Stormy Tofino

It was rainy all over the island today which I am sure is a relief for all the residents since it has been so dry. Maybe not so great for visitors but it's hard to resent it when it is so needed.

We had an uneventful trip here from the port, although the back seat was a bit crowded. We stopped at our apartment on the way in as it is a bit outside town. Very nice place and well equipped. They even provide beach towels and chairs.

Will was there to greet us and we finally got to meet Ally, who is every bit as nice as Grace said. Out for supper, then we here slept in on Friday. Anne and Del went kayaking in the afternoon and the rest of us went to the beach as we saw that rain was in the forecast for the weekend. On Friday we went out whale watching and to the hotsprings which you find at the end of a half hour walk through the rain forest after being dropped off at the dock. It was a beautiful walk along a good boardwalk. I love the rainforest. The hot springs themselves were great. They are natural, coming out of the rocks and flowing down other rocks into the sea. There are a series of pools that get cooler as they descend. It was so much fun. Will and Ally thoughtfully packed w lunch for us - they even brought ice cream in a thermos. On the boat we saw four or five orcas playing, some sea otters and sea lions.

Stephanie and Anne's friend Valerie and her husband arrived on Friday to see Anne since Tofiino is the only place she will be on Canada this trip. There was not room on our boat tour for them but they took another one that some hotsprings time overlapping with ours.

The rain started last night. Geoff and I drove into Nanaimo to visit John and Dick and Jo. John is not doing well, he doesn't eat. He is in the hospital in a regular room. He was in palliative care for a while but they took him out and put him back in a regular room because his death "isn't imminent." But he is not going to get well so he should be as supported and comfortable as possible. It comes down to money I suppose.

On the way back we saw a black bear run right across the road in front of us.

Picture below is at hot springs.