Another Day on the Rim

Another walk on McKenzie Beach near Tofino. Then, I decided to head back to Ucluelet. It was drizzling rain - have I mentioned that my windshield wipers don't work consistently?
I was still vacillating between a kayak tour or whale watching, but finally decided on a ride on a boat instead of using my own power.- shame on me!

Ready for an Excursion

The tour went past the lighthouse and some of the beaches I had walked along yesterday.

Same Lighthouse Different View

See the Whale

Well, I didn't see him either! The captain said we were traveling right beside him for about 30 minutes. Everyone else claimed they saw a whale surface and spout at least 10 times. They kept shouting "See there, Paula! Did you see him?"
I finally started crying out "Yes! I see him!!"
But I only saw the last bit of a spray a couple of times and perhaps a bit of rounded back once.

I Missed Him Again

We did see many harbour seals. But, ho hum. After one spends 2 months witnessing the birthing and mating season of the elephant seals near San Simeon, California any other seal viewing is anticlimactic.

Harbor Seals

We did see several sea otters, which made me very happy. Two had pups with them and were feeding. They are so lively and the boat so rocking I could not get a good photo.

Sea Otter

Years ago, I decided to stop buying a ticket to any planetarium. As soon as the lights go off and the stars come on, I am sound asleep. I now vow to never spend $100+ for a whale excursion.

Stainless Steel Sculptures

I drove and rode my bicycle by this corner many times without realizing it might be worth taking a closer look at. Trucks, dumpsters, and cracked concrete seem to divert the eye even though you are aware that something interesting might be here.
I needed to replenish my vodka supply and this area is also part of the liquor store parking lot. The artist was actually finishing Surfer Girl, so I talked to him for a while, which made me take a closer look at Mike Camp's sculptures.
It was then I realized that The Raven Lady is also a gournet food truck and this "sculpture garden" is the place for outdoor dining.

Surfer Girl

One of the sculptures is The Wanderer. Viewers can write on an oyster shell (this is also where you can purchase fresh local oysters) and hang it on the sculpture. I wrote I Think I'll Just Be Happy Today - the slogan on a trinket daughter Laura gave me for my birthday.

The Wanderer

I decided to camp near Port Alberni so I could visit the museum before I headed to Victoria on the 20th. The closest campground is Sprout Lake.
The main campground is just like every other one I have found in BC. However, they have just installed a few tent sites on the hill above the lake. I kept my van in the parking log and shared this spot with some travelers from Germany for their tents.

Now THIS IS a Campsite

There is a stone wall of petroglyphs in this park.

Wall of Stories

Petroglyphs

Photographing a Real Photographer

I enjoyed this spot so much that I skipped the Port Alberni museum to sit here and read and knit.