Facts about Ucluelet
The Wild Pacific Trail begins near the mouth of Ucluelet Inlet at Amphitrite Point Lighthouse and travels north along the open Pacific coastline through Big Beach Park to the bike path just outside of Ucluelet. The final section will extend the trail to Halfmoon Bay in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.[12] [13]
The trail is accessible to all ages and abilities, even wheel chairs in certain areas. No bikes, horses or motorized vehicles are permitted on the park’s beaches or trails. The hiking trails are designed to let visitors experience the shoreline while preventing damage to the fragile environment.
Friendly Faces
Andrew writes: Ellen, our taxi cab driver from the Long Beach Airport, to our campground. She just seemed so eager to share with us the ins and outs of Ucluelet and the surrounding area. She also told me of her dream to visit the Galapagos Islands, which she was able to realize earlier on in her life. I know that is somewhere I’m keen to go as well.
Today’s Highlights
Andrew writes: It’s not very common for someone to celebrate just leaving their house. However, after all of the chaos and running around for the last few weeks, we truly felt triumphant when we handed over the keys to our apartment and set off down the street; hand-in-hand, with backpacks bulging and smiles beaming, we headed off on a well-deserved vacation.
Today’s Lowlights
Andrew writes:At around 2:15pm today, I looked at my phone. Something didn’t look right. Upon closer inspection, and a short while later my fears were confirmed. My work had wiped all of my data off of my cellphone.
While it was bound to happen eventually, I still somehow found myself mentally unprepared for being disconnected from years’ worth of contacts and colleagues.
I moped around for an hour, spent some quiet time in the tent, played my recorder for a bit, and when I emerged everything was “OK”. This truly is a new life and I’m ready to embrace it.
Andrew writes…
Up for the second day in a row early. Today was moving day. Our landlady came and picked up the keys and gave us our damage deposit and that was that. We walked down the street to our favourite coffee shop, “West of Java”, and were treated to coffee and breakfast by the owners Jean and James. I really enjoyed the last few weeks talking to them about my trip, and listening to them share their past and future dreams as well. Apparently I have a credit in their file for FREE coffee if I come back in the next three years; how cruel is that!?
We hopped on the SeaBus and Canadaline out to the airport where we met our friends Megan and Paul, who, along with their family were joining us for a vacation in Ucluelet, BC. The cell reception at the campground is spotty, and there is no Wi-Fi, so that should give us our first taste of being “offline” in a long time. Then again, given where we’ll be next week, this could be good practice. We setup our tent and I hung out at camp while Amanda and Megan went to put out a few traps in the water.
The rest of the day passed pretty much in a haze. I think I’m finally starting to relax, as it is all blurring together. I remember starting to read, “The Art of Happiness” and then napping for a bit. We ate fresh salmon and tuna for dinner, and then I whittled up some marshmallow roasting sticks for s’mores. I want to say we crashed early because it seemed early, but it was dark and 10pm. I was asleep by 11 after catching up on Twitter and writing this blog.
Today’s Photographs