I MADE IT TO TOFINO!!! One of my main goals of being out here in Port Alberni was to take advantage of how close I am to Tofino. I'm only about an hour and a half (weather dependent) from Tofino. A town I have long since dreamed of seeing because of the Planet Smasher's fantastic song - Surfin' in Tofino!
For whatever reason, I could just not get myself into blogging mode yesterday, thankfully I went to work when I wasn't supposed to today so now I have no excuse to not sit and reflect on my last few weeks! It sure was a nice feeling to get into work, see my name wasn't actually on the sign-in sheet and head back home! Haha! That's a new one for me! So today - to prevent a nap from happening - I blog!
I'm so thankful for M - another agency nurse out here, who took my roommate, M and I to Tofino and Ucluelet for the day on Tuesday. What an incredible day it was. M and I tried once before, but the road conditions were awful for the tin-can-winter-tire-less rental car I had for a few days. M drove and it was the very first time I had ever experienced the dreaded car sick feeling - and not because she's a crazy driver - because the roads are SO incredibly twisty, and windy. Going a maximum of 60-70km/h because of how few straight-aways there are. I never thought that I would say this, but I miss the straight, boring drives in Ontario that allow you to put the cruise on for 20 of the 25 minute drive to and from work! You certainly won't get sleepy on this drive though, keeps you on your toes to say the least!
We finally arrived in Ucluelet and went for a little stroll on the Wild Pacific Trail to check out the waves and do some storm watching. Storm watching is a big thing out here in the winter, and I can see why, the crashing waves are just incredible! We did a simple little loop as we only had a day to get a lot of sights in! The pictures I got just don't do the waves justice, the rushing water is so loud, and the breeze is so fresh and salty scented. I could have sat there all day! We then checked out some stores in town, one in particular where the 3 of us each spent a good chunk of change, but got some really great stuff. It was called Pina Styles in Ukee (Ucluelet's short name - much easier to spell!). A store with great quality clothes, some locally made, and they design their own prints on their clothes. Very cool place! We were then Tofino Bound!
Tofino is not far from Ukee, maybe 30-40 minutes, along a more straight road lined with thick, dense rainforest on one side, and occasional peek-a-boo views of the beaches along the other side. Beaches and Ocean's and Mountains are kind of my things of late... I could sit and stare at them all day, we live in SUCH a beautiful place!! A quick pit stop was to eat at Tacofino - an Eat St. legend! I remember watching their episode on the Food Network and since coming here I've been dying to check them out! They have DELICIOUS food! It's a food truck tucked wayyyyyy in the back of a random little pull off before even hitting the town of Tofino. If you didn't know it was there, you would easily fly by it. I had a Beef Burrito (with local beef) and the legendary Chocolate-Diablo Cookie. The burrito was absolutely delicious, and left my lips tingling for a while afterwards, and the cookie might be the best cookie I have ever tasted, EVER! It is a thick, soft chewy chocolatey cookie with cayenne pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and chocolate chunks with sea salt on top. Blew my tastebuds mind!
With our full-to-the-brim tummies, we took to exploring the town of Tofino. I had NO idea what to expect, and what I saw blew those expectations out of the water.... It is such a cute, small town. It wasn't too busy because of it being the off-season, but I can just imagine how crazy it is in the summer. In town we wandered the harbour front, I had no idea it would be so mountainous right in town. There is a beautiful inlet where the water is nice and calm and you can look onto the mountains. So incredible. I had a brief pit stop at the Tofino Brewing Co. for some shopping and the day was quickly fading - and we hadn't even gotten to one of the many beaches yet! Our last plan was to check out a beach and then get a drink at the Wickaninnish Inn. This hotel has rates into the 300's+ for a night, hence why we were just going for a drink! The inn is perched on Chesterman Beach in Tofino and has an incredible lounge/dining area that sits you right next to the waves crashing on the rocks while you eat and sip your drinks. Before we went for the drink we went onto the beach that the inn has lovely trails leading to. The tide was out (I think, it looked out anyways - lots of sand to walk on, but I am no expert on tides!) and the sun was setting. We figured there were too many clouds to get a sunset, and man were we ever wrong! That's ok though, I can handle being that kind of wrong! One word - BREATHTAKING! I am so incredibly lucky to have the opportunities I have, taking in this Tofino sunset is something I will never, ever forget. Thankfully I have pictures to share its beauty and to have forever in my (eventual) home. The waves, again, were massive, crashing onto the beach and nearby rocks, and the sand was all rippled from the effects of the water which made for some beautiful photos.
We waited until the colours were gone, and made our way into the Inn, where we decided to eat dinner instead of a drink at lounge purely because the view was better! It got dark quickly, but you could still see the white swells of water crashing. It was so cozy and warm inside, with beautiful decor and Christmas music playing, delicious food and lovely company. I had a "boozy beach" drink, steak frites, and a coffee/doughnuts dessert. Delicious food! And that was our day! A long drive home was all that was left, and thankfully I didn't feel the car-sickness like I did earlier! We were home by 9pm, and I was ready for bed by 10. Such a busy day taking in the outdoors and fresh air always makes for the best sleeps... Not to mention how incredibly content and happy my heart was....
Thank you, M! I look forward to spending more time with you when I am back here in January!
I only have 11 days left here in PA, and 6 shifts at work. It certainly has flown by, and I've decided to come back here in January until April 1st. This time, with my wheels! No, no, no, don't worry - I am not driving out here in the winter - do you really think my Mom would go for that? HA - definitely not! But I am getting 'er shipped out here for a decent price so I can have it with my for 3 months. I feel so limited without it! And it also means it is time to plan a cross-country road trip home in April!
Missing everyone! and I will be home SO soon!
I hope we can catch up over the busy Christmas season! And I hope you all have your shopping done, presents wrapped and under the trees! I sure don't!
SEE YOU SOON!
xoxox
ps - sorry for the photo overload!
For whatever reason, I could just not get myself into blogging mode yesterday, thankfully I went to work when I wasn't supposed to today so now I have no excuse to not sit and reflect on my last few weeks! It sure was a nice feeling to get into work, see my name wasn't actually on the sign-in sheet and head back home! Haha! That's a new one for me! So today - to prevent a nap from happening - I blog!
I'm so thankful for M - another agency nurse out here, who took my roommate, M and I to Tofino and Ucluelet for the day on Tuesday. What an incredible day it was. M and I tried once before, but the road conditions were awful for the tin-can-winter-tire-less rental car I had for a few days. M drove and it was the very first time I had ever experienced the dreaded car sick feeling - and not because she's a crazy driver - because the roads are SO incredibly twisty, and windy. Going a maximum of 60-70km/h because of how few straight-aways there are. I never thought that I would say this, but I miss the straight, boring drives in Ontario that allow you to put the cruise on for 20 of the 25 minute drive to and from work! You certainly won't get sleepy on this drive though, keeps you on your toes to say the least!
We finally arrived in Ucluelet and went for a little stroll on the Wild Pacific Trail to check out the waves and do some storm watching. Storm watching is a big thing out here in the winter, and I can see why, the crashing waves are just incredible! We did a simple little loop as we only had a day to get a lot of sights in! The pictures I got just don't do the waves justice, the rushing water is so loud, and the breeze is so fresh and salty scented. I could have sat there all day! We then checked out some stores in town, one in particular where the 3 of us each spent a good chunk of change, but got some really great stuff. It was called Pina Styles in Ukee (Ucluelet's short name - much easier to spell!). A store with great quality clothes, some locally made, and they design their own prints on their clothes. Very cool place! We were then Tofino Bound!
Tofino is not far from Ukee, maybe 30-40 minutes, along a more straight road lined with thick, dense rainforest on one side, and occasional peek-a-boo views of the beaches along the other side. Beaches and Ocean's and Mountains are kind of my things of late... I could sit and stare at them all day, we live in SUCH a beautiful place!! A quick pit stop was to eat at Tacofino - an Eat St. legend! I remember watching their episode on the Food Network and since coming here I've been dying to check them out! They have DELICIOUS food! It's a food truck tucked wayyyyyy in the back of a random little pull off before even hitting the town of Tofino. If you didn't know it was there, you would easily fly by it. I had a Beef Burrito (with local beef) and the legendary Chocolate-Diablo Cookie. The burrito was absolutely delicious, and left my lips tingling for a while afterwards, and the cookie might be the best cookie I have ever tasted, EVER! It is a thick, soft chewy chocolatey cookie with cayenne pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and chocolate chunks with sea salt on top. Blew my tastebuds mind!
With our full-to-the-brim tummies, we took to exploring the town of Tofino. I had NO idea what to expect, and what I saw blew those expectations out of the water.... It is such a cute, small town. It wasn't too busy because of it being the off-season, but I can just imagine how crazy it is in the summer. In town we wandered the harbour front, I had no idea it would be so mountainous right in town. There is a beautiful inlet where the water is nice and calm and you can look onto the mountains. So incredible. I had a brief pit stop at the Tofino Brewing Co. for some shopping and the day was quickly fading - and we hadn't even gotten to one of the many beaches yet! Our last plan was to check out a beach and then get a drink at the Wickaninnish Inn. This hotel has rates into the 300's+ for a night, hence why we were just going for a drink! The inn is perched on Chesterman Beach in Tofino and has an incredible lounge/dining area that sits you right next to the waves crashing on the rocks while you eat and sip your drinks. Before we went for the drink we went onto the beach that the inn has lovely trails leading to. The tide was out (I think, it looked out anyways - lots of sand to walk on, but I am no expert on tides!) and the sun was setting. We figured there were too many clouds to get a sunset, and man were we ever wrong! That's ok though, I can handle being that kind of wrong! One word - BREATHTAKING! I am so incredibly lucky to have the opportunities I have, taking in this Tofino sunset is something I will never, ever forget. Thankfully I have pictures to share its beauty and to have forever in my (eventual) home. The waves, again, were massive, crashing onto the beach and nearby rocks, and the sand was all rippled from the effects of the water which made for some beautiful photos.
We waited until the colours were gone, and made our way into the Inn, where we decided to eat dinner instead of a drink at lounge purely because the view was better! It got dark quickly, but you could still see the white swells of water crashing. It was so cozy and warm inside, with beautiful decor and Christmas music playing, delicious food and lovely company. I had a "boozy beach" drink, steak frites, and a coffee/doughnuts dessert. Delicious food! And that was our day! A long drive home was all that was left, and thankfully I didn't feel the car-sickness like I did earlier! We were home by 9pm, and I was ready for bed by 10. Such a busy day taking in the outdoors and fresh air always makes for the best sleeps... Not to mention how incredibly content and happy my heart was....
Thank you, M! I look forward to spending more time with you when I am back here in January!
I only have 11 days left here in PA, and 6 shifts at work. It certainly has flown by, and I've decided to come back here in January until April 1st. This time, with my wheels! No, no, no, don't worry - I am not driving out here in the winter - do you really think my Mom would go for that? HA - definitely not! But I am getting 'er shipped out here for a decent price so I can have it with my for 3 months. I feel so limited without it! And it also means it is time to plan a cross-country road trip home in April!
Missing everyone! and I will be home SO soon!
I hope we can catch up over the busy Christmas season! And I hope you all have your shopping done, presents wrapped and under the trees! I sure don't!
SEE YOU SOON!
xoxox
ps - sorry for the photo overload!