Hot Springs, Seals and Whales!

What a day - headed out early this morning on a boat full of Germans and one old skipper at the helm. On our way to the Maquinna Hot Springs we saw some Seals, Eagles and some amazing scenery - here are a few pics:

Seals!

 

Once we pulled up I had a 2km hike along a lovely boardwalk through lush forest to get to Hot Springs. Not sure why they engrave all the names and sayings along the way but there was some interesting things along there!

 

Quite a bit of that happening we have discovered - ah BC

 

 

Then I came to this. 50 degree water coming from a crack in the earth. Lovely soak I had! When it all gets to much you just plop yourself in the ocean. Natures best creation!

This is where the water first pops up. Too hot up here to even put your foot in.

 

 

 

Then it was back to the boat and heading back to Tofino - but not before seeing some grey whales - not the best pic - but there was three of them swimming in the kelp and we must have only been 15m away - so beautiful!

Selfie just to prove I was here!

 

So now we are off for a cold beer and some Mexican - seems standard on this trip! Tomorrow we are off to Campbell River (further North up the Coast of Vancouver Island) to do some Salmon Fishing and then its back in a ferry to get over to Vancouver. Finally starting to relax - only taken two weeks. Grant is well on the way so know need to worry there.

Jaz x

Posted with Blogsy

Victoria to Tofinio

Vancouver Island - loving it! Left Victoria and headed along the Southern Coast which took us past to Sooke Potholes. Grant indulges in a dip - I passed - bloody cold!

 

We then landed ourselves here for a night which I really don't think gets better than this. Literally right of the Juan De Fuca with the below view and the company of Mal and Joy who were beside us in a 35ft Palace who treated us to a crackling fire, home grown red wine (which left our heads a bit of a sore one the next morning) and some good stories!

 

The next night was spent at China Beach where we discovered this beach (with all the bear and cougar warnings - tad wary I have to tell you!) where we basked in the sun and then enjoyed an afternoon of reading and starting the task of this puzzle - I know - such nerds - but otherwise we get too carried away on our red wine cask! We then headed to Cowichan Lake where we tubed down the Cowichan Lake (resulting in some very burnt limbs) and then off to Averill Creek Vineyards where we indulged in a bottle of white and this view!

 

Didn't manage to find a campground this night so spent out first night on the streets - went pretty well actually except for the drunkards at 12am and the town hall toling it's bells every hour - oh and the fact we spent 4 hours in a pub (Craig Street Brew Pub - biggest nachos and blueberry pie i have ever seen) because we didn't want to return to the van which resulted in a very restless sleep and being extremely hungover the next day - but that didn't last long because before we knew it we were on the road to Tofino which really is breathtaking - take a look...

 

Again - having problems finding a camp spot in Tofino and not willing to pay $56 for a RV site but happened to run into a lovely lady who happened to work with my bro in Banff a few weeks ago (small bloody world) who pointed us in this direction - a car park but with this view!

 

Tomorrow I am off on a 6 hour boat tour to Macquinna Marine Provincial Park where I will be indulging in some very remote hotsprings (can only get there by boat) and maybe even see a whale or two! Wearin on the other hand is off to play his first round of golf.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Victoria, Vancouver Island

Apologies for the posts coming thick and fast but we have managed to find free wifi so are just firing them off!

So we have left the US by getting our van on the ferry from Port Angeles to Victoria.

 

Mount Olympic in the background as we set off to Vancouver Island, BC

Yesterday was spent looking around Victoria town down which has a lovely British feel, but they have started to shake of its touristy tag and now has quite a cool vibe to it. Celebrated by being back in civilisation by going to a few micro breweries and indulging in a degustation at a pub called Spinnakers where we had local oysters, fish and beef!

Today we headed to Butchart Gardens which was started by Mrs Butchard over 100 years ago and is one of the most amazing gardens I have ever seen. Quite amazing considering half of it was a limestone quarry which was dug out by her husband for his very successful cement business. So many flower varieties - take a look!

 

Hanging Bergonias

 

The Sunken Garden - which was a quarry

 

 

 

So many Dhalias!

 

 

If I was a bee - this is where I would choose to graze

 

Smelling the roses!

 

Japanese Garden

 

The Homestead... And Grant fooling around

We also stopped into a winery, Church and State Wines - didn't realise BC was such a hub for delicious wine. Was an amazing building with actually very good wines... Good way to start the morning really!

 

 

One more day here in Victoria to check out the BC Museum and apparently Grant thinks he is playing golf and then we are heading to Tofino (surfing Mecca) via Cowichan Valley (more food and wine - how awful!). Will check in when we are in Tofino. Hope everyone is well. X

Posted with Blogsy

Olympic National Park

Quinalt: surreal rainforest laden with spruce, hemlock, fir and cedar trees. Some over 100m in height and 20m in circumference (2 pie r baby!) 25km of trekking today, exhausted but satisfied. Two hikes, one a very difficult (steep) 7 miler called Colonel bob the other a loop around rainforest next to quinalt lake lon the south west corner of Olympic national park. Simply breathtaking. Camera ran outta juice but we managed one snap of jas riding up Colonel Bob and some photos in the iPhone of the Sol Duc Falls and La Push (yes home of Jacob from twilight Jaz informs me)

 

 

 

Campsites are first class with your own open fire and BBQ, picnic table and complete privacy from other revellers (note cask wine - yes - going there!)

 

Getting the hang of the rv thing now. Had to pull into an rv centre and have him show me where the waste water ("grey water") comes out after pulling what I thought was it only to be covered in 3L of sewage ("black water"). Classic friendly yank just smiled and laughed when I told him what happened. Didn't charge me only instructed me to "haveyaselfanicetripyahear". Had another fine American couple invite us for dinner to their house in only her second breath of air after meeting us along one of the hiking trails. Unbelievably hospitable people.

 

Jaz reading up on Jayco manual - not that simple!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Our bloke delivers

Wow. I was standing at the back of a Volvo with such unique body work that it had to be a repaired write off. Loaded with a trolley full of groceries i was waiting for my rv buyer to return with my cash for the rv. I'd seen the rv though he had the keys and our cash, and despite his reassurance that "everdings gnna beee ok yourrr gunna have da time of ya life man" it was a classic drug style deal waiting to go wrong. I centered myself. Steady breathing. Inhale exhale, inhale exhale. At least I'd have a shitload of camping food to feast on before I went out backwards with a fat man who appeared part badger, part comanchero (who'd already tried to make me fire his smith and western "my two best friends in the world" ....ha ha ha in an enlarged Yankee accent) scurrying off into the distance with our hard earned beans.

Never distrust a stranger in a hospitable country friends. The badgerchero delivered. As a man of commerce I was highly qualified in scepticism. Every part of it had to be thrown out the door to see through this transaction and in doing so against every cell in my body we couldn't be happier with what we've done.

Here's what we own - a Jayco Eagle who goes by the name of Sheila

 

And here is where we have been camping with it:

 

 

Here are the highlights so far: 1. Without question - the badgerchero's hospitality and stories. Think Ray Wearin at a wedding but on steroids.

Don taking me for a boon in his clk500

 

 

2. The EMP in Seattle no question the best ACDC memorabilia display in the world. One of Angus' devil suits he wore in a concert wouldn't have even fit my youngest brother in law. It was tiny. Then there were love letters written by Bon Scott to one of his (many) girlfriends before his death and not to mention the Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix shrines without doubt the best collections of their type. A fascinating museum and for me shits all over pretending to be interested in post modernism at the meuseums of lillies, watercolour and drug snobs littered throughout australian and european capital cities.

 

 

3. Toulouse Petit in Seattle - a US/French restaurant that will blow you away with local seafood in entree sized servings for about 5 bucks a dish. There was not and empty table on a Monday night.

4. Hitting open road in a Motorhome with a return ticket in 2013 your only responsibility.

Surfs on: Westport, WA. Photos of me with my twinnie. Good enough waves but freezing water only lasted about an hour in my 2/3m steamer and a pair of reef booties. Guessing it was 14 degrees and about 2-3 ft.

 

 

Next stop Vancouver Island, BC Canada. Stay tuned.

 

Posted with Blogsy