A Note From Charles August 2022
My father’s favourite month of the year was September with its long, calm, warm days and cool evenings, seeing the seagulls and ospreys feeding on the baitfish and the relaxed, easy-going mood of our September guests.
As summer slowly shifts to autumn, nature begins its preparation for winter. The berries ripen, and the salmon start spawning, bringing bears and bald eagles to feast in the rivers. If you find yourself in Tofino during this time, be sure to visit the Thornton Creek Hatchery in Ucluelet to learn about the Chum, Chinook, and Coho on a hatchery tour and marvel at the incredible Salmon run.
In September, we also enjoy the quiet beaches and contemplative forests as we wander the Nuu-Chah-Nulth trail, the longest hiking trail in Pacific Rim National Park. This trail connects Long Beach and Florencia Bay along a 3.8km path of raised wooden boardwalks that run through the rainforest and a section of old corduroy road. A perfect place to birdwatch, enjoy a less busy trail, and explore should you wish to stretch your legs during your stay!
Visitors and locals alike take to the waters to visit the Big Tree Trail on Meares Island, a wonderful destination that can be accessed by kayak. Home to some of the largest trees in B.C., this old-growth forest consists of spruce, hemlock, and, most especially, western cedar trees over 1,000 years old. The boardwalk exploration here ends at the majestic Hanging Garden, the largest tree in the area.
As we begin to feel the crispness of autumn in the coming weeks, we sometimes end our day at the Tofino Brewery or Tofino Distillery with friends. A cold pint of Blonde Ale or a sip of our local West Coast gin in a gin and tonic offers a cozy feeling as the leaves turn to vibrant colours and we return home to dinner. With that, I thought to share one of our own salmon recipes from The Wickaninnish Inn Cookbook as inspiration for a delicious fall meal to savour at home.
Wherever you are, I trust you too will take a moment to also savour these last few weeks of summer, and if it happens to be here with us, I know you too will see why it is our favourite month of the year too.
Wishing you a pleasant shift into fall,
Charles
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