Comox, the Ferry to Powell River, and Skookumchuck Rapids!

After the cold and wet conditions at Telegraph Cove, we drove down the highway to Comox and stayed our last night at a small provincial park right on the ocean, near the Ferry Terminal. The sun came out and as we walked along the rocky shoreline, we talked about our 2 weeks on Vancouver Island. The highlight for both of us was Tofino and the bush walks in the wilderness areas there. Of course another highlight for me was catching up with my girlfriend, Terri, talking the hours away, like only women can! She took us out on Friday night to a local coffee shop/used book shop in Oak Bay (Victoria) and we sat drinking peppermint tea and watched local guitar players and other performers in an open mic concert.

Tony built another perfect fire and we roasted hotdogs and listened to the birds as the sun gave way to dusk and our bed beckoned us. Another fulfilling day of travel, exploring new places, discovering new things about ourselves, pondering what tomorrow might bring.

From Comox, we hopped on a ferry that took us across to Powell River on the Sunshine Coast of BC. We weren't too interested in Powell River, so we headed along the highway south to another ferry terminal and 40 minutes later we found ourselves in Egmont at a small private campground (Strongwater), another campfire, a stir fry veggie and rice dinner and views to snow capped mountains with eagles soaring through the wind. We had heard about these special rapids at Egmont, called the Skookumchuck Rapids. 

We read that it was best to go at the turn of the tides, so we got up early and made the hour long trek through an amazing fern filled forest to the rocky lookout point just in time for the 8:30 tide change. The rapids were running and it was quite a site, but an added treat was watching a tug boat trying to pull a huge load of logs against the tide! Another tug boat arrived and went to the back of his load and pushed it while the other guy pulled. They hardly moved, inch by inch and I wondered if they would ever reach their destination.