Bamfield in 4 days and 3 nights

Bamfield is a magical place and everyone needs to spend at least 4 days of their life exploring the deep woods, the seaside boardwalk and the tight knit community.  I have lived in Vancouver,  Langley and Salt Spring Island for 17 years evenly between the 3.  I routinely visited Tofino and Ucluelet and had heard people rave about Bamfield but I had never been.  To get to Bamfield you have to have a vehicle appropriate for a 2 hour logging road or take a 3.5 hour ferry ride.  I figured that this seaside town would be similar to Tofino and Ucluelet and as the latter are easier to get to I didn't make the journey to Bamfield

Well, was I ever wrong.  Bamfield is completely different from both of these west coast towns, it is not like any place I have ever been.  My partner and I were hired to care take a lodge in Bamfield and neither of us had taken the journey to discover this fishing village with history documented long before Tofino or Ucluelet .  Now that we have taken up residence, we are in love with this extraordinary place and want to share Bamfield with everyone.  Fortunately we have a place where you can come to stay while you enjoy Bamfield.

We have been here for 6 months and are still discovering new to us places.  If you want to get a little sampling of Bamfield spending 4 days and 3 nights here will give you a feel for what Bamfield has to offer and have you planning your next visit.

The Day Before you Arrive

The safest way to get to Bamfield is by ferry from Port Alberni, it departs on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 8:00am and the Lady Rose Marine requests that you board the Francis Barkley by 7:30am. Unless you live on Vancouver Island, you need to spend the previous day on route to Port Alberni and stay Friday night ready to catch the ferry in the morning.  Why Friday?  Because this is the only day that gives you 4 days and 3 nights.  The Tuesday and Thursday ferry departures only give you 2 nights and 3 days in Bamfield, so you have to take the Saturday ferry which costs $88 for a round trip.

There are many places to visit as you make your way to Port Alberni.  I have scoured my personal photos to give you a glimpse of what to expect.

The Dark Side

This easy hike, close to the Duke Point BC Ferry Terminal, is in Cassidy,  You walk on the cliff above the river and then suddenly you are in a rocky canyon with huge boulders.  I would make sure to have good foot wear.

 

 

 

 

 

The Abyss

 

This hike is a short distance from the #1 but it takes about 2 hours for the round trip walk.  The Abyss which is a huge crack in the earth is a easy hike along a ridge overlooking Nanaimo.  This deep crevice is surrounded by an Arbutus Grove and has me imagining how hard the earth must have shaken to create a fissure like this. 

 

 

 

 

Englishman River Falls

The road to get here is a lot further than expected but when you get to the Englishman River Falls the trail is very short and accessible.  These water falls are a little off of your path so if you are in a rush I would pick a different destination but it is hard to pass by waterfalls. 

This is my grandson.  He got into the lunch in the back seat as 

we found our way here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coombs - Goats on the Roof

 

Stopping in Coombs at Goats on the Roof is always on my agenda except when it is closed from January to the beginning of March.  I love Coombs with it's unique stores and attractions. It is "the" place to get unique and fun gifts, food ingredients from all over the world, a delicious meal and an ice cream cone before heading on.

Cathedral Grove

McMillan Bloedel reserved this land for people to observe an untouched forest.  As it is just a pull off on the way to Port Alberni, it is a must stop.  Getting out to stretch your legs is rewarded with a forest covered with an abundance of different moss and lichens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hole in the Wall

I had wanted to go to the Hole in the Wall for years but I was always in a rush to get to Bamfield, Ucluelet or Tofino so never stopped. When I finally made it here I wondered what took me so long as it was right on route and an easy 20 minute hike to get to this unique formation.

Once you reach Port Alberni there are many places to stay I will post some good choices in the future.  After getting settled in at a your abode you can  get something to eat.

Magnum 99

Have you ever stopped at Magnum 99 enroute to Whistler?  I love it there so I checked out their Port Alberni location.  It was just as tasty and close to the bus station if you are ever transporting yourself by bus.

 

 

Here is the itinerary for our Walking and Writing Women's Retreat at Argo's Landing.  The dates for this retreat are:

March 14-17(fully booked), March 28-31, April 18-21, May 16-19, 2020

The retreats accommodate 8 women with double occupancy (everyone has their own bed)  

As we are in the middle of renovations the price is reduced until May 30th.

 The cost for this 4 day 3 night retreat is only $300. The same retreat next year will be $450. If you can manage to fit it into your schedule this year it would make it a very inexpensive weekend trip.

Included in the $300 is all accommodations, food, and excursions.

          Go to Our web-site www.westcoastmist.com for more information

Here is the agenda for the Walking and Writing Women's Retreat:

Day 1

7:30am Board the Francis Barkley

8:00am the Francis Barkley Departs for Bamfield down the Alberni Inlet stopping to deliver mail and cargo to small villages.  Enjoy your journey as you start to leave the stresses of home behind.  Take photos, journal or use this time to take in the scenery as it goes by, hoping for a whale to breach.

12:00 Noon arrive in Bamfield at the East Dock

12:15 Get transported to Argo's Landing aboard a boat as you are now immersing yourself into living by the sea.

12:30 Arrive at Argo's Landing and get settled into your rooms

1:00 Nourish yourself with warm soup with fresh buns while you relax with the view of the inlet from your seat at the dining room table.

2:00 Walk around the 6 acre grounds that are nestled in the forest on the waters edge.  Find your own secluded spot ideal for absorbing  the solitude

Choose a selection of activities that suit your needs in this moment; take photos, journal, write a  letter, read a book, explore, catch a crab, put your line in the water, or sit on the dock and humm "sittin' on the dock in the bay watchin' the tides roll away, wastin' time."
 Bamfield is like stepping back in time, so why not do things from a different time in technology

Write a letter to a friend and nibble on a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie made just for you. Get to know other women in the group or find a spot, cuddle up and read a book.

5:30 Dinner is set out for you to pick your favorite ingredients to fill a taco shell.  You may have thought you would have chosen a common meat filling but once you are here on the west coast you may feel more inclined to make a seafood taco.

7:00 We will play some games that will have us laughing and getting to know each other better.

Retire to your room.  Like everyone before you, be surprised by how tired you are from the exilarating sights, sounds and smells of Bamfield.  Tuck in early and sleep through the night with the peaceful and undulating sounds of the ocean's white noise relaxes you.

Day 2

8:00 A "loving" breakfast buffet including heart shaped waffles with an abundance of toppings awaits you as you ease yourself into the day. They will be kept warm so don't rush into waking from that soft focus that only the ocean can bring.

11:00 The water taxi will pick us up to bring us to the west side.  The open air taxi gives you a 360 degree view of Bamfield Inlet as you cruise to the west side which is water access only.

11:15 Explore the Bamfield Boardwalk with an easy stroll that has you stopping to watch the seals and otters play.  After a 10 minute stroll you will come to the west side village where you can browse the aisles of the Bamfield Mercantile.

12:30 If you choose you can then take a walk along the gravel roads to Brady's Beach.  Get out your camera to bring home memories of the rock formations and the life in the tide pools.

1:00  We will find the perfect spot for a picnic lunch and if the weather is right we will have a bon fire and roast some marshmallows at Brady's Beach.

2:00  Walk back to the docks to catch the water taxi which will deliver you back to Argo's Landing.

3:00  After your time in the elements the best thing to do is cuddle up under a blanket to read a book or sit back and contemplate all you have seen in such a short time. Warm up with hot chocolate served with freshly baked cinnamon buns that fill the air with the aroma of your grandma's kitchen.

5:30 Saturday night is  burger night, choose between meat, black bean or salmon.  If we're having burgers we need to have homemade french fries dipped in mayonnaise or ketchup or both.

7:00  Take the evening to document your day in your art journal.  Fill your pages with your experiences or some of the images that perpetually changed through out the day.  Trade images and ponder each others words as we journal together.

Day 3

8:00   Sit down with your new acquaintances and have a perfect Sunday breakfast, Tortilla and Chorizo Sausages.  I discovered the Tortilla (potato omelet) when I was on the Camino in Spain. I ate it almost every morning as I walked the 800 km to Santiago.  I love food that evokes memories.  I hope you will take this recipe home to remind you of your time here at Argo's Landing in Bamfield.

10:30 We will depart to leave for a 4km walk into the rain forest coming out at Pachena Bay.  Once we are there we will walk a few more km to get to the head of the west coast trail, then returning to Argo's Landing making it a 12 km day of walking,  but first...
       
12:00  We will have a picnic lunch at Pachena Bay

3:00  Once you are back at Argo's Landing take a slice of freshly baked carrot cake , write a letter, journal, or take a quick nap.

5:30 Get settled into your seat at the table ready to savor a roast chicken dinner with delicious sides.  Embrace the moment as these new acquaintances become friends through your common experience.

7:00   Play the wishing well, one of my favorite games that my friends and I have been playing for years.  It is meant to be shared, so after you play it here at Argo's Landing bring it home and play with all your friends.

Day 4

7:30 Another breakfast buffet will be set out for you to enjoy at your own pace.  It's easy to be healthy when all your choices are nutritious and delicious.  Pick from home made granola, fresh fruits, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, home made yogurt, hard boiled eggs and fruit juices.

8:30  On the last day we head out early so that you can finish off your trip in Bamfield with a memorable guided walking tour into the Kiixin National Historic Site.  Kiixin is the site of a 19th century village of the Huu-ay-aht with evidence of occupation dating back to 1000 B.C.E.

12:00 Meet the Francis Barkley and say your good byes. You will be sent off with a bag lunch of freshly baked buns with home made jam plus fresh fruit and vegetables.

Take in the views of the Alberni Inlet as you return home more relaxed after visiting this unique west coast destination.  Now when people talk about Bamfield you will  be able to say in unison, "Oh yeah, I love Bamfield"

If you or a group of your friends are wanting to come to this retreat or others on the website you can e-mail me at Charlene Wolff  or call 250-728-1299.  I look forward to each and everyone of you who come to experience Bamfield and stay at Argo's Landing.