Rare arxcards Posted May 23 #51 Share Posted May 23 On 5/18/2024 at 7:11 PM, aussielozzie18 said: First full day in Victoria and we decided to do another harbour walk. This time heading in the other direction to & across Johnson Bridge and then all along the beautiful foreshore to Esquimalt. Beautiful morning for it. Lots of otters swimming in the clear water. On the return walk, we stopped in at Spinnakers Brewpub overlooking the water and had a nice lunch on their terrace. Then I decided I wanted a ride on one of the cute little harbour ferries, so using the QR code on the post on the wharf, I hailed one of their ferries/water taxis that took us back to the inner harbour in front of The Empress. Lovely to see that dogs are permitted on the ferries. The couple and their dog hopped off and we hopped on for a lovely trip with the friendly & informative ferry Captain. I love the Pickle Boats. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare arxcards Posted May 23 #52 Share Posted May 23 12 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said: After a very enjoyable stay in Victoria, it was time to hit the road. First stop was Tim Hortons where I made the mistake of ordered a large coffee. Completely forgot sizing is different overseas to Aus and it was weird not getting cocoa/choc sprinkled on top of the cappuccino froth. Next stop was The Malahat Skywalk. My family saw the entry prices and wanted to get back in the car…but I wanted to see/experience it. Beautiful driftwood sculptures on display along the elevated pathway to the viewing structure. Once you reach the structure itself, you slowly climb in circles until you reach the very top. The views from the top were very nice & it was lovely to see the raptors & other birds floating above the treetops way down below. At the top is a meshed square that none of us were brave enough to stand on but it was popular with the Insta crowd. There is also a slide that you can whizz down to save you the return spiral walk. One of us was very happy to do that. There were seats, a swing and an open fire and a trail walk to return to the car park. The entry was very price but I was glad we stopped here and experienced it. Thanks for all the great photos and words that have brought back many happy memories for me - the gardens, pickle boats, Barb's, Tim Horton's, harbour seals and some great walks between them. 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aussielozzie18 Posted May 23 Author #53 Share Posted May 23 10 hours ago, Blackduck59 said: The ski walk is an interesting attraction. For us even though it is a very short drive from home, we wouldn't go. There is the small issue of heights. I'm looking forward to more of you VI adventure. I am not great with heights either but this was ok for me. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aussielozzie18 Posted May 24 Author #54 Share Posted May 24 Next stop was The Raptors in Duncan. Wanted to see the flight show at 2.30pm. We got there at 2.25pm. It was exciting for us Aussies to see a Bald Eagle & Barn owl up close & in flight. Small sanctuary but the flight show was an excellent and worth a visit. Next was a stop in Ladysmith for the very popular bakery in their pretty Main Street famous for their cinnamon rolls. Couldn’t believe the size of a single cinnamon roll. The queue was to the door but it moved fairly quickly. Then we arrived at our destination - Qualicum Beach. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackduck59 Posted May 24 #55 Share Posted May 24 We have been interested in the Raptor Center for some time but haven't actually gone. We should do that soon. Did you do the Ocean side route to Qualicum? We have had some lovely picnics there. So far you have planned a great tour of the Island, I suspect you may have gone to more places we haven't been.Isn't it interesting that as locals we live in a place where many people spend thousands of dollars to visit, and it's just every day for us. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare lyndarra Posted May 24 #56 Share Posted May 24 3 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said: Isn't it interesting that as locals we live in a place where many people spend thousands of dollars to visit, and it's just every day for us. Agree. I still haven't visited the Sydney Opera House and I'm only two hours away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ilikeanswers Posted May 24 #57 Share Posted May 24 26 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said: Isn't it interesting that as locals we live in a place where many people spend thousands of dollars to visit, and it's just every day for us. So true. The one positive that came out of Covid for me was it made me "visit" Sydney for the first time. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MMDown Under Posted May 24 #58 Share Posted May 24 20 minutes ago, lyndarra said: Agree. I still haven't visited the Sydney Opera House and I'm only two hours away. I live interstate, but always check what is on at the Sydney Opera House every time I visit Sydney. I always allow time to enjoy a drink overlooking the harbour and the harbour bridge. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare MicCanberra Posted May 24 #59 Share Posted May 24 I check out the opera house every time I cruise into or out of Sydney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aussielozzie18 Posted May 24 Author #60 Share Posted May 24 Unlike our friends and family, we spend a lot of time in the city/around the harbour on our weekends. We do go to the Opera House regularly but not for Opera. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aussielozzie18 Posted May 24 Author #61 Share Posted May 24 @Blackduck59 I don’t know if we did the Oceanside route tbh. I wasn’t driving and was seated in the back. Towards the end of that day was just keen to get to our accommodation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackduck59 Posted May 24 #62 Share Posted May 24 4 hours ago, aussielozzie18 said: @Blackduck59 I don’t know if we did the Oceanside route tbh. I wasn’t driving and was seated in the back. Towards the end of that day was just keen to get to our accommodation. If you were on a fast divided highway with 2 lanes in each direction with a wide grass median, it was not the ocean side route. 😉 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~*Lou*~ Posted July 5 #63 Share Posted July 5 oh I wonder if you're coming back to finish this off - I was really enjoying the trip! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aussielozzie18 Posted July 6 Author #64 Share Posted July 6 Sorry, have been busy reading the books I purchased during my trip. Enjoyed them all. A season on Vancouver Island by Bill Arnott was by final read and it was my favourite. A collection of short essays gently detailing his days spent holidaying at various places around the island during a road trip with his wife, interspersed with loving and humorous memories of childhood summers spent by a lake and with beautiful painted photos of places he visited. Will continue with my TR tonight. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aussielozzie18 Posted July 6 Author #65 Share Posted July 6 (edited) Qualicum Beach -I had booked us into Shorewater Resort and a lovely modern clean unit overlooking the beach. Queen bed upstairs, pull out from the wardrobe double bed & comfy sofa bed downstairs. Kitchen facilities and a nice open fire. After checking in, we headed onto the beach for a looksee. We were standing at the waters edge chatting when we noticed something moving in the water. Didn’t think they were dolphins but we were unsure what they were, so one of us raced back to the unit for the binoculars. They were harbour seals, popping their heads up. Later we saw a bald eagle flying across the beach and landing on a nearby tree. Very cool. Dinner that night was at the German restaurant conveniently located directly across the road from our accommodation. Blackbird Schnitzel Haus. Popular place, big serves and tasty. Edited July 6 by aussielozzie18 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aussielozzie18 Posted July 6 Author #66 Share Posted July 6 Due to my desire to see Orcas, the next day we drove back down to Nanaimo to join a zodiac whale watching tour. We wore four layers and brought ski gloves. Once at the wharf we were kitted out in warm & waterproof head to toe expedition suits & googles. I looked ridiculous but they certainly do the job. I sat in the last row of the zodiac with my 6’2’ son seated directly in front me (he was a perfect wind break!) and the excellent on-board naturalist directly behind us. We left Nanaimo at midday and first passed by the obligatory Stella sea lions & harbour seals, then we headed all the way across the Strait of Georgia. I could see the Vancouver skyline and I was thinking - oh no - we are going to same area as the WW cruise out of Victoria! But no, thankfully we made a turn and headed near Bowen Island where we watched a humpback whale for about 40mins. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aussielozzie18 Posted July 6 Author #67 Share Posted July 6 From there we cruised into this lovely waterway surrounded by green mountains and snow covered ones directly ahead of us. Absolutely beautiful. We passed many lovely coves until we eventually slowed down near one and our naturalist there were 4 Orcas here near the shoreline. We sat quietly and suddenly they appeared a mother and her 3 offspring. We were a fair way off the shore at this point. Our naturalist had advised us at a start of the cruise that zodiacs are permitted within 200m but we were 800m away. As the Orcas moved slowly along the water by the shoreline, we joined 3 other WW boats ahead of us in a line quietly moving along viewing the Orcas. After 30mins, the 3 other boats left and it was just our zodiac and the Orcas. The Orcas moved away from the shore and swam around the bay and we initially quietly followed at a distance of 200m but eventually we just drifted and watched as they swam around. It was magic. Such a beautiful sight in such a beautiful location. These are my son’s photos. I just put my phone down and observed with my own eyes in awe. Eventually, it was time to head back to Nanaimo. We were warned that it was a solid 1hr high speed return trip on the zodiac so before we left the cove, we should use the amenities but there was no way I was going to attempt to use the single toilet in the expedition suit! Our booked cruise time was 12-4pm and we arrived back to Nanaimo wharf right on 4pm. We headed straight to the restaurant on the wharf for an early dinner of delicious clam chowder for me and pizza for the other family members. If you are ever in Nanaimo and want to whale watch, highly recommend this company - Vancouver Island Whale Watch. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aussielozzie18 Posted July 6 Author #68 Share Posted July 6 (edited) After two nights in Qualicum Beach, we were back on the road again. Our planned stops for the day were - Coombs, Little Qualicum Falls Cathedral Grove and Port Alberni. Last look at Qualicum Beach on a sunny morning. We were excited to see the goats on the roof of the old country markets in Coombs. On arrival, the roof was lush and green but no goats. In all my research I didn’t actually think to check when the goats go on the roof…we were several weeks too early. Nevertheless, the indoor food market was definitely worth a stop. Next, we enjoyed doing the loop walk at Little Qualicum Falls. Then further on we explored the Cathedral Grove walks located on each side of the road. We had a brief stop in Port Alberni for the obligatory Tim Hortons. Like Vancouver, it was nice to see the cherry blossoms in bloom. Then we hit that road for for Tofino. Such a beautiful drive between Port Alberni and Tofino. Edited July 6 by aussielozzie18 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aussielozzie18 Posted July 6 Author #69 Share Posted July 6 (edited) TOFINO Our accommodation in Tofino was right by the edge of the sound and it was interesting to watch the variances in the tide, the bird life including bald eagles, fishing boats, bear watching boats and kayakers paddle past each morning. We were in a great location too being only a short walk from the Main Street shops, cafes, supermarket and dining. Edited July 6 by aussielozzie18 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aussielozzie18 Posted July 6 Author #70 Share Posted July 6 Our first evening in Tofino. We drove to Chesterman Beach. It was cold & windy but there were still plenty of surfers in the water and groups sitting around fires on the beach waiting for the sunset. Our first Tofino sunset was pretty spectacular and it was worth walking the length of the beach & back whilst waiting for it. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aussielozzie18 Posted July 6 Author #71 Share Posted July 6 (edited) Next morning after exploring the Main Street and having a tasty brunch and coffee, we made the most of the lovely weather and did our first walk. Edited July 6 by aussielozzie18 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Jean C Posted July 7 #72 Share Posted July 7 Beautiful photos and I enjoyed reading your adventures, thank you 🙂 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~*Lou*~ Posted July 8 #73 Share Posted July 8 thank you so much, loving reading this! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aussielozzie18 Posted July 8 Author #74 Share Posted July 8 Day 2 in Tofino was a bit drizzly but ideal for doing the Rainforest Walk on elevated timber pathways. We did both Trail A & Trail B. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare aussielozzie18 Posted July 8 Author #75 Share Posted July 8 Views from Cox Bay lookout - it was a short but challenging hike all uphill through a lot of mud and many tree roots to get these photos. Wasn’t a trail as such so we were glad we made it up there and back. Dinner was on the outside patio of Shed - a popular casual eatery located on the Main Street of Tofino. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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