Aug. 8th, Logistic Hiccups

We met Hansi, Uta, Tobi and Anna for breakfast in a Cora's restaurant (there are about a handful in greater Vancouver). Tim's received a -1 from some of us before of lack of fresh fruits and too much sweets (which wasn't so much of an issue later during the trip when we were more starved ... and in need of joules). Everyone was happy to see each other and finally be together.

The whole team together: Breakfast at Cora's

As it turned out initially all and then later about half of Hansi/Uta's luggage got lost when transferring in Seattle for the final flight leg to Vancouver with Alaska Airlines. It was messy, because Alaska Airlines had already promised during the night that they would deliver the missing luggage late in the night and then first thing in the morning which they did not. Hansi and crowd ended up driving themselves to Vancouver airport to speed things up and get an idea about what was missing (half of the luggage was still missing after getting back from the airport). At the airport they negotiated out that they could buy the missing stuff which wasn't a good solution but possibly better than nothing because half of the hiking shoes were missing (Park's Canada recommends NOT to break in new hiking boots during the West Coast Trail :-)). As it turned out just when they were heading to Mountain Equipment Coop they got a call from the Alaska Airline folks that the remaining luggage pieces had been identified and in fact they were finally delivered late this Saturday night. Phew.

Meanwhile Barbara, Margaret and I were heading towards Bamfield on Vancouver Island, the northern trail head of the WCT. Initially everything went according to plan. Maybe we parted with Hansi and Uta a tiny bit late (I helped with some of the Alaska Airline phone calls). The weather become more cloudy.

Horseshoe Bay View from the Ferry

Leaving Horseshoe Bay on the Ferry

Another BC Ferry on the way to Horseshoe Bay

Arriving in Nanaimo: It rained

By about 6pm we made it to Alberni. Now our logistical hiccups started ;-). After a quick dinner at the local Tim Horten's we headed for the gravel road to Bamfield. That turned out to be a disaster or maybe I am getting too old and it was simply me chickening out. Somehow I was expecting a gravel road like the one in Algonquin Park leading to Achray or Lake Traverse. Mind you it was probably 12 to 15 years ago since I was there the last time. Somehow after a handful kilometer combined with it getting dark I figured it was best not to attempt the remaining 60 or 80km. The road felt definitely much worse compared to everything I remembered about Algonquin gravel roads. And driving with 15 to 25km per hour along this puppy while being shaken through and having to avoid plenty of pot holes and stones did not feel good. So I turned around. In hind sight I have to admit that I did not do proper planning investigations. Somehow I had embarked on the notion that the normal way to get with a car to Bamfield was via the gravel road from Port Alberni. But this was actually not the case. In any case by the time we came out of the gravel road it was dark and we had yet to find a room to stay during the long weekend. After a false start we were pointed towards the Fat Salmon. And it turned out to be a good place to stay overnight.

The 'Fat Salmon' on Sunday morning: A decent hostel typically used by Backpackers using the ship to Bamfield.

In the Fat Salmon we met Nathan. Once he heard about our problems he offered to drive Barbara and Margaret to Bamfield first thing in the morning with his battered pickup. That was a real alternative to using the 'Lady Rose' ship (we had no clue if they even had spots available on Sunday). We also synced up with Hansi and Uta about their luggage odyssey (by that time they had yet to receive their luggage but at least they had a confirmation from the Alaska Airline folks). Time to sleep.