We left Salmon Point Resort at 9:00 AM because we knew the drive to Tofino was supposed to take approximately 5 hours and we wanted to be there by early afternoon. Right away we encountered rain but it subsided within a half an hour of Salmon Point and the rest of our trip was dry. Highway 4 from Qualicum Beach on the east coast to Tofino on the west coast was certainly interesting and one of the most breathtaking we have been on. Not because of the beauty, though there was plenty of that, but because of the narrowness, the winding corners and the steepness of the grades. We were thankful that we had decided to stay in Tofino for at least two weeks so we wouldn't have to do that drive again for awhile and maybe by the 15th, there would be less traffic.

On our drive across the island we drove through the old growth rainforest, Cathedral Grove, an area with huge 800 year old trees and we decided we would make a point of stopping there on our way back. The first city we drove through was Port Alberni, located at the end of the saltwater, 35 km. Alberni Inlet. From here an adventurous traveller can take a 95 km. logging road to the fishing village of Bamfield on the Barkley Sound, that is also accessible in the summer by ship however we continued on, past the huge inland Sproat Lake, to Tofino. The route to Tofino travels through the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve where there are plenty of surf-swept beaches and coastal rainforests. One of the beaches, Long Beach is 11 kms. long and is a magnet for surfers from all over the world.

The Bella Pacifica Campground, where we are staying, is located north of the park on MacKenzie Beach, just 1.5 kms. from the town of Tofino a former fishing village. We arrived at 2:30 under sunny skies, set up, walked the beach and headed into Tofino to explore a little before dinner. So far, we are liking what we see!