Stamp Falls

Today is an easier day and Marg and I are just going to do a bit of exploration in the area.
After a major sleep in I manage to check out just before the 11am deadline.
This morning I notice the view out the back windows. There’s what looks like a caravan with aluminium foil over its windows. Hmm 🤔 And you might charitably call it a caravan park. At a stretch.
It ticked the two boxes I really do prefer when booking accommodation: clean & bed is relatively comfy. Bonus was this was also exceptionally cheap. In fact it was even cheaper than the Painted Turtle and I had my own bathroom here.
Because I’m moving to new accommodation tonight we drop my bag at Marg’s and then head out for the day.
Marg’s heard there have been some bear sightings so we’re going to head over that way.
We take some roads through beautiful forests and end up at Stamp Falls where I learn more about how the salmon get upstream. This is important because with so many salmon making their way upstream later this month, this is where the bears hang out to grab their dinner.
Sadly there are only 10-15 salmon hanging about and zero bears 🐻
Still absolutely magnificent falls and the fish ladder sees 40 million (!) salmon make their way upstream each year.
There’s even a live webcam feed where you can watch them!
We then headed to Sproat Lake for lunch on the shores. Unfortunately the restaurant was having “staffing issues” so they were closed but we managed a sub sandwich instead!
Next we head back to Port Alberni to watch the final flight of the “Mighty Mars”.
This is a waterbomber plane that was first used during world war 2. It has played a crucial role in fighting fires over the years and is a well-loved local icon.
It was on its final flight to a museum down in Victoria, Vancouver Island so the whole town was put to watch it fly over.
For the end of my day, I check in to the Airbnb which I managed to book.
There were multiple attractions in town this weekend which explains why I found it hard to book accommodation.
In any event - this one was magnificent. Super clean, super secure, a bed second to none and cheap!
I was pleased to be staying here tonight. At the Mars flight, a friend of Marg’s mentioned there had been a stabbing at that venue 10 days ago!! 😮Read more