(2019) Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada (2) Duncan and Chemainus

Despite the rushed itinerary of our 2-day Vancouver Island group tour, a positive side of it was that we didn't return by the same route as we came. That was possible because there are two ferry routes between Vancouver Island and Vancouver city. We had arrived on the Island at Swartz Bay in Sidney, about 30 minutes' drive to the north of Victoria. Our return journey to Vancouver city was by the ferry from Nanaimo Harbour further up the coast.

So, our itinerary for the day was a trip from Victoria up north to Nanaimo, with several stops along the way --- Goldstream Provincial Park, the scenic Malahat Lookout, Duncan with its large collection of totem poles and Chemainus the town of murals.

The first stop of the day at Goldstream Provincial Park, lasting no more than half-an-hour, certainly didn't do justice to the Park. We had barely enough time to take a very short walk in the shades of some of the tall and magnificent tress in the park.

Goldstream Provincial Park

Maple --- among the flora found in Goldstream Provincial Park

Almost like a gesture to make up for the overly-short visit to the Goldstream Provincial Park, we made a 'bonus stop' (not stated in the travel brochure) at Malahat Lookout a little further up the road. The Lookout did offer a very scenic view of  bays and hills.

Malahat Lookout

Malahat Lookout

The town of Duncan is best known for its large collection of totem poles. We were given much more time at this stop than the previous ones, to explore the town on foot. Still, walking briskly was necessary if one wished to see (after firstly locating) the dozens of totems lining several streets around the town centre. The totem poles painted in bright colours came in a variety of designs, compositions and sizes, created by different artists, each with its own meaning and symbolism.

Map of totem poles in Duncan

Duncan Totem

Thunderbird at the top of this totem pole

Totem pole in front of the Provincial Court of British Columbia, Duncan

Street-side sculpture, Duncan 

We were allowed ample time at the next stop at the town of Chemainus, where we could have lunch as well as explore the large number of murals painted on the face of houses across the town. We opted not to join in the lunch with the group, so that we could have more time to see more of the town. In the end, though we saw a fair portion of the murals in the town, we probably didn't get to see them all because of their sheer number. Many of the beautifully painted murals tell of the of life in the town, both in the old days and in the present.

Bakery where we got our lunch

Augmented reality @Chemainus

A decorated Post Office

Iconic

A mural with a story of the old days

The concluding journey of the two-day tour of Vancouver Island was a ferry ride from Nanaimo Harbour back to Vancouver.  With the beautiful blue sky and nice view of the distant snow-capped mountains of British Columbia, the ferry ride almost seemed too short.

 

Ferry from Nanaimo Harbour to Vancouver

Snow-capped mountains in B.C.

Label: 2019 Canada --- Vancouver