ucluelet: wild pacific trail

On our last day in Ucluelet we woke up early to watch the sun rise. We made the classic mistake (as Joseph puts it) to try to change our position to somewhere better at the last minute. So we ended up watching the sun through a group of trees.... but it didn't really matter.

We walked a couple hundred yards from where we were staying to the Wild Pacific Trail. It was a gorgeous, leisurely walk that we could finish before we had to head back to pack up, check out, and get on the road. I wish I could travel back, this feels like ages ago now.

























































































So accessible and so stunning. The early autumn sun started to get warm on our backs and we lingered at every lookout.

chemainus, cathedral grove, and ucluelet

ucluelet vacation, part 1: the beaches

 

 

Joseph and I took a (very) brief and (very) needed vacation last week to Ucluelet on Vancouver Island. We took the pooch with us and enjoyed our drive and stops along the way. We stayed just on the outskirts of Ucluelet at a "cabin" — which wasn't so much a cabin as an upscale condo with views of the forest. But that's not at all a complaint. It was the perfect luxurious place to come home to after spending all day in the outdoors. We walked through forests, we walked on sand, we got our feet wet and we ate fish and chips. The weather was insanely perfect and the rest of the world had already finished their vacations.

This here's the beaches part. (At Wickaninnish and Long Beaches)

Joseph told me I HAD to take this photo. I think it took seven attempts.

nectarine & cherry tomato guacamole and black & red bean & pepita tacos

Taking advantage of the stone fruits in every way I can while they last. Nectarine paired really nicely in a basic guacamole with colourful cherry tomatoes.

Made up little corn tortilla tacos with black and small red beans, a bit of kale, pepitas and spices. If you love cheese like me, throw a little sharp cheddar on there and you're good to go.

setting sun of summer

The summer sun is setting. It sinks further everyday and I feel little sadness. This summer has been full and the quiet evenings and cool mornings are a welcome friend. Not autumn yet, but not summer either, we are in this perfect secret time where tomatoes are bountiful and puppies run and hop in the wet, warm grass. A moment of rest and a holiday on my horizon. Bye bye summer, see you next time.

Tomatoes from my garden.

Thick and chewy fettuccine, tomatoes, basil, garlic, bocconcini, prosciutto, pepper, butter.