Saturday 6th August: Hot springs and whales

We're on a small boat, holds 12 but just 8 of us, this is a coastal hot springs tour. First stop sea lions on one of the many small islands in this area of coast.

Well this could have been the shot of the trip as there was a lot of whale but I had to quickly hand the camera over to my boy as he has the height to get over the head of a very arrogant German who was not going to move over especially as the other 3 in the party were also hogging the rail. We had to laugh about the old saying of beating the Germans to the sunbeds !!

The old bull sea lion

I love this one, the cormorant seems to me to be thinking, is he just sleeping or what ?

Never work with animals and small children they say......they don't pose for photos......but this humpback did his best ! We have booked a whale watching trip for when we are at Campbell River on the east coast of Vancouver Island, our next stop on the trip but over on this side there are Humpbacks and Californian Gray Whales also.

Dock at the beginning of the Hot Springs Trail

Star fish off of the pier

To get to the hot springs it's a 2km walk on a broadwalk rainforest trail. Moss growing on the trees

View of sea from the trail

The hot springs, it was fun and very hot. It is something I have wanted to do for some time. We felt very clean after....

Rocks and views from hot srpings

Mussels on the rocks, all we needed was some cream and garlic, we could steam them in the hot springs !!!!

Another large tree......

Interesting tree formation

Our boat, The Sea Star

On the ride back to Tofino. Californian Gray Whales feeding....our guide/captain said it was quite unusual for them to be feeding so close to the shore. They are quite amazing.....

Two whales in this pic but there were three of them, probably mum. dad and young which is why they were so close to the coast

Downtown Tofino late Saturday afternoon

We found a waterside pub for an ale and some people watching. The sports fishermen were coming back in with their catch, interesting watching the photo calls, gutting and filleting.....of the fish that is not the fishermen !
Later we hit the Saturday nightlife of Tofino and have fish and chips at Big Daddy's Fish Fry....very nice but I should have only ordered one portion of fish and not two but I did eat it all !!!
Back at the apartment we waited until it was quite dark as it was a clear night and  went for a walk on the beach, beautiful half moon and stars. It's a very large wide beach and plenty of space for several "camp" fires along the back of the beach, a very nice aroma of woodsmoke.
We have had a really different and good day/evening, thoroughly enjoyable