Family Road Trips

(image by GvG Photo’s (c)May 26, 2013 on flickr)

I remember driving to Tofino every year in our Volkswagen station wagon. There was only a dirt logging road back in the seventies. We would always stop and picnic beside the Taylor River at the scenic rocks and swimming hole there. There would always be hardboiled eggs, bread and butter, and a thermos of hot milky tea. I would play with my Barbies or etch-a-sketch in the back seat while my older sister would sing along to the AM radio station until there was no more reception.

As soon as we arrived at the T-junction of highway 4 and the Pacific Rim Highway, we could smell the salt air. Then we began getting excited. We would always stop at Long Beach on the way in to run off our pent-up energy. Even though we returned every year, it never ceased to amaze the senses. The wind and spray refueled every fiber of our being, and we would kick off our shoes to joyfully collect shells and sand dollars and drag long bulbous seaweed ropes across the wet sand.

We loved to explore the myriad tidal pools along the black rocks at the end of every beach. We would cup small clear moon jellyfish in the palms of our hands, gently poke a purple starfish to watch its tentacles curl inwards or lift up heavy stones to release scampering crabs. We loved the spiney urchins and anemone tendrils of every color.

My sister and I would spend hours swimming in the frigid ocean until we couldn’t distinguish cold from warm. Once I almost got sucked out by the strong undertow and my dad grabbed my arm firmly and plucked me out just in time. I will never forget that fear of the powerful surf- a valuable lesson for any child.

This is still my favorite place on earth. Where did your family go on a car trip? Please share a comment below.