My TripAdvisor Review No.504: Bare Bones Fish and Chips Restaurant, Port Alberni, Canada.

Fabulous Fish Food.

After alighting from the Tofino Bus at Port Alberni we went straight for lunch to the Bare Bone Fish and Chips restaurant. It was a five minute walk from the bus stop. We liked the ambience of the restaurant which is set in an old rehabilitated church with a high sloping roof ceiling. It was a bright and well decorated casual dining place and quite crowded even on a weekday.

We ordered the grilled Salmon fish English style with traditional batter garnished with a generous amount of finger chips, coleslaw salad and two sauces. We asked for two pieces of fish and the serving was large enough for both of us.

The grilled fish was delicious and the service was warm and friendly. We would definitely come back if we happen to visit Port Alberni again.

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Date of visit: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.503: Sproat Lake Provincial Park, Port Alberni, Vanc-Island, Canada.

Serene Lake For The Great Outdoors.

The park is located about 10 km west of Port Alberni and can be accessed by the Pacific Rim Highway on the way to Tofino via Port Alberni. The fresh water Sproat Lake is a favoured location for swimming, boating, fishing, water-skiing and when the wind is up, wind-surfing.

There are two campgrounds where people can reserve space and come and enjoy some camping in their RV and trailers. Others can enjoy a picnic in the day use area where they can do some sun-bathing by the lakeside.

There are many short trails leading into the forests. One such trail leads to the eastern end of the lake which has some ancient prehistoric petroglyphs, the rock carvings probably depicting some ancient mystical monsters of the lake.

There is a big parking lot for the day picnickers and a number of picnic benches in the open areas. Pit toilets are available in addition to the flush toilets in the day use area. Showers rooms are also there, as well as an area for boat launching.

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Date of experience: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.502: Harbour Quay, Port Alberni, Vanc-Island, Canada.

Great Place For An Evening Outing.

Harbour Quay is a great place for an evening stroll for the whole family. There is a public park where you can bring the kids on a clear day. Ice-creams and drinks are available at the nearby shops and there is a nice restaurant facing the water front with open air seating called ‘Starboard Grill’. ‘Turtle Island Fish and Chips’, ‘The Donut Shop’ and ‘Blue Door Café’ are some of the other eateries at Harbour Quay.

The Alberni Aquarium, Salmonberry’s Emporium selling gemstones and crystal, Codfather Seafood selling fresh and frozen fish, and the Port Boat House are some of the other establishments located on Argyle Street leading to the quay. Parking is available for a limited number of cars near the public park.

We also had to come to the office of the ‘Lady Rose Marine Services’ early one morning to board the ship ‘MV Frances Barkley’ which sails to Bamfield and Ucluelet from Harbour Quay. The ship sails down the Alberni Inlet, also known as the Barkley Sound, to the open waters of the Pacific Ocean.

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Date of experience: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.501: MacMillan Provincial Park, Vanc-Island, Canada.

Rare And Dignified Trees.

MacMillan Provincial Park is a forested area on Highway No.4 connecting Nanaimo to Port Alberni. The highway runs through the park and the core area is known by the older name of ‘Cathedral Grove’. You can park on either side of the road and enter the grove to view the ancient and giant trees of Douglas Fir, Red Cedar and Bigleaf Maple. It is situated just after Cameron Lake as you drive towards Port Alberni.

The biggest and oldest of the Douglas Fir trees is an 800-year-old tree, 76 meters tall and 9 meters in circumference. It was over 300 years old when Christopher Columbus first came to North America. Many of the trees are so old that they have fallen down during wind storms and now lie there providing life and succor to the newer trees and plants. They are known as the ‘Nurse Trees’.

The walk around the park can take between half an hour to over two hours, depending on how much time and interest you have. At the end of the north side are the banks of the Cameron Lake.

There are wheelchair accessible trails that wind through the park, but there are no benches or picnic tables here. Camping is not allowed and smoking is absolutely prohibited in the park. There are two pit toilets outside along the parking lot on either side of the road.

It is like an enchanted forest, only disturbed somewhat by the noise of the highway traffic.

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Date of experience: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.500: Cameron Lake, Vanc-Island, Canada.

Beautiful Place For A Picnic.

We passed by this lake a number of times traveling between Nanaimo and Port Alberni, not knowing what we were missing. It lies just before the MacMillan Provincial Park, on the way to Port Alberni, with it’s giant Douglas Firs and Red Cedar trees.

The MacMillan Provincial Park abuts the south west edge of the lake and we did get a glimpse of the pretty lake from the park boundary.

The waters of the lake look very calm and soothing surrounded by the towering hills around it. We saw quite a few RVs and caravans parked at some of the better picnic spots and some kayaks and boats on the lake.

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Date of experience: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.499: Orestes Greek Kouzina, Port Alberni, Vanc-Island, Canada.

Greek Fine Dining.

This is probably one of the best fine dining restaurants in Port Alberni. The décor is nice and there are three large size dining halls. The restaurant is family run and the service is very homely and courteous with the owners themselves taking care of all the guests. There is a personal touch with great attention to detail.

We started off with some of us having the Greek drink Ouzos which is made from aniseed. We ordered some crispy bread, Tsatsiki, with a cucumber yogurt dip as starters. We had a Pizza with spinach, onions, olives and feta, and a Caesar Salad. For the mains we ordered a Fish Platter which had Salmon, Halibut, Prawns, Calamari, Rice, Roast Potato and some Greek Salad. The quantity in the Fish Platter was sufficient for the three of us, and was excellent in taste.

We quite enjoyed our meal and would definitely come back if we visit Port Alberni again.

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Date of visit: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.498: BC Ferries, Nanaimo, Vanc-Island, BC, Canada.

Walk On And Enjoy The Scenic Voyage.

BC Ferries are the best form of transport to get from the mainland to places on Vancouver Island. We did the sailing from Horseshoe Bay, Vancouver, to Departure Bay at Nanaimo and back thrice during our stay in British Columbia and quite enjoyed the experience every time.

Foot passengers do not need to book in advance and can simply walk on after buying the ticket at the terminal. Oversize luggage can be checked in before boarding with no extra charges. Vehicles generally have to be booked in advance and there is a long queue of cars waiting to board the ferry. Once on board we relaxed in the comfortable chairs on the Level 5 or 6 decks and enjoyed the views from the broad glass windows. One can go up to the sun deck for better views and the cold breeze in your hair, and one can take better pictures from there.

Refreshments are readily available on the ferries, and the regular passengers would rush to queue up for the tasty meals on board. One can buy a hot meal as listed on the menu or simply go for the snacks like muffins, pastries or chips in the racks. Cold drinks, tea and coffee are available on tap.

Washrooms are clean and well stocked with liquid soap, tissue and napkins. There are some work stations, kids playroom, gift and souvenir shop and racks from where you can pick up free tourist literature.

We always enjoyed the cool and relaxed ferry rides. It takes about an hour and a half to get across the Strait of Georgia. The ferries are generally on time and the walk-on tickets cost about $18.

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Date of experience: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.497: Glen Lyon Inn, Port Hardy, Vanc-Island, BC, Canada.

Room With A View.

As we entered the premises the first impression was that of an ordinary motel with identical rooms opening out to a common open corridor, and a central and side wooden staircase leading up to the first and second floor landings. Our impression changed once we entered the lobby. The receptionist was friendly and efficient and completed all the formalities of check-in quickly. There was an elevator to take us up to our first floor room. We let ourselves in with a digital door key.

The room was well furnished with two queen sized beds with bedside lamps, a sofa with a leg rest, flat screen TV sitting on a large cabinet of drawers, a microwave, fridge, coffee maker, a coffee table, and a wardrobe closet. The bathroom had a tub, hair dryer, clean towels, bath mat and all the toiletries.

The best part was the sit-out balcony overlooking the harbour with a great ocean view. With the sea-plane base nearby we could see the planes landing or taking off while sitting on our bed. Next morning we witnessed a beautiful sunrise.

There is a restaurant and bar attached to the hotel, which served good American dishes and fast food. The place is also just about a kilometer from downtown and we could walk down to the cafes and restaurants in town. However it is about 5 km away from the ferry terminal and inconvenient if you don’t have your own vehicle.

We enjoyed our stay in Glen Lyon and would like to do a weekend visit again.

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Date of stay: July 2019

Room tip: First and Second floor rooms have sit-out balconies, not the ground floor rooms.

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My TripAdvisor Review No.496: Driftwood Restaurant, Campbell River, Vanc-Island, BC, Canada.

A La Carte Option.

Driftwood Chinese Restaurant is about 2 km from the Salmon Point RV Campground and Marina where we were staying. It is a decent Chinese restaurant serving up excellent buffet meals. Even though it was a weekday evening the restaurant was crowded for dinner. They close early at 8 pm.

We decided to opt for the a la carte dishes as we did not want to overeat that night. We ordered a couple of spring rolls and a dish of Chicken Chow Fun with flat rice noodles. The rolls were small and unappetising but we did enjoy the generous serving of the Chicken Chow Fun with some additional soya sauce.

The service lady was quick and efficient and quite cheerful too. We enjoyed the dinner in the colourful and busy ambiance of the place. Rates are reasonable with the dinner buffet costing around $20.

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Date of visit: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.495: Brady's Beach, Bamfield, Vanc-Island, BC, Canada.

Gem Of A Beach.

Brady’s beach is one of the most beautiful beaches on Vancouver Island. It is a largely sandy beach but with a lot of rocky outcrops and small tree covered islands which are typical of the Pacific west coast. The gradually sloping sands and relatively calm waters made it look very inviting for a swim, but the water was too chilled to dive in.

The beach is about a 25 minute walk from the West Bamfield dock, along a gravel trail which is clearly marked through the forests. You will know you have reached your destination when you see a wooden structure on your left with a board saying ‘Brady Loo’.

The beach was empty at 11 am and it was quite enjoyable to walk from one end to the other like Robinson Crusoe on his wild deserted island. One can spend the day relaxing, swimming, building sand castles or just beach combing. There is a lot of driftwood and seashells lying around on the sands.

Do remember to bring a picnic basket as there are no refreshment stalls or restaurants till you get back to the docks.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.494: Lady Rose Marine Services, Port Alberni, Vancouver Island, BC.

Fascinating Cruise.

We boarded the small ship ‘MV Frances Barkley’ at Port Alberni Harbour Quay after buying our tickets from their onshore office. It sailed into the waters of the Barkley Sound towards the Pacific Ocean at 8 am sharp for a four hour mini cruise to Bamfield, a small fishing hamlet on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

The ‘MV Frances Barkley’ is a working ship owned by the Lady Rose Marine Services Company which supplies goods and freight to the remote towns located along the west coast of the island. It also takes on tourists and passengers who get a chance to view the fascinating scenery of the rain forests of beautiful British Columbia.

We could walk about the ship both inside and outside. There were some benches on the outside decks where we could enjoy the sunshine or cold sea breeze, or occupy the inside seats if the weather became too intimidating. The kitchen and dining room was down in the galley and we had a breakfast of bacon, egg and cheese muffins followed by coffee. Cold drinks, beer and wine was also available.

This ship also delivers mail to the remote coastal villages. When we stopped at the floating post office at Kildonan, the postmaster’s dog started barking and we saw a black bear prowling in the trees about two hundred meters behind. We made some more stops along the way where freight was off-loaded.

About 10 minutes before docking at Bamfield, near Tzartus Island, the Captain spotted a humpback whale and we clearly saw the tail fluke coming out and quickly go back in. It was too fast to take a picture.

We reached West Bamfield around 12.15 pm and were received by our hostess from MacKay Bay Lodge, where we stayed for a couple of days. ‘MV Frances Barkley’ goes further in to East Bamfield and returns to the West Bamfield docks in about an hour and a half to start the return trip to Port Alberni. Most of the tourists have lunch at Bamfield, do some sight-seeing and return back to Alberni by 6.30 pm.

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Date of experience: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.493: MacKay Bay Lodge, Bamfield, Vancouver Island, BC.

Coastal Paradise.

Located at the western edge of Vancouver Island, the small town of Bamfield is as remote as one can get on this beautiful island. MacKay Bay Lodge is at the remote end of Beale Cape Road in West Bamfield, where the roads are not even paved.

Cheryl came to receive us at the docks and carted us along with our luggage in her ATV to the lodge. The lodge has a beautiful setting at the edge of the rain forest and overlooking the fishing dock with the serene waters of the Bamfield Inlet. She made us feel at home in our cosy room, which had an additional couple of bunk beds for kids. In the kitchen cum dining room there was a dining table and chairs, chest of drawers, fridge, microwave oven, kettle, wash basin with some crockery, and a sofa. Even though it was summer we needed to turn on the heater at night.

Breakfast, lunch and supper were included in the stay package. In addition we could visit the kitchen for some snacks or hot and cold drinks and tea and coffee sachets were available at any time of the day. Nancy would always prepare an excellent breakfast and we had an omelette with bacon, spinach, green onion and cheese on the first day, followed by grapefruit and coffee. A variety of cereals were also available. Lunch and dinner were three course meals consisting of a salad, a fish, chicken or meat dish with roast potato and followed by yummy dessert. Nancy and Sue really pampered us with a lot of goodies.

Cheryl would help us to plan our day. After breakfast I went for a leisurely walk to the beautiful Brady’s beach about 3 km away, and returned via the boardwalk along the harbour. In the evening Cheryl arranged for a boat ride with Robbie who took us further into the inlet where we saw a Mamma Bear with her Baby Bear on the far shore feeding on the grass.

Most of the other regular guests who visit here are into sport fishing and they regaled us with their fishing exploits and whale spotting for the day. There is a hot tub where they can relax and recover after a long day on the cold waters. We enjoyed our two day stay by just walking along the harbour and the forest, eating, drinking and sleeping to our hearts content. The atmosphere was very peaceful, serene and calming and it was a joy to just sit outside or upstairs on the veranda during sunset.

We were sad to leave when Brain dropped us back in the ATV to catch the boat back to Port Alberni.

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Date of stay: August 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.492: Waterfront Station, Vancouver.

Major Transit Terminus.

Waterfront Station is the major transit terminus of Vancouver. It is located on West Cordova Street in Downtown Vancouver, and is within walking distance of the important places of Downtown Vancouver. Canada Place, Convention Centre, Harbour Cruise terminals, Floatplane terminals, the historical Gastown district, Coal Harbour, and two major universities are located in the vicinity. The building is more than a hundred years old. It has a red brick façade and was designed in the neoclassical style.

The station serves as a terminus for the Expo Line and the Canada Line of the Skytrain, as well as the West Coast Express. An overhead walkway connects the station to the floating pier which serves as the platform for the Seabus. The Seabus connects to North Vancouver at Lonsdale Quay at regular intervals of about 20 minutes. HeliJet’s heliport is adjacent to the Seabus concourse, and the floatplane terminal is two blocks west of Canada Place. Hence Waterfront Station is the major transit terminus of Vancouver from where one can travel to different parts of Vancouver city.

Transit buses are available on West Cordova Street and adjacent streets to connect you to nearby places. Many long distance tour buses and operators have their offices nearby.

There are some restaurants located within the building as well as clean washrooms. There are a number of automated machines dispensing the Compass cards and passes which can be used with cash or credit and debit cards to pay for the transit fares. On the whole the system is fairly efficient.

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Date of experience: July 2019

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My TripAdvisor Review No.491: VIA Rail, Canada.

Great Way To Explore Canada.

We opted for the VIA Rail to explore and sight-see the western part of Canada. We took ‘The Canadian’ from Vancouver to Jasper and ‘The Skeena’ from Jasper to Prince Rupert. We travelled Economy and had to spend one night sleeping in our comfortable reclining seats since the Vancouver to Jasper section is an overnight journey. For the Jasper to Prince Rupert section the train stops overnight at Prince George, so we had to book a room at Prince George for the night. Though it may sound a very tedious way to travel, most of the travellers on the train seemed to be enjoying the trip.

Our Economy Class seats were very comfortable with lots of leg room. Of course one can also choose to travel in the higher class like Sleeper Plus and Prestige Class by paying a higher fare which also includes buffet meals and drinks served on the train. For the economy class, meals and snacks have to be purchased separately from the train kitchen. Some passengers opted to bring their own packed sandwiches and snacks.

There train staff were friendly and ever helpful. They would also periodically inform us about the route and stations we were passing, as well as the main attractions and points of interest along the way. Wildlife spotting was high on everyone’s agenda and we did spot a couple of bears, some deer and elk along the route. The snow covered mountain peaks and fast flowing rivers always kept our gaze riveted out the large windows during the day. We had access to the Dome Car on The Canadian.

One of the most controversial aspects of this way of travelling was that the VIA Rail trains were given lower priority than the freight trains, and we would have to stop at a siding quite often to let the freight trains pass, sometimes for as long as an hour. But this gave us and opportunity, with the engineer’s permission, to get off the train and stretch our legs and explore the countryside at ground level. As a results the trains, especially the ‘Skeena’ could never stick to their schedules. We had to check in to our Prince George hotel once at 11 pm, and beyond midnight on the return trip.

Surprisingly, our train back to Vancouver arrived more than two hours ahead of schedule, and the engineer apologized to the passengers for being early!

On the whole we quite enjoyed our to and fro rail trip from Vancouver to Prince Rupert through the mighty Rocky Mountains of British Columbia and Alberta.

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Date of experience: July 2019

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