Here in our new home on the sheltered southeast coast of Vancouver Island, we are so grateful for the warmth of this lovely Mediterranean-like climate and the calm, gentle waters that welcome us at our local beach.
Still, every so often we long to experience the rugged, untamed beauty of the island’s west coast up at Tofino (a 3-hour drive from our quaint seaside town) where the water is cold and wild at times and a powerful magnet for surfers year-round.
And so, in late September, we took our time driving to Tofino to take in the striking splashes of color — bright yellow and burnt orange against the deep green of conifers — in the autumnal forests lining the roads.
And on our last morning, when most of our neighbors were fast asleep, lulled by the lapping waves, we bid farewell to our cabin nestled in a quiet cove to embrace that rush of exhilaration that comes when you encounter Long Beach (the longest sand beach, spanning 16 km, on the west coast of Vancouver Island).
And as I stood transfixed on the edge of the open ocean, delighting in the tang of the salty air, the mist glided through the ancient trees of the rainforest, skirting Lovekin Rock — an iconic haystack island — seemingly settled in that vast saltwater mirror, reflecting the softest light while the sun-kissed sea foam and spray danced over their cool, translucent blanket with its hypnotic undulations.
It was as if this place had been untouched for millennia, simply breathing steadily and profoundly, inviting us to linger in the serenity of this subtle sunrise.
