BootsnAll Travel Blogs

well I took the plunge and went whale watching again: this time from Victoria with Ocean Explorations….400hp zodiac again.
Was hoping to see some Orcas, however there werent any in the area on the day – which was disapppointing, however I saw some Humpback whales and got some nice photos (most of which are now on the ‘kodakgallery’ site) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0aTtVY3lIU

had a beer with a couple of folks from the hostel last night – at the ‘sticky wicket’ pub in Victoria: was K, but had to queue at the bar….which was odd
This morning (14th Oct) I took the train back to Nanaimo to get a seaplane flight over to Vancouver, however for the first time since March, the planes were fogged in….typical!
so, it looks like another night in Nanaimo.

curiously, it was cheaper to get the 2.5hr train up here and pay for the flight than it was just to get the flight direct to Vancouver from Victoria………….course having the Student Union Card helped ;^)
<mental note for you prospective travellers out there: buy a NUS card off ebay for 4 quid…it’ll save you a fortune!>
Typically, the sea planes wer all fogged in at Nanaimo, so I had to spend another night there (so I had 2 hostels booked…thats another 9 quid Ive overpaid ;^) ) got up this morning and got the first flight back – EXCELLENT trip on the plane – I got to sit next to the pilot (theres only 3 seats and the others were taken) take off & landing were VERY smooth but the plane is soooo noisy – and of course I had a bad head again (out with another german last night) So Ive landed in Whistler now and will stay here tilll Thursday when I get my flight from Vancouver up to the Yukon
more pics later

BUNGEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I drove over to Nanaimo bungee centre just for a look see (in my rented 4l Frodo Explorer SUV) but once I got there I decided to do the jump anyway!
its Canadas oldest licensed bungee place and they have their own purpose built iron bridge arcing over a gorge with a river flowing underneath…its 150ft above the water this time of year (not much water) standing at the edge was a bit…scarey, but I knew there was no going back, so a count of 3 from the fella there and I was off….as soon as you leave the bridge, the rush of air and feeling of speed and freedom is INCREDIBLE!!!! he got the length just right, making me just duck into the water below.
what a great way to start the day! oh, and I met ‘Dave’ (schoolteacher) who although living in Victoria for a whole lot of years, originally hails from Chester- le-street (or thereabouts)..some coincidence, eh?
…dont worry: Ive got it on a CD video, so I can bore you all senseless with it
or try: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvIOrk912VI

then I drove across the island to Tofino….fab drive thru the mountains.
Tofino “Whalers on the Point” hostel is real nice too….though its a bit full of kewl folks (surfers)..oh, and Sam and Sinaed (english and irish resp. though former is living in Calgary now and latter is ‘prolly’ gonna be in Calgary with Sam)
night out at the Sands bar with those two folks plus a couple of german fellas – guess wot?….yep, drunk again

Saturday = whale watching. we (me and Sam) went out on “Jamies Whale Watching” and saw grey whales and some sea lions and more bald eagles. the boat was a 400hp zodiac….which was a LOT of fun…well, truth be known I had a lot of fun…Sam meantime spent most of the time hiding at the back of the boat with red eyes and green face.these folks just aint Geordies are they ;^)

the whales were a bit distant, but I think I got some canny shots – well see (its just a nice feeling seeing whales!!!) Ill post when I get the chance

went for a drive to Ecluelet on sunday: its supposed to be anice picturesque place…but it was closed ;^) …….it aint the greatest of places. Then I drove back to Long Beach (no, not California) and walked a few km splodging thru the surf…looking about as unkewl as you can in front of a load of hip surfers. Never mind…I enjoyed it
This morning I left Tofino to go back to Nanaimo – stopped at a place called Cathedral Cove: its a forest with the most humongous Douglas fFirs and Red Cedar trees…some of them are 240ft tall!!!…it slike a rain forest in there with lichen and moss hanging from EVERYWHERE and a real atmospheric place to walk thru

fairly uneventful trip today: went to the hills/mouintains around the city via various sites within the city (including the library which is a new building designed around the Roman Colosseum - its big airy and completely free to residents (up ... [Continue reading this entry]

well its time to leave the Rockies proper; so Vancouver next. got a bus to Calgary and then waited 6 hours to get a cheap flight to Vancouver ($99 + taxes = $145/75 quid) the flight took 1 hr 11 mins and ... [Continue reading this entry]