This past weekend I made a spur-of-the-moment trip to Tofino. I have NEVER been before but have heard so much about it that when the opportunity came up, I grabbed it! As we were driving up, we were discussing the world-reknowned surf and how much of an institution it is for the surfers on the Northwest Coast.
* A little background *
I’m from the Bahamas and I’m a self-proclaimed warm-weather, warm-water, anything-colder-than-80-degrees-is-not-acceptable kind of person. Needless to say, I don’t step into any body of water in which I can’t see the bottom or causes goose bumps and instant heart failure upon entry.
* Story continued… *
However, it occurred to me on the long, windy, breathtakingly beautiful drive up the coast that I can’t go to Tofino and NOT experience this right of passage. So I sucked it up, struggled valiantly into the tight-fitting, head-to-toe wet suit, waded into the frigid waters of the Pacific Ocean facing China and endured the initial inevitable splash of salt water on my face. The seven-foot swells were continuous so trying to paddle out towards the break was an exercise in futility. By the time I made it out far enough I had already been thrashed around like a crash test dummy and barely had the energy to turn the board towards land. After several attempts I was able to get half of me upright and cruise on a wave towards shore. EUPHORIA!
At that point, I figured I had accomplished what I had set out to do and immediately began walking back up the beach, stripping down to my bikini and jumping into the warm, welcoming, soothing and decadent waters of the ocean-side hot tub! A glass of red wine and some amazing company was the finishing touch. Now THAT’S what it’s all about! Will I ever surf the shores of Tofino again? With an ending like that, it’s entirely possible…
Here are a few images from my trip…
Here are a few Fine Art images…
