Over the hills and far away

5th May: day 6

Today we left Victoria on the longest leg of the driving - about 200 miles to Tofino on on the Pacific coast. And it was the first journey where we failed to get lost! The scenery was amazing; towering pines, mountains, rushing rivers.



We stopped for a break about halfway along the route at Cathedral Grove, an area of original forest with Douglas firs and hemlocks, some of which are 800 years old.





They were fantastic; and many of the trees were covered in moss, looking as though they were furry. Fir trees looking like fur trees!



The second half of the drive seemed endless. And it was odd because we'd started at sea level in Victoria and didn't seem to climb particularly high, but on this leg we seemed to be travelling downhill all the way, even after passing a lake which, according to the map, was tidal.



Still we descended. This poor little car (a Kia Soul) will struggle on the way back because then of course it'll be uphill all the way! At least it's not a busy road.

We were surprised to drive through an area where there was still snow on the ground.


We'd heard it's been an appalling spring out here but didn't realise it was this bad.