Merry Christmas, and a Happy 2015.

Had a wonderful winter Christmas in Vancouver — it was more of a grey affair than white, but certainly still a contrast to Christmas on the beach back home, with much less sunburn. Ended up with three Christmas dinners, (two either side of the main day) and ate my weight in gastronomic gold. Highlight had to be the Christmas day turkey and a sweet potato casserole with marshmellow topping — which was definitely something new. Managed to polish off the remaining stocks of coffee-porters I brought back from the brewery in Tofino — the latest addition to the list of delicious BC craft beers that I've picked up on my travels. I've also decided breakfast beersies should be adopted as a new tradition, as Hefeweizen along with a stack of buttermilk banana pancakes, covered in maple syrup, breakfast-sausages and bacon are my new best friends.

I didn't manage too many photo opportunities amongst all the eating and drinking, but did get a handful Christmas morning, unwrapping presents around the tree.

New years eve was spent playing cards against humanity, braving a rather cruel drinking game, watching the sunrise, and demolishing another tower of maple-soaked pancakes. Went to see The Imitation Game on New Years day which was fantastic, and ended up going to bed early to recover, just shy of 2am — so somewhat early.

I should be coming to the tail end of the Vancouver leg, I've certainly spent a lot longer here than I originally thought, but I'm definitely glad — equally as much that I've yet to be kicked out, and I'm enjoying having absolutely no plans set. Will miss Vancouver when I finally set off, but I know I'll be off on another adventure.

Chesterman & Cox Bay, Tofino

Tofino is Canada's surf capital, and just south of the main township stretches 35 kilometres of prime boarding, bustling with surfers year round. On my first trek I was unsuccessful in my attempts to hitchhike to the furthest beach and ended up walking 6 or so kilometres to Chesterman, making it in time for a fantastic sunset off the rocky outcrops of Frank Island — a privately owned, but laxly cordoned off islet, accessible by low tide. I imagine this stretch of highway usually consists of hitchhikers making their way much further south to the next township, and with most drivers seeming to remain within the outskirts of Tofino, I wasn't lucky enough to catch a ride. Heading back though, the first driver pulled over — even dropped me all the way out on the point where the hostel is, so that was definitely a perfect way to finish off the evening rather than trudging back in the wet and cold. The next day I set off under a complete downpour, rented a bike and made it all the way to Cox bay, spending the afternoon. Strangely there is almost zero wind, right on the un-sheltered beachfront — so despite it being only 7°c and only a handful of days away from the Winter equinox, it makes for a very pleasant walk. As seasoned travelers here are marking the Whaler's Point Guesthouse as their favourite Hostel across their many travels, it will be sad to head off tomorrow, but with my bus to Nanaimo now booked, I'll be off on another adventure.

Ucluelet & Tofino (Vancouver Island, BC)

It has been a very busy past few days. Checked out of the hostel in Victoria just before 7am, and took a Greyhound bus up to Ucluelet — 5 hours north, on the wild west coast of Vancouver Island. The weather has been pretty poor since I arrived, but it's given me great ocean views, with massive swells roaring in from the Pacific Ocean, unobstructed for thousands of miles. I did a complete hike of Ucluelet's west coast, amid the stormy weather and many signs about bears, wolves, and coyotes — and I even bumped into a local who warned me about a "rather large wolf" he just passed a few hundred metres down the track. I didn't manage an encounter myself, but did end up finding a collection of slightly-less-intimidating sea lions who were making a horrendous racket just off the shoreline. I spent a good 20 minutes watching them, finally getting a photo of one leaping out of the water. I finished off my trek out to Amphitrite Point Lighthouse, and made my way back before sundown to complete the 10 kilometre round trip.

I ended up staying in a large cabin in Ucluelet; fireplace, dry kindling and all — with the entire place to myself. Felt rather strange considering none of the doors could be locked, but I certainly wasn't complaining being able to play music undisturbed and having access to a full kitchen without crashing into any other bearded vagabonds. I caught another bus the following day (this time thankfully at a more pleasant 2pm departure), an hour or so further north to Tofino and lucked upon a hostel with fantastic views right on the water, and this time packed with friendly people. Instead of planning the next day, I ended up making a considerable dent in a case of beer, trading stories in front of a fire with 20 or so others until the early hours of the morning. The hostel manager Gary, seems to be quite the character, and organises a gourmet feast for the troops every evening, costing only about 5 bucks a head. On this particular night I ended up with the duty of salad architect, and did the people of New Zealand proud, I'm sure.