24 September 2016, Saturday

O has finally figured out the weather here. When the barometer is falling, it rains. When the barometer is rising, it rains. And when the barometer is steady – it rains! Today starts out cloudy and gray. By mid-day it is raining. But hey, we are in rain forest.

We start our day near Tofino and begin walking Pacific Rim’s trails in order from there. First we climb Radar Hill, site of a radar installation which was part of the southernmost line of early warning stations during the Cold War. There is also a memorial there to a heroic Canadian Battalion commemorating the battle of Kap’Yong during the Korean War. After Radar Hill we hike through rainforest to beautiful Schooner Cove.

We try to visit Incinerator Rock, but the parking lot is completely full of surfers in wet suits, so we move on to the Combers Beach trail.  Here, on sunny days, one can sometimes see sea lions sunning themselves on the rocks off shore…no sun today! Our last trail of the day is a one km loop through rain forest along cedar plank boardwalk and stairs.

Now it is time to return to camp for dinner, after which we take an evening stroll along Long Beach once again. There will be no bright sunset tonight but, on the other hand, we have the entire beach to ourselves.