Author: bbpeck

Today we wanted to do some hiking in Canada’s Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, which lies in between Tofino, where we’re staying, and Ucluelet. The national park is 197 square miles, bordered on one side by the Pacific Ocean. It is divided by a highway that runs through it and connects the two towns (Tofino and Ucluelet). It has a number of trailheads that can be accessed by car, as well as by foot and bike due to the multi-use trail which also connects the two towns.

Our first stop this morning was Combers Beach Trail. There was plenty of parking in the large lot on (what was then) a misty/foggy day. As required, we purchased a day use pass from the handy pay parking machine in the lot. The cost was a very reasonable $22 Canadian ($16.22 US, £12.22), especially as it was a group price for 2 to 7 people.

The trail to the beach was a relatively short downhill trek. When we got to the beach the tide was out, which really made the beach seem huge.

We left our car parked and walked a little over a mile to our second trail, as it was connected by the great multi-use trail that parallels the Pacific Rim Highway.

Our second hike was the two-loop (one on each side of the highway) Rainforest Trail. Unless you’re allergic to green or damp, it was an almost mystical hike, almost entirely on boardwalk, through the rainforest.

Finally, I had read about a Lighthouse Loop in the town of Ucluelet. We headed to the southernmost point of the town for our final hike of the day. This one would provide us with lots of views of the Pacific Ocean without the morning mist/fog.

Below are some photos of the scenic route.

Today, we explored Tofino, starting with my early morning run along the impressive paved Multi-Use Path, which runs for 23 kilometers across the Pacific Rim National Park. I didn’t run 23 kilometers, but it made for a great, car-free run. Bob started his morning with a walk around town, on which he discovered some big heads that we photographed later.

We had a rare breakfast out at a local bakery just a couple blocks from our stay, and we sat upstairs and watched a street crew dig up a road. It seems to be the time of year in this part of the world. . .

We then headed off to find and walk the Tonquin Trail and the Tonquin Connector Trail, which connects the Tonquin to the multi-use path that you can bring back into town. The Tonquin Trail begins at Tonquin Beach and then heads through almost a rain forest type environment to Third Beach and Middle Beach.

We are surprised at the level of activity here. We thought that mid-week in mid-September, it might be fairly quiet, but it’s still busy with people, though likely not as busy as in the height of summer. We’re heading to the Pacific Rim National Park tomorrow.

Today, Bob and I completed our Sidney, BC housesit for the sweet and very special Rafa.

Based on the homeowner’s (and later other’s) recommendation, we drove from Sidney to Tofino for a visit to the west side of the island before the start of our next housesit on Friday. While it is only just over 200 miles from Sidney to Tofino, it is nearly a 5 hour drive due to the windy and curvy roads as well as some roadwork on the way. We also hit a bit of rain today just to add to the fun.

We are staying at the Lunar Cove Inn, which we reserved through AirBnB. We got a scare last night when Bob found some info online that the inn had closed. We had been receiving texts about our stay, so we reached out and learned that we are the last guests as the owners have sold the place. I was a bit worried driving here, but we do actually have a room that is as advertised. We are about a block off the main section of Tofino.

Tofino and this area of the west coast of Vancouver Island attracts surfers, hikers, nature lovers, and bird watchers. It is just outside the Pacific Rim National Park, which we hope to visit while here. It has a couple of great hiking/biking trails as well as numerous beaches.

Today, Bob and I explored some new, to us, areas of the island on a gorgeous September day. We wanted to grab lunch at Deep Cove Market, a grocery/deli which we had read about in a local paper’s Best Of results. We decided that after that, we would explore the Deep Cove area, which is north and west of Sidney.

After we drove along the coast, we stopped at Lillian Hoffar Park, which is back in Sidney. This is a very small park, which is basically a trail leading to the Salish Sea near Sidney Harbor (which is different than Sidney Pier near downtown).

Our time in Sidney is drawing to a close. We will be leaving Tuesday morning to head to Tofino on the west side of the island for a few days before starting our next housesit.

Bob and I did a repeat visit to the Saanich Fair, which is held every year over the Labour Day weekend. Fairs remind me of my youth, as I was in 4-H and exhibited in sewing, baking, stitchery, and knitting. We had a good time checking out the exhibits, looking at the animals, eating bad (for you) fair food, and listening to a local band.

Oh, and Bob found a fair-themed big head opportunity.

Bob and I continue to enjoy the Sidney area and are current canine charge. Our routine, as is typical for a housesit, is that I get up early for my run/ workout, and Bob does the early feeding and walk. I get up about 5 am, and Bob is out the door here between 5:30 and 6:00. Bob has been blessed with some beautiful sunrises over the Salish Sea during their early morning walks.

We walk Rafa 4 times a day, 2 of which are about 30 minutes, one quick one right before bed, and then a longer one, usually some time between 8 am and noon. The longer one, might be anything from a 40 minute ball catching/play session at the dog park to hour long hikes around Sidney or other island parks to longer walks on the 9k Flight Path around the airport or the 10k trail around Elk Lake.

Usually, when we go to the dog park, we try to go at a quieter time to be able to throw the ball more easily without having to worry about other dogs getting it. However, last week, we joined a regular 8:00 am group that our home owner usually meets up with, so that Rafa could get some play time with his canine pals.

We haven’t tried any new parks this year, as we hit most of them last year, but we have tried a couple new (for us) restaurants, took in a movie at the local cinema a block from the condo, and even went to an open house for a new condominium complex that is just opening.

Today, Bob and I attended the 11th annual Salish Sea Lantern Festival held in Beacon Park, literally 4 blocks from where we are housesitting. The festival is put on by the ArtSea Community Arts Council and has food trucks, face painting, music, and lots of handmade lanterns. Lanterns have been displayed around the downtown area prior to today to promote today’s event.

After a convention-al past few days and a lovely birthday celebration dinner for Bob last night (We both forgot to photo our very yummy Italian dinners), I finally made it out this afternoon to go into the Sidney/North Saanich Branch Library, which I have run by, and we have walked Rafa by a number of times this year and last year.

It is one of the most beautifully landscaped libraries I have seen and has a community wellness park beside it. Bob and I still need to try the equipment out. I do appreciate a good free exercise park.

The Sidney branch library has been open since 1967, but has only been at its current location since 1982 and was recently renovated in 2019.

This has been a festive weekend in Sidney. Yesterday, was an all-day sidewalk sale downtown (where we the current sit is located) as well as the first day of the North Saanich Flavour Trails Festival, a festival that offers a number of activities to celebrate local farmers, fishers, food producers, etc. Today, was the second day of that festival as well as an open house (donations appreciated) at the BC Aviation Museum.

After walking the 9k Flight Path Trail with Rafa yesterday morning, we chose to stay in Sidney and walk through the Sidewalk Sale and down near the seaside on a lovely, warm summer day. We didn’t photo the sales items, but here are some pics of the active town yesterday.

Today has been rainy, but after a mid-morning walk with Rafa through some Sidney neighborhoods, we went out to check out a bit of the other events that were going on. First, we headed to the Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture to watch a sheep herding demonstration. This is something that we had seen on TV at a housesit in Scotland but had not yet seen in person.

Today’s sheep herding demonstration was a pretty low-key affair, as the sheep were not familiar with dogs, but the human part of the sheep herding demonstration was very informative and is on his way to the Canadian national competition with his border collies.

From the sheep herding, we drove not even 10 minutes to the British Columbia Aviation Museum to check that out. We entered by giving a donation of a five Canadian dollar bill that we still had from last year’s BC housesits.

The museum is on the grounds of the Victoria International Airport and consists of two hangars, a classroom, a restoration workshop, and a gift shop. It was established in 1985.

On Wednesday morning, Bob and I arrived at the downtown condo in Sidney to meet up with our homeowner for a walkthrough and cafe visit before his departure for Europe. We were joined by the sweet Rafa and a local friend. It was great to catch up, as there has been some changes from last year. Happily, Rafa is still healthy and happy and always up for a walk or food, not necessarily in that order.

I likely won’t blog as much since it’s a repeat sit unless we do new things but wanted to remind everyone of Rafa and the beautiful beachfront in Sidney.