The Wild Coast of Vancouver Island

The Pacific Rim National Park lies in front of me. It includes three different sections. Long Beach (longest beach on Vancouver Island's coast), Berkley Sound (Vancouver Island's most popular kayaking spot) with the Broken Islands and Deer Group and the West Coast Trail (one of the most popular hiking routes in the world). Long Beach is the local hot spot for waveriders. Landing spots are hard to find.

I spend my nights on Benson Island and Gibraltar Island. I get to know Lerne Myra and Oskar (from Costa Rica and Seattle), Kit (from California), Aaron (from Vancouver Island) and Sarah and Archie (from Edmonton). I receive lots of gifts in the form of lunchmeat, cheese, instant noodles and canned foods by the way. The next shopping trip can be cancelled.
It takes time until noon, until the fog has finally disappeared around here. A GPS always is a good choice around here. When I change my clothes in the eafternoon I think about when I took my last shower. It must have been at least 10 days. Who cares... A bath in the Pacific will do. The more you smell, the warmer the ocean gets.
I visit Ivan near Cape Beal, who ist he assistant keeper. I contacted Ivan the first time per e-mail a couple months ago. Back then I found a website about Vancouver Island's lighthouses, which also had Ivan's e-mail adress on it. I remember him answering one of my mails saying something like "I'll try to have some cold beer for you". I will come back to that now. Beer is out, but the shower works great. This time it honestly seems like it is the right alternative.

Ivan takes me on a round-trip and I get to enjoy the incredible view over the wild, orange-lighted coast of Vancouver Island from Ivan's lighthouse.
Most of the keepers have already heard of me from their colleagues. Still I try to announce myself by radio, which often is answered with a good place to land. After three pancakes for breakfast at Ivan's I am ready to go on.