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I was 50 on December 4th! I can't believe I've been on this planet for so long and initially felt a bit pissed off about it until someone pointed out that the alternative was not an option!!! I also reflected on my life & where I was and realized I am very lucky, I am probably the fittest I have been in my life & have a wonderful family & super friends. I hadn't anything planned for my birthday because I was travelling back to the UK on December 12th to celebrate with my family, but, after looking at the weather forecast whilst at home in Victoria, saw a window of superb weather so booked a hotel in Tofino for 2 wonderful nights!
We stayed at the Tofino Resort & Marina hotel which I can highly recommend. It's on the ocean looking east towards Meares Island and is part owned by Willie Mitchel the ex Vancouver Canuck, the gym is superb, it is fully equipped with state of the art equipment and has the best view of any gym I have ever worked out in.
As a treat for my birthday dinner we booked a table at the Wickanninish Inn and what a taste sensation it was! I would highly recommend it, it's a little pricey but the location & quality of dining is second to none, it's right on the ocean and the view is stunning.
Last minute plans were made to visit Hot Springs Cove, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Springs_Cove,_British_Columbia, around a 90 minute boat ride north of Tofino in the Western Clayoquot Sound, and what a perfect day it was! We went with Ocean Outfitters who were fantastic, en route we were lucky enough to see 4 grey whales, what a birthday treat!
We arrived at the dock & hiked for 50 minutes along a rugged board walk in the beautiful west coast rain forest until we arrived at the hot springs.
We stripped off into swimwear & hit the water, there were quite a few people already there but we managed to find a spot to sit & soak in the springs.The water is heated by geothermal heat from the Earth's interior, you can venture down to where they hit the ocean to get a cold shower from the ocean while sitting in the hot springs....amazing!
Our transportation back to Tofino was a float plane! Not the usual float plane I had travelled on between Victoria & Vancouver, this was a 4 seater! The pilot and 3 other seats. As I am a bit claustrophobic (I can't sit in the back of a 2 door car), so I grabbed the co pilot seat before my husband! The journey was only 20 minutes but was truly breathtaking. What a wonderful way to spend my big birthday!
