Ever since moving to Alberta from Ontario in 1975, the mountains have been my go-to destination. Any time I headed out for a day trip or whenever I planned a camping trip, I always headed towards the majestic Canadian Rockies. There isn’t much that can compare to the calming scene of a cold mist rolling over a glassy mountain lake at sunrise.
Somewhere out there, the loon calls, breaking through the silence of the clean, crisp air whilst the campfire coffee brews on an open fire. Just reflecting on those moments makes me want to pack up my sleeping bag and hit the road. Although my affection for the peaks is not lessened, Canada does, however, offer other geographical delicacies that I am starting to appreciate just as much.
I wrote a piece a short time ago about a jaunt I made to the Stettler Museum and Big Valley and how there was something about the prairies that appealed to me. Maybe it’s the feeling of freedom I get when I look out to the horizon or, maybe it’s in my blood. My father was born in Saskatchewan—maybe there’s a genetic connection. Whatever the reason, there is something about the flat land that comforts me. And now it’s the ocean--its rugged shorelines, the richness of life that lies hidden just under the surface and, I suppose, the same feeling of freedom I get when looking out to the horizon.
This time last year, I was wrapping up my seven week visit to the east coast. I loved it there, not just because of the beauty of everywhere, moreover the incredible friendliness and generosity of the folks I met there. Wherever I went I said, “I could live here.” So, this month I spent time on the west coast, and I felt just as contented.
The summer of 2011 was the second time I visited Ucluelet—my first visit to that small, west coast community was a couple of years before that. I wasn’t really all that captivated during that first visit, mainly because I didn’t take time to explore. I did venture down to the waterfront and looked around a bit, but that was it. I think I was more interested in getting to Tofino to check out the surfing there. Not that I planned to participate in the activity, but I was interested in checking out the surfing capital of Canada. It’s like Banff in winter except people walk around with surf boards slung over their shoulders instead of snow boards. Tofino is a cool place.
During my 2011 visit to the coast, I decided to rent a room in Ucluelet for a couple of nights and explore the area a little more. I realized then that you could get right down to the ocean (I should have known that on the first visit. Afterall, it is a coastal community). I discovered there was a lot more to this little community than I initially realized, and I vowed to return to explore some more.
This past summer, I worked as a shuttle driver in Lake Louise, a job that exposed me to a multitude of international visitors every day. Although I thoroughly enjoy meeting and chatting with people from all over the world, there does come a point near the end of the season when you just need a break. With the month of October off, all I needed to do was decide in what direction to point the Jeep and start driving. Winter had already revealed herself in Alberta and I suppose I could have considered a more tropical destination, but my goal is to explore as much of Canada I can.
Intentionally traveling to a place where the weather is awful might seem counter-intuitive to most, but I have always wanted to check this out—storm watching season on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The best time to go, I hear, is between November and February. Doesn’t sound like the most pleasurable winter getaway, right. It is, however, a tourist attraction in Tofino and Ucluelet. When I checked on-line, I discovered that storm season typically begins in October, so I hoped it might be a good time to witness some crashing waves and get my fill of dramatic photos. Either that or the weather would be much nicer there than in Alberta, so Ucluelet it was. Either way, I win.
Ucluelet is home to about 1800 people and has become a major tourist destination. In summer, I’m sure the Wild Pacific Trail is packed with hikers and the harbor is bustling with visitors gearing up for a whale or bear watching tour or getting ready to venture out on a guided fishing trip hoping to land a big halibut or salmon. However, as in Lake Louise, October in Ucluelet is quiet time, relatively speaking. That was just fine with me. No crowds to fight, still lots to do and bonus, cheaper.
I did mention that October might be a good storm watching month or it might offer milder temperatures than I left in Alberta. Milder won out, and in the end, I am happy for that. Warm temperatures and calm seas suited me just fine. One day, however, I will make the trip when the weather favours storm watching over whale watching.
If you’re looking for beautiful scenery, adventure and small-town hospitality, a getaway to Ucluelet might just be what the doc ordered.
Somewhere out there, the loon calls, breaking through the silence of the clean, crisp air whilst the campfire coffee brews on an open fire. Just reflecting on those moments makes me want to pack up my sleeping bag and hit the road. Although my affection for the peaks is not lessened, Canada does, however, offer other geographical delicacies that I am starting to appreciate just as much.
I wrote a piece a short time ago about a jaunt I made to the Stettler Museum and Big Valley and how there was something about the prairies that appealed to me. Maybe it’s the feeling of freedom I get when I look out to the horizon or, maybe it’s in my blood. My father was born in Saskatchewan—maybe there’s a genetic connection. Whatever the reason, there is something about the flat land that comforts me. And now it’s the ocean--its rugged shorelines, the richness of life that lies hidden just under the surface and, I suppose, the same feeling of freedom I get when looking out to the horizon.
This time last year, I was wrapping up my seven week visit to the east coast. I loved it there, not just because of the beauty of everywhere, moreover the incredible friendliness and generosity of the folks I met there. Wherever I went I said, “I could live here.” So, this month I spent time on the west coast, and I felt just as contented.
The summer of 2011 was the second time I visited Ucluelet—my first visit to that small, west coast community was a couple of years before that. I wasn’t really all that captivated during that first visit, mainly because I didn’t take time to explore. I did venture down to the waterfront and looked around a bit, but that was it. I think I was more interested in getting to Tofino to check out the surfing there. Not that I planned to participate in the activity, but I was interested in checking out the surfing capital of Canada. It’s like Banff in winter except people walk around with surf boards slung over their shoulders instead of snow boards. Tofino is a cool place.
During my 2011 visit to the coast, I decided to rent a room in Ucluelet for a couple of nights and explore the area a little more. I realized then that you could get right down to the ocean (I should have known that on the first visit. Afterall, it is a coastal community). I discovered there was a lot more to this little community than I initially realized, and I vowed to return to explore some more.
This past summer, I worked as a shuttle driver in Lake Louise, a job that exposed me to a multitude of international visitors every day. Although I thoroughly enjoy meeting and chatting with people from all over the world, there does come a point near the end of the season when you just need a break. With the month of October off, all I needed to do was decide in what direction to point the Jeep and start driving. Winter had already revealed herself in Alberta and I suppose I could have considered a more tropical destination, but my goal is to explore as much of Canada I can.
Intentionally traveling to a place where the weather is awful might seem counter-intuitive to most, but I have always wanted to check this out—storm watching season on the west coast of Vancouver Island. The best time to go, I hear, is between November and February. Doesn’t sound like the most pleasurable winter getaway, right. It is, however, a tourist attraction in Tofino and Ucluelet. When I checked on-line, I discovered that storm season typically begins in October, so I hoped it might be a good time to witness some crashing waves and get my fill of dramatic photos. Either that or the weather would be much nicer there than in Alberta, so Ucluelet it was. Either way, I win.
Ucluelet is home to about 1800 people and has become a major tourist destination. In summer, I’m sure the Wild Pacific Trail is packed with hikers and the harbor is bustling with visitors gearing up for a whale or bear watching tour or getting ready to venture out on a guided fishing trip hoping to land a big halibut or salmon. However, as in Lake Louise, October in Ucluelet is quiet time, relatively speaking. That was just fine with me. No crowds to fight, still lots to do and bonus, cheaper.
I did mention that October might be a good storm watching month or it might offer milder temperatures than I left in Alberta. Milder won out, and in the end, I am happy for that. Warm temperatures and calm seas suited me just fine. One day, however, I will make the trip when the weather favours storm watching over whale watching.
If you’re looking for beautiful scenery, adventure and small-town hospitality, a getaway to Ucluelet might just be what the doc ordered.
