Canada - Vancouver (city and island)

We spent almost 3 weeks in Vancouver waiting for the parts to arrive from Poland, as well as for the availability of the mechanic whom we found for the job. Antoine worked on his programming project with UNamur and we explored the city a bit more (we stayed at a campsite close to the center).

totems in Stanley Park, Vancouvertotems in Stanley Park, Vancouver

city center as seen from the parkcity center as seen from the park

Vancouver skyline from the Lion Gate Bridge, on the way to the campsite, on a rainy dayVancouver skyline from the Lion Gate Bridge, on the way to the campsite, on a rainy day

Lion Gate Bridge on a sunny dayLion Gate Bridge on a sunny day

When the car was finally done (or so we thought…), we jumped on the first ferry to Vancouver Island - a 500 km-long stretch of mountains and rainforest on the British Columbia southern coast.

Mount Rainier in Washington State as seen from the ferry between Vancouver and Vancouver IslandMount Rainier in Washington State as seen from the ferry between Vancouver and Vancouver Island

But we only managed to visit Victoria, B.C.’s capital and island’s biggest city, before we had an oil light pop up on our dashboard. Turned out the mechanic back in Vancouver didn’t properly seal the chamber of the timing chain that he changed, and now our car was leaking oil… Fortunately this time, it was easy to find a garage eager to help us (they were recommended to us at an oil change station in Victoria). It still took us 5 days to have it done as a specific seal was needed (this time, we managed to find it locally, so it wasn’t necessary to have it shipped from Europe). During this time, we stayed at oceanside as the heatwave reached Canadian western provinces.

traditional Kwakwaka'wakw house and totem pole in front of Royal B.C. Museum in Victoriatraditional Kwakwaka'wakw house and totem pole in front of Royal B.C. Museum in Victoria

Antoine admires the totems from traditional communities of Vancouver IslandAntoine admires the totems from traditional communities of Vancouver Island

parliament of British Columbia in Victoriaparliament of British Columbia in Victoria

one of the tallest totem poles in the worldone of the tallest totem poles in the world

the totem pole commemorates the myth in which all the family crests were given to the people by a totem pole that raised from the oceanthe totem pole commemorates the myth in which all the family crests were given to the people by a totem pole that raised from the ocean

it's ca. 40m tallit's ca. 40m tall

Strait of Juan de Fuca - a part of Pacific Ocean that separates Vancouver Island from the Olympic Peninsula in Washington stateStrait of Juan de Fuca - a part of Pacific Ocean that separates Vancouver Island from the Olympic Peninsula in Washington state

this is what the Pacific spits out on its coasts - huge kelp (algae) this is what the Pacific spits out on its coasts - huge kelp (algae)

When Mike the mechanic got the seal and finished the repairs, we hit the main road in the island. It follows the eastern coast and is dotted with cute little towns and totem poles. We also crossed the inland mountains through a rather windy road and visited the west coast, where the main town, Tofino, is a mekka of Canadian surfers. And so Antoine spent some time surfing, but I’ve got no pictures of this as for the whole time we spent there, a mist lingered above the water and I couldn’t even see him from the beach…

red cedar and Douglas fir forest - those are some of the biggest trees on the planetred cedar and Douglas fir forest - those are some of the biggest trees on the planet

Cathedral Grove - some trees here are 800 years oldCathedral Grove - some trees here are 800 years old

Antoine and a giant Douglas fir, measuring 9m in circumference and 75m in heightAntoine and a giant Douglas fir, measuring 9m in circumference and 75m in height

west coastwest coast

costal fog hoovers over the rainforestcostal fog hoovers over the rainforest

Antoine :)Antoine :)

the fog constantly lingers above the waterthe fog constantly lingers above the water

as seen from aboveas seen from above

ocean of clouds - for all we know, it stretches for kilometers over the Pacificocean of clouds - for all we know, it stretches for kilometers over the Pacific

random totem in the forestrandom totem in the forest

it started to clear out in the eveningit started to clear out in the evening

evening walk, foggy rainforest, totems in the darkevening walk, foggy rainforest, totems in the dark

the rainforest in the west coast is unrealthe rainforest in the west coast is unreal

pebble beachpebble beach

farmer market in Qualicum Beach, on the east sidefarmer market in Qualicum Beach, on the east side

community house in the native reservation in Comoxcommunity house in the native reservation in Comox

After getting back to the eastern side of the island, we made our way to Port Hardy, at the northern tip of Vancouver Island, where we caught a ferry travelling through the so-called Inside Passage to Prince Rupert, in northern B.C.. The Inside Passage meanders between scenic wooded islands of Canada’s rugged west coast, where mountains assure that the handful of people who live here can only be reached by water. On the way, we saw many whales and porpoises.

totem pole at the end of the road in Port Hardy, with the mountains in the mainland in the backgroundtotem pole at the end of the road in Port Hardy, with the mountains in the mainland in the background

our ferry with it mouth openour ferry with it mouth open

Inside PassageInside Passage

the narrowest point of the passage (~300m)the narrowest point of the passage (~300m)