Phase 2 begins / Port Hardy
CANADA | Monday, 30 June 2008 | Views [73]
The Port Hardy sign.
I left my lovely room near Central Park feeling a little sad - I've been here eight months and it has all come to an end! This is the point where I made my first mistake - I didn't check the times that the Skytrain commenced service on Sunday mornings.
It hadn't commenced service and I was already running late due to packing issues (you know it never all fits in the first time... you have to punch it and kick it a few times to get the luggage in the right shape to fit in the backpack). I got to Patterson station and a very rude fence (poor imitation of a portcullis) was guarding the entrance.
The taxi drama ensued - apparently the credit card swipe wasn't working and we had to stop on the way to get cash. It worked out okay though, arriving on time and well it wasn't like I'd had to actually call for a taxi.
The ferry trip to Nanaimo was great, and I met my next bus at Nanaimo for the haul to Port Hardy. Note to self: Campbell River looks like a lovely place to stop sometime. Names of the towns were entertaining - my particular favourite is Rathtrevor Beach (I'd like to make up a story about how Trevor was so angry he made a beach - with lava pits or something). There were also lots of black bears to the side of the road.
Got a little 'misplaced' from the hostel at Port Hardy, and found some others looking for it too. And this is where I met Fabienne, who was intending to catch the same ferry to Prince Rupert. Someone to hang around with! :)
Port Hardy is a quiet little seaside town. Great place to see some eagles up close and eat fish and chips.
The next day, Fabienne and I managed to walk the muddy, boggy, wet and quite pretty track from Port Hardy over to Storey's Beach (they promised us whale sightings!). No whales. It rained. The villagers were very friendly - one bloke popped his head out of the front door and asked if we could take the rain with us when we left.
We got back to the hostel as the Greyhound bus arrived... bringing Carole to us. And later Selke arrived by plane - a nice little group to hang around with on the ferry.
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