thursday 1st we left to go north to Port Alberni. On the way we bought a notebook laptop (and are on Skype, so if you are find us....) and food shopped in Duncan, we also gathered a hitchhicker to take north.
Snow
Road to Tofino and Ucluelet On route we visited the massive Douglas Fir trees at Cathedral Grove (in the rain) and went to the free and informative museum in town. The evening was spent near the huge fire-fighting planes around Port Alberni. The next day (F 2nd April) started with rain and became snow on the road to the west coast. At 240m the pass was white and we were tentative about the drive in the van. Luckily Canadians know how to deal with snow and the road was being regularly cleared by snow plow. We arrived at the Wickaninnish Centre for some history and a very windy and wet walk to Florencia bay on the Nuu-chah-nuth trail. We were cautiously looking out for wildlife but only saw some wolf scat on the path. We spent the night in the pleasant seaside village of Tofino and woke to snow around the van in the morning. Saturday (3rd April) bought showers of hail during the day and consequently small walks at Radar Hill, Long Beach and Rainforest Trail B in between the hail. We cruised onto the pleasant town of Ucluelet for coffee, free wireless during the hail storm, op shopped for a warm fleece and
Totem eyeing Rob
Totem pole, rain and wind on the Nuu-chah-nuth trail. a windy and wet walk to see the lighthouse in storm mode. On the stormy track we saw insane cormorants fishing in the crashing waves, Bald eagles perched high in the trees and Grey whales through the binoculars. We spent the night overlooking Little Beach in the condo end of town. On Easter Sunday we drove back through the pass and onto Cumberland. We had a small walk at Comox Lake (10 mins out of town) and stayed there the night. On Monday (5th April) we went into Courtenay to buy snow shoes and then back to Cumberland for a wet and muddy ride in the 'famous' biking tracks! The lake front beckoned again for another peaceful night. The folowing day (Tu 6th April) bought sunshine streaming in at 7am and so were up and on the road to Mt Washington (Vancouver Islands largest skifield). Chad (the van) chugged his way up the hill to a 'pullout' where we stomped for 4 hours in our new showshoes. It was awesome and there was soooo much snow, in fact a 7m base! We had a sweet hot chocolate at the Raven ski lodge and cruised further north to Campbell River for
info on Strathcona Park. Again the rain met us there and so we left town aiming for a nice campspot near the Park. We found a free camping ground at Strathcona Dam for the night and had a little campfire and wine. In the morning (W 7th April) it was raining.....aghh, however up we got and drove into the Park. Because it is winter it has been so quiet and we have hardly seen anyone. Another day of short walks in the rain was required so we have been on the animal hunt at Elk River Trail (deer poo and footprints found), Lady falls trail (nice waterfall) and Shepherd Creek Trail (nice tall trees and lush undergrowth). We saw 5 deer in the woods from the van on the road, but nothing else.....still on the look out for Elk.
The plan next is to cruise back to the mainland and up through Squamish, Whistler and along hopefully into Revelstoke to find some work. However, plans change and we will keep you all posted.
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