Pacific Rim National Park

Near Tofino on the very west coast of Vancouver Island, I stayed at Esowista, a First Nation village, halfway between Tofino and Ecluelet right on the beach at the northern end of Long Beach. I hoped for surf, but it had been flat for about a week. I swam anyway but the water only came up to my waist. I slushed my way to a mini-island where cedars clawed their way between boulders to take root.

A city by the sea

The Trans-Canada Highway runs right across Canada from Victoria where I was headed on the west coast, to Newfoundland on the east coast, nearly eight thousand kilometres. Not surprisingly, it’s the longest national highway in the world. I had been to its eastern extreme so was keen to visit the highway’s starting point. (featured image)

The Sunshine Coast

In a region that receives about one hundred centimetres (not millimetres) of rain annually, I cannot fathom how British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast got its name. However, during the summer I first visited, I was lucky to experience some of its namesake.

Art on the beach

Featured photo: The winner — John Mohr’s Ocea-Lady of the Kelp

With so much driftwood marooned on Campbell River’s tide line, a carving competition was someone’s bright idea.

Just me by the sea — Campbell River

Vancouver Island’s Campbell River walkway was both a hiking and biking pathway following the coast where Quadra Island shimmered off shore.

A suspension bridge?

I heard someone say as I left the Elk Falls Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, that they wanted to see the bridge. Really? What drew me to the site was the name, Elk Falls. The suspension bridge was just an extra surprise.

A Wander through Elk Falls Provincial Park

This Vancouver Island provincial Park was not far west of Campbell River. With easy walking trails and a waterfall, I was surprised there weren’t even more people on the Sunday I visited.

First Nation Encounter

I was on my way to hike through Vancouver Island’s Elk Falls when I was greeted by singing and dancing. I’m not sure where this First Nation group were from, but their clothes were Haida Guai from the Queen Charlotte Islands.

Comox Harbour

From the brochure I picked up on Vancouver Island’s Comox Valley, there was a great write up on this walkway, but the more spectacular Goose Spit Park didn’t even get a mention.

Nob Hill Greenway cardiac climb

At one end of Goose Spit Park was Nob Hill Greenway. It appeared to be a workout for the local Comox crowd who jogged up the two hundred and forty-five steps and raced back down again.