Vancouver Island part 1, in which our intrepid travellers meet a bear!

We are back after a short intermission, but fear not we have been busy and would like to share with you some of our experiences on Vancouver Island. One key memory for me of this place will be trees, big fir trees like the Douglas Fir but also the Arbutus and the Maple. The logging industry is going through difficult times here but we were still able to see great rafts of logs being floated down the rivers and in the sea to the sawmills. Another abiding memory will be the mountains and the wood clad islands. Even in the middle of summer snow clings to the higher slopes, the image made stronger by the blue sea and sky.
We have also experienced rain especially on the
west coast; we stayed for a few days in Tofino where the rain forest grows down to the sea. Rain forests are best explored in the rain and we were not disappointed. Nor were we disappointed by the wildlife and poor old Fogg was once again dragged off to see the local fauna. We took a wonderful trip to watch black bears, in the wild, feeding at low tide on crabs which they revealed by rolling over the rocks on the beach. We also saw grey whales, Stellar Sealions and much to my delight and suprise sea otters and humming birds (obviously not at the same time nor in the same place!!!). The Bald Eagle, symbol of the USA, lives and thrives around the waters
of the Island. We were very privileged to see a young eagle in the nest stretching its wings whilst being watched by a proud parent. These birds were flying around us and taking off from low branches as the mist was covering the tops of the trees. We have again met some wonderful people here including a number of Fogg's relatives who have been so kind to us and have looked after us when we were feeling very tired. Also Mindy, a lively Schnauzer, who finally decided that we were ok and even allowed herself to sit on our laps for a short while! So all from me now; Fogg will relate the story of the bear although it was me who saw it first! I will never poopoo warning
leaflets about wildlife again, you never know what you might meet round the corner.
Fogg here. I would like to amplify what Phileas has said. My cousin Joan and her partner Keith have been wonderful. They have enhanced our trip here through their generosity and time. Phileas has forgotten to mention the wonderful beaches and the trees and driftwood on the sand. Also the shells and sand dollars exposed by the low tide.
Now, the bear. Whilst having a snooze in a remote and empty car park on the road from Tofino to Nanaimo I was woken sharply by Phileas claiming there was a bear in the car park. Without a thought for his personal safety Phileas forced Fogg to retrieve the cameras from the back of the car whilst the bear sauntered past at some distance (yeah right!!) . Hurrying back to
the driver's seat ( the bear having decided to change direction) Phileas and Fogg both armed with only a camera hid and cunningly snapped and filmed whilst the bear, now called Albear, who thankfully totally ignored us. A wonderful moment. So this is a lucky Fogg who escaped by a gnat's whisker from the jaws of a black bear. As my cousin Joan remarked this morning I always seem to have one foot on the stage. Although I may have embellished this slightly this in fact is a true story! This is Fogg wishing you all well.