Tofino Trip

What a holiday we had this year. I left home in fine sunny weather, and this first picture is on Hwy 1 near Kamloops. Across the Thompson river is a container train, one container to a railcar, it was very long and snaked its way around the contours of the hills.



Two hours later I encountered not only snow on the side of the road, but a snow squall which lasted all of 10 minutes, as you can see on the windscreen. This was before the Toll Booth on the Coquihalla Hwy. Luckily it blew over and I descended back into sunshine into the Fraser Valley, to meet up with Jenni and family who had flown in the day before and were visiting family in Chilliwack.



The next day was warm and sunny, and we enjoyed a great ferry trip across the Georgia Straits to Vancouver Island. Jenni and I as we made our way back to the car as we pulled into Nanaimo.



Ah, Tofino at last, the minute I walk through my suite out onto the patio and see this view.....its like "coming home"....roar of the ocean, the surfers, the waves, the ocean breeze on my face, such a wonderful feeling.....



As we arrived a day ahead of schedule, our two suites weren't available, so the hotel put us up in this villa, the only accommodation available that night....shucks!
This was the view from the master bedroom, which Jenni and Adam shared with Marin.



The table full of Easter goodies that I was unable to bring to Montreal for Easter. Most of this was from Oma and Opa - (Bert and Sylvia) and some from myself. Adam is looking at a Risotto Cook Book, Calli and Marin have clothes, purses, chocolates from Switzerland and Lindt Rabbits etc. Also a large tin of farm animals, a book and a plastic cloth which had the farmhouse/barns/stables imprinted on it, so we could move the farm animals in and out of barns, etc. This was a big hit with both girls, thank you Oma and Opa! Oh and all the home made jam too for Colin and J/A, 24 jars in all!




After settling in, getting groceries and picking up an extra spade, we hit the beach, as it was sunny for the first two days although a cold wind. This is Adam hogging the bucket and spade again, the girls were so patient with him using their toys all the time!



Marin loved her bucket and spade, her boots came up to her knee and she found walking a little more difficult, but she would just wander over the hard packed sand, digging here and there, quite happy and amused herself.



Dad and girls after a great lunch at the Wikaninnish Interpretive Centre on Long Beach. The Centre has a super restaurant, jutting out on stilts over the rocks with glass windows all round. There is a gift shop, a movie theatre showing short films on the westcoast etc, and a big gallery of sea life, whales, dugouts etc. The girls enjoy it as we do. From the carpark up to the centre is a long boardwalk, which gives us incredible views of Long Beach and as you reach the lookout and the centre, there are wooden seats along the rails to stand and look out at the ocean. Also a memorial to all the Merchant Navy personnel who have lost their lives in wartime ploughing the ocean with their priceless cargos of food and supplies.



Standing on the seats, looking down at me on the boardwalk below them. Calli has taken a liking to the little dog in the carry-all which was one of the easter gifts, but Marin was kind enough to share.




What a character, Marin was busy washing her toys, tray, hands, forks, glasses etc with a handi wipe. Handi-wipes are a great distraction for a good 15 minutes when waiting for a meal to appear! However, Marin obviously had had enough of her star status for the day, as you can see and just couldn't figure out why her "tickin and fies" were taking so long. She also asked for "dip pease" which translates to ketchup! The waiter was enchanted.



After a great meal, the "ticken and fies" eaten and ice cream finished, it was time to enjoy the sunset, incredible view and the whole family together, it doesn't get any better than that......of course I messed up that picture of the whole family together, typical!




The girls on my patio steps, with the inevitable pen and writing pads in hand.
Calli surprises me with her spelling and writing. I thought she was drawing something and she hands me one piece of paper and she had written " Dear Granny, I went to the parc and I love you very much, love Calli and Marin". Her spelling is so good and I was bowled over by her reading. Okay I will stop bragging now.....



Another similar picture, a bit pale, but Calli was still fighting the "bug" we all "enjoyed" for 3 days each! Calli unfortunately had it for 7, which lead to two hospital visits. Colin is sitting on the hideabed behind them, which we hadn't put away yet. Sometimes the girls come over to our room and watch cartoons from the bed, and Colin and I sip our morning tea and look at the ocean!



Sunset making long shadows............that was a cool evening as well.....





The barnacles, clams, mussles, clampits, starfish, sea anemones etc all clutching to the rocks with the tide out, an amazing abundance of sealife to observe......



Jenni and Marin hiking up to Romys bench at Sunset Point, well, actually as you can see Marin was taking a break from all that climbing over rocks and things.....nice to have your own sherpa along at all times!



Marin checking my soduku on the ferry back to the mainland, having dropped Colin off at Comox airport and Adam having flown back three days before that, it was just "us girls".



Marin enjoying her breakfast the following morning, getting her energy up for the summer clothes shopping trip at the mall that day. Mr. Moose is a constant travelling companion.



Poor Marin sitting quietly watching cartoons as Mummy struggled to close the suitcases and call the Porter. She came down with a cold the evening before and coughed all night, poor little pumpkin. Her eyes were so watery, but luckily it didn't develop into a full blown cold til the flight home was over.


Once again the truck was loaded to the brim and off to the airport we went. We unloaded four suitcases, one stroller, two car seats, diaper bag, big purse, Callis toycase, two girls and Mummy! Wow how empty and so quiet my drive home was. The girls managed to get the early and direct flight home and Dad was waiting to meet them. So it worked out well.

So another Tofino holiday comes to an end. Delayed flights, having to change planes due to mechanical problems, cold/wet weather the first week. Five of us smitten with the "tummy" bug, which kept us close to our rooms. And, to top it all off, my debit card was "compromised" by clever crooks who started cleaning out my chequing account in Montreal within hours! Credit to the Fraud Section of my Bank for quick action on that! And, poor Calli having to make two hospital visits,as she couldn't stop throwing up, even though most of the day she felt fine and wanted to eat.

An eventful two weeks, but it was fun, we had some great talks, discussions, playtime, meals and wine. Adam showed us his culinary skills a few times, although I don't think the Naked Chef, Nigella etc play with their live crabs in the bath tub before throwing them in the boiling hot water...but you never know!!

A great holiday in our special little corner of the world, filled with poignant memories but also a happy place to make more. Can't wait til next time!