Tofino/Ucluelet, Vancouver Island

Where better to spend an extended September long weekend than hanging out on the beach in Tofino and Ucluelet and attending a fabulous wedding?  Rod’s friends from his Montreal-days converged on Vancouver Island for a week-long party/sight-seeing adventure, where we made it out for a few days of pre-wedding fun in Tofino.  Photo credits go to myself, Rod, Derrick (all the professional looking ones are his), Trish, and a random British bloke on our kayak tour.

Tofino is a small surf town on the West side of Vancouver Island.  It’s a harrowing drive to get there on winding roads where one is inevitably stuck behind mega-large-RVs, only to pass one after 50 km (passing lanes are few and far between) and promptly get stuck behind another equally-large RV.  But when you finally arrive, you are blown away by the beautiful endless stretches of beach (one beach is literally called “Long Beach”) and the incredible realization that there is nothing but Pacific Ocean separating you and Japan. 

But before doing the drive you first have to take the ferry across to Nanaimo, where we caught a beautiful sunset and enjoyed hamming it up in the extreme wind on the sundeck.

We rented a cute little house with four others just across the street from Chesterman Beach.  The bride, groom and some of their friends however splurged on an absolutely gorgeous house right on the beach which was the place to be.  They were right on the doorstep of the world-famous deluxe Wickaninnish Inn  (say that 10 times fast!), which glowed beautifully in the evenings.  It got chilly at night and a campfire was pretty much a necessity.  I can't believe some of the guys are still wearing shorts in ~4 deg. weather!

The beaches were picture-perfect but unfortunately there were no waves for surfing (those people in the title photo were probably tourists who got ripped off at the surf shop).   After some unsuccessful frisbee throwing (too much wind for one of us ;) we decided to rent bodysuits and boogie boards and just hang out in the Pacific.  More hilarious but unfortunately with no photographic evidence was us struggling to get out of our wet wetsuits and then help another friend in.   Also funny were the stereotypical surfers at the board shop.  Hard to believe, but one guy actually said “excelente” at the end of every sentence (e.g. “Everybody got a suit?  Ex-cel-en-te.”)

On our last day in Tofino we took a kayak trip to Meares Island (pictured in the background).  It wasn’t quite as athletic as I would have liked, but I guess on a beginner’s trip they have to make it easy enough that any couch-potato can handle it without drowning.

Lots of majestic red cedars on the island.  Plus we all got to wear Crocs (this trip may have convinced me of their comfyness).

Three cuts from a log the guide swore weren’t carved in any way (well, at least the last one on the right).  Do you see the resemblance to three bear cubs?

Cool panorama from a British guy who dared take his camera out on the water (unlike this scaredy cat).

After Tofino we ventured down the coast a little to Ucluelet where the wedding was taking place.  Unfortunately the weather got  a little cloudy but a short hike along the Wild Pacific Trail still had some great views.

The Broken Islands peeking out of the fog

Amphitrite Point Lighthouse

All along the trail there were buoys with protests against the Northern Gateway pipeline.  Definitely attention-grabbing.

 

Wedding day!  Which way’s the beach?

The beach ceremony was followed by a reception at the swanky Black Rock Resort (pictured in the background).   Highlights were the Pimm’s cocktails, delish appetizers, candy bar (although some kids beat me to some of the good stuff) and of course the great company and dancing.  Like any ultra-successful dance party, the guys had their ties around their heads by the end of the night, although I don’t think the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle look is particularly attractive.   Unfortunately embarrassing photos of this haven't emerged yet!