Vancouver Island

On Sunday, August 14th, we left our rig in Ferndale, Washington and drove into Canada for a week. The BC Ferry at Tsawwassen was only 30 miles north. A two hour ferry ride transported us and our car to Duke Point on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. We checked into a one bedroom timeshare condo at Pacific Shores Resort in Parksville. We had beautiful weather the entire week. Vancouver Island is about four times the size of Puerto Rico, yet the population is only 750,000 vs. 4 million on Puerto Rico.

Sitting on the Sun Deck, departing from Tsawwassen.

Entrance Island Lighthouse at Duke Point

First Floor Condo

Very Comfortable with Washer/Dryer, too.

McLEAN MILL NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE

This sawmill has been restored fully to working condition and gives sawing demonstrations weekly. This mill was in operation from 1926 to 1972.

Steam Powered Saw Blades

1928 "Buda" Gas Locomotive used for hauling logs.
Only two "Buda" locatives were built and this is the
only one surviving.

 

Fully Restored 1947 Hayes Logging Truck

PORT ALBERNI

Maritime Lighthouse Museum

Boomer used to manage floating log rafts.

CATHEDRAL GROVE PROVINCIAL PARK

Yup, they have some big trees here, too.

Big Trees but Shallow Roots

PACIFIC RIM NATIONAL PARK PRESERVE

We took Highway 4 over to the west side of the island and visited Pacific Rim National Park as well as the small towns of Ucluelet and Tofino. Most of the west coast of Vancouver Island is an inaccessible wilderness. Only this thirty mile stretch of paved road runs between these two small towns.

KwIstis Visitor Center

End of the Road, Tofino.

End of the Road, Ucluelet.

It was a warm clear day,
with a marine layer just off shore.

MILNER GARDENS

Milner Gardens is 70 acres of natural beauty perched on a bluff overlooking the Strait of Georgia. The historic Milner House served traditional English afternoon tea in the Tea Room. Some of the famous guests included Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, not to mention Kurt and Virginia.

Beautiful front lawn overlooking the Strait.

600 year old Douglas Fir

Tea Room

 ENGLISHMAN FALLS PROVINCAL PARK 

 

Nice trail to the upper and lower falls.