Day 29 The Pacific Rim

We began our day with laughter as Liz returned from the shower sporting a lightweight robe, great for travel. Leave it to David to notice that the insignia read Ritz Carlton! Just the thing the fashionable camper wears!

And they should laugh about what anyone else is wearing since they dressed to match! They just wanted to be sure to make the blog.

We set off for the National Park and visited the Interpretive Centre to decide on which hiking trails we would allow to entertain us! There are 10 trails that weave through the rainforest to periodically emerge, meeting some section of the 125 km of Pacific shoreline. While the trails were beautiful, it was the Pacific that was magic for me. The blue water meets the horizon and blends into a oneness that leaves no doubt that this body of water covers 1/3 of the entire planet! The shore vacillates between black volcanic rock and wide expanses of sand. The sand is peppered with massive bleached driftwood (and sea life at low tide) that the ocean has thoughtfully donated. The weather is fickle. At one moment warm and sunny with an unbelievably cerulean sky, the next minute we can’t recognize one another through the fog if we don’t stay close. Last night in the campground we asked if individual campfires were allowed (they often haven’t been as we’ve travelled). The response…“Sure. We live in a cloud. Everything is always damp so there’s not much risk.” Today the truth of that is clear.

When the clouds do clear the views are magnificent. When the fog rolls in, it is a land eerily shrouded in a sense of peace, isolation and mystery that is no less beautiful.

Surfers heading out.

Just one example of the art that the tide leaves in the sand!

A dog staring into the fog for his friend to return from surfing.

There are some pretty significant dangers in these parts!

Beautiful memorials throughout Pacific Rim National Park.

Me taking it all in.

The fog is starting to clear and we can see that the beach goes on forever.

The surfers are ever present in the tremendous waves. The second Interpretive Centre we visited, at Wickaninnish Beach, explained rip currents and we were able to stand on the viewing platform and watch them in action. Those surfers are incredibly adventurous (or stupid) to attempt to ride those ridges of water. While I could have watched them all day and not had enough, apparently I have an overdeveloped sense of survival and had zero desire to actually join the fun! They are persistent and incredibly strong though in pursuit of that great wave!

In Tofino for lunch we really enjoyed (another!) local brew and fish tacos!! Never knew such a thing existed until Joanna and her friends told us that we had to eat at SoBo. It is spiced salmon and halibut topped with fruit salsa (blueberry, melon, kiwi, nectarine) in a blue corn shell. They were scrumptious!

Local fare.

A yummy fish taco!

A visit to the government wharf to watch the sea charters take off and land, the native people loading boats with supplies to bring to the reservation, and the beginning of the Trans Canada Highway!

Sea planes landing at the wharf.

Expecting Bruno Gerussi to step out ...

On our trip back through the National Park we stopped again, just because and strolled the beach some more. I guess it’s in my blood but beachcombing, gazing in tidal pools, marveling at the giant bulb kelp (everything out here is larger than life – think Honey I Shrunk the Kids!) can occupy my body and soul for hours on end. But hunger is persistent in its distraction so eventually we had to return for a BBQ and campfire. Just another day in paradise …