The long queue…….

We’re certainly clocking up the kilometres!  Remember our original estimation of about 3000km, well we’ve just surpassed it!

Yesterday we made it to Everett on our way to Fernie and today we’re hoping to hit Spokane before we stop for the night.  The American border crossing was an interesting experience.  We were unsure how long it was going to take us to make it across, but 1 hour and forty five minutes later we were through.  The delay wasn’t because we were highly sought after criminals or due to the fact we were smuggling illegal immigrants in our British Army trailer, we just needed to fill in three simple forms.  Having thought we’d done due diligence and completed all of our ESTA paperwork and payments, we learnt (but don’t quote me on this as I’m sure some of the details are a little sketchy) that the ESTA only applies for air travel and if you’re crossing via a land border then you still need to go in and see the Customs and Border Protection Police.   Oh well, it all got sorted.

We made it to Everett before we decided to call it day and grab some food and a bed for the night. We found one at the Olive Garden and the other at the Quality Inn.

More kilometres to go on the clock tomorrow, but we’re determined to make it to Fernie for Sunday evening.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Wickaninnish Beach

Wickaninnish Beach

Tofino

There must be something in the local air, because everyone slept in again the next day.  Once we were up and about, we headed into Tofino, stopping first at a very misty Wickannish Beach filled with surfers.  We left there to arrive in Tofino just in time for a fish and chip lunch overlooking the islands and ocean.

Not content with their fishing success yesterday, we all headed to Tonquinn Provincial Park, on the coast,  not that we were complaining, it had a beautiful sandy beach too.  As it was a bit of an impromptu visit we had no swimming trunks or bucket and spade, but we didn’t let that stop us.  Jack got naked as quickly as he could and ran straight in!  We found a good solid stick for Ollie to fetch and he wasn’t far behind.  Granpops and Jonathan (and me for a short while) fished off the rocks into the ocean and luckily both of them managed a catch each.

However, I don’t think anyone’s need to fish was sated so at the end of the afternoon we headed back to Whisky Dock in Ucluelet with the sole aim of catching some mackerel for tea.

Tonquin Beach & Park

Catch of the Day!

The word about the mackerel had obviously spread.  When we arrived there was a family fishing to the left of us with two fly rods as well as a couple of fisherman who were after some bait for bigger fish to our right.  It didn’t take long for the first fish to be landed, unfortunately it was the family on our left, they also took the second, with the third going to the guys on the right.  At this point we’d been there for around an hour or so, and Jonathan and I decided to call it day.  Granpops however, was after just a few more minutes (which I believe ended up being about forty)!  Well, fourth, eight and ninth mackerel went to the family on our left and the fifth sixth and seventh to the guys on the right.  It’s not like this was a long dock and Granpops was sat in the wrong place, only five metres separated all those fishing!  It just wasn’t our day, we’d have to make do without mackerel for tea……..again!

On the road again tomorrow.

We’ll be heading into America and then east along the I-90 making our way to Fernie for the last few days of our trip.  We’ll probably stop a couple of times along the way, so I’ll keep you updated as and when we have an internet connection.  Until then, please keep commenting, it’s lovely to hear from you.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.