A TOFINO LONG WEEKEND GOES BY IN A BLUR
In a couple minutes, I will turn 24 years old. For the first time in my life (at least what I can remember of it!), I won’t be having a birthday party with my friends. I’ve decided to go low key this year, and just take some time to have one with my family. I don’t mind getting older… it just means more opportunities and things to look forward to in life! (Not to mention being older can definitely help at work, where age isn’t always a good thing)
For my “birthday weekend”, Allan took me to my favourite place on earth, Tofino… where we got to watch some storms and surf. It was pretty gnarly out there, but we still had a great time. You look forward to the big waves all year… it just sucks when they become a washing machine and don’t clean up nice at all for big wave riding. Nevertheless, we still had a great time being in the ocean and being close to the beach.
Leaf by a tree in Port Albert (by the beer store 
)
Who ever thought we’d see gas below a dollar in our lifetime?
We checked out Chesterman Beach… but the waves were too small and they weren’t even clean. But at least the view is always pretty!
We stayed at 1431 Cox Bay. What a nice treat away from cold weather camping! It’s always brutal when you get out of the cold ocean and crawl into a cold tent… having a hot bath is a real luxury.
MMmm smoothies. We decided to stay in and cook most of the weekend… for dessert I made kiwi and grape smoothies with yogurt and ice! Definitely refreshing and nice to have by the fire.
On the drive back, we mounted the GoPro camera to the outside of the car to take some footage of my favourite drive in the world. Video coming soon.
It’s a tradition in Port Alberni and surrounding areas to cover Cathedral Grove and the drive to Port Alberni with the pumpkins from Halloween!
There are hundreds of pumpkins and it is really a sight to see the orange pumpkins set amidst the forest backdrop.
This photo was treacherously taken as I sat on the windowsill of a car moving at 120 clicks… and it didn’t even come out great. Oh well
Here’s a video of Allan surfing at Cox Bay with his gorgeous Robert August vintage board. Videos of the drive will be posted shortly.
In other news, the Canucks lost tonight in the shootout. A real shame to see them lose this game, even with Burnaby Joe gone from the lineup for the Avs and the Canucks pretty much at full strength. I would’ve loved to see Wellwood get a bit more of a handle on the puck out there. Also, haha… Canuck favourite (now Senator) Jarkko Ruutu gets suspended for elbowing someone in the face. Classic! Man, I miss Ruutu. Also, Brian Burke stepping down from the Ducks. Big news!
Tags: 1431 Cox Bay, Brian Burke, camera, Canucks, Chesterman Beach, Cox Bay, gas, GoPro, Jarkko Ruutu, Port Alberni, Surfing, Thule, Tofino
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November 13th, 2008 at 1:44 am
Happy Birthday, Allie!
And you just aged me massively with the “gas this low in a lifetime” – *I* remember when it was 40 cents a litre, and hearing my dad grumble about that spike in the price.
That camera-on-car is pretty awesome; you should try and do high-speed roadtrip films that way – I’ve always found those sort of clips trippy and mesmerizing to watch…
And I get what you mean about the low-key birthday – I’m more or less skipping mine entirely this year as well (no, I’m not avoiding the age change, har har, time doesn’t work that way) I might visit a friend for a bit, but shenannigans none. *shrug*
I take it Luongo didn’t break his shutout record, eh?
November 13th, 2008 at 2:34 am
120 clicks …eh? Where did you pick up that lingo? Normally I only hear that in pew pew movies.
Like the carved pumpkins, nice to see the artistic diversity.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:09 am
I went to Tofino for the last time last year. Chesterman Beach was too foggy so I didn’t get to really see it. We stayed at a campground that backs on to Mackenzie Beach. Saw a couple surfers at Long Beach. The city of Tofino is neat.
Happy Bday though! I feel old! lol
November 13th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Happy birthday, Allie
November 13th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Happy Birthday!
Hooray for cheaper fuel for a while =P
ps, already went through Gears of War 2 Campaign.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
Mike! Thanks.. I should have worded that differently. I meant that I never thought I’d see it go back down below a dollar in my lifetime… even though it has in the past. I do remember when it was 40 or 50 cents! And yes, on camera footage is definitely mesmerizing. I’m having some trouble cutting it together but hopefully I’ll have it up soon. Don’t skip your birthday, it is this weekend!!!
And yes, Luongo beat his shutout record…!
HexHammer, I think I’ve always just grown up hearing that lingo!
Tyler.. Tofino for the *last* time? Are you sure? You don’t want to go back?
And thanks Corsix and Herbert
November 13th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
@ Allie
Aaah! No wonder you was destined to become the “LoL-Postit-Avenger”