Life on the edge

We're as far west as we can get! If we went any further we'd be east... 

After a fond farewell to John last night and Cathy this morning we set off for Horseshoe Bay in our black Ford Focus. Arrived early - no probs thanks to satnav (GPS) so had time for a coffee there before boarding the ferry, sitting out in hot, bright sunshine.

Horseshoe Bay from where we took the ferry to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island

The boat journey was under two hours - a bit like Dover to Calais but a smaller ferry - so I had time to try poutine for the first time, a Canadian delicacy that Joseph reminded me about: Chips served with cheese curd and thick brown meaty gravy. Well, it was delicious. 

Roger at the helm

Looking out at the ocean from the ferry

Leaving the mainland

The scenery on the drive from Nanaimo across Vancouver Island to Ucluelet was spectacular - mountains, forests, low cloud, sunshine, lakes... 

Roger's arty shot from the moving car

We found our bed and breakfast on the second attempt - satnav not so reliable on this occasion - and on the way met a deer by the side of the road.

The deer was quite unconcerned and continued grazing while we stopped the car right beside it and took a photo

Our room is en suite with an equipped kitchenette - fridge, microwave, crockery, glasses, cutlery etc - so instead of finding a restaurant we went to the grocery store and had dinner at 'home'. We had chicken pot pie, bought from the deli counter and heated in the microwave, with salad. And a Greek thing - spinach and feta in filo pastry.

We found a liquor store, too, so we had a Canadian shiraz with our meal. Canadian wine is just fine - but expensive: you can't get anything for less than around £8 a bottle. 

Before dinner we went for a walk with the map our landlady gave us on arrival. She was very helpful and told us about where to walk, what sights to see, etc. Basically it's scenery - the Pacific Rim National Park: coast and ocean - and whales, if you're lucky. We may have to pay out for a boat trip if we want to see any, I fear. We were hoping to avoid the expense and see some from the shore.

Anyway, the walk was lovely. More temperate rain forest and fantastic coastline. 

Mossy trees

Roger catches a glimpse of the Pacific through the branches

Moonlight over the ocean - where debris from the Japanese tsunami is still being washed up

Lots of interesting grasses and ferns in the undergrowth

Rocks and trees

Now to bed. Tomorrow we'll explore this part of the island some more. I'm still hoping for whales...