Road trip through British Columbia and the Rockies, July & August 2015
We’ve reached the edge of Canada. We definitely saved the best til last.
The most spectacular beach: 
The best Parks Canada girls: 
The most legendary food truck:
A log cabin to stay in:
With its own treehouse:
Forest walks: 
Rock pools:
And a campfire on the beach:
Until Jack couldn’t stay awake any longer:
Today was all about whale watching.
The day started auspiciously for wildlife spotting. I found a starfish on the beach (and the promised sand!) and at breakfast time two deer peered at us through the window.
After much debating of where to watch whales from we booked a trip with Ocean EcoVentures leaving from Cowichan Bay, an hour or so down the coast.
We stopped at Englishman River Falls for a picnic. Another beautiful forest and river canyon spot. Really magical to be in the woods in the sunshine.
In Cow Bay we stopped for truly excellent fish and chips and fish tacos at the Rock Cod Cafe.
And then it was time to get into thick padded onesies for a zodiac/RIB ride through the Gulf Islands in search of whales.
I had never been in a big zodiac before and they can really move fast, but really smoothly.
We zoomed through the islands passing stunning waterfront homes, cliffs and forests. The islands are close together so it would look like we were approaching land, and then a new channel would open up and we’d turn and explore further. It was exhilarating and beautiful, and then suddenly even more spectacular as snowy Mount Baker emerged on the horizon and we found ourselves at the tip of Saturna Island, where transient orcas come to catch seals and play in the currents where 5 waters meet.
We watched 3 orcas trace the shoreline of the island. We first spotted them by the spray they exhale, and could listen to them breathing and as they dipped in and out.
We stayed around the point for around an hour watching different pods. The seals live on some rocks just offshore and when the orcas were ready for dinner they surrounded it and launched a surprise attack, sending seals splashing and scrambling. A little while later one happy whale jumped and flipped in celebration just in front our boat.
It was an incredible experience and we were thrilled to do it together. Zoë and Jack loved all of it too, especially the boat bouncing over waves and seeing the whales so close.
We travelled back as the sun set – on one of the best days ever. 
BC Trip 
