Its criminal. I haven’t taken the Highway #4 to its terminus since the summer of 2003.
I first moved to Victoria that summer and like any recent immigrant I was a combination of excited for my new community and broke.
My brother CJ and sister Andrea borrowed Mom and Dad’s mini-van. Loaded it up with my girlfriend and Andrea’s friend Candice and off to Tofino we went.
We didn’t have much of a plan. A van full of kids and camping gear. Beer.
When we arrived in Tofino, the first camp ground took a look us and just said, “no.”
wow, friendly folks.
We drove around for awhile and it was getting dark. We found a camp ground that would have us and quickly fired up our tents and tarps. I mean it was July, the rains was about to come. My brother CJ got a fire going and we put on some over priced steaks and veggie kabobs from the Tofino Co-Op.
Beers.
Rain.
So.much.rain.
My brother and I stayed up till late. I was sitting in a puddle. Probably not piss. I hope. No it was cold. It was rain water.
The next day, all bleary eyed, I awoke to plane engine noise. Our campground was beside the airport. And by airport I mean strip of grass carved out of the rain forest.
We decided we wanted to surf, so into town we went to rent all the gear.
Like I said, it was July so obviously it was gray and misty and fucking cold.
Surfing was hard and brutal and I am not sure, but someone likely drowned.
It wasn’t beach time like you might expect at Willows. The beach was gorgeous and wild… and cold.
We went in to town for food, but everything was really expensive so we ate diner grub and headed back to camp.
The next day, we took that scary, twisting #4 back to the city. And that was Tofino for me.
I did enjoy it… but I’ve never had an excuse to go back till now.
Coral has never been.
Now I gotta go back!
But this time, hotel and maybe I’ll leave the surfing off the itinerary. Maybe I’ll watch surfing, but I’m not getting in the water. OK, maybe I’ll get in the water.
If you are a Tofino person or have a great recommendation of an affordable place to stay for me and Coral, please leave a comment.
Go with yourself.
The Morning After 