I don't care about the weather

Wall to wall cloud and a dampness in the air. I got up early and went for a walk on the nearly deserted beach, a handful of swifts circling just above the sand and a couple of dog walkers the only other signs of life. The tide was on the way out leaving strangely blackened rocks and timber circles from old camp fires. People like their fires on the beach here. They sell all the makings in the camp shop, and even have a poster in the window showing you how to build one (presumably because city folk come up here with enthusiasm and zippo lighters but without any actual primeval sense of making fire).

I had to wake The Girl Racer up at 8.30. She gave me a dirty look, checked her watch and shrugged. "Fair enough" she said and pulled off her noise cancelling earphones. We drank black coffee on the porch as the waves lapped the shore just a hundred metres away. They have tsunami warning systems along this coast; you feel the power of the sea even on benign days.

Went into Tofino for breakfast and coffee, got wet, did some of that slightly desperate shopping that you do in a seaside town in the rain. I think the low point was finding Star Wars Battleships in a pharmacy. But at least now I know that "tu as detruit mon vaisseau" is French for "you have destroyed my starship." I was also informed by The Girl Racer that Petrichoir is a word meaning "the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil." Got to love that.

Came back to the cabin, chilled, went out for a walk up the coast, got very wet watching the surfers, and decided to get wet on the inside instead of outside by visiting the Tofino Brewery taproom. Excellent beers and lovely atmosphere. One of the bar staff kindly took the blip.

Going to soak in the tub before going out to eat tonight. Long drive, ferry and plane back to the UK beckons tomorrow. Will pretty much be travelling for 24 hours. Long haul ..