Banana Slugs & Bambi

We were excited when we awoke to sunshine and looked forward to exploring the Pacific Rim. After leaving Tofino, our first stop was Long Beach where we enjoyed watching surfers and a breakfast of yogurt, granola and nectarines. This beach was the closest to what we consider a real beach, but was surrounded by a winter forest. The number of people in the frigid water continues to amaze us.


A short drive south along the rim took us to an area of rain forest where we walked along a beautiful, boardwalk type trail through ferns, lichen and giant trees.

P- Stop petting the lichen!!

G- But I'm textural and I like to feel it as well as look at it.

P- That sign said there are many banana slugs in this forest. I want to see one!

G- Ok, I'll find one for you.

We walked on and I kept my eagle eyes peeled for a slug. Lo and behold, Phyllis walked right past it and I spotted a big, yellow slug clinging to the side of a tree.

G- Phyl, look!!

P- OMG! That is disgusting.

G- Not really. He's a very pretty color. Look at his cute antenna things. I wonder if he's slimy. (as I reached out to touch him............Phyl smacked my hand)

P- Do not touch him!!! Touching the lichen is one thing, do not touch the slug!!!

We completed our rain forest walk and drove maybe 10 minutes to the next trail which was through a bog. This area was completely different and contained trees that were as old as the rain forest trees, but were naturally bonsai 'ed and only a few feet tall. The guide pamphlet called this area the Broccoli Forest. This is particularly hysterical for my family members who have called me(Gina) broccoli head ever since a certain trip to Disney World where my permed hair (it was in style then) looked like the broccoli stalk in the veggie band at one of the Epcot exhibits.

We finished the Pacific Rim National Park and continued south to the town of Ucluelet. Even smaller than Tofino, but with a completely different feel, we wished we had first checked here for lodging last night. We drove to the end of the road and began looking for a place to have our picnic lunch.

G- I think we can drive a little farther, then take a left to get to the spot on the map that showed picnic tables. Look at that deer!!! She's just walking through town like the moose in Northern Exposure.

P- AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Phyl screamed so loudly, it scared the shit out of me, and even though I didn't know why, I slammed on my brakes! Thank God that was my response because Bambi, who I had not seen because I was looking for a street sign, was right next to the car. When Stormy stopped, Bambi lept across the road and into the woods on the other side of the street.

G- OMG!!!! I'm so glad you screamed because I did not see that little deer (which still had the white spots) and definitely would have hit it. OMG!!!!

P- If you had hit that baby deer, we'd have had to stop the trip for you to go through therapy! You, the gecko and spider saving, baby bird helping, animal loving freak. I'd have had to put you in a straight jacket. Let's stop here for lunch.

After a very chilly lunch in the shade along the coast, we walked down to a pristine little inlet, absorbed the rugged beauty, and snapped a few photos before we froze to death. We then headed back to the main highway to make the return trip across the mountains to the east side of the island. The return drive reiterated that this was the most beautiful area we had seen since leaving San Francisco...... the green alpine lakes, the streams that babbled over small rocks and, in some areas, crashed over large boulders, and the sun framing some tree covered mountains in bright light and others in shadows. We found numerous areas where we stopped briefly but wished we could have spent days.

We stopped in Nanaimo and got a room at the Port-O-Call Motel which made us crave big, juicy burgers and jazz (a place in Nola). A quick internet search revealed that this location was the perfect place to stop because a ferry landing was nearby and we wouldn't have to drive all the way back to Victoria.

You're Funny Looking

The Robin Hood Motel was on the north side of Victoria, so we easily jumped on Hwy. 1 and headed north. We made a few stops at overlooks to enjoy the beautiful views to the east and followed Frans directions to Hwy. 19 and through the town of Nanaimo.


G- That's a funny name! Reminds me of Sha'naynay.

P- Hey baaaaaaby! Where you stay?

G- Gurrrl, I stay by Na'naimo.

Once on Hwy. 4 we headed almost due west and the road began to wind through mountains. The scenery seemed to change around every turn and we were soon in a beautiful forest and the sun's light dappled through the tree tops. We stopped at a grove of Red Cedars and Douglas Firs and walked several paths through this beautiful forest with a fern covered floor. The largest Red Cedar tree on Vancouver Island was located in this grove and was discovered by David Douglas, (hence Douglas Firs) a botanist from England, who brought over 200 Canadian flora species back to England.

Continuing on Hwy. 4, the road began to climb and we soon found ourselves driving alongside alpine lakes

of a beautiful green. As we drove, we commented how much this area reminded us of Switzerland, around Interlocken. At other times, we drove along streams and stopped several times to watch the water cascade over granite rocks and funnel through the walls of giant boulders.

The water was very clear, but also a beautiful green color and the air smelled so fresh and clean. The sun was shining, the scenery was spectacular and we thoroughly enjoyed our drive west on Hwy. 4 until we crested the last mountain and became shrouded in a fog that enveloped us for the remainder of the day.

When Hwy. 4 dead ends into the Pacific Rim Highway we had the option to head north to Tofino or south to Ucluelet. We decided to head to Tofino because it sounds so Italian and we love all things that remind us of Italy. Not having reservations in Tofino, we began to stop at Motels to inquire about availability and price. We also considered camping, but the State campground was full and the private campground we passed was icky and overcrowded. If the person in the tent next to you farted, it could blow your tent down!

We stopped at one Motel that looked questionable, but we were trying to have open minds. Phyl sat in Stormy while I rang the bell in the little office that seemingly had not been cleaned since it was remodeled and panelled in 1952. My mind was telling me to run, but my feet were not listening quickly enough. A little man with a squished up face stuck his head out of the restaurant across the parking lot and yelled that he'd be out in a minute. I looked at Phyllis and we made unpleasant faces to each other. Again my mind said run but my feet did not listen.

Squish face walked up to the car and, by way of introduction, told Phyllis that she was funny looking. She looked at him like he was insane! I followed him back into the shabby office and asked to SEE a room. Why oh why did we not just leave? He mumbled and laughed to himself as he showed me the room. He reminded me of a short, drunk, Irishman, but he said he was German. I couldn't understand a word he was saying and after a quick peek into the room, thanked him and ran back down the stairs.

Squish face man - It's the last room I have so don't take too long before coming back. You can have it for 2 nights.

P- What did it look like?

G- Just get me the hell out of here. We would sleep in Stormy before we would sleep in that room.

P- That bad?

G- Maybe it didn't look that bad, but I think I have Gonorrhea on the bottom of my shoes. Nothing has been changed since it was built in the 50s. If we were forced to stay there, we'd pray for Norman Bates to come and hack us up with his knife.

P- Did that Mofo say I looked funny?

G- I believe that is what he said.

P- He's got some nerve with that squished up face of his, and all those bizarre faces he made.

G- I think he's just plain ole crazy!! He mumbled to himself. He reminds me of that dude who lives around Union Square. Nutty as a fruitcake!!!

We stopped at several more places until we finally found lodging for the night. It probably wasn't a good idea to go to Tofino without reservations, because we ended up paying way too much for something not all that great, but that's gonna happen sometimes while we fly by the seat of our pants. Our hotel was in a good location, and we did have an enjoyable sushi dinner.