Ucluelet, BC

When we can get our hands on Aussie food unavailable near us in the US, we dive on it.  Hence it was sausage rolls for breakfast this morning (from the grocery store we went to last night).

Today we drove north to Tofino.  It's 40 minutes away, and supposedly the most picturesque place on the west coast.  But I think it is everywhere from Ucluelet to Tofino, inclusive.  We drove through town and went to Tonquin Beach.  I had read this was the most amazing place, so we started at the top.  Words I read didn't do this place justice as to how breathtaking it was.  We walked along the small beach, the tide stopping us from going south the Third Beach.  Directly west, beyond the crystal blue ocean, was the tree covered, uninhabited Wickaninnish Island.  At the north end of the beach we could see Felice Island and Clayoquat.  And there is no one here.  We barely saw 10 people in the hour we were out here.

B, Tonquin Beach, Tofino, BC

Tonquin Beach, Tofino, BC

We parked in town and started the afternoon at Shed, where we sat outside for lunch.  I would have preferred to be on the water, but it seems those places are either super swank or only open for dinner.  But Shed served it's purpose.  We were able to sit out in the glorious weather and a great bar-style meal was had by all.  Town is pretty small, and we covered most of it in an hour, walking off lunch.  Just ducking into shops and art galleries was the order of the afternoon.  There weren't many places in town where you could get near the water, but we'd already been dazzled out at Tonquin.  Tofino is a pearl surrounded by some of the most beautiful ocean and tree covered islands.  I'm so glad we made the trip out to the west coast.

Roy Henry Vickers Gallery, Tofino, BC

Ciinut by Joe David, Tofino, BC

Between Tofino and Uclulet is the Pacific Rim National Park, numerous beaches and a number of different hikes.  We cruised home making turns off the highway and taking a look at the few of these places.  

Our first stop was Chesterman Beach.  Not far out of town.  A smallish cove to what looked like a popu;lar beach.  While not in any order today, plenty of waves for surfers and a long shallow waterfront for wading families.  We walked the length of the beach and back.  

We drove south next to Long Beach and got out of the car at Combers Beach.  It was half a kilometer from the parking lot to be able to walk on the sand.  It was nice being on a beach again, but it was too cold to swim and the surf was rougher than I expected.  The water itself was cold as well, though none of that stopped local surfers.

L&B, Combers Beach, BC

Not 2 minutes away is the parking lot for the Rainforest Trail.  The trail goes either side of the Pacific Rim Highway, but we stay just on the western side.  I was thinking it would lead tot he water again, but it was a built up, looped walkway through the forest.  Beautiful once again, and just slightly cooler under this eternal canopy.

We swung through the grocery store again, and stayed on tradition by eating at home for dinner again.  Though Amy and I walked along Terrace Beach after dinner, it was another night in, such is the draw of the World Cup.