Port Angeles, WA to Tofino, BC
August 12, 2007

Today we head to Tofino.  This little resort town is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island and is one of Canada's favorite vacation spots.  Because of it's fame and remote location we had to make reservations weeks in advance.  That means that we have to leave Port Angeles, cross the straight to Victoria and then ride to Tofino by this afternoon... rain or shine. 

The sky was dark and we knew we would hit rain.  Our hope was that it would stay dry until we could cross over into Canada.  Regardless of the weather we look forward to the ferry crossing over to Victoria.  We have so many great memories of our past trips to Victoria and we knew this would be a memorable addition. 

As Shirlene waited patiently for the ferry we remembered how is wasn't too many years ago that she rode her little Buell Blast all the way up here.  It was at this very spot that a Canadian rider looked at the California license plate and told her that he had never seen that small of a bike that far from home.  It was then that Shirlene realized her accomplishment and that a much larger motorcycle would be in her near future.  (Her bike is the bigger one on the right.)

The one hour crossing was beautiful and relaxing.  It would give us the encouragement that we needed to get us up to Tofino.  As we came into the Victoria's Inner Harbor, we saddled up and decided to tempt fate by not putting on our rain gear.  We would try to ride up to Tofino by late afternoon and dodge the rain storm as we rode.

About two thirds the way up to Tofino, we stopped in the little town of Port Alberni.   It was lunch time and I wanted to try the famed Canadian dish of poutine.   The name sounds better than the ingredients.   Although there are different varieties of poutine, the basic dish consists of French fries, brown gravy and mozzarella cheese.   It's great!... Especially on a cold day.   It's a real artery clogger.  

The final leg to Tofino was fantastic.  Down near our home of Fortuna, there is Highway 36, a primo motorcycle road known throughout the country. We've ridden that highway many times but it doesn't hold a candle to the road to Tofino.  We were rewarded with great riding weather, great roads and the greatest scenery.  Tofino is a beautiful fishing, sightseeing and surfing village.  It was obvious why we needed reservations so far in advance. 

After I found my way back from under a huge Gunnera plant, we spent the rest of the day wading in tide pools, walking the beaches and enjoying what would be the first of some great salmon dinners.  The day was topped off with our stay at a rustic lodge which had every amenity but TV and telephone... perfection!