Canada 2018 Blog #2

Day 11  -              9^th August 2018

Quiet day today. Another beautiful day weatherwise.

In the afternoon we drove into Ucluelet to do the lighthouse circuit walk. This walk goes around the waters edge on the point and has lots of little lookouts and benches to sit on. The sea fog was on the southern side of the point and the lighthouse was blasting its horn as well as using its light. A very nice walk with no steps but a few steep sections. Very popular walk.

View from Accommodation at 7:40 am

View from Accommodation at 9:50 am

Lighthouse Trail View

Lighthouse with Sea Fog

Yes it does get windy but not today

Day 12  -              10^th August 2018

Left Ucluelet this morning at 8:20. 16 degrees when we left, and the forecast is for another hot day. Arrived at Cathedral Grove at 10:30 and it was busy, but not as bad as when we came through a few days ago. Managed to get a car park as someone was leaving as we were trying to find a spot. Did the walk around the trail on one side of the highway which included the big tree however most of the trees on the walk are big. There were lots of people including screaming and yelling kids (not ours as they are still in the car!!). Also the highway goes right through the park and the walks are close to the highway so it is very noisy. We decided to give the walk on the other side of the highway a miss and headed back to Little Qualicum Falls Park for morning tea as we knew it would be quieter and they also had picnic tables.

Parksville to view the Sand Sculptures and exited the highway just as the traffic started to backup as a car had caught fire on the highway. Sand Sculptures at 12:10 and temperature is up to 27 degrees. The woman who took our money going into the Sculptures saw the Royal Flying Doctor Service embroidered on Joy’s shirt and commented on it, as she knew it was from Australia – Joy was quite impressed! After viewing the Sculptures we had lunch in the park under the shade of some very large trees. Some Canadians have a funny view of what a “small car” is. There was parking for “small cars” and people had parked large 4wds (or SUVs as they call them) there.

One of the Sand Sculptures of the Antarctic and Penguins

Closer shot showing the penguins looking at each other. Can he make it???

Elk Falls Provincial Park for a walk. Went to lookout and Suspension bridge which was a Rotary project. Joy walked the Suspension bridge but Les only went about ¼ of the way – he was very brave! 

Elk Falls ans Suspension Bridge from Lower Lookout

Joy on Suspension Bridge

Then down to the lower lookout and back which involved a fair bit of down and back up walking. 30 degrees when we got back to the car.

Into town and booked into motel. We have a room on the top floor (bit of a challenge for Joy with her dodgy knee, but she is such a trooper) with a great view over Discovery Passage and Quadra Island. Temperature is now 31 degrees and it is 5:50 pm!!

View from Motel room

Day 13 -              11^th August 2018

Woke to the sound of thunder, how far off I lay there and wondered…(could be turned into a good song!!). Storms on the other side of the passage but we also soon got some rain. Forecast is for rain/storms most of the day but no rain up north until later today.

Sunrise but thunderstorms around

Our first rainy day in Canada

Grabbed some free continental breakfast from motel office and sat and watched the rain and clouds. 8:40 we headed off towards Port Hardy. The rain has set in and Les is having to concentrate as the windscreen wipers and the indicators on the car are on the ONE control on the steering column. Push up and down for blinkers. Push forward for high beam (lights are always on when car is running). Twist the control for wiper and push in the control for washer!! Had morning tea at Eve River, which is near Adam River. Saw a “Stellar Jay” which is a black and blue bird. By now the rain has cleared however still cloudy and very misty on the hills.

Telegraph Cove is a pretty little cove which has become a tourist attraction. 

Telegraph Cove

A Bear needs his coffee!!!

Parking is challenging, and costs $4 for 2 hours or $8 for the whole day, regardless of where you park. There are many old buildings on or next to the wharf that can be rented. There is also a new motel/apartments and they are renovating more rooms in a bigger building. There are also a few shops plus a Whale Interpretative Centre which we visited. The General Store also sells drinks (including coffee) and food, and out the front has a covered area filled with comfy lounges and coffee tables at which to consume those things. All in all a pretty place that has gone too commercial. Drove to Port McNeill where we sat on park bench on the waterfront and had our salad rolls for lunch. Weather is still very overcast and misty and only 15 degrees.

Drove on to Port Hardy where Joy checked out the Community Craft Shop. The craft shop is combined with a coffee shop and looks to do a reasonable business. The items for sale range from knitted tea cosies (the ones at Rankin Cottage are better) and Bevimitts (look them up – wonder if they might be a go for Bathurst?), through pottery and jewellery, to very professional-looking carvings. Afternoon tea at Eagles Nest Rest Area on the way home. Got back to the motel at 5:49 with the weather dry but still overcast but has warmed to 21 degrees.

Went to Dicks Fish and Chips to buy takeaway and sit on the jetty. Ordered halibut (2) with chips, calamari and yam chips totalling $35.00. Walked to the wharf and found a seat and by now it is cold and windy. Sat and ate tea with rain jackets on to protect from the wind. 

Check out the condiments on the arm rest

Joy had a coughing fit but Les managed to buy her a bottle of water from the shop on the jetty.

How strong the tide gets in Campbell River

Back to the room for dessert. Stopped and spoke to lady walking her cute little 7 month old puppy. It was very happy to meet us but is trained (to some extent) as it will become a companion dog. Les managed to get it to sit a few times. She gave us a few tips as she was at once stage from Alberta, but as we have everything booked we can’t deviate much from our plans.

Day 14  -              12^th August 2018

Today was to be a relaxing rest day for the morning and a late trip to the Museum. Well…. In to town at 9:00 to the laundromat. Very popular place on a Sunday morning. We got a washing machine but others that came in later were not so lucky. Wandered around a bit while the washing was being done and Joy found a ‘Needle and Art’ shop but it was closed ☹. 

Smoke almost blotting out the sun

Back to laundromat to do the drying. Back to the motel and then a walk to the Farmers Markets about 500 metres down the road. 

Proof Les was at the markets!!!

We needed some milk so thought just a short walk down the street which took us past the ‘Needle and Art’ shop which was now open so Joy went in while Les sat on the seat outside. Joy discovered that Canada doesn’t really produce yarn, except for the big chunky stuff they use for the First Nations jumpers, and imports everything else.

Continued further down the street and eventually found the grocery store we had been to a few days earlier. Bought supplies then navigated the back streets back to the motel dodging the hills. Worked out we had walked about 4 to 5 km. Lunch and short rest before the 100 metre walk to the Campbell River Museum which was very good.

Aussies everywhere!!!

In 1985 these started in new subdivisions instead of normal letterbox at your front gate. In 2013 they started phasing out all door to door deliveries in urban areas. You collect your mail from these and if you have a parcel it is placed in the A or B boxes and a key is placed in your mail box. After you unlock the box for the parcel you put the key in the red box which is also a letter box for posting letters. 

Day 15  -              13^th August 2018

Seal from our accommodation

Time to leave Vancouver Island and head to “The Mainland”.  It has been getting very hazy and smoky over the last few days and today is the worst so far. Apparently, lots of forest fires and the smoke tends to drift towards Vancouver and the coast. After taking all our gear down 2 storeys to the car (getting good at this) we headed off at 8:45. Stopped to refuel at Husky servo as we have a card that gives us discounts. You get double points if you pay inside rather than at the bowser and since the bowser will only accept Canadian Cards we have no choice. We are now up to $5.00 off our next fuel purchase. And no, they are no more expensive than other brands of fuel. Generally, the price is the same in all servos in the same town.

First stop today is Kitty Coleman Gardens which is a large private garden (not manicured) that would look spectacular when the Rhododendrons are in flower. Works on an honesty payment system and while a nice walk not sure it was worth $8 per person when compared to other things we have done but helped fill in time before the ferry ride. 

Kitty Coleman Gardens

Next stop was just down the road at Seal Bay Park where we had morning tea in the car as no picnic tables. We have noticed many Canadians take their dogs with them and they are allowed in most National & Provincial Parks, but we have also seen several take a cup of coffee with them!! 

Notice the coffee cup on the log!

Track to Seal Bay

Two seals on the rock. One just to right and two more further right. The middle one looking right at us.

Lovely 1 hour walk down the hill to the beach where we saw several seals a few hundred metres off shore. Also saw some commotion in the water and not sure if it was seal chasing food or seal being chased AS food.

Lunch was at Qualicum Beach after we repeatedly ignored the GPS as it wanted to get us to the Ferry Terminal via the Inland Island Hwy and we wanted to do the coastal road. 

Enjoying the beach!

After lunch we spotted 2 deer on the side of the road. Not in bushland but mixture of light bush and houses. We slowed down, but most others did not. Quick walk at Neck Point Park – quite a nice walk, with views across to an island that has shacks on it, built and used in the Depression in a similar way to the shacks in the Royal National Park near Sydney. The shacks are still used, being passed down to family members, also in a similar way to those in the Royal National Park. The walk filled in time as we are not allowed to arrive at Ferry Terminal before 2:30 as we have booked and can only arrive between 30 and 60 minutes before ferry departure time. This time there is a 1 sail delay so without a reservation we would have had to wait at least 1 ½ hours instead of ½ hour.

The smallest coffee they served on the Ferry

Arrived at Horseshoe Bay (“The Mainland”) at about 5:10 and booked into the motel which is only ½ km away. Walked down town (100 metres) and decided on Troll’s Restaurant for tea. Almost all the restaurants are seafood type places. Joy had prawn and scallop linguine and Les has cod, prawns and chips. While we were eating we saw a couple of seals in the harbour. After tea did a walk around the harbour trying to get a photo of the harbour seal but he was too elusive to be photographed.

Beautiful carving at motel

Smoky view from Horseshoe Bay ("the Mainland")

Day 16  -              14^th August 2018

Woke to another smoky day and after packing the car headed across the road to the “Flour Bakery” for bread rolls and treats. Found out they don’t sell bread rolls so we just got treats!! First stop today was Shannon Falls which is very impressive but you cannot get very close as the falls are a long way up (well at the start anyway). Lovely creek at the base of the falls with cascades, etc as well. There were also 4 people sitting on boulders in the creek doing yoga. Some people just love to show off and make sure you cannot get a photo without them in it!!

Shannon Falls

Base of Shannon Falls

Just up the road is Stawamus Chief which is a favourite place for bouldering and rock climbing. It is a HUGE cliff face and has over 50 climbing paths to the top. There is also a gondola ride, but the view would be non-existent today due to the smoke. 

Stawamus Chief

Climbers on Stawamus Chief

Stopped at Squamish for bread rolls and morning tea. Joy had cappuccino (average coffee and terrible milk/froth).

Road signs with English, Sqamish and Lil'wat. The road from Vancouver to Pemberton travels through Sqamish and Lil'wat regions including an area they both claimed. So how did they settle the argument?  They formed a joint committee to cover the joint area and lived in peace.

There is Brackendale Eagle Park just up the road which is on the opposite side of the river and has lots of eagles nest here during nesting season (winter) but none there today. Quick stop at Tantalus Lookout to view the smoke and on to Brandywine Falls. 

View of smoke at Tantalus Lookout

Had to go around the car park 3 times before we lucked in getting a car park as a car had just left. Walked to the falls where every man and his dog and his partners and his kids and his grandkids wanted to take a selfie in front of the waterfall! Les finally got a chance to get some shots, annoying a couple of people who wanted yet another selfie, but every time someone stepped on the platform it moved so the “flowing” water shots are not so great. But impressive waterfall never the less. 

Brandywine Falls

On to a lookout a bit further along where we saw a chipmunk, but he/she was too quick to get a photo. Back towards the car park and off on a side track to the Bungee Jump Platform/Bridge. As this is a 6 km round trip the bulk of the tourists don’t do this trail so was fairly peaceful. Generally, a good track but some long up and downhill sections. Watched a few bungee jumps and headed back. 

Joy on track to Bungee Jump

View from track to Bungee Jump

Natures own crazy paving

Whistler Bungee Jump

Whistler Bungee Jump

View down the river

Track between Brandywine Falls and Bungee Jump

Joy spotted and scared a Garter Snake (non venomous, yellow stripped snake). We have seen many berries and we saw a big poo but as it did not have bear bells or smell of capsicum spray do not think it was bear poo!! Back at car park at 2:15 for a late lunch.

Next stop was another waterfall, Alexander Falls and the track to this one is 20 metres unless you park at the far side of the car park and it would be 50 metres! Another impressive waterfall. The short dirt road from the sealed road to car park (about 100m) was the roughest we have been on. Very potholey and bumpy.

Alexander Falls

Arrived at Whistler at 3:40 and settled into accommodation before walking to the shops about 200 metres away to do the grocery shopping.

Day 17  -              15^th August 2018

Today was going to be a bit of a rest day but we decided to do a 4WD tour with Whistler Discovery Tours called the “Moose Valley Experience”. We got picked up for the tour at 11:30 from the accommodation. Only 4 people on the tour, and Les got to sit in the front next to the driver. It doesn’t actually go to Moose Valley which is about 330 km away but took us to Soo River Valley and then a climb up the valley side to a small cabin in the wilderness (Google Maps 50.242736, -122.949855). 

The views down the valley and the mountains on the other side were great even though the smoke is still hanging around but has improved. 

View above Soo Valley

Rainbow Mountain above Soo Valley in the smoke haze

Rainbow Mountain and Soo Valley and Soo River

Cabin in the wilderness. Put 50.242736, -122.949855 in Google Map as satellite image and you can see the cabin and the road we climbed.

We didn’t see bears but did see evidence of bears (ie poo). We did see a grouse, a heron, a chipmunk and a Stellar jay (yes, only one of each). Also found out why they say a “Garbage Bear is a Dead Bear”. If a bear is found in a person’s house, yard, garbage, etc they try to catch them, and they tag them and take them away and release them in the wild. If they are again found in a person’s house, yard, garbage, etc they shoot them. The reason is if they do it more than once it becomes a habit and they become dangerous.

Arrived back in Whistler just after 2:30. Since the tour started before lunch time and finished after lunch time, we were hungry so had a few snacks and a drink before heading to the Whistler Farmers Markets which are fairly basic with about 20 stalls selling farm produce to jewellery and chocolate (yes Joy bought some). Back to the North shopping centre for afternoon tea, shopping and post some cards.

No it is not a bear but just his black dog!

More markets!!

Peace Bridge, Whistler

I need a rest after the markets!!

Afternoon tea with Whistler Mountain in the background

Heaps of mountain bikers around Whistler, making it a bit risky walking on the shared trails. We suspect there are normally a few bikers around here in summer since there are a few bike shops and trails marked, but there is also an event on here this week – the Crankworx World Tour is in town!

Temperature up to 31 degrees by 6:00 pm.