Frenchy Clem on the Road: Tofino

Hi everybody,

I'm writing this entry in english not only for the very pleasure of my fluently french speaking mother but so that friends I've met on the road can actually follow one topic out of ten.

So here is about the famous (and almost only) canadian surf spot. I've named Tofino of the Vancouver Island's west coast. With Leonie, a german helper staying at Nano's friend and a great and devoted photographer for the last 2 weeks, we drove to Tofino for 2 days. With my special luck, we had a very grey but typical weather.

After a couple of stops for gas and food (see I've learned from the 9$ peanut butter in lake louise) and an hour and a half delay (thank me please) we eventually hit the road west. Pretty busy road with it's fair share of RVs (campingcars en français) and motorcycle on a sunny day. Rihanna in the hears to fit the excitement of going to a surfers' town and finally meet beautiful young people overcrowding dozen of pubs as an after surf activity.

First stop on the road : cathedral growth. A natural park of giant trees. Actually it's more a way too small parking lot on the side of the highway with dozens of people stopping and walking the 10min pathwalk to see big trees. I expected bigger trees but as they're only 300yo, they're pretty obese I guess. americans : even trees are way too big. ;-) Anyway after a couple of patient photos (thx again Leonie) we climb back in the car, U turn on the highway to head the good way (yes the parking lot was full, we had to turn around to park on the side lane) and here we go again.

The road cross the mountains and that's exciting! A turning highway!! Either Canadians aren't used to a easy turning highway (believe me, nothing to do with Ardeche or Haute Loire roads) or the highway departement consider that's everybody is on medicinal marijuna here because they expect you to slow down to 60/50/40/30 at every single curve! that's how you end up with "respect the signs ! " signs. GUYS! show us that we can trust you if you want us to follow your directives eyes closed (or almost). So it's fun to drive, scenic and not ovecrowded but busy there. A good apetizer.

20km from the coast we go down under the clouds and almost won't leave them for 2 days. The ocean is calling! but that's still a very depressing light for me.

First thing to do : check the waves and the ocean. We stoped at southchesterman beach with our delicious picnic in the bag. Low Tide, Low temperature, small waves and not a single smell of the ocean. I guess it's too pacific for me. So we set up the picnic (veggie bread + peanut butter and cheese) sitting on a log next to a fire (at 1pm) nice. but still very depressing. The waves are pretty small and seeing people in intergral wetsuit+bootie fighting for small ripple doesn't seem to be worth the 40$ it'll cost me. So no surf for me.

Then as there isn't much to do on the beach, let's hit the town, do some shopping and have a nice coffe in trendy pub somewhere. Uuh... we drove past several houses, a couple of surf shops and touristy stores and that must be it because further, it's the ocean. By the way only a dozen of people on the street mostly hyppies in front of the supermarket. Maybe they are all inside? or along the harbour? we explored all we could and no such thing. After watching the fishermen unload salmons, we ended up in a cute small tea house with view on the RV parking lot. the tea was good and only 3$.

So not much to see, espacialy if you don't want to spend a lot of money. otherwise there are great whalewatching tours, hot spring cove tour, fishing trip and want is particulary appelling for me : seaplanes (don't ask me why I find it funky, I have no idea), nice clothes (surfwear and hiking styles). but each any any of those is around 100$ so maybe in some years.

After a lazy afternoon of drinking tea and window shopping, isn't that a good vacation program? we have earned some fat fish and chips. First time in my life, it'll be salmon. I kind of regret not to have chosen halibut because I usually love it. That's the price for being a coward and not trying what you don't understand (I've translated it since, obviously).

Now time for settling the camp in Pacific Rim National Park. Yes, another must do thing to check : camping in a national park campground. We got the gear from Nano and her friend so let's find our spot (#50) and build the tent before being eaten alive by a bear. After the check in employee, there shouldn't be a problem, a bear was reported 2hrs ago 200m from the entrance but no sign since so it must have gone away. Let's believe that, they know more about canadian wildlife than I do anyway. but I still want to see a bear!! I've only seen beers so far.

the spot is really cool, forest all round, we don't see the neighbors. it feels mike camping in the wild but with security and confort. good show national parks!

so in 15 min our camp is up and ready. it's time to go see long beach.