Port Renfrew

Port Renfrew is about 50 miles from Sooke on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Famous for excellent Halibut and Salmon fishing off the coast 

and the beautiful Juan de Fuca Provincial Park with it's beaches and hiking trails.

This is the site of some world class tide pools and very interesting geological formations. You can park and walk down through the forest about 1/2 mile to the beach. We were there at high tide this day and went again the next day at low tide. These photos were all taken at high tide. The next day it was slightly overcast and raining so I left the camera behind. BIG MISTAKE! As soon as we got to the beach it cleared up and we saw amazing sights, including Grey Whales feeding right off the rocks about 300 yards away! 

There were many of these potholes formed as the sandstone

 was eroded away from boulders. They were like perfect little aquariums. 

I had to photograph this bush. I had never seen such giant leaves.

This is one of the boulders that will eventually be freed and leave behind a pothole.

Mikey got tired of exploring and so he found a campfire circle 

and used the stones for a pillow.

Back at the wharf in Port Renfrew fisherman were heading out.

This is Mike Hicks the captain of Swiftsure Charters filleting a client's catch. After filleting the enormous Halibut and Salmon he would throw the carcasses into the water. Then the show would really begin!

Sea Lion and Sea Gulls battle it out! The enormous, fierce looking Sea Lion would take the fish carcass and thrash it back and forth and fling it out of the water!

Mike owns and operates the Arbutus Cove Lodge (formerly the Olympus B and B) where we stayed when we first came to look at the Sooke house before we bought it. He is running for office this year, so we stopped by to get the latest on the local political scene. He is quite a character and very interesting to talk to. 

Mike told us to check out his new 3 week old granddaughter at this restaurant his daughter owns in Port Renfrew. So the next day we stopped for lunch on the way out of town.

 Met his daughter and saw the adorable baby. Click here to see his website and read about some of the local issues.

And had the tastiest fish 'n chips ever!!!!

We spent the night at the Local First Nation's campground, a beautiful mile long crescent of beach. It was quiet, with few campers, after the labor day holiday.