Our old friend and neighbour Tom recently celebrated his 89th birthday, and as a treat, we offered him a day trip to Ucluelet and Tofino—places he hadn’t visited in 60 years.

Yesterday was the day. The weather was iffy, but we went anyway. What we encountered was a real potpourri of weather: grey skies, drizzle, downpours and sunshine. Luckily, the sun showed up just as we got out of the car to walk to the Amphitrite Point Lighthouse in Ucluelet.We checked out the new interpretive centre near the lighthouse. Nicely done, with lots of interesting information about the various lightkeepers who served there since 1908. The conditions they endured back in the day must have been harsh.We didn’t have time to walk the Wild Pacific Trail, but we highly recommend it if you’re in the area. The sea was rough, with waves crashing along the shoreline, while several small boats were out fishing not far from the point.

We toured much of Ukee before setting out for Tofino, where lunch at Shelter was on the agenda. The restaurant was busy, but after a short wait we were seated at a high table with a great view of the marina and Tofino Harbour. There was plenty of activity, with fishing charter boats and Whale Watching boats coming and going.

Lunch was excellent, made even better by our server—a charming lady who was a Tofino-born gal with an Aussie accent! It turns out her husband, a chef at Shelter, is from Down Under. Sheila chose the Mears Island Seafood Chowder, which arrived with a huge slice of toasted sourdough. Tom and I enjoyed the Ling Cod Fish & Chips. Excellent fish with a thin, crisp batter—just the way we like it.

Shelter is a great restaurant, but it’s busy, so a reservation is a good idea. While we dined, a downpour was coming down outside, but it was dry when we left. Timing is everything. By the way, Shelter also have a Burger Joint in Tofino, THE SHED. Looks good too. And the famous Tacofino now has a second location right in town.

After a short tour around Tofino, we made a quick stop to watch some surfers at Incinerator Rock on Long Beach, followed by a brief visit to see my grandfather’s grave at the Ucluelet Cemetery. Then it was time to head for home.

A great day, and one that our friend Tom really enjoyed. Lots of driving for a one-day return trip, but well worth it.

We are so fortunate to live within driving range of so many wonderful spots on Vancouver Island.

Just saying…