Tofino, British Columbia, Canada— 
The beaches are long, finely sanded, with currently tame surf and an unusual 80 degrees F. To the east are snow-capped peaks, and to the west a sprinkling of islands and shouls in an area dubbed the “graveyard of the Pacific.”
There are a few kilometers of uninteresting bike paths, and a long hard-pack beach or two for cyclists with wide tires and chains that they don’t mind fouling with that fine sand.
The bikes stay stowed away in the SUV and the hiking shoes are getting a workout.
Time to reflect on Canada.
It’s sort of in the blood, having been born and raised in Detroit, just north (!) of Windsor, Ontario, a place that came to mean escape and fun as a child.
Over the last decades there have been dozens of visits to Canada, from Nova Scotia (our first bike trip), north to Winnepeg, and west to the present location, Tofino.
Some observations about Canadians and Canada:
They take great pride in the Canadian dollar being at near par with the U.S.
There are very few American tourists, not necessarily because of the dollar, but it can’t help. No exaggeration: For every American we have seen 20 Germans.
Every campground and RV park is half filled with rental RVs, mostly with the aforementioned German occupants.
There are no bathrooms, toilets or lavatories in Canada. Only restrooms.
No Canadian we’ve talked with knows about, or cares about, LeBron James.
The CBC radio remains a jewel of broadcasting, although interestingly they emphasize in all their promotional announcements that they are “commercial free.” Must be some financial pressure on them that causes the need to justify the 100% government subsidy.
British Columbia has very few government run campgrounds, and almost all are primative.
Canada Day (July 1) was a ball, at least as it was celebrated in Victoria. Everyone dressed in red and white and carrying Canadian flags and other patriotic garb. It was called Dominion Day years ago. Not now.
Canadians talk funny, and it’s catching. Trying hard to get the right inflection for “Aye,” or “eh,” or whatever it is they send declarative statements with, i.e. “Nice day, eh.” Maybe it’s partly a question, but it’s also an explanation. (Meanwhile, Scoop has been trying to memorize, “Oh Canada.”) Also things are “ooot” not “out,” “aboot,” not “about.” Love it.
“American Indian tribes” are “First Nations” in Canada, and quite prominent in British Columbia. Generally speaking Anglo Canadians have been much more willing to acknowledge the First Nation’s people’s claim on the land. Although a recent proposal that Vancouver’s Stanley Park be given a First Nations name was quickly withdrawn after a firestorm of protest. If the First Nations have the same freedom to establish casinos as their U.S. relatives, it is at least not as obvious.
A week or so more in Canada and then a return to the U.S.
