adventure

A Day Trip To Ucleulet & Tofino

/ murphjustsaying / 5 Comments


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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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…

One Gabriola Day

/ murphjustsaying / 4 Comments

The last time I visited Gabriola Island by car and ferry was around 1948. Since then I’ve made many visits back in my boating days but not by car.  So it seemed that is was time for a day trip to Gabriola.  

It’s a 20 minute ferry ride from downtown Nanaimo to the island. $28 return for car and 4 seniors. No reservations needed. Just line up. The ferries run every half hour so the waits are not long. The ferry docks at Descanso Bay and paved roads will take you all over the island. Gabriola is only 14.5 kilometres long and about 4 k wide but it is home to about 4000 people. 

We wanted to see the Malaspina Galleries where the  Sandstone has been eroded over time and cave like structures remain. A nice walk to a beautiful point where sandstone rules. Worth visiting for sure.

 

Then it was off the the SURF LODGE which has a dining room and a pub overlooking the Strait of Georgia. Pub lunch was served on the spacious deck with Tugs, Ferries, yachts and sport fishing boats passing by. Excellent Cod and chips and very good service from a delightful young lady.  The lodge has some rooms and some cottages and would be a great place for a weekend retreat. This photo is the lovely stone fireplace in the dining room.

For more info http://www.surflodgegabriola.com

 

Then it was off to Silva Bay, a spot that’s been a welcome calm harbour many times. Lots a boats in the bay and some large yachts on the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club outstation on Tugboat island.

Alas the Silva Bay pub is no longer. Burned to the ground in 2017. Enjoyed Thanksgiving there many years ago. Sad to see it gone. The Silva Bay Shipyard that operated for decades also appears to be closed. Pages Resort is also in Silva Bay and looks to have some nice accommodations.   

https://www.pagesresort.com/home

A little further along is DRUMBEG Provincial Park, right on the water at the entrance to Gabriola Pass a narrow channel separating Gabriola from Valdez Island. The park has a nice beach and two people were swimming while several others were boarding kayaks. Drumbeg is a nice spot. Maybe for a picnic.

Then we followed the road around Degnan Bay at the inside of Gabriola Pass. The road took us past farmland, the waters of False Narrows on the way to the Ferry terminal. About an hours wait and we boarded for the quick cruise back to Nanaimo. 

A really sweet one day island visit. 

Just saying…

GENOA BAY CAFE, AGAIN

/ murphjustsaying / 1 Comment

If you’ve never dined at the Genoa Bay Café, you really should. We first discovered it a couple of years ago when we brought friends from Texas, and they absolutely loved the experience. It was definitely time for another visit, so we included it as the lunch stop on our Cowichan Valley winery tour last week. We’re certainly glad we did.

Genoa Bay is a picturesque little marina tucked around the corner from Cowichan Bay by water. By road, it’s just a 12-minute drive from Maple Bay along a charming, winding country road. At the end of the drive you’ll find a small collection of homes, the marina, and the café.

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Knowing it would be a beautiful sunny day, we reserved a table on the waterfront deck. The cafe  provides warm, welcoming service, and their staff are friendly, attentive, and a lot of fun.

Sheila and I came with one thing in mind—the Salt Spring Island mussels. Served in a fragrant Thai green curry broth, they’re simply outstanding, and they certainly didn’t disappoint. Our friends chose the Fish & Chips and the Seafood Chowder, and both were equally impressed with their meals.

You can view the full menu here:
https://www.genoabaycafe.com/menu

The outdoor deck extends over the water, making it the perfect place to relax while watching pleasure boats glide into the marina. After lunch, we always enjoy a leisurely stroll along the docks, admiring the visiting yachts. There’s also a small marina shop offering snacks, nautical gifts, and souvenirs.

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Genoa Bay Café may be a little off the beaten path, but it’s well worth the drive. Great food, beautiful surroundings, and genuinely friendly service make it a destination we’ll happily return to. If it were a little closer to home, we’d be regulars.

Just saying…