DAY  1. – Monday, Apr. 11: – We arrived in Budapest . It was Budapest or bust. A very long hall from Toronto. We were transferred to our river cruise ship upon arrival. The AmaSonota is wonderful and the crew is outstanding. We settled in this afternoon and  enjoyed a excellent welcome dinner this evening in our own special area for 11. We met up with our four fellow travellers and got to know each other over dinner. Our after dinner treat  was to go to the top deck and cruise the harbour to take in all the lights, government buildings and many bridges. We are so lucky to be here and spending it with a great group of ladies. Good night I am toast but will be back tomorrow.

Our food guy what’s his name!!!

This was my last full day in Tofino and I was determined to squeeze in as much as possible. The weather is perfect, clear blue sky, warm sunshine and I can finally see the snow capped mountains. The view of the harbour and mountains is amazing. The nice weather has everyone out and about.  We started our day off with breakfast at Common Loaf Bake Shop where we had a slice of breakfast pizza. Delicious!

 With full tummies we headed over to Chesterman beach for a hike along a walkway lined with large trees and thick vibrant green undergrowth. At the end of the walkway there’s a platform with spectacular views of the beach.

We changed into our wetsuits, gathered up our boogy boards and headed back to the beach to catch some waves.  The Pacific ocean is very cold, full wet suit gear is imperative; body suit, hood, boots and gloves.  The sun was shining which made the experience amazing. We spent hours playing in the surf with our boogy boards.  There were dozens of surfers around us enjoying this fabulous day.  On a day like this you can certainly see this is a surf town.  Sorry there are no photos of us playing in the water. it wasn’t possible to manage a camera and boogy board at the same time.After working up an appetite playing in the waves we changed out of our wet suits and headed back to Tofino for lunch at Wolf in the Fog. I had one of the tastiest burgers, the secret was in the sauce.  Yummy! The sun is still shining and the view of the snow capped mountains stunning.  Our next adventure of the day is a whale watching tour with Atleo Air.     We took off from the harbour flying over the islands out to the open sea.  Within minutes we spotted our first grey whale.  It’s amazing how well you can see the full body of the whale in the water below.  From the sky it doesn’t look big, until you compare it to the nearby boats. This grey whale is about 50 feet long. It’s larger than the whale watching boats beside it.

What a view from up above,  We flew over an island covered with sea lions basking in the sun. The beaches are long and unspoiled, the colour of the ocean deep shades of blue and the waves a frothy white as they crash on the rocks below.

It’s a warm evening. We decided to stay in town to enjoy a cocktail at an outdoor patio overlooking the harbour. I spotted another eagle perched on the top of a barren tree.  

This has been a fabulous day filled with adventure. Hiking, boogy boarding, whale watching from the sky. We headed back to the beach to take in the amazing sunset. The crimson glow of the sun on the water was spectacular.

For our last evening in Tofino we decided to go out for dinner at Schooners, a  fine dining restaurant offering a variety of seafood dishes.  I enjoyed a delicious grilled red snapper served with an array of dipping sauces and fresh veggies.  I’ve enjoyed 8 fun filled days in Tofino.  This is definitely a world class destination that I plan on visiting again. Perhaps I’ll try surfing next time. Check out TOURISM TOFINO to plan your trip to this fabulous Canadian playground.

The last couple of days have been typical Tofino weather, overcast sky with rain or mist.
Day 6 we just relaxed. We needed a day to recuperate after our busy schedule.
Day 7 we had a lazy morning and then went to visit the Wickaninnish Inn .  This four star rustic elegance Relais and Chateaux property is situated on Chesterman Beach, rated as one of the top beaches in the world.  We had a fabulous lunch at the elegant Pointe Restaurant and enjoyed the panoramic ocean view from our table. The water is rough today creating a dramatic scene as the waves break on the rocks below. I can see why this Inn is world renowned; the scenery, the rustic beauty and the excellent service. In the dining room there is an unfinished totem. It is the last piece of Henry Nolla, a famous local carver that was a mentor to a community of West Coast  wood carvers. His work can be seen throughout the Wick property. You can learn more about Henry and view his work at the Wick’s Carving Shed.

After pulling some strings we were granted permission to explore Shell Beach, a private beach that is part of the Wick property.  We combed the beach looking for sea glass and shells. It was a jackpot of colour and a variety of shells.  Needless to say our pockets were full by the time we finished exploring.

A lone raven perched on a rock to watch us, hoping  we would dig up some unopened clams or oysters. Perched high in the trees above  were two majestic eagles. There are so many eagles here in the rain forest. It’s such a treat to listen to their haunting cries and watch them soaring in the sky.

Today we cruised on the Eagle Princess off the coast of BC, through the calm waters of the inlet. The scenery is amazing, The weather is cooperative with the sun drifting in and out of the clouds.  I still can’t see the glacier peaks that everyone keeps telling me about, I’m sure they must be there. As we readied the boat for take off one of the local fisherman came by to offer us some goose neck barnacles. This tasty delicacy is served at many of the restaurants in town. Collected from the rocks during low tide, it’s quite dangerous and takes someone with a lot of nerve to do this job.

As we cruised up the inlet we passed fish farms and a boat towing a temporary home from one farm to another. it’s so peaceful out here and the natural beauty of the mountains, trees and rocks is breathtaking. We spotted a family of hawks perched in a tree.

We stopped at Eagle Bay to visit Happy, a friend of the Skipper. He has his house boat moored in the bay along with remnants of boats that he will soon bring back to life with his talent and ingenuity. This calm by was the perfect spot to enjoy our picnic lunch. The home-made cake was a big hit. Thanks Keara. Skipper Paul seemed to be enjoying the company of the lovely ladies.

 A family of eagles soaring overhead were teaching a young one how to fly.  It was quite impressive watching them swoop and soar through the sky. The beauty of the forest, rocks and sea is calming to the soul.  We sat on the boats for a while taking in our surroundings and enjoying the warm sun and cool air on our face.

 We continued our cruise across the inlet and pulled into another bay to visit Chris. He lives here on his boat with his dog Tessa. The nomad lifestyle seems to be popular among the locals. Up until the early 1980’s this area was a busy logging community. Today only a few outbuildings remain including he central fuelling station. The dock area is quite impressive, built from steel and large sturdy logs.

We took a stroll along the old logging roads. There were bushes in bloom with beautiful flowers in shades of pink, purple and yellow. As we passed by a trickling mountain stream Tessa stopped for a drink.  The pathway is lined with moss making it feel as though you are walking on a carpet. The forest is laden with ferns and vines in various shades of green. It’s a truly magical place.  Chris points out a path in the bush leading from one beach to another that was created by a very large bear.  Fortunately we did not come across the bear during our walk.

We arrive back to the tranquil bay and our waiting boat.  Its such a fabulous day we’ve decided to go for a swim.  The weather is warmer than it has been and the sun is shining.  The water in the inlet is still quite cool in April so we had to wear cold water wet suits. I rented mine in Tofino from Long Beach Surf Shop. The prices are quite reasonable here. It’s quite a chore getting into the tight fitting suits, I couldn’t imagine doing it without help. We jumped into the water one by one then swam about to circulate the water inside of our suits. Your body temperature heats up a the thin layer of water inside your suit keeping you nice and warm.   It’s late afternoon, the wind has picked up and the air is quite a bit cooler now.  We say our goodbyes to Chris and Tessa as Skipper Paul starts the engines. During the cruise back to Tofino everyone chose to stay in the cabin to keep warm.  Someone put on music and we had a sing song along the way.  What a great day with wonderful a group of people.  Thank you to  Skipper Paul Sam for a delightful day on the Eagle Princess.

This morning we went to St Columba church in Tofino.  Pastor William gave a wonderful sermon and baptised twin baby girls, Crimson and Clover. It was a beautiful service.
Afterwards we went for lunch at Sobo Restaurant.  I had a delicious Chicken Tortilla and my friends had Thai Chicken Roti and Huevos Rancheros.  The food is excellent here. I highly recommend a visit to Sobo when visiting Tofino.

After lunch I took a 2 hour walk on Mackenzie Beach, a long sandy beach with many hidden treasures. Interesting rock formations, razor clams covered in barnacles, tide pools with starfish and purple and green anemones. It’s mesmerizing to watch the sea rush into the crevices and over the rocks to fill the pools. I love being at the beach!  

Today was so much fun!!!!!  I finally ticked whale watching off my bucket list.  Thankfully it was a fairly clear day and the ocean was calm. The perfect day for a whale watching tour.  For our expedition we chose Jamie’s Whaling Station ,  the original whale tour company in Tofino operating since 1982.  First we put on our full body cruiser suits, toques and gloves. The suits act as a life jacket and they keep you warm. In April it can be very cool out on the water. The suits  are big and puffy, you feel like you’ve been suited up for a moon walk. We waddled down to the dock where our guide Krista is waiting for us. We carefully climbed into the zodiac,

 Krista explains where we are going and what we hope to see.  As we headed towards the open ocean Krista steered the zodiac into a small inlet which is a favourite hangout for seals.  The rocks are covered with seals of all colours and sizes. Years ago the seals were hunted almost to extinction. Slowly the population is beginning to increase.  Seals have very small fins so they are not able to climb onto the rocks, they must wait for a wave to wash them up.  It’s cute to watch them bobbing in the water until the surge pushes them onto the rocks.   We also saw a beautiful eagle perched on the top of the rocks.

Krista steers the zodiac into the open waters of the Pacific Ocean. We are on the most westerly part of Canada and from here there is nothing but the deep blue sea between us and Japan.  Today our mission is to find some Grey whales. From February to April they migrate from Baja  California and Mexico to Alaska.  Grey whales are bottom feeders that dive to the bottom and take in water and mud to collect their food, then resurface to filter what they collect and breath.  The easiest way to find them is to watch for the water spray as they blow out.  They typically travel alone but today we are in luck there are six whales travelling together. It’s quit a site to see as there body slowly surfaces and the sound is quite loud as they blow air out of their spout. The best shot is when you get the wave of a tail.  These whales are huge, reaching up to 14 metres (49 ft) in length,  weighing up to 36 tonnes and live between 55 and 70 years.

On our way back to the inlet we came across a raft of sea otters. There were about 10 otters linked together just floating in the ocean. They look so cute. Otters can be quite shy and will separate and dive down if you make too much noise. They didn’t seem to mind that we were there watching them.  One curious otter came near to get a better look at us.

As we continued towards the inlet we passed a small island covered in sea lions. They were lounging on the rocks, some barking at each other and some were swimming near the edge of the rock. There was quite a sizeable group.

 The scenery is breathtaking; sea, sky and mountains.  The inlet is dotted with small islands, One island was a resting place for dozens of cormorant birds.  As we neared Tofino we passed Meares Island which is the Opitsaht community.  I was surprised to see cows at the waters edge. Many years ago European settlers gifted 9 cows to the first nations community.. The natives didn’t want the cows as they saw no use for them. They let them go into the wild expecting them to be eaten by wolves and cougars. Surprisingly they survived and flourished and today there are about 30 cows. They have adapted to island living by eating the sea grasses at the waters edge during low tide.

On the way back into Tofino harbour we spotted an Eagle flying overheard. They look so graceful as they soar on the breeze. Across from the docking area the first BC ferry perched on a rock, it’s now someone’s home.  Once back on dry land we received a call from a friend inviting us over for crab dinner. He had fresh cooked Dungeness crab waiting for us.  It was delicious!!!

Today was a busy one. We started off having breakfast at Common Loaf, a quaint bakery located in the  town of Tofino. I had a delicious tomato and pepper quiche and a frothy hot chocolate. I highly recommend a visit to this bakery.
Apparently the scenery is beautiful here with majestic snow capped mountains surrounding the town. I haven’t seen them yet. The low lying clouds have covered them up and the air is cool and damp. We donned our rubber boots and rain coats and headed out for our day of beach discoveries.  First stop, Chesterman Beach. We walked along the wide open beach to Frank’s Island, a great place to discover the tide pools.  We found a great pool teeming with life; dozens of orange and purple sea stars and  bright green anemoes.

The waves of the Pacific ocean roll in and crash on the rocks. This beach is one of the top surfing beaches in Tofino. As we walked back across the beach we discovered colourful shells and interesting creatures from the sea. The world renowned Wickaninnish Inn is situated on the edge of this vast beach. 

Cox Bay was our second stop and another favourite surf site.  The board walk from the car park to the beach is lined with moss covered cedar trees and colourful flowers.  We watched the surfers try to catch a wave as we walked along the expansive sandy beach.   

The edge of the water was lined with small velella velella jelly fish also called by-the-wind-sailor. The beach is laden with sand dollars that have been washed up by the sea. The Legend of the Sand Dollar is an interesting ancient myth.

We continued our journey driving south on highway 4 to the town of Ucluelet. Our first stop  was the Amphitrite Lighthouse located on theWild Pacific Trail. Originally built in 1906 and rebuilt in 1915 with the current building where it sits on the top of the rocks. There is a magnificent view of Barkley Sound and the Broken Islands.  We climbed up, down and over the rocks for a better view and to watch the water rush into a narrow crevice.

For lunch we stopped at Abbondanza Pizzeria where they make the best wood fired pizza. It’s as good as what you would find in Italy. We had the 5 cheese pizza.  Delicious! If you are in Ucluelet you must stop for a slice of their amazing pizza.

Our last stop in Ucluelet was Wya Point campground located in the lush coastal rain forest on the edge of the world-famous Pacific Rim National Park. The campground has Yurt accommodation for glamping. The single Yurts are sparse with a sofa bed, dresser, table, water cooler and barbecue. The back porch has a couple of chairs and a fabulous view of the ocean and beach which is only a few steps away.

 We headed back to Tofino and called it a day.  It was a busy one with beach walks and climbing over rocks. I wonder what adventure tomorrow will bring.

It’s spring time in Victoria,  sunny sky, warm temperatures and the flowers and blossoms are in full bloom.  After a great lunch at Jam Cafe we hit the road for our drive to Tofino.  The weather is fantastic, we have the car windows open and the tunes up high.  As we leave the southern part of Vancouver island the scenery changed. The road is hilly and windy with beautiful scenery at every bend in the road.  We stopped at Malahoot Lookout to view Brentwood Bay, Mt. Newton and Swartz Bay off in the distance.

As we continued our drive the mountains get larger and the trees taller.  Our next stop was Cameron Lake to take in the majestic scenery of the mountains, lake and sky, The air is fresh and clean here.

We made and ice cream stop at the Old Country Market in Coombs, better known as Goats on Roof. The main building has a grass roof and there are usually goats on it. Unfortunately they weren’t out today so I missed the goats on the roof.  The country market has excellent produce and their ice cream is some of the best I’ve eaten.  It’s worth the stop in Coombs.

As we drove north the temperature began to drop but the sun was still shining bright.  I wouldn’t want to do this winding drive in the dark and miss this beautiful scenery. Our goal was to get to Tofino before the sun set, but it’s so hard not to stop to take photos. We stopped to listen to the sound of the rushing river cascading over the rocks and to view the crimson colours of the sky as the sun set behind the mountains.

As we neared Tofino there were a couple of cars stopped at the side of the highway. We slowed down to see what was going on and to our delight there was a black bear on the hill having his evening meal.  He was totally oblivious to the cars and people and quietly went about his business.  He looks very healthy and his deep black coat shimmered in the evening light.
What a sight to see! Our first day comes to an end. I can’t wait for tomorrows adventures.