Day 22 - September 16, 2026

Today was a drive from Saanichton to Ucluelet. A stop on the Malahat overlook, another at Chemainus and a couple along the road from Parksville to Ucluelet. So, a simple day with just a few photos.

Day 23 - September 17, 2026

What a great day! We are told that when you get weather like this in Ucluelet/Tofino, appreciate it. We did. We start the day with a little tour around Ucluelet, and a walk around a small, historic lighthouse (that I didn’t get a shot of, DUH!).  Then off to Pacific Rim National Park and a couple of brief walks there, a pair of Stellar’s Jays, and a surfer. Off to Tofino. Tofino is quite commercial, but it is amazing to watch the busy harbour. Boats and planes coming and going constantly. We had a picnic lunch overlooking the harbour, then wandered the town.

Our last stop of the day was back to the national park and Long Beach for the sunset. Lots of photos of surfers here (mostly crashing because that is the most interesting) and of course, the beautiful sunset on the beach.

Day 24 - September 18, 2026

After yesterday’s cloudless skies, today started out very cloudy, cool and windy. But it soon cleared and the day was beautiful. Another tour around Ucluelet, then to the Pacific Rim National Park and Wickaninnish Beach for a few more surfer shots and beach shots. I also got another Stellar’s Jay and a Marsh Wren.

After lunch in Tofino, were off to our whale watching tour. We started with some California Sea Lions, a Sea Otter, more scenery shots and finally a few Humpback whales. I keep waiting for a breach, but all I ever see are tails. The tail shots are great but… a breach would be nice!

Day 25 - September 19, 2026

We left the west coast today and headed back to Nanaimo. A brief stop in Port Alberni, then a walk-through Cathedral Grove (a giant Douglas Fir forest). We were held up at this point for a motorcycle ride for charity for kids in Port Alberni. We stopped for a picnic lunch at Cameron Lake with some amazing fall colours and reflections. After checking into the hotel in Nanaimo, we decided to go back to Victoria for the evening. Verna had not accompanied me the first time and I wanted her to see the inner harbour at night.

Day 26 - September 20, 2026

Our last real day of the trip (tomorrow we head home with the first of two days of driving) so we took the ferry over to Gabriola Island. Several shots on the way of Nanaimo Harbour, passing ships and a whale. I have heard of Gabriola a million times but have never been there.  Heavily treed, some farms inland and some lovely homes. Also homes that would look more appropriate in the bayou of Louisiana. Beautiful properties, beside junk piles.

One interesting stop was at “Brickyard Beach”. During the Great Depression of the 1930s there was a brick manufacturing plant on site and there are thousands of old, mostly broken bricks on the beach. After that stop, I took lots of shots of interesting shorelines and rock formations, then more on the ferry ride back to Nanaimo.

Day 27 - September 21, 2026

We left Nanaimo in thick fog but by the time we got to Vancouver it had cleared. On the way we saw a humpback whale, extremely close to a shoreline. I thought it was an Orca until I got the photos on the computer. We decided to drive over the Lions Gate Bridge and into Stanley Park.   We stopped at Prospect Point Lookout for a view of the bridge. Stanley Park is about 1,000 acres and is lush and beautiful. Then we drove through a bit of downtown, but I made a mistake with a turn and ended up in the Lower East Side. Not pretty. Hundreds upon hundreds of homeless, addicted, mentally ill people.  Very sad. A few more shots on the way to Salmon Arm.

Day 28 - September 22, 2026

Last day. Salmon Arm to Calgary to home. Due to endless construction, it was a very long day. However, the scenery is second to none. No matter where I travel, how far I go or what I see, the Rockies are not just special, they are as beautiful as anywhere I have ever been. Until next time… safe travels, everyone.