Yet again I am amazed.  Not only by the beauty of nature but of my personal ability to adventure to the end of the island.  The journey has humbled me.  I am blessed by God's good nature, by the miracles on earth and the ability to experience it all.

We started out on the journey with no plan except to watch the sunset and sunrise on the Summer Solstice.  I had an idea that I wanted to venture out to the NorthWest part of Vancouver Island - the most sunlight from the most Northerly point on the island.  I wanted to watch the sunset so, it had to be on the West side of the island.  What I missed in my thought process was an understanding of what the adventure would entail.  Port Hardy is where the road ends and the adventure begins.  Or this is what they advertise as they slogan.  To be honest, this could not be more true.

The sign to Cape Scott said 65 Km.  I figured it would take about 40 minutes to get there.  The road is deceiving.  Highway like.  Yellow line. Two lane highway.  Yup, for about 3 km when you join the road to the middle of nowhere.  At which point we joined all those who travel the road regularly to Holberg - the logging camp about 40km up the road. This was not just any road. It was a logging road.  It is not for the faint at heart.  The road is narrow.  The potholes are not to bad compared to other logging roads I have venture on (road to Nitnat) but still a logging road to a place of unknown origin. 

As we came around a bend we came straight on with a logging truck full of logged trees.  Needless to say, I almost crapped my pants.  It actaully puts things into perspective because the road is unexpected and caution became a priority.  We passed another 5 trucks before we encountered our first bear.  This was not an ordinary Black bear it was a grizzly sized black bear.  Robyn who had never seen one before was in shock.  if you have never seen a black bear, you will be surprise at how cuddly they look.   They are asolutely amazing creatures. 

SHortly thereafter, we reached Holberg.  I expected a town but there was no sign of life with the exception of a sign that indicated there was a school  The houses were not really made of anything but a little bit of tin.  It was very confusing as people obviously lived here but the sign of life was limited.  The other sign of life was that the roads had been paved.  We were back in civilization - kinda of.  Or we shortly realized that this form of civilization was nothing I had seen before but again, appreciative of the experience.  So, we are now only about 18 KM from Cape Scott.  As we leave the logging camp, we get a notice that the road is no longer monitored and to travel at your own risk.  Huh.  Ok, off we go into greater remoteness.  We are about 8 KM out of Holberg and we come across a bridge.  We stop to take in the views.  There is beyond the bridge a picturesque view of a forest of birch tree.  Picture opportunity.  So, we reverse so, we get off the road in case for some god forsaken reason someone is going to pass us.  Surprisingly, a mini SUV takes on the road and with a polite wave continues on his journey to the end of the island. 

Out of the car we go, and pause.  There is something suspect of the sound we hear.  It is not of birds, or wind blowing. It is not even the sound of rustling in the trees and the possiblity of  encountering some form of wildlife, particularly bears.  It is the sound of ssssssssss.  Nope not a snake.  We look around the car.  It is the sound of the air racing out of the rear passenger side tire. It must have been the first set of potholes that I mistakenly rolled over at a speed obviously to much for what the tire could handle.  So, we forgetabout taking these pictures but reflective of the opportunity (which actually comes later).  We are in the middle of nowhere. I have never changed a tire.  Robyn barely knows where to find the tires.  I know there is a spare and a jack.  I figured, if i ever needed one, at least I could ask someone for help.  Well, help was nowhere to be found.  No one was to be found. 

Here is the dilema.  we don't know what the road ahead will look like.  Indeed, there will be no one around to help us but we don't know if it gets worse, better or the same.  We are about 9km from our destination and about 8 KM back to HOlberg where there is signs of life but no proof that it actually exists.  Turn around we go.