Vancouver Island - Day 2.

Today WE SAW A BEAR. 

We went to Ucluelet ('You-clue-let'). It was a decent drive to a place which is out on the edge and you just sense that people are 'quirky'. 

On the way we saw a river with huge boulders in it, together with some steps down. It seemed like an invitation. So off we went.

Deep,  freshwater pools which capture huge tree roots. 

Tumbling water forced through narrow spaces. 

Tree root systems wider than the height of any man

And water worn to be intricately beautiful. 

I was a bit disappointed there wasn't a pronunciation guide,  because I can't figure out how to say... 

?a?ukmin and Google is refusing to help me.

It was beautiful anyway,  and we both had a wander. After that,  more driving to Ucluelet. Past Lost Shoe Creek #1 and Lost Shoe Creek #2 (how many are there?), we went for another walk along the Wild Pacific Trail. And it is wild. In fact,  its amazing. Tall trees,  rocky headlands,  crashing waves,  crabs.

Cheery stuff. 

A lighthouse. Built squat to withstand the waves. 

A crab. 

More crabby cuteness. 

We went scrambling over (volcanic?) beaches. 

Where NN2 insisted naked, hardened feet would make for tougher kayakers. 

 We climbed trees. 

And wondered what Skunk Cabbage smelt like.

Then is was time to head off back across the top of the world.

which is when we saw the beautiful bear. We watched him for a good five minutes,  ambling across the other side of the road. Black,  appearing healthy and young looking, not as tall as a great dane. He mooched and chewed leaves. Unaffected by the (mostly stationary) traffic until an enormous truck went past. It really made my day.