The South Riding RV Travels

648

1st October 2011 - Tofino BC, Cathedral Grove, Coombs, to Parksville BC

Now an afficionado could tell you the year of this Lincoln Continental. I just think of it as being from a bygone age. Still it was in excellent condition.
There is always work going on somewhere out in these bays. What they are doing here at Tofino, I have no idea
Having just travelled 20 miles of narrow winding road, this illuminated sign seemed a little late, but its message is accurate. Fortunately we did not meet much oncoming traffic of any size.
This is Sproat Lake as we come into Fort Alberni, the only habitation along the way.
On the eastern side of Fort Alberni is Cathedral Grove, a stand of ancient sequoias and douglas firs many over 1000 years old. The stump at the side is still growing through nutrients from the roots of the adjacent tree.
The largest trees are 9 metres in circumference. Jan is somewhat dwarfed. There was a storm in 1997 and many trees fell. They take 100 years to fully decay.
They are well over 100ft tall although the branches do not spread out very far. The bark is deeply fissured. This is the tree Jan stood at the bottom of in the previous photo.
When many trees are blown over they let light in through the canopy and ferns and saplings of other species are able to flourish.
Nothing is wasted especially since the soil is so poor. This tree is growing partly from a log which fell in an earlier storm.
Moss on the side facing the prevailing winds  and Jan examining the deep fissures into which her hand has completely disappeared.
The fissures on this one are so deep she has gone in herself. These are truly ancient specimens.
When you are a small town in a tourist area you have to have some attraction which is unique. This is 'Goats on the  Roof', a restaurant in the town of Coombs. The roof is covered in grass and the goats keep it trimmed.
Adjacent is a collection of statues mostly with a Chinese theme. However these rather took our fancy. Its the faces....

 

Jan reckons this seal is gay - its the angle of the flipper.