Travel Diary

Bigfoot Tour of Vancouver Island (29 June-2 July)

The bigfoot tour is run by the same company that does the moose but just in a smaller bus and generally shorter trips. We had a really great group, Patrick and Alex from Southampton, James from somewhere up north and Jo from London representing the English. Then Anna from Australia, Ai from Japan and a couple of Swiss girls. We also had a lad from Quebec who was possibly the rudest person we'd ever met. And just to confuse matters our driver was also called Patrick. The first day consisted of getting the ferry over to Vancouver Island before Lunch. We then headed to a place called Coombes for lunch, then up to Sprott Lake where they had some ancient petroglyphs and some of us went for a swim (by some of us I mean all the English members of the tour). We then visited Long Beach, where some of us had a beer (again some of us refers to English members of the tour). We then got to Tofino, but on the way saw a couple of bear cubs and their mother. We stopped to take some pictures at which point a car flys past in the other direction. Patrick (driver) motions for him to slow down. The car stops and starts turning round, at which point Pat asks if the gentlemen in the bus are up for it, should things kick off. They don't but the guy in the car was an idiot and doing about double the parks speed limit. So we arrive in Tofino and the BBQ gets fired up, the hostel I should add was lovely. Then some of us decide to take care of the alcohol for the evening by visiting the liquor store (some of us this time refers to English and Australian). After the BBQ we headed out to another part of the beach to have a camp fire and toast some marshmallows. We got about an hour before the rain absolutely lashed down so then we just headed back to the hostel and some more drinking (again English, Australian parties involved and Patrick the Driver).

Day 2

This was a free day in Tofino, in the morning we headed out to Tofino Park for a little walk around. We then got on a boat to take us whale watching and to some hot springs. We did see whales (both Orcas and Humpback) which was nice as well as seals and some other wildlife.

An Orca (if you look very closely!)

We then had about 3 hours at the hot springs, although there was about a 40 minute walk either way from the boat. They were exceptionally hot as well, so we sat in there for a while and then being typically English had a few beers that we'd come prepared with for the walk back to the boat. I should add that I foolishly decided to stay sitting at the front of the boat on the way back which results in much pain. Also the captain of the boat looked like Pete Townsend.

The Hot Springs

We got back to the hostel around 8:30 and Patrick fired up the BBQ with some Crab, Salmon, Shrimp, Scallop and Corn. We got half a crab each, a skewer kebab of scallop and shrimp and a piece of a very large salmon, all excellently cooked (Patrick the Driver used to be a chef as well). In total both nights BBQ meals came to $23.50 each which is around 10 pounds, which for that amount of fresh fish is an absolute bargain.

We spent the rest of the evening drinking.

Day 3 Tofino -> Victoria (also Canada Day)

On the way down to Victoria we visited all the places we missed on the way up. We stopped for lunch at Little Qualicum Falls, which is where we learnt what a great liar Patrick the Driver was. The next group was coming up and he told their driver first of all that as a group we'd caught all the seafood for our BBQ the night before. Oh right says the other driver, did you charter a boat? Oh no says Pat, I met this guy Brian in the pub and just gave him petrol money. He then went on to tell the other driver how we saw so many whales, and that we were heading off to a shooting range that afternoon.

Next we got to Cathedral Grove where parts of Return of the Jedi were filmed and some of the oldest tallest trees exist. We also stopped in some small town called Chemainus where they have lots of murals and some shopkeeper thought Jimbo was Prince William, so him and Pat fed her a line about William being anorexic and some other rubbish.

Group Photo Cathedral Grove

Completely forgot to add in about the Bungy Zone place. Can't remember the height of the bridge think it was about 240 ft, but I did the ultimate swing which was to be honest well tame. It was basically a giant swing from another wire suspended parallel to the bridge. You sit on the bridge and then just get pulled off apparently getting up to 100km/h or something like that but after skydiving it was dull (and just like skydiving a little bit chafing on the upper thighs). Jimbo somehow got talked into doing an actual bungy, he didn't talk for about 4 hours after about it!

Bridge Swing == Tame

We got into Victoria and took a little drive around before checking into the hostel, then we headed down to the harbour to check out the fireworks, but they weren't happening until 10:15 so we got a bit of dinner at the Pita Pit, then hit Big Bad Johns, the greatest bar in the existence of the world. Basically a right little red neck dive but cheap beer and a great atmosphere. Everyone else cleared off to watch the fireworks, me, Pat (southampton) and Jimbo had another round, then headed down there as well and then quickly dashed back to get some drinks in before the crowds surged in. The hardcore of the group stayed to 2am (that is all the English, Australia and Pat the driver) and by this point locals were buying us rounds, it was great. We then headed back to the hostel, and even though I've not really mentioned it, Quebecci had by now wound everyone right up (including the driver) and especially the girls on the trip. So Patrick the driver insisted on showing everyone the wonderful little ice cubes in the freezer in our room, repeatedly! We then headed back out to find a subway so that I could do a redneck impersonation and get a sub that was swimming, but it was closed, so some went up to 7-11, at this point a few of us were sat down. Then one of the locals from the bar appeared and Patrick the driver complimented him sarcastically on his shirt, so he gave it to him. Now whilst one of the party was now amusingly wrecked, it would be rude of me to mention it here. Eventually got to bed around 4am.

Greatest Bar on Earth, Big Bad Johns

Day 4

Everyone got up ridiculously early and we headed out to a Juice Smoothy bar that Patrick the Driver had recommended. Foolishly me and the other Patrick also decided to try the shot of wheatgrass. It didn't taste that bad but the taste of grass juice repeating all morning is unpleasant. We then headed down and got a old style photo done (first time a groups actually wanted to do it as well). We pretty much got the best of the group in, with the exception of Jimbo. Still we've now all got as nice momento of Jo, Anna and Alex as madames, me and Patrick as Cowboys and Patrick the Driver as a mountie. We then headed off to a mall for lunch and then onto the Empress hotel where the Queen stays when she visits. Me, Patrick and Jimbo decided that the lounge was quite pleasant so stayed for a beer, we didn't look too out of place! Then the three of us made our way back to the bus asking people when the fireworks for Canada Day were going to start to much bemusement from people (er it was yesterday!)

The Empress Hotel

We then headed back to the Ferry and back to Vancouver.

Posted by Alexis at July 5, 2003 01:08 AM