Maquinna Lodge Tofino

... ocean's edge. I sat in the pool and let the hot water trickle down my back. Every so often one of the icily cold waves would crash over the rocks, flooding our pool. Half hot, half cold, it felt wonderfully unreal. Then the wave would subside, and the pool would warm up again, until the next wave broke. I left the safety of that last pool, and sat where the hot stream met the North Pacific. The water from the springs took the ...

... into the trees, and all was still. <br><br>After a day of exploration, we stopped at Meares Island and followed the Big Tree Walk, through magnificent old growth forest. A nosy blue jay decided that we were great entertainment. It investigated my fleece as suitable nesting material, then hung around to watch us take pictures, hoping to find more mischief to cause.<br><br ...

We said goodbye to Jim's mum, then we drove to Nanoose Bay, where Jim and his boat Island Prism had started their round-the-world journey. In the years since he left, the old beaver pond had gone, but wilderness was still close- a four prong buck gazed out at us from amongst autumn leaves in a back garden. We visited Schooner Cove marina, and then commenced the drive to the west of the island.<br><br>The journey proved to be an interesting one, with many ...

... en pau. Menys en Vincent i jo que teniem pagat una especie de matalas a terra perque l'alberg era ple i no podiem dormir en habitacions i quan arribem a la matinada no havia lloc per nosaltres. De debo que no vaig montar un pollo, nomes vaig despertar l'amo del xiringo per a que soluciones el problema. Resultat: jo dormint en un sofa (tot i haver pagat 23$) i en Vincent a la casa del propietari. Crec que vaig fer un mal negoci.<br>El retorn a Vancouver ...

... water so briefly it was virtually impossible to get a decent photo of one. Returned back to the harbour where we had a nice feed overlooking the water, and warming up again after getting pretty chilled on the return boat journey. Took off bright and early the next morning to head to Tofino - half way up Vanc Island on the west coast (gotta head north on the eastern coast for a while first before heading across to the west coast). Driving through the island ...

... out of the sand dunes as if he had just been for a pee. He was as surprised to see us as we were to see him. Phil clamped the video cameras to his head and glanced round to see Chrissy who had jus completed the 100m dash in record time (apparently to save Monty's life). Phil turned to film the Bear and it was gone. It is the truth. What an experience and we did not pay to see it and it was definitely not a man in a suit ...

... despite his many threats about tipping us over if we so much as got him wet, was eventually overcome by my well-aimed attacks. The week flew by and I'll take some great memories with me from this week. I was caught off guard when it was already the final day and I still hadn't gotten to spend time with some of the gang. Thanks so much, mom & Russ, for such a fantastic trip! We're missing everyone already and can't wait to coerce you to join us somewhere else along the road. Enjoy the pics!

... Leah :) ) Megan took us the following morning to the Coombs market filled with fruits, chocolate, pottery and fun-coloured wigs to try on. The afternoon was spent canoeing on Horne Lake. The geography of the lake and surrounding hills much resembled northern Ontario with the subtle detail that there are cougars roaming the vicinity. Luckily none were found however I did have some encounters with other Horne Lake Predators. Creatures found ...