Vancouver Island, BC

Nanaimo

Leaving the slow paced countryside behind us, we roar into Nanaimo, a bustling city about half way along Vancouver Island’s eastern shore. Famous for the annual bathtub races in the harbour, Nanaimo also offers sailing, wilderness hikes and professional theatre.

Once settled in a harbour-side hotel, we trudge up the street to The Old City Quarter, a unique collection of specialty shops and cafés. Nestled in this hamlet within the city, Tim and I uncover the Wesley Street Café. An Epicurean’s Camelot, the elegant ambiance is highlighted by soothing notes of a live jazz duo. Supping on our marvelous gourmet meal, I suggest not mentioning this wonderful dining experience in my upcoming Travel Impulse article. We make a pinky pact to keep the Café our special secret.

The next morning dawns without luster and we head for the Nanaimo ferry terminal with our thermos full of coffee. Yes, we decide, we like the tropical vacation but another driving tour is definitely on our "To Do Soon" list.

As the night bleeds into dawn, we slog our way through pitted city streets, clinging to bits of fragmented memory. The metropolis’ crushing weight pulses with the scurrying of too many people with too little time. 

A longing builds for wide-open vistas - and cheery nods of friends yet known - to salve our polluted existence. And the beating windshield wipers tick off the minutes until our souls are free to soar unencumbered…

All photographs and text by Kim Applegate & Tim Demuynck (except noted photographs)

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