Encounters With Whales Part 2

Day two dawns with sunshine and blue skies. We walk Pacific Sands Beach, picking up the largest mussel shells (empty) I have ever seen (up to 17 or 18 cm in length) and quite a few beached sand dollars (dead). I do T'ai Chi on the sand, while Valentine searches for more dollars and mom checks out the driftwood. As I do the dance of life, I feel as if I am at one with this beautiful place.

After breakfast we head out to Tofino and Jamie's Whaling Station, a tour company recommended to us by a friend. We buy tickets for the Lady Selkirk, one of the larger vessels used to watch the whales. For the more adventurous, there are the smaller, faster Zodiacs and I'm told they have just launched a 29-foot rigid hull inflatable, a type of Zodiac. It is the largest on the coast and is equipped with a washroom!

There is some controversy about the effect of tourism on the whales and their habitat. However, the number of boats in one area are carefully regulated and they must stay no less then 50 metres from the whales. Sometimes, however, close contact is unavoidable, as some of these curious creatures pop up closer to the ship to do a little watching of their own.

I did not see any type of harrassment of the whales and whale watching is definitely a much kinder, economic and ecological altenative to hunting these beautiful creatures. Also, at Jamie's a two-dollar mammal-rescue fee is added to the price of each ticket.

As the ship leaves Tofino Harbour, even we jaded British Columbians who are used to the spectacular beauty of our coastal waters are awestruck by the natural beauty of the of this place. The sea is blue and calm and the blue sky is dotted with puffy white cloud formations. We pass Meares Island with its stands of centuries-old cedar and hemlock and see the Native Village of the Ahousat. We cruise along on Clayoquot Sound heading for the open ocean.

A little later on the port side of the ship, the Captain points out an immense bald eagles' nest. Even he is surprised, for standing in the nest are two of these magnificent birds. He tells us he has never seen this phenomenon before. He also remarks on the calmness of the sea which is as flat as he has ever seen.