At first this trip was supposed to be about 2 nights, in a cabin 20 minutes from my house. It ended up being 4 nights in a cabin, 2 nights in a hotel 6 hours from my house on Vancouver Island. I am not sure exactly how that happened, but I am glad it did. Most people don't travel because of cost, and if they do, it's better to take 2 or more people with you since you are spending the money anyway! But I was heading out on my own for ME trip. I am well beyond the age where I am qualified to do this on my own - plan and execute. I still feel excited, like a young child, just starting out on my own adventure.
Day 1, Friday, Sept 23/2011
Orinoco Flow
Orinoco Flow
This day did not start out the way I wanted. In a perfect world, I was supposed to leave super early. I wanted to be on the ferry when the sun came up. In a perfect world I would have been packed fully and my all my reservations be fully taken care of. In a perfect world, I would have gotten more that 4 hours sleep... This is not a perfect world.
At least my trip started. When I finally got on the ferry, I went directly to the most upper observation deck. The wind blowing was warm. I still can't get over how many people insist on staying inside! Do they take this ferry all the time? Anyway, I stalked my spot where I could get the best look at the side of the islands I have never seen. After all the rain we had just had, who knew the sun would peek it's head out of the clouds so strongly? Still, we are heading into the rain clouds. I can see them coming in the distance. I even see what looks like a patch of fog, hugging the coastline of one of the islands we are passing. Being up on the top deck and the clouds being so low, I feel like I can touch them as they pass. I know my camera wouldn't do them justice.
The wind is warm, like a Chinook. I can handle many kinds of winds, but even the perpetually 'cold ones' as I call them would be okay in this. I can almost hear Enya singing Orinoco Flow in my head. Who would spend a 2 hour journey inside unless they had work to do, were unwell or just plain ungrateful for the buffet of nature to look at.
And just as the clouds take over the sun so I no longer need to squint, and we pass through a pod of seals, swimming quite close to the ferry. Cute little black Loch Ness type heads in the water - until I spotted a flipper in the air. The wind is really blowing hard and changing the cloud formations - and with it, the rain patterns falling. Seriously, I live in one of the rainiest climates in North America and I am wanting to take pictures of RAIN?? It's not just the rain though, it's the open water, wind blowing through your everything, the hum of the ship and the sound of the waves it's creating, the seagulls...it's lovely.
It's lightly misting now, I think we must be getting close to Naniamo. The clouds now look like 'the Nothing' is coming to get us, and I should be able to look over at an island and see the Rock Eater there... We just passed seal pod #2... a gentleman came over to tell me that there was a double rainbow on the other side of the ship. As I wander over (you should see my Sea walk), the rainbow is rapidly fading, but I got the idea. And now it's time to get back into our cars.
As I pull off the ferry at 5:20pm, it occurs to me that I 'know' where I am going, but I don't have any road maps at all. I sure hope the signs get me there! I stop in Naniamo to get some groceries, then keep following the signs to Port Alberni. The road there makes me feel like "Where in heavens name am I going? I get into P.Alberni as it gets dark. I find a pay phone and call my parents to let them know I am alive, and then find the last Tim Horton's before I leave. The line up is stupidly long. Doesn't matter where you go, Tim's always gets the lines...
With coffee and doughnut in had, I set off. I know this road is amazing and the scenery fantastic, but I don't see anything. Nothing but rainy mist, fog, and the bright lights of the truck following me in my rear view mirror. As the road progresses I am seeing now why I wouldn't ever want to be on this thing in the winter. In fact, I don't want to be on it now! The turns, the steep hills...the turns....good grief! And my brakes failing on this one hill and nearly hitting someone, that was special! :-( That road took forever...pulled into my resort at 9:40pm. Dark dark dark, but I could still hear the pounding ocean surf. Since I am checking in after hours, I find the key to my cabin and instructions in an envelope with my name, thumb tacked up on this board outside the office door. Thankfully, there are about 7 other people who were obviously late getting there too. My cabin is so CUTE! Everything in it, my hideyhole for the next 4ish days. And it's right where I would have wanted it when I looked at the website. Nice view, and lower suite. I unpack as fast as I can and head to bed...this is not going to be a long enough trip!
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