It was a boat trip to remember. About forty passengers, a handful of crew, a desk, a sofa set, a dumpster, a wheelbarrow and a couple of bins of mail took off on a perfectly clear day on the freighter Frances Barkley from Port Alberni. The destination for most of us was Bamfield via the Alberni Inlet. The goods would be dropped off to residents in tiny communities along the way. The mail would be safely delivered at Kildonan, Canada's rare floating post office.

Whereas we tourists took the ride for pleasure, it's a common occurrence for the crew whose purpose is the delivery of goods and mail three or four times a week. The end of the line is Bamfield, a locality of less than 200 people on the Bamfield Inlet. Today Bamfield is a tourist, kayak and sport fishing destination. It is also the most northern point of the rugged West Coast Trail.

The all-day trip started out crisp on this typical fall morning, so passengers were bundled in jackets, hats and scarves. On the return trip, the air had warmed up considerably to everyone's delight. However, it took time to recognize those with whom we'd made acquaintance...everyone was in different clothing, having stripped down to shorts and tees!

Without a doubt, the scenery was spectacular. We were surrounded by low-lying mountains as the boat glided through smooth waters. The coastline was rugged, dotted with the occasional vacation home, a couple of which were for sale, and the wildlife included whales, bald eagles and seals. We weren't able to get real close to any of them, but the captain stopped the boat for a few minutes to view a couple of whales that were frolicking in the near distance.

Enjoy the photos and see what we saw on this incredibly fun day trip.

The town of Port Alberni proved to be an interesting place. Victoria Quay at the head of the Alberni Inlet is a hot spot for watching First Nation fishermen catching and hauling in salmon. It's also a great area for strolling by the water, people watching and bear watching. As the sun starts to go down, you can be sure to find a bear or two on the far shore hunting for dinner.

Just outside of town is the Stamp River. We were a bit early for viewing the spawning salmon, but managed to see a few fight the gushing and powerful water. Since a fish ladder was less than 20 feet to their right, we wondered why they would struggle against the water instead of taking the easy way upstream!

Another interesting stop outside of Port Alberni is the Cathedral Grove Provincial Park. Located on both sides of the Highway 4, the tallest and oldest trees in the area reach 250 feet and are survivors of a fire more than 300 years ago.