Adventures on Vancouver Island

by Susan Ponting

By far the most thrilling experience of the trip was the ride on the BC Ferry to cross over from Vancouver to Vancouver Island. We boarded at Horseshoe Bay bound for Nanaimo. Our timing was perfect on the way there, but on the way back we had to wait in line, which turned out to be a blessing. I got to shop at the artists’ booths lining the BC Ferries Terminal entrance. We met an awesome couple from (where else?) Ontario. Ssnips and Kathleen were selling the wares they buy in Indonesia in the winter. They have both lived in B.C. for more than 25 years and have a little cabin on Salt Spring Island. I found myself daydreaming about opening up our own little booth beside Ssnips and Kathleen; kindred spirits we were. But, it’s not all sunshine and roses, Ssnips said, “It’s hard work being outside, and the tourists can be cranky, the weather unpredictable, but we love this place.” Their visits to South East Asia sure don’t hurt either.

The ferry cost us $77.09 each way with our rental car. It was just so spectacular to be on board the ferry. We were mesmerized by the coastal mountains, and all the fine cottages lining the shore. I couldn’t help but wonder who lived in these incredible places, and dreaming (again) about our own little retreat. A tiny slice of Victoria Island would do us just fine.

As we sat transfixed, gazing out into the ocean, sitting on the upper deck of the Ferry, a few of us on the bench were suddenly thrilled to see a burst of water spew out of the top of what everybody thought was a whale.

It was really far away though, and everyone had to look a few times to make sure what we were seeing really was a whale, but sure enough, spouts of water kept spurting out the top of the whale and made everyone happy (and then go back and forth debating what type of whale it was).

Once we docked in Victoria we booked a night at the Howard Johnson’s on George Road East ($102.17 including taxes for a very large room and kitchenette). For dinner we headed to the Baja Surf Grill on Yates Street where the wonderfully hospitable host and owner served tasty Mexican food at a really reasonable price ($81.08 dinner, drinks, including tax and tip).  

At the Baja Surf Grill, I overhead someone say, “Victoria is a lot like Ottawa,” which is very true, but Ottawa isn’t surrounded by the ocean, and you don’t take a marvelous trip aboard the well-oiled BC Ferries to get there. Highway 401 just doesn’t seem to cut it in the beautiful scenery department.

Next, we hopped into our Hyundai 4 x 4, and headed toward Tofino, a place, like the Rockies, that calls to me.

Photos by Susan Ponting.