16/9
Woke at 6.15 in anticipation of our 8.30 water taxi departure.
We showered and made hot tea to take out to the point to sit and watch for black bear cubs and other wildlife.
We didn't see any bears but we did see a beautiful belted kingfisher.
Breakfast was served at 7am sharp and was very impressive. Pancakes and maple syrup (obviously) bacon and sausages, hash browns and scrambled eggs, as well as the usual fruit and yoghurt and toasted bagels. We all took advantage of this fine spread and then carried out bags out yo the pontoon where Gord, back to his old taciturn self was ready and waiting to drive us back to the mainland.
We knew we had a big drive today - about 6 hours to Telegraph Cove in readiness for our ferry trip on Saturday.
Also we needed to find reliable wifi between 2 and 3 for Chris to receive a business call.
It all worked out really well. We drive back along the tough track from secret beach camp ground and Marina and down to Ucluelet. A quieter version of Tofino with a rockier coastline.
We parked at the Southern tip of the peninsula and walked the short but spectacular Wild Pacific Trail to the Amphitrite Lighthouse. This area is infamous for shipwrecks as it is so rocky and I'd served by two buoys - a green one with a bell, and a red whistle buoy that contains a hooter that sounds when the buoy moves in the waves. Sailors then know to navigate keeping the red whistle buoy on their right when returning to port.
It was an easy walk with frequent side paths with a bench and a picture view through the foliage over the coast revealing stunning coastal scenery snd views of wildlife including bald eagles and another belted kingfisher.
Back at the car we set out for the east coast, pausing in Port Alberni for coffee and wifi at Serious Coffee.
Mission accomplished we carried on north, through driving rain along the tarmacked but winding and potholed highway north to Telegraph Cove. We passed through Campbell River 'the capital of salmon fishing' and bought petrol, but weren't inclined to linger!
At 7pm we arrived at Telegraph Cove. It was still day light but in heavy driving rain. Nevertheless it looked amazing . A boardwalk village of small brightly coloured timber houses that formed the original homes of the community that used to live here.
We are in Cabin 9 - the Honeymoon cabin. It was painted green with a small veranda and was on stilts, looking out over the water.
We checked in, feeling very happy at the prospect of a night and a lazy morning all cosied down in our little waterside cabin.
After tea and brownies, we unpacked and did some laundry, draping it to dry in the lovely warm bathroom.
Although the grocery store was closed, we made our way to the restaurant just along the boardwalk - The Killer Whale Cafe. Our Greek waiter is charming and we choose the tasty specials - the steak with bacon wrapped scallops and prawns and the seafood stir fry with coconut sauce.
Returning back to our cabin, Chris resumed work on his DMM project, Bill read and I blogged, all in cosy companionable silence, before another lovely early night.