Tofino, BC #1

LUCKY LAGER ROAD TRIP
WESTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA 

September 22, 2015 (Day 4)

Victoria to Tofino
Miles: 278 / Total Trip Miles: 524

Victoria to Tofino - Click Map To Make Larger

Victoria to Tofino:

Temperatures were mild, in the mid-50s Fahrenheit. The highway distance from Victoria to our lodging in Tofino is about 193 miles. After traveling almost half the way to Tofino, we realized that our passports were left in the safe box of our Victoria hotel room. After backtracking to Victoria, the mileage for the day stretched to 278 miles. 

The drive from Victoria to Nanaimo isn't spectacular, and was congested. By the time we reached Parksville, night had fallen. After a quick bite to eat at a Tim Horton's, we drove the remaining 103 miles to Tofino in the dark via a two-lane road. This route is mountainous, winding and mostly uninhabited, even more so after Port Alberni. Rain and fog made the trip more "interesting". After Port Aberni, this former logging road narrows. Fortunately we had the road to ourselves for 75 miles. With no other traffic, it was a fun, but not relaxing, drive in our Subaru STI. Entering Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, the road improves and straightens out.

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September 23-24, 2015 (Days 5 - 6)
Tofino & Vicinity

Miles: 73 / Total Trip Miles: 597

Tofino Area - - Click Map To Make Larger

Tofino:
Tofino is a district of about 1,900 residents on the west coast of Vancouver Island. It is located at the western terminus of Highway 4 on the tip of the Esowista Peninsula, at the southern edge of Clayoquot Sound. Although there is a sign in Tofino marking the Pacific terminus of the Trans-Canada Highway (photo below), the highway to Tofino is technically not part of the Trans-Canada Highway system. Tofino was bypassed by the official Trans-Canada Highway in the 1950s, when the government chose instead to connect Nanaimo with Victoria.

Tourism:
Tofino is a popular tourist destination in the summer, attracting surfers, nature lovers, campers, whale watchers, and fishermen. As in most of western British Columbia, float planes are a popular way of travelling. Winter is not as bustling, although many people visit Tofino and the west coast to watch storms. We ate at the Common Loaf Bakeshop (food & ambience rating = B) and the Sea Shanty Restaurant (food and ambience rating = B+). The Sea Shanty has an excellent view of the harbor. 

History:
Tofino acquired its name in 1909 with the opening of the Tofino Post Office, named after the nearby Tofino Inlet. This inlet was noticed in 1792 by the Spanish explorers Galiano and Valdés. Through the early decades of the 1900s this region was mostly known as an isolated maritime trading town, earning the nickname "Tough City" for its long, rainy and tempestuous winters.

In 1959 a logging road was punched through the mountains between Port Alberni and Tofino. The earliest road travellers, eager to reach the ocean, could only use the logging road on the weekends when loggers had days off. Over time, restrictions on road use eased, and Tofino became an increasingly popular destination. By the late 1960s young people arrived in droves, striking up makeshift camps at a few different beaches in the Long Beach region. Surfers began to appear on the beaches. In 1970, Pacific Rim National Park was created. 

In 1993 the Tofino and Clayoquot Sound area found itself in the limelight. After a contentious summer in the woods, 856 activists were arrested for protesting the practice of clearcut logging at Kennedy Lake, just south of Tofino. The protest garnered world-wide media attention, and was the largest mass arrest in Canadian history until June 2010, when 900 protesters were arrested at the G20 Summit in Toronto.


Weather:
Tofino has relatively warm winters and cool summers. Average annual rainfall is 130 inches. July has an average of 3 inches of rain. November has an average rainfall of 19 inches. Nearly all of the precipitation that falls throughout the course of a year is rain, with 203 days with rain and only 10 days with snowfall. Tofino is said to be the least snowy town in Canada. During our visit, temperatures were mild, in the mid-50s to low-60s Fahrenheit. It rained a lot during our first days in Tofino.

Photographs:

These photographs are the property of Leon Jackson, and are protected by copyright laws. Photographs may not to be downloaded or reproduced in any way without the written permission of Leon Jackson. © 2015 Leon Jackson. All Rights Reserved.

- Click On Photo For A Larger Image -

Cox Bay Beach

Mary explores a tidal island. In the background is the beach house we rented. Pacific Sands Beach Resort gets an A- rating.

Green Sea Anemones

Cox Bay Beach near Pacific Sands Beach Resort.
[Flickr]

 Piers

Two of the may piers in Tofino. The furthest pier is for government use.
[Flickr]

End of the Road

Sign falsely marks the terminus of theTrans-Canada Highway at Tofino. See story above. The First Street Pier is in the background.

Stormy Weather

The Tofino area is a great place to storm watch. During part of our stay, strong winds and rain marked the beginning of the storm season.  Photo was taken at Cox Bay Beach. In the background is Lennard Island Lighthouse (approximately 3+ miles away). The beaches in this area have rip currents, and swimming is not recommended. Surfing is very popular -- even in stormy weather.
[Flickr]