We have spent most of the day on the Long Beach of the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve near Tofino.

That drive across the island from Port Alberni isn’t great. Crazy busy, windy, tight corners, bumps … thank goodness we did most of it yesterday! Too bad that’s the only way back!

Today we drove into Tofino. It’s a jam packed tourist surf town where you don’t want to drive an RV. Even in our big truck camper, we didn’t spot anywhere to park, or even pause. Other than a gas station where we got a few supplies and got out of town.

Dad’s been raving about the day and night he spent on this beach a week ago so we found a parking spot and settled in. Dad said no one bothered him when he spent a night in this parking lot so we are going to try to do the same? Every park is full.

Here’s me talking to Dad who was our beach tour guide, from somewhere on the road in Saskatchewan.

My hair is so wind blown and dry, yet greasy. It’s going to need some pampering. Like in a few months, when I return to normal life.

This beach is full of surfers in wet suits with surf boards. It probably isn’t a great beach to bring kids to swim. The waves are supposedly on the low side today yet they are significant! Lots of great sand though. No trash. No glass. Not even a place to collect shells. Mostly just big kelp things and some sticks wash in here.

We visited the beach in three lengthy sessions. The morning was cold. And windy. Then we went back to the camper for awhile.

In the afternoon, we brought our lawn chairs and settled in with some big logs to get out of the wind.

We saw people of all kinds today. A lady with a fur coat. Another in a leather shirt. A couple of fisherman. People in toques, and puffy coats. People carrying big cooking pots and food for 20+ people.

And many Parks Canada staff. Oh, by the way, the entrance and parking fees were covered by the Canadian government this summer as part of the Canada Strong Pass. Thanks!

Tonight we walked way down the beach again. There are still people surfing at 8pm.

Sandy feet! Feels good! I wonder if it’ll feel as good in bed later on.

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Now that it’s getting late, I’m more and more worried about getting kicked out of here. Or fined. Or asked to leave.

We spotted other vans and truck campers in the parking lot, but they’ve all left now!

I’m using the intermittent, slow cell signal to find any evidence we can actually sleep here and everything says everything to the contrary. Tofino has stepped up enforcement everywhere so people don’t freeload, boondock, or sleep on the roadside in their car.

Great.

Well we’ve gone to bed anyway. We are watching another old John Wayne movie. I think he only had a short appearance though and was killed off.

It’s dark now and all the cars are gone now too. I’m making a mental note of where everything is that I’d need to grab before going up front in the truck, if we are kicked out. And then where are we supposed to go? Every place is full.

There is a sign that the gates get locked over night. I wonder if that’s true. What time did it say, 11pm-8am I think? I don’t care if we are locked in. Just don’t kick us out!

Uh oh. Headlights are coming. I’m quiet and still like I’m a kid in bed and I just heard a creak in the floor.

Nope. They left. It’s after 11pm now.

More lights. Ok I don’t want to do this anymore. I’m never going to get any sleep.

11:48pm. The digital sign by the entrance was turned off at some point. Are we safe now? Will there be a ticket on the windshield in the morning?

Ok I’m going to try to sleep. It’s so hot in here. Why am I so afraid to open the window on my side of the camper? Someone will think we are in here sleeping!? I think the steps down in the back and just our very existence gives that away.

Good night?