For those of you that follow my Blog Posts, you know that my Husband and I went to Tofino last Summer, and spent much of our time driving from there to Ucluelet ( about half an hour away ) to go hiking every Day.  This year, we decided it would make much more sense to just stay in Ucluelet, since most of our time would be spent hiking again.

As always, I spent many hours checking out places to stay, online.  We wanted something close to the hiking trails, where we could have some peace and quiet and privacy. We weren’t looking for a typical busy Hotel, but instead, something a little more laid back. My research paid off, and we found what seemed to be the perfect spot for our Holiday in July.  The Cabins at Terrace Beach had several types of accommodation, but the one that caught my eye was the Lodge Suites – no children, and no pets permitted. ( not that we have a problem with either, but when you are looking for a quiet, romantic getaway, you can understand why this appealed to us )

Cabins at Terrace Beach

We loved their motto: “Check In Chill Out”.  Right from the time we checked in with the friendly, helpful Lady at the Front Desk, we knew we had picked the right spot.  We were given all the info we needed about the place, and headed out to find the Lodge.

The Lodge Suites at the Cabins at Terrace Beach Ucluelet

The Lodge was situated just a few steps from a short path down to Terrace Beach. The building was in the Forest, with views of the Ocean from the back deck ( and the floor to ceiling windows ) 🙂 Access to the Wild Pacific Trail was also just steps away, which was most convenient for us. The Lodge can be rented out for Weddings or various other functions/meetings.  There is a “Great Room” where everyone can gather by the Fireplace, read in the windowseats while gazing upon the water, or simply hang out and socialize.

Great Room at the Lodge

We spent a few minutes taking pictures in that huge room, looking out the windows at the trail and the water, and just soaking in the comfort of the fireplace, after arriving to a cool, rainy Day. Next, we found our Suite, and were very pleased with it, as well.  It had a King Sized Bed ( always mandatory for us ) a couple of huge Skylights, a Rainfall Showerhead as well as a two-person Soaker Tub, and did I already mention the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out to the ocean? 😉 There were vaulted ceilings, a small fridge, Coffee Maker and Tea Kettle, a few glasses and cups etc. There was a fireplace, a flat screen T.V., a cozy sitting area, and tons of room.

Lodge Suite at Cabins at Terrace Beach

Lots of Room

Bathroom Sink

Soaker Tub for Two

As soon as we had a look around our room and put all our bags away, we wanted to check out the little path that led down to Terrace Beach. The slight drizzle of rain had subsided by then, so we headed outside for a peek. We were greeted by this sign:

Bird Atop Sign

That was the start to our first Day of our Ucluelet Adventure ….

One of the main reasons we went to Tofino is that we both enjoy hiking, and Nature Photography.  From all the research I did in advance of our trip, it certainly looked like we were going to see some amazing things, regardless of whether the weather was sunny or rainy.  I made sure to bring clothes for extreme changes in temperatures, and conditions.  This turned out to be a wise decision.

We basically spent 3 solid Days hiking.  We began our journey on the Wild Pacific Trail which was close to Ucluelet, rather than Tofino.

Wild Pacific Trail Sign

It didn’t take long to realize that the “posted times” that it would take to get from one point to another ( according to the signs ) were not going to apply to us.  We are not capable of quickly walking past breathtakingly beautiful scenery, without stopping to take it all in, and capturing the wild beauty with our cameras.

Rugged Coastline

I usually enjoy being outdoors most when it is hot and sunny, and am definitely not one to go for walks in inclement weather.  However, many people have said that Stormwatching in this area is incredible, with crashing waves making for stunning entertainment … so I simply put on my newly-acquired rainjacket, and went with it.  After all, that was why we were there – to witness and capture Nature’s best.

Crashing Waves

One thing we really noticed even during the course of a hike, was that it could be grey skies one minute, then the sun would come out the next.  It was awesome how this drastically changed how everything appeared.  There were many lookout points along the way, and we made sure to stop for photo opportunities at pretty much every one.

Sunny Wild Pacific Trail

The “Lighthouse Loop” was one of the shortest and easiest sections of the trails – it would be very Family-friendly if you were thinking of taking children there.  Just as a note – there are no Washrooms along the trails, so it is advisable to go in the Portable ones in the Parking Lot prior to entering the trail. This loop was “supposed” to take 45 minutes to an hour, and I think it took us about 3 hours, with all the stopping and picture-taking.

Lighthouse Loop Sign

When we finally made it to the Lighthouse, we were in for a real treat – the moment we arrived and climbed on the rocks, a Mama Whale and her baby swam closeby.  There were Tourists from all over the World there, and we pointed out the whales to them – even with language as a barrier, we were all united in our joy at witnessing these amazing creatures.  Many of them were seeing their very first whales, and were in complete awe.

Lighthouse Loop Namesake

One of the most amazing things we saw was on our last Day of hiking.  There were a pair of Eagles perched on a rock, and we figured that by the time we got close enough to take pictures, they would be long gone.  We treaded as gently and quietly as we could, and were lucky enough to get some fairly decent pictures.  Even my little camera got an alright shot:

Majestic Eagles

We spent a great deal of time climbing on rocks to get closer to the water for better pictures. We were so busy trying to get scenic shots, that we had to make sure to set up the timer on my Husband’s camera in order to get some of us.  One of my favourite pictures of the two of us is this one:

Enjoying the Wild Pacific Trail

One of the things I most enjoyed during our hikes was seeing the Broken Islands off in the distance – just a fantastic sight, and the subject of many paintings by local Artists, as we discovered at several Art Galleries on other days.  There is just something about them – the shape of the trees etc. – that just draws you in.

Broken Islands

It is hard to describe all the incredibly beautiful scenery along the rugged coastline that we saw over the course of those 3 days spent hiking.  We took hundreds and hundreds of pictures each, and I wish I could post so many more.  If you love beautiful views, enjoy nature, like hiking and photography, then I would highly recommend visiting the Wild Pacific Trail near Ucluelet B.C., on Vancouver Island.

View From Wild Pacific Trail

     Happy New Year to all of you!  I hope that this will be a great year for us all.  Now that the new year is upon us, I’d like to take a few minutes to reflect on some of the good things that happened for me in 2013.

     The biggest things that happened for me involved music – the thing I love most. 🙂  For much of my life, I have considered myself to be primarily a singer. ( and I do still play the piano, occasionally ) I love to sing, and there isn’t much that brings me more joy in life than singing something I love in front of an appreciative audience. It’s a really good feeling.  I sing simply because I enjoy it, and it makes me feel happy – I’ve never had any delusions about fame or fortune.  This past year, however, I branched out and started writing lyrics with a new close friend, who writes music.  We wrote 2 songs together so far, one of which is currently being re-mixed by another mutual friend. We got together several times each month to work on music, have long chats, and a few laughs. I also became a Member of SOCAN , which was pretty exciting. I look forward to a lot more songwriting this year, and being able to share the results with you all.

     We continued  going to Karaoke fairly regularly, as it really is good practice to keep the voice in tune, and help get over the nerves. Every time you go, you are faced with a new audience, and another opportunity to try different genres, and build your confidence. This is especially good for those of us that are innately shy.  We brought a lot of new friends out with us to these fun nights last year, and had a lot of really amazing times, both singing and dancing. It is always a good crowd – supportive, down to earth, and fun-loving.

     As always, we did a lot of hiking during the year – probably more than the previous ones. We still favour Francis Point,  still go to Smuggler’s Cove once in a while, as well as the Skookumchuck, but we went on a new one this year: The Tetrahedron.  This was very different than any of the other hikes we’ve been on up here – and I will write a post about it soon, with some pics. 

     On days when we didn’t have the time to go on long hikes, we went on a lot of walks at nearby Davis Bay. 

Davis Bay Walk

     It is always a pleasant walk – the scenery is gorgeous, and the people you meet always have a smile for you.  We often follow our walk with a coffee and snack at Pier 17 across the way – we sit at a little Bistro Table overlooking the water – so relaxing. We have witnessed many a glorious sunset over Davis Bay, from that vantage point.

     As of last year, my Husband and I now both have Kayaks. This was one of the best decisions we’ve made in the 5 years  that we’ve been living up on B.C.’s Sunshine Coast, hands down.  As I have mentioned several times before, I have mainly been considered a “City Girl”, both by my friends, and myself, in the past.  I have to tell you, though, there is something absolutely mind-blowingly amazing about being out in a kayak on a sunny Summer’s Day.  Not only is there the obvious fact that you are getting fresh air, exercise, sunshine etc., but it is just the most incredibly peaceful and therapeutic thing, as well.  It didn’t matter how bad my week had been, or how stressful – I simply could not wipe the smile off my face each time we paddled up the Inlet.  The scenery was incredible – the wildlife abundant: we regularly saw Eagles, Seals, Salmon jumping out of the water, Sea Stars and Sea Cucumbers and so much more. We found some little beaches that are water-access only, where you can go and have your Lunch, and relax for a while before you continue on your journey. Some of these places even have places to camp, and portable washroom facilities.  I have to say that the times we went out kayaking this past Summer were definitely some of the happiest times we had all year. ( and now that we have the Kayaks, this fun doesn’t cost a thing )

Sechelt Inlet Kayaking

    We had a family member come for a nice visit in the Summer time, as well, and I went on a Road Trip with some good friends for a few days in September.  There were many Dinner Parties, Barbecues, Fundraisers, nights of dancing and singing and visiting with friends and family …

     So, once again, the year was filled with music, enjoying the great outdoors, and spending quality time with the people we love the most … not a bad year at all, if you ask me. 🙂

     I wish you all a healthy, happy, joyful New Year in 2014 – may it be the year that your dreams come true !!!