No visit to Ucluelet & Tofino is complete without a visit to the WILD PACIFIC TRAIL near Ucluelet. It is magnificent. There several different sections to the trail as shown on this map. 

On a recent visit we walked the  Amphitrite Lighthouse trail.  It meanders around the point over 2.4 kilometres and is an easy walk for most people. It starts at the lighthouse and runs along the rugged shoreline for a while before going inland through the woods. There are numerous viewpoints along the way, most with benches so one can sit and take in the stunningly spectacular views.

Part of the Broken Islands Group in Barkley Sound can be seen and if it’s not foggy you can see Cape Beale at the entrance to Barkley Sound. 

Viewing this shoreline and the many rocks with waves crashing over it’s easy to understand that before modern navigation aids the were dozens of shipwrecks in the area. 

The pathways are gravel and the vegetation is nicely groomed. We ran into a park worker who was trimming the lush SALAL beside the trail. At one viewpoint we were lucky enough to spot a pod of Killer (ORCA) Whales who were cruising very close to shore. We pointed them out to some British visitors who were thrilled to see them. 

Some really interesting trees can be found on the trail. Caused by the wind over time probably.

The trail goes inland over a hill then back down to the water near Terrace Beach returning to the lighthouse.

Amphitrite Lighthouse was first constructed in 1906 but was destroyed by weather in 1914. The existing concrete structure was opened in 1916. Originally it was manned but was automated in 1988. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphitrite_Point_Lighthouse

The section of trail  between Ancient Cedars and Big Beach is about 8 kilometres for those wanting more. 

We enjoyed the Lighthouse loop immensely and are going back in November, hoping to see some real storm activity. If you are ever in the area, DON’T miss it!

Just saying…

Another gorgeous sunny morning in Ucluelet was a good time for a short stroll on the Wild Pacific Trail again. Off we went just in time to see a pod of Orca Whales going by quite close to shore. A bonus for sure. The German & British tourists were thrilled when we pointed out the whales. It was wonderful. O

Since it was noon and a certain peckishness, even esurient, was developing so a stop at UCLUELET BREWING COMPANY, a Brew Pub in a former church. What a delight! The interior renovations are really well done with big beams, wood floor and a large patio overlooking the harbour. It was windy out so we perched on tall stools at a table inside. 

The food menu is limited here. Some snacks, wraps, a Grilled Cheese. But they specialize in Charcuterie Boards. We chose one with 3 cheeses, 3 meats, 2 kinds of crackers, house made jame & mustard plus olives & spiced apple slices. A glass of wine and a Flight of in-house beers were the beverages. Loved the beer. 4 very distinctive tastes that were all good. The charcuterie was simply delicious and perfect for our lunch today. 

Some really nice music was playing in the background. Our server advised that it was Ana Ash, a folk singer from California. Might be worth checking her out on Apple Music. 

Ukee Brewery is a must stop. Good food, nice and prompt service, great surroundings and excellent beer. We even left with two cans to take home.

It seems the transformation from Church to Brew Pub was a grand idea. My kind of Church. Learn more at https://www.uclueletbrewing.ca

Just saying…

Here we are in Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver Island for a leisurely 6 days. Staying in a friend’s condo right on the water. How lucky are we? 

Part of the adventure includes some serious noshing at some of the local culinary offerings. On day one we hit FRANKIE’S RESTO BAR for an early dinner. It’s a funky place in what seems to be an old house & has indoor & patio seating. The patio was almost full so we headed inside. Nothing fancy to be sure, but the menu looked really good. Bedsides not much else was open on a Monday evening. 

Well, a very pleasant surprise. Good service! Great food. Pulled Pork with mashed potatoes and vegetables for Sheila and a ground ribeye burger for me. The mashed potatoes were ‘to die for’ good. The burger was one of the best in a long time. Cheese, tomato, pickle, bacon, lettuce in a Brioche Bun and served with outstanding fries. Two glasses of Haywire Pinot Grigio added to the enjoyment. FRANKIE’s is a really good joint. https://www.frankiesrestobar.com By the way, we loved the sign in the window.

When one is holidaying in this neck of the woods a good brunch is mandatory, not every day, but often. We found The Heartwood Kitchen Outfitter right on the main drag in a bright yellow old home.

They do breakfast/brunch and do it well. It was Vegetable Eggs Benny for Sheila and Huevos Rancheros for me. The Huevos included fried corn tortilla tostados, refried black beans, 2 eggs sunny side, tomato salsa, cilantro, fresh fruit & smashbrowns. I’ve not been a fan of smashbrowns but these were amazing. Best ever. This was a really wonderful dish made even better with a dollop of their in house made hot sauce. Add to all that the coffee was good too. Thinking of brunch..try this joint. You will not be disappointed. 

https://heartwoodfood.com/

Another night, another dinner. Well we did eat at home yesterday because Sheila’s daughter and husband came to stay and brought a big pot of delicious Chilli. Tonight it was FLOATHOUSE PATIO & GRILL, another funky Ucluelet restaurant, this one on a float right in the boat basin.

FLOATHOUSE is charmingly rustic with both inside and outside (covered) seating. No reservations are offered here so we were told there could be a 40 minute wait. With our good luck we were seated outside in about 20 minutes. Service was prompt! The wine list is brief. 2 reds, 2 whites by the glass which worked perfectly for us. Right beside the patio are fish boats lining the nearby dock. Very west coast. 

The menu is great. Lots of seafood although they are known for ribs. Sheila chose the Ribs & Caesar Salad. Fish Tacos for me. Oh, what a surprise! Colleen liked the Cod & Chips and Erick picked the Blackened Rock Fish & Slaw. We were all pleased with our choices.

Good food, good service and a charming West Coast ambience. As it cooled propane heaters were fired up to take off the chill. Our server, a charming young lady from Edmonton, is a musician on the side and said there is quite a music scene around Ukee and Tofino. She sings & strums guitar under the stage name CAMERON COAST.

Overall, our FLOATHOUSE experience was wonderful. We would go back again! Check out the menu at https://floathousepatioandgrill.ca

Just saying…

It was a last minute thing. My favourite brother announced that they were taking the MV FRANCES BARKLEY on the trip to Bamfield. Would you like to join us? Why not? 

So it was a very early Saturday morning drive to Port Alberni to board the coastal freighter, The FRANCES BARKLEY. It was a beautiful fall day as the ship slipped out of Alberni ready for the all day trip. 

The ship is old. Built in Norway in 1958. She is 118 feet long, powered by an eight cylinder Bergen diesel that produces 400 horsepower at 450 rpm and a cruising speed of 9.9 knots. There are two decks with indoor and outdoor seating on the upper and seating and a cafe on the lower. They serve breakfast and lunch on board. They have beer and wine too. Both kinds of wine; red and white served from a box. But cold. One could describe the interior of the ship as early school Bus. Rustic but quite comfortable. One can go up to the bridge and chat to the Captain who is full of great information about the ship and the area. 

The ship makes the trip to Bamfield three times a week to deliver freight and passengers. On this day she made three stops on the way. At Kildonan, a beautiful inlet, she unloaded propane & groceries onto a float. Then a septic tank & new propane stove on another. Later she dropped off a guy who was the caretaker at a church camp. Watching the ship manoeuvre into tight spots to unload cargo was real west coast stuff. The scenery along the way is simply Spectacular! We even saw Humpback Whales. 

We arrived at Bamfield just after noon and disembarked. Fortunately, Sheila’s son, a former Coast Guard member had arranged for us to have a tour of the Bamfield Base. Really an interesting tour including boarding the Cape McKay, the resident Coast Guard Rescue Vessel.

Then a visit to Bamfield Mercantile, the only store in town, a stroll down the boardwalk and a hot dog before reboarding the FRANCES BARKLEY. The trip back to Port Alberni was delightful. Warm, sunny and smooth.

It was a 9 hour round trip. Well worth the price. We would recommend this day trip to everyone wanting a west coast experience. For more information go to 

https://ladyrosemarine.com

Just saying…

It’s not the first time to report on the KINGFISHER RESORT near Courtenay but a recent visit for lunch warrants a repeat look. 

An old business colleague and his wife from Ottawa were visiting Vancouver and came to the Island for a day. Since they had never been past PARKSVILLE we decided to take them for a drive culminating in lunch at the Kingfisher. And we are all so glad we did. 

We arrived and settled in to a window table  in the OCEAN 7 dining room.  While we surveyed the menu we sipped on some UNSWORTH Pinot GRIS from the COWICHAN Valley. It’s crisp and delicious. 

Selections were made. An order of Calamari for the table to start. It arrived with a cucumber yogurt dip and their special lemon preserve dipping sauce that is wonderful but difficult to describe. We all enjoyed it. 

Then we ordered. One Seafood Chowder, Raw Marinated Albacore Tuna Tacos, Green Curry & Coconut Saltspring Mussels and A Korean Chicken Bowl. 

The chowder here is excellent with a variety of seafood in a rich creamy broth. Always a good choice. The Sashimi Tuna Tacos (2) looked stunning with the tuna served in little cubes. 

The mussels were the best I’ve seen in ages and we all got to sample. Large, plump mussels in an amazing green curry & coconut broth with Garlic Toast on the side. So good and a generous portion.

The Korean Chicken is a star. A bowl with sticky rice julienned carrot, a small taste of kimchi topped with the most amazingly crispy and tangy pieces of fried chicken tossed with black sesame seeds. Simply the most delicious chicken one can imagine. And a generous portion too. I can’t wait to order it again! 

Finally, we shared an amazing dessert platter which included Creme Brûlée, Cheesecake, Macaroons, and and Ice Cream. A spectacular presentation. 

The Kingfisher is not inexpensive but one cannot mind paying for truly outstanding food. 

If you are driving to Courtenay or Comox it’s a good place to stop. Wonderful food, excellent service, enjoyable ambience. Be sure and check out their gorgeous garden and peek in at the Spa. 

The resort recently won the HOTEL OF THE YEAR AWARD FOR BC. Justifiably so! 

Just saying…

If you are thinking of a casual lunch and don’t want to go far you must consider UPSTAIRS at Quality Foods in PARKSVILLE. It’s a cool venue with lots of nice seating as well as a large deck if you want some sun. There is a direct outside elevator so you can avoid the crowds of shoppers on the main floor. 

Good news! It’s licensed. They have a nice assortment of Craft Beers on tap as well as a selection of wine. On Thursdays the wine is on special. 9 ounce glass for $7. On Friday it’s cheap Beer. Martinis are $11, Cocktails are $9. 

The food menu is limited but good and includes Pulled Pork or Beef on a Brioche Bun, Sizzling Nachos, Tandoori Chicken Pizza, Tacos, Chicken Wings, Prosecco Buttered Prawns, Panninis, and more. And the prices are reasonable. Wings are $15 for a generous plate. The Tapas are $10. 

Even better, Wednesday is WING DAY. Wings for $7.50. And they are delicious with a variety of sauces including BBQ, Honey Garlic, Thai Chili and Teriyaki. 

For a casual lunch UPSTAIRS is a good choice. 

You can sit at the bar and watch your Favourite sports or at the window watching the food shopper below, or find a comfy chair by the fireplace or lounge outside on the deck. It’s all good. 

Take a look at this YouTube video showing the entire facility. https://youtu.be/C8CZGNTxcRU?si=agBAi2tqOvcNOT76

Quality Foods, Alberni Highway at Despard in PARKSVILLE. 

Just saying…

Today was a day to revisit the BAYSIDE Resort in PARKSVILLE.  It’s been several years since my last visit and the whole resort has been renovated during my absence. My dear Sheila suggested we go out for lunch and directed me to the BAYSIDE and I’m glad she did. 

We were seated at a perfect table for two in the window with a fabulous view towards Lasqueti Island and the expansive Sandy PARKSVILLE beach. Service was immediate and two glasses of Iniskillan Pinot Grigio arrived quickly. An order of Calamari and a Monterrey Chicken Sandwich soon followed. The Calamari was excellent, the best we’ve had for a while. We shared the sandwich which contained a generous portion of grilled Chicken breast and was delicious. Accompanying the sandwich were really good fries. Also the best in a long time. 

Lunch at the BAYSIDE was a delightful experience and we would highly recommend it. You can look at their website here. https://www.baysideresortparksville.com

For a look at the menu go here. https://www.baysideresortparksville.com/Content/Admin/images/DiningMenuFiles/DiningMenuFilesPdf/Lunch Menu_9089361_LUNCH_MENU_2023.pdf

If you have not been here you really must try it. I’m thinking that dinner at sunset might be spectacular. 

Just saying…

 Not long ago I reported on Seascapes, a restaurant in Schooner Cove. Well it didn’t make it for whatever reason. However, the folks who own the Qualicum Beach Cafe and the Water Street Cafe in Vancouver’s Gastown, saw an opportunity and a month ago reopened the property as THE NANOOSE BAY CAFE. 

Today we met my favourite brother and sister-in-law at said Cafe for lunch. We reserved a table for 4 on the patio which is quite spacious and overlooks the Schooner Cove Marina with a view to the mainland across Georgia Strait. Our table was perfect right in a corner by the rail.

The menu here is really excellent. They serve lunch, dinner and have a daily happy hour every day but Monday. In addition they have a breakfast/coffee spot open daily from 8 to noon. 

As we soaked in the view, which included sighting two 37 foot Tollycrafts, we perused the menu. D’Arcy & Pat headed for the Spring Rolls and Dumplings, a house specialty. Sheila and I satisfied a recent hankering for oysters and ordered Po Boys with pan fried oysters. 

Our waiter, Mike, was both charming and efficient, which one might expect from a chap from London. 

The food was delicious.  Everyone enjoyed their choices. Then Mike arrived with a dessert menu. Who has dessert after lunch? Apparently we do. Sheila targeted the Citrus Tart. Pat went for the Chocolate Mousse Tort and your scribe merely told the waiter “I’ve never met a Creme Brûlée I didn’t like. Were the desserts good? They were outstanding.

The newly opened Nanoose Bay Cafe is excellent. Great ambiance, View service and food. We plan to return soon. Highly recommended. 

Check out their website… https://www.nanoosebaycafe.com

Just saying…

Since the RUSTED RAKE FARM BREW PUB reopened we had not paid a visit. My next door neighbours highly recommended it. So did my brother. So today, having skipped lunch and still recovering from our Canada Day celebrations we drove the slow way to Nanoose and the RUSTED RAKE. And we are so glad that we did. 

We arrived at 4 for an early dinner and were seated a a perfect table outside on the very spacious deck. That made me happy since I remember that it is a very noisy place inside. 

Sheila had heard that the Seafood Chowder was outstanding and she was not disappointed. Mussels, Clams, Smoked Salmon and Scallops in a wonderfully cream broth. Simply delicious. She also ordered the Burnt Ends. BBQ Beef Brisket pieces served with a luscious Aioli and some raw veggies. 

 I chose the Beef Brisket Dip. My brother, who spent years in Texas and knows all about BBQ Brisket,  suggested getting the Aioli on the side so as to ensure the perfect flavour of the Brisket. Served on a bun with fries on the side this was a very generous portion of brisket in a bun. Absolutely delicious. 

They don’t have a huge menu but what they do they do WELL! 

A glass of Blasted Church White and a ROSA THE REBEL MEXICAN LAGER. Both were just what we wanted. Cold and tasty. 

The service was excellent! The location looking out onto a field, part of the farm, was relaxing.  Lots of free parking right in front.  

RUSTED RAKE!  It’s just a great place with delicious food and good service. Check out the 

website https://rustedrakebrewing.ca

You can find them on Northwest Bay Road just down the Road from the PetroCan on Highway 19.  Closed on Tuesdays. 

Just saying…

Recently we thought a visit to TELEGRAPH COVE might be worthwhile event so we booked a place to stay and pointed the Acura westward.  It’s a three hour, twenty minute drive from FRENCH CREEK.  But it’s a most enjoyable one. Once past Campbell River the highway is a good two lane road with long straights and gentle curves. Used cruise control all the way. Some fabulous vistas of surprisingly high mountains.  By the way, just past Campbell River is a view spot with a spectacular view of Seymour Narrows. 

A stop on the way for a picnic beside a small lake was a hit. Just fancy Cambazola Cheese, Pate & Crackers with a sip of Pinot Grigio. 

Arriving at our destination mid afternoon, we checked in and shuffled down the boardwalk to our room. Telegraph Cove is rustic and so was our room. Spotless but sort of 1950’s Auto Court. A kitchenette, a small table and two single beds. This is in a building on piling hanging over the water. 

Since we were a little peckish a short walk down the boardwalk took us THE OLD SALTERY PUB, a really cute pub with a long deck overlooking the harbour. An order of Calamari with a glass of wine was so good a second was ordered. Interestingly, our server was a charming young lady from Brittany in France. Turns out that most of the staff here are from overseas. We later met a girl from Austria, two from New Zealand and another from Germany. All were loving the west coast experience. We were, too as we watched a variety of boats come into the marina. 

We took a tour of the boardwalk along which are a bunch of old houses, cottages, a bunkhouse, a restaurant, a whale museum and more. 

All rustic and totally charming. There are a variety of accommodations here including a 100 site campground. For more information go to 

Telegraph Cove Marina & RV Park

Dinner was in the KILLER WHALE CAFE, right beside the pub. Its quite large and was full on a Wednesday night. Since we had overindulged in Calamari we opted to just order an entree. No appetizer or salad. Sheila chose the Chicken Souvlaki with Pita Bread and I liked the Seafood Carbonara. Both were delicious. A half litre of Pinot Grigio washed it down. We had a window table with a view of the Marina. We enjoyed it all. Check out the menu here. https://telegraphcoveresort.com/2021-dinner-menu/

Thursday morning, even though the room had a kitchen and I’d packed coffee and our French Press, I sallied forth to Sally’s Coffee and picked up some pastries and coffee to savour in our room. And we did.  

After check out we drove to Port McNeill and back. Nothing in McNeill warrants a visit in my opinion. Back at Telegraph we hit the pub again for lunch. A bowl of Seafood Chowder for both of us and to my delight I found FISH TACOS. They were good too. But different. Small pieces of Cod pan fried rather than a single piece found elsewhere. 

We loved our visit to TELEGRAPH COVE and would certainly go again. If you are looking for funky, rustic, historic, this is the place. 

Just saying…