Vancouver Island explorations: Adventure trip to Ucluelet and Tofino

View from the Unit

Sunday June 12/11: I drove up to the Water’s Edge Resort in Ucluelet. I couldn't have asked for a better day to drive up or a more welcoming resort. The unit lived up to its promise by being right on the water’s edge and being serene and peaceful. Outside the unit window was an enormous, but at the same time graceful, nursing tree stump. The stump is backset by a channel which is used by small craft to make their way to a sheltered harbour which, on the map is called a boat basin. The reflection of the small crafts in the water made for picture postcard. A picture opportunity I didn’t take as I was so caught up with the Resort’s amenities. As I will be back here in a month, I will make time for photo opportunities.

Unit 107

Qualicum Little Falls Provincial Park

Runoff from Lower Falls

On the way up to Ucluelet I stopped at Qualicum Little falls where I had lunch sitting beside the falls. Free lunch, free seat by the water, life can’t getter any better. Because of the rainy spring the falls were like a boiling cauldron of water.

Upper Falls

Wild Pacific Trail - Lighthouse, Otters, Trees and Sea Foam

Amphitrite Point Lighthouse
Wild Pacific Trail

Once I got settled into the wonderful RCI resort I walked the Amphrite Lighthouse Loop of the Wild Pacific Trail which overlooks the Barkley Sound. The lighthouse on the point is named after a naval warship. Initially built out of wood in 1906 the lighthouse was rebuilt as is in 1915 after the wooden structure was destroyed by waves.

The trail features some beautiful scenes and the windswept trees. I was fortunate to watch sea otters feeding. They are different from the river otters that I have seen around Victoria. The sea otters are heavier and have rounder faces and it seem to have plusher coats. While

Windswept trees on the Wild Pacific Trail

walking the trail the barking of sea lions floated in the air but they were not visible. I also noticed what looked like soap suds floating on the water. This is sea foam: tiny, single-celled plants mixed with air and water. Sea foam signals that the sea water is alive and well and producing tons of food up the foodchain. Where I saw the sea foam is where the otters were feeding.

Sea Foam

Whale Watching
Monday June 13/11: The day was spent exploring Ucluelet. The two “have to” is the acquarium, Ucluelet’s, and walking the Lighthouse loop. Also of interest is the Crow’s Nest, Ucluelet’s oldest store built in 19908. Stopped in at the Pacific Rim National Park and explored various spots
of interest.

Tuesday June 14/11: Looking out of the window early in morning I sighted a river otter and heron. As quickly as they were seen they were gone. The afternoon was spent on a whale watching adventure with Westcoast Aquatic Safaris on their new boat Nanuq. We saw two humpbacks and one obligingly dived for us so we saw the white underneath its tail. I didn’t capture that image but did catch on camera the two grey whales feeding among the seaweed for the small shrimp-like fish they like to feed on. The sightings were much better with the binoculars!! We stopped to look for harbour seals but they weren’t lazing on the rocks but we did see an enormous eagle perched up high looking grandly over the rocky area. The trip took 2 ½ hours and it was time that went quickly with the sightings and with the ongoing information about whales, eagle, history of some of the islands, logging and mining protests past, present and possibly future, provided by our interpretive guide.