Exciting news! We've now entered into December with this post. I'm still VERY behind but hope to catch up soon - we'll have to move quickly to catch up as we'll be sliding into January in a few days.
We do seem to spend a lot of time walking the beach because well - we do! After all - we just have to walk a few minutes from our campsite to be there. However, there are a few good hikes around Tofino and Ucluelet as well which we try to hit once in a while. We love the ocean but we also love the forest!
Since Derek and I had planned a trip to Ucluelet on Dec. 3rd for the pet store we decided to try a new to us portion of the Wild Pacific Trail. If you recall we did the loop trail of the WPT back in November.
First, we hope you all had a Merry Christmas! This is what Cassia gave us!
We did the Rocky Bluffs section of the trail.
Love big trees! Remember when we did the Avenue of the Giants in California?
Is it just me who can't get enough of these types of photos - a rocky shoreline? It is just me isn't it?!
The end of the trail.
There was a couple sitting enjoying the view just to the left of this pic so we didn't hang around.
The best I could do with this eagle. They used to be a common sight when we visited the Tofino area twenty years ago - not so much now. At least I got a picture. The poor lady beside us ran out of battery just as she went to take the shot!
I love walking in the forest.
Ohhhh look - two trees together! I'm not sure why that's as exciting as I think it is!
Look up - wayyyyyy up.
You've got to be impressed with the perseverance of the tree on the left.
One of our first stops - the Ucluelet Brewing Co. If you know us from A Life Made Simple you'll know that we are partial to craft breweries. I stopped counting years ago but if you want to see the first 70 or so you can find them here - Craft Brew Hunters.
A very cool interior. We weren't able to stay so we grabbed a couple of 4 packs and headed out.
Most often Derek is in a picture to add - well, interest I guess. But he really needed to be in this picture didn't he? He was dressed for it!
You look good but your boats lookin' a bit rough there Captain!
It's for rent! Someone should just cuz it's so cool!
And ... meet the friend we made! He has a hurt leg/foot? We stopped for lunch at the Jiggers food truck. This fellow was hopping around on the gravel until he decided to make friends with us. Wonder why?
A decent fish and chips - not the worst - not the best.
Just as we finished our friend decided that he was going to help us!
Here's the view for much of the ride between our Park and Ucluelet. I told Derek it reminds me of the drive through the Florida Keys - you know that there is a body of water right beside you with an amazing view but you don't get it!
While we were in Ucluelet - Cassia was teaching herself to use Procreate - her new drawing app. She chose Bubbles as her muse.
Once home we went back to the beach. This was the last pic I got from my phone with a now dead battery.
Sad, because I missed getting a photo of the new addition to our beach!
So we took a picture of it the next day! As our neighbour the Long Beach Lodge Resort questioned on their FB page - has it found it's final resting place?! Most likely - a month on and it's still here.
Just to give you a sense of scale - there are three adults standing behind the tree!
As I said a few posts ago - if you see a tree that looks like furniture - you should sit on it!
At the south end of the beach we miscalculated the tide. In our defence it's tough sometimes as it can be out for wave after wave and then there's that one rogue wave that decides that it's going to push a little further! Cassia was only in danger of getting wet! She wasn't able to scramble up the rocks as quickly as Derek and I were.
Remember - Derek is laughing with her!
Back in 2019 on December 28th we arrived at Goose Island State Park in Texas. It will always be one of our favourite places - we stayed for two weeks. Derek and I had last been there - our first time - back in 2008.
The Big Tree! See - also not staged - another pic of Derek and Cassia posing the same way!
In 2018 at this time we were just arriving to Tofino! It was our first winter visit and we stayed at Crystal Cove Resort.
While Surf Grove is just an RV Park - Crystal Cove is both cabins and an RV park.
Crystal Cove is on MacKenzie Beach - two beaches down from Cox Bay where we are now.
Totally different weather then to the snow we are having now.
Cassia and I love looking for sea treasures. We still do but we try to be a little more judicious these days with the ones we keep. I'll show you this years collection at some point.
I'm putting this picture up purely as a memory for us. We arrived late in the day to Tofino and walked over to Wildside Grill for dinner. It was a neat experience. It is still a great experience as it's one of our favourite restaurants here but this canopy, sadly, has been removed.
We captured an amazing number of amazing sunsets over at MacKenzie beach in January of 2018.
This photo is from 2018 - but hey - the message is the same!
The Wood Clan wishes you all a Happy New Year!
We are excited to see how the fireworks are this year on the beach - in the snow!
We'll still be living in the past next post. I notice that I've collected a bunch of photos of our favourite businesses here and so I'll share them with you next post. Tofino is a foodie mecca and no man's land all at the same time!
Until next time!
Teresa
