Tofino

Having just spent four months on Vancouver Island, British Colombia, I have a small handful of images to share from my trip to Tofino.


View Larger Map For those of you who do not know about Tofino, it is a located at the very tip of a peninsula on Vancouver Island, (I gave you a map, aren't you impressed? I am. Thanks, Google.) It is home to fishing ports and surfers. With a very hippie vibe, it contains colorful food, people and landscapes. Have you seen Twilight? I have it on good authority that when you see beach, you see Tofino. Apparently, people go there to find themselves. I didn't find myself but I haven't lost myself for a while, either.. but I can see why people do this. It's gorgeous. Unfortunate for my photographic evidence and my fragility in cold weather, I went in early January. It wasn't exactly as vibrantly colored as it is in the spring and summer (so I am told) and the winds of the ocean were bitter cold. It was still amazing. Far more fascinating than anything I had ever seen growing up in the dry desert and a much cleaner ocean and beach than I had been on when I lived in San Diego briefly as a small child.

On the way.. it was foggy most places between Qualicum Beach and Tofino. There's only one road that leads to and from Tofino and that's the Alberni Highway, after which (Port Alberni) it turns into the Pacific Rim Highway.



After a long drive, my companion and I stopped for foods. I attempted to take pictures of the place we ended up, but not too many came out as I had expected.. but it was very pretty and had out-door seating. I loved the lights and the canopy/pergola kept us shielded from the wind.


Immediately after eating, we went to find the beach. We went to Long Beach and walked around a bit. It was cold, but worth it. This shot doesn't do the foliage much justice. On the little rocky hill, one can see a plaque. I inched closer to see what it was all about..


The drift wood fascinated me. It was difficult for me to get these shots. Even with gloves, my Raynaud's made it almost painful to be in the rain. My camera and lens was sprayed quite frequently. My microfiber cloth an I couldn't keep up..


A favorite shot. I loved the grain to this wood. I loved the grey sky behind it.



The plaque reads:

Whales 

Like ourselves these gigantic mammals are warm-blooded and air-breathing. Two distinct groups form the whale family: baleen whales, which strain their food, and toothed whales. Of the 21 species which occur along this coast, the Pacific Gray and Killer whales are most common. 

Gray Whale 

Spouts seen in Wickaninnish Bay are ususally those of the Pacific Gray whale which feeds from the bottom. These baleen whales, up to 45 feet long, may weigh 40 tons. 

Killer Whale 

Legendary "Wolf of the sea", the Killer whale is a highly intelligent creature unjustly feared by man. These fast moving, toothed whales hunt in groups and grow up to 30 feet in length.

When we felt satiated with what we felt was enough of what I've never seen, we departed. Which wasn't too much longer, but the sun was leaving us rapidly and I was getting weary of the cold. Good bye, Tofino. I'll come back later in my life. Hopefully soon and also not during north america's winter season. See my entire set on flickr here.