We are still learning the distinction between the classes. Unlike school, where we strived for an A, when it comes to RVs an A is not for us. I can't imagine driving, let along parking, something so Ginormous. Not to mention the price tag, the fuel cost, and OMG the maintenance. Nope, Class A is not the RV for us. One decision down.

Class B vs Class C. First, why do Class C's, mid-size motorhomes, come after Class B, the smaller counterparts? No wonder I am so confused.  Class C has more room, but still not feeling the size, we are more inclined to a Class B, but then are they too small for full time living?

Then add travel trailers and fifth wheels to the mix. So many choices and decisions. Do we really want to tow something behind us? The appeal to a travel trailer, or even a fifth wheel, is the ability to park it and disconnect, having a vehicle to explore with. Our goal is to actually 'visit' places and hang out for awhile. And since we are both photographers, having a vehicle makes the most sense. The other pro is maintenance and issues while traveling, our whole life including transportation would not be wrapped up in one place. The con - towing and parking. We're back to the 'size' issue.

We've been toying with the idea of a camper van to start with. Small, can park it in almost any type of parking lot, nothing to tow, compact, usually decent gas mileage, easier to maneuver. But just the like the too big size, camper vans are pretty tight quarters, meaning we'll be on top of each other most of the time. Then there's storage, most of them have a decent amount of storage, but enough to pack your life in? Then we're back to the "not having a car", which means we would have to disconnect our home just to go to the store, explore the area, enjoy a night a out.

Then there is quality. Since our plan is to be rving full time, we'd want something that can withstand the rigors of full time rving. Some of the quality we have seen in the travel trailers makes us cringe. A lot of the decision will be based on what our budget will allow - at least for now.

We finished off our weekend of RV exploration, playing tourist in one of our favorite cities - Vancouver. It was a typical Pacific Northwest weekend with so we explored Science World, watched an IMAX movie, then took a boat ride on the Aquabus Ferry over to Granville Island for lunch and Gelato.

No decisions were made, but we had a nice time contemplating our options and envisioning a future on the road.

Karla Locke

 Hope to Hell's Gate, a road that takes you on a winding journey of exploration, magnificent scenery, and a chance to experience Hope and Hell all in one road trip.

Just like our thoughts the canyon's winding road, with the flowing river, followed a path through the deep gorge, encased by steep walls. Train tracks, sometimes flanking both sides of the river, snaked along the rivers edge carrying on history and bringing commerce across country.

It is about perspective and letting what's ahead take you on a journey of wonder. For it's not just the highway from Hope to Hell's Gate, it is a road through a slice of heaven.

All I want for Christmas is…

• The sound of crashing waves
• Peace and quiet
• Fresh marine air
• Sand between my toes
• Nature's Glorious Beauty to remind there is still greatness which surrounds us
  
• Solitude so I can dream
  
• And a joyful memory to take with me into the New Year

For the first time in years we found ourselves alone for the holidays.  And after a long, busy year my body, mind, and soul craved solitude and quiet. I have been in love with Cannon Beach, Oregon since 1994 when my sister got married on the beach. There is just something special about this coastal town, which calls to your soul. Most visit for the beautiful beach, the town full of quaint shops, intriguing art galleries, and delectable restaurants, and for photographers it is a visual paradise.

Our decision to leave town was very last minute. At first it was hard to find a place to stay with the dates we had in mind or wasn't priced too high. I contacted a place via Facebook. I manage Facebook pages for businesses so I was impressed how quick and responsive they were via messaging.  The front desk sent an email with a quote within a short time. I called and they were friendly, accommodating and helpful over the phone. They gave us off-season rates even though it was Christmas. We booked the room, packed our bags and hit the road the next day.

Upon our arrival, I was pleasantly surprised. We stayed at the Lighthouse Inn, but check in is at their sister property, Inn at Cannon Beach. We were greeted by the same person who helped over the phone, check in was quick and easy, they had warm delicious cookies for guests, and over 400 movies to choose from. The Lighthouse inn is conveniently located in town, everything was within walking distance; the beach, restaurants, shops, grocery store. We had a 1 bedroom suite with a small kitchenette, a large tub (this was a treat for me), a fireplace. Comfy, cozy, clean, and convenient.

The front desk gave us a list of restaurants, including two that were open on Christmas Day. We decided to splurge on Christmas dinner and made reservations at Wayfarer. The menu was limited to traditional holidays dishes, turkey and prime rib with all the fixings. The place was packed, the view was wonderful, the weather was gorgeous, and the service was define.

Most of the time the weather was just right, but the day after Christmas was stormy with scattered rain, so it made for a nice day to drive down the coast a bit, our final destination was to take the tour at Tillamook Dairy Co-Op (I was really going there for the ice cream.)  We stopped at various state parks along the way and drove through the town of Manzanita and stopped for coffee. For lunch we found a place on yelp, Hidden Acres Greenhouse and Cafe. It was a bit south of Tillamook and when you drive up it is a working nursery, the food and the atmosphere was well worth it.

A few facts I learned at the Tillamook Diary:

1. Tillamook means "Land of many waters."
   
2. The produced 15 gallons of milk a day.
   
3. In the 1800's, butter was the first diary product introduced.
   
4. There are 6,220 gallons of milk in one vat.
   
5. 165 lbs of salt is used for every 53,500 lbs of cheese.
   
6. They cut about a million pounds of cheese in a week.
   

On Thursday, the weather cleared up and visitors flooded the town and the beach. The quiet solitude was now filled with holiday cheer, dogs running around, children playing, parents and grandparents. It was our last day there and with cameras in hand we spent hours on the beach, people watching and photographing crashing waves. It was a beautiful end to 2018.

It was the late nineties when we first visited Tofino on Vancouver Island. All I really remember about that trip was the highway from Parksville to Tofino. I remembered being mesmerized by the beauty and the transformation of the landscape as we crossed the island from east to west. 

Now, almost twenty years later, we set on the road from Parksville to Tofino again. Flashbacks of memories hit me as we start the journey. We take Highway 4A out of Parksville and no sooner do we leave Parksville do we come to the small town of Coombs.  I remembered from years past the goats on the roof. Only this time the roof was without the goats. They are still there, just not out on this day. Oh well, time to toodle on. 

​It's 33 km to our next stop... Port Alberni.

This time we made a point to at least make a brief stop at Port Alberni. Downtown and Harbor Quay were a bit of a drive off the highway. When we got there, the wind was kicking up a bit through Alberni Inlet, making for a chilly walk along the waterfront. For a Saturday, the downtown area was sort of quiet. We did a quick stroll and then resumed our trip back on the road to Tofino. 

The trip years ago was in April and one of the things I remembered most was a river along the highway just before you descend down the mountain range to Tofino. We had stopped suddenly then to see why so many cars were pulled over, it was because the river was roaring over large boulders. It was an amazing site. This time we made a point to watch for this location, we found it, only the river was more somber since the water level was low. Still we pulled over, snapped a few photos, snacked a little, then carried on.

​Back on the road to Tofino.

Soon we are winding down the highway with Kennedy Lake on our right side. Spots of the road are narrow, the cliffs lush with vegetation and fairly close to the car. As we reach the junction of the highway where left is Ucluelet and right is Tofino, we stop at the Visitor Center for a bathroom break, a map, and a park pass for the Pacific Rim National Park. We opt for the Beach Walk Pass., after all we are only in the area for an afternoon. The Beach Walk Pass is only good for 4 hours (plenty of time for our excursion) and is only valid for parking lots at Long Beach, Kwisitis, and Wickaninnish. 

This must visit area is located on the West Coast of Vancouver Island and is a magnificent piece of Mother Nature's artistry. As you turn right on the highway to Tofino, the sides of the road are blanketed with heavy forests of tall trees, These heavily occupied rainforests have withstood time and Mother Nature's stormy abuse. You can't help but be in awe of their strength and their endurance.

We turn left on the road that leads to the entryway to Wickaninnish parking lot. From the parking lot it is a short hike through the brush, which suddenly opens up to a expansive view of the Pacific Ocean. The tide was out and the sandy beach beckoned us to stretch our legs and crashing waves called us to venture closer. With seagulls flying overhead, squawking as they flew, the waves crashing to shore, and the beauty of Mother Nature at her best, we were in heaven. You cannot help but feel at peace in these surroundings. Breathing in deeply, stress vacates the body and soul, leaving you relaxed and quiet. 

We strolled closer to the waves, attracted to the surfers trying to catch a wave worth surfing.  Camera in hand, I am mesmerized by the beauty of the area, the surfers, and the reflections in the sand. A photographer's paradise.

Finally our stomachs decided it was time for food, so reluctantly we left the beach and headed into Tofino in search of a nourishing meal. The town had grown considerably since we were there last. Surf shops and store fronts line the main street as we entered town. It was a bustling Saturday but we were lucky and found a parking spot. Before we could discover the town we needed nourishment. We stopped at the Rhino Coffee House for lunch and coffee. The food was good, the service was friendly and quick, and with our bellies full we could now walk around town. 

Businesses catering to the many visitors now swarming this small community are intermingled with its old history. ​The town had settle into a comfortable accord between maintaining its history, the fishing and marine industries that created the area, and the growing new industry – tourism. 

It was time to head back to Parksville, our time in Tofino coming to a close. But we had one more beach stop we just had to make. It was a beach recommended by a local. Located outside the Pacific Rim National Park it does not require a pass. As we drive out of town and back to the beaches, we first make a pit stop at Chocolate Tofino, after all we deserve a treat.  The place was packed with chocolate lovers. We purchased some chocolate and a Gelato, then carried on to Chesterman Beach. Located in a residential area, parking is only available on the street or a parking lot located just as you turn on the street. The parking lot is complete with restrooms and a shower for the surfers to watch off the salt and sand. The friend who recommended this beach was right, it was a great beach to visit. When visiting somewhere, always ask the locals where they would go, they always know the best spots.

Though I disliked the idea of leaving this little slice of heaven, we needed to hit the road for the  2 1/2 hr drive back to Parksville and we had one more stop to make. When you are heading on Highway 4 from Parksville to Tofino, just outside of Coombs, before Port Alberni, is Cathedral Grove in MacMillan Provincial Park. On our way to Tofino, we didn't stop at Cathedral Grove because the parking lots were full. Instead, we stopped on our way back. It was evening, close to dusk, and I was glad we had waited. With less people around, it made for a more quiet and spiritual connection with the forest as we wandered through its paths. 

Cathedral Grove's network of trails take visitors on a journey through time and awe-inspiring wonder. Towered by ancient Douglas Fir trees, the oldest around 800 years, we are reminded of the amazing beauty Mother Nature offers and why it is so important to preserve it. If you quiet your mind, you can hear the quiet sounds of this majestic forest as it settles in for the night.

This was our last stop on the Road to Tofino and back again. It made for a long day, but it was worth every minute.  

The road curved through the mountain range. Lush vegetation and large forests greeted us as we drove past. Narrow in some spots and with bridges over waterways down to only one lane, everyone drove courteously and with caution. This little side excursion was not on our list of things to do, but being on vacation requires flexibility and the willingness for different adventures, so we went with the flow and enjoyed a view of the island we would probably have not seen otherwise.

We finally arrived at our destination, a cute little cottage in Nanoose Bay. It was seven hours later, tired and ready to remove ourselves from the car, we snuggled in for the night. After all we still had more adventures coming.