Tofino is a lovely small town up island. This surf town's population gets as low as 1K during its winter off season and expands to over 10K in the summer. Everyone seems to be relaxed, content and easygoing in Tofino. It's a sunny day? Let's take the day off to surf. It's a windy day? Let's delay the tourists trips until up to 40mins before hand. Tofino might be one of my favourite places I have visited in my lifetime thus far. It was truly a place to explore while at the same time feeling a deep sense of inner peace.
Day 1 - January 27
My day started before sunrise in Victoria with a somehow very calming walk to the bus terminal. The sun had risen when I boarded the bus and I had soon after fallen asleep. It seemed like with a blink of an eye I was in Nanaimo - and thankfully I had woken up since I had to switch buses.
The next 4 hours I was much more awake finding myself on a smaller bus winding up and down bumpy roads. Significantly, only last week or so a part of the main highway had been closed do to a collapse of the mountain. We had to wait about 15 minutes before this section of the road as they were still constructing a new road overtop the debris. Most of the drive we were surrounded by Canadian jungles that couldn’t keep my eyes away from the windows.
Suddenly I see a yellow triangle “tsunami zone” road sign. I look out the opposite window of the bus and as I see my first glimpse of the waves coming into the shore. It had felt as if the wave had seeped up and into my own chest as I felt a wave of inspiration and energy. Nature has always had a way of giving me a special feeling - and even after a long day on a bus I was jolted with excitement.
We arrived. I hoped off the bus and checked into the hostel. HI hostel Tofino is located right on the water with large windows displaying the stunning view. I had hardly eaten all day, so I hurried off to treat myself to a dinner date - soon to find that in this small town almost all the restaurants close early on Monday’s. So I went to the coop and picked up some essentials. I ended up making a delicious avocado, cucumber, spicy vegan cheese sandwich on a bun (with green beans on the side).
After I had eaten, with one of the guests playing the guitar lightly and the pitter of the rain in the background - I sad by the fire and enjoyed the sunset while I journaled. Creativity can be a feeling and I have caught it here in Tofino. Looking forward to my next few days I take it easy this evening as I imagine the possibilities.
This is meant to be a holiday of meditation and independence for me.
Day 2 - January 28
I woke up from a deep sleep. I had fallen asleep earlier than usual, and was completely out all night, it was wonderful. Although I felt quite stuffy still from continuing to get over a cold, coming downstairs to a very quite communal room and a clear view out the many windows had me feeling quite a bit better. I sat with my coffee and breakfast in the best seat right beside the fire and staring out tot he water and the mountains. You can see the white tips in the distance on this clear day.
As I slowly eat I realize that the day is mine. I have no one to please no one to share it with. I am one with me, which is something I’m used to - but with a work schedule. I think I would like to someday make a trip like this and write a book. First I need an idea for the story though. Although I’m physically low energy from being sick, I feel spiritually high energy from my environment. Spiritual wellness is something very questionable of mine as I am not a believer of any sorts. I think maybe I just believe in what is - and what is is my current environment. What surrounds me is what I absorb.
Today went by in a wisp. I left the hostel by 10 and it was 2pm when I realized I felt incredible low energy... because I hadn’t stopped to have lunch yet.
I started on the Tonquin trail. The first loop taking me through the forest and down wooden steps to beautiful beaches. Both spacious with endless smooth sand and framed with geometric rocks where the waves crashed at a different height with each tide. I excitedly took many self timer shots. This had been the first time needing to rely only on my own set up with a teeny tiny tripod in a while (I have been lucky to usually be with someone wonderful who will hold the camera and press the button for me). It is an exciting moment taking pictures by yourself though. No need to feel like you may be an annoyance to the people you are with. In the moment it felt like I was taking some of my best pictures. I can’t see them properly until I get them home on my laptop - but even if I didn’t I had a great time.
The second beach I arrived too was much larger than the first one. I was the only one there. The sun shone brightly and I could feel the warmth on my skin - one of my favourite feelings. I took a good moment here by myself. The sound of the waves and nothing else. I did some handstands on the driftwood. I didn’t come to Tofino only to see it before I left the west, but also in my mind with a goal of self peace. I have been stressed and lost at what my next steps are, and I truly had a feeling that a few days in a hippy town close with nature would at the slightest heighten my peace.
~ I came here for a kind of meditation. I have always found my meditation through movement. When moving the body this is where I am most capable of finding the stillness in my mind.~
After I departed I followed another trail to the main road. About halfway between the trail and the next beach I was headed to (a much larger one) - this was when I realized I needed lunch. By the time I got to MacKenzie beach it had been hours. I was mighty tired. I sat for a little bit and watched the surfers. My feet hurt. I walked the edge of the waters and collected some interesting shells. I even found what might have been a crab?
The long walk home begun.
Soon after I got back I got a message from a local award winning photographer I had been in contact with. It was sunset and he wanted to meet up right away. I rushed over and we took some flash shots at the beach. Happy with myself for taking this opportunity and excited to see the pictures, I head home feeling satisfied.
Day 3 - January 29
I woke up for the second day where the boats weren’t going. I had a scheduled ferry to the hot springs and was trying to make backup plans for my day. My roomie (a girl from Switzerland) had the same plans. We teamed up and got in contact with the local sea plane company. They delayed the flight for 2 hours, then called us confirming we could go.
The tiny plane held the pilot, who was about the same age as us, a doctor were to drop off at a near reserve on the way, my friend and myself. The first half of the flight was incredible - the second half I had a bit of a hard time! There was some rocky turbulence and hard leaning turns going over some of the islands and hard nausea had kicked in. We went for landing and the swells were so big we bounced off the water about five times. Exiting the plane I was yellow and drenched in sweat. I stepped onto the dock and laid down for a minute.
The fresh air cured me - and we headed off for the hot springs. With the low quantity of tourists this time of year AND the cancelled boat tours, WE WERE THE ONLY ONES ON THE ISLAND. It was about a twenty minute walk through the magical Canadian rainforest. If you haven’t been in one of these it is a thick, wet, greenery with huge trees - some mended together and spiralling to the sky. Ferns and moss cover the floor and most surfaces. Steam rose from the rocks as we approached the end of the trail.
Around the corner surrounded by greenery the earth dipped into a rocky downward crevest. Waterfalls poured downward like high pressure shower taps and every ten minutes or so a large wave would come into the springs, raising the levels of the pools and cooling them just a little bit. There was a wooden change area where we got our suits on and shivered in the January ocean air as we slowly made our way down the rocks. The pools were warm like a bath and the showers were hot like a hot tub. I was quickly a comfortable temperature.
When we went back to the plane our pilot was sitting on top of it. We told him we had been the only ones and he told us that in the summer time people have to wait in line! I am so happy to have visited in the off season, I feel like this had been a much better experience.
Back at the hostel we rested in the lounge, had some dinner and chatted with some of the staff (they weren’t busy - one from Germany and one from Québec).
I went to bed early and woke up early the next day. A long day back on the bus.
Love you Tofino. I will be back.
🤙🏼
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