We had some mundane errands to run in Nanaimo so we blasted the 40 min up the highway and made our way around the big box stores, Costco etc. Instead of blasting back down the highway (which is beautiful on it’s own with hills, trees, rocks, cliffs) we decided to take a more scenic way back through parts of Nanaimo. Nanaimo is the 2nd largest city on the island, complete with a working harbor and a large harbor for ferries to the neighbouring islands and the mainland.

We stumbled, by chance, on a wonderful park that allowed us to walk along the ocean, smell the salt air, visit tide pools, see the mainland across the wide Strait of Georgia. I love seeing the effect of the tides coming in and out and smelling the salt air. The many logs on the beaches, so typical here on the island, reminded me of our previous trips here with the boys, especially our kayak trip on the west coast of the island near Tofino. On the way back to the car, through the forest, we got to smell the 80m fir trees.

It was a welcome surprise and a delight for the many senses.