TUCQUALA
Kennewick, WA
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Joined: 10/29/2003
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We'll be visiting Pt Alberni in Sept during a 3 day cruise from Seattle. We are thinking of renting a car to go to the west coast and possibly to Tofino.
Itinerary says we will be arriving in port approx 9am, and leaving aboot 5pm. Usually have to be back on board at least an hour before departure time by all cruise line standards.
Considering that, and if able to pick up rental by say, 10sm, is this doable: going to to the Provincial Park via Rte 4, doing some sightseeing on the way to and fro, and being back in town by 4pm???
Any suggestions are appreciated as to other places to go within the given time available. We have been to Cathedral Grove during our last cruise that stopped in Nanaimo. Made it there and to a couple of falls and some backroad sightseeing in the time we had then.
Thanks in advance for any and all comments!!!
Gerry
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garyhaupt
Back living in Kitimat..northern BC.
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You have 6 hours..and only if the ship docks on schedule. Plus..you could face any kind of traffic delay, etc. Having said that...are you northbound or south? If north, then your destination is Vancouver, and if you can take your luggage? Go to it. If you are s/b to an American port, then I think you are looking for grief. And, in truth..it would be an awfully fast drive with no time to actually see anything.
The drive from Port Alberny to the west side can be 'interesting'.
Gary Haupt
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cpurves
Prince George BC
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Hi Gerry:- we returned from Tofino today. It is about 125 Km (75 miles) the road is twisty and up and down alot. It took us almost 2 1/2 hours with the trailer on. I would say a car is still going to take almost two hours. At times we were down to 40km/hour climbing some of the hills and around some of the tight corners.
Even then it is a wonderful trip and worth it. The beaches are amazing.
I would not do a round trip in one day, too stressful. Best to plan a couple of days in the area.
Cheers
Chris
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n7bsn
Yes
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Chris is right, you could also get stuck behind a rental RV and have it take even more time. There are sections of that road that are marked 30 kph (~15 mph) cause they are so twisty.
Enjoy the fish-hatchery and try this trip some other time
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jd-mac
new westminster.b.c.,canada
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Joined: 12/20/2003
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Assuming your cruiseship is arriving in Port Alberni at 9a.m.and a rental car is available in town it is very doable. The highway is very scenic and most of the sharper curves have been improved. You should have about 3-4 hours in the Tofino and Longbeach area. If the ship is arriving in Vancouver ,forget it
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ausie607
white lake
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That stretch of road is notorious for slow rental RVs and road construction. I doubt that you'd be able to do a return trip in that timeframe and have time to stop and look around. The area deserves time to see eveything from Tofino to Ecluelet and everything in between those two towns. Aside from Lands End there are a number of trails that follow or end up on the water and we spent a minimum of 5 days each time we went there and still havent done it all.
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TUCQUALA
Kennewick, WA
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Thanks for all the responses!! To clarify for some, the ship stops in Pt Alberni and we are considering going west (southbound, I guess) to the Pacific Rim area, not to Victoria nor coming from Victoria!!
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Fizz
Ottawa, Canada
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Joined: 07/28/2003
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We drove that 30 yrs ago, should say the wife drove it. She wouldn't let me drive so I hung out the window taking pictures.
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garyhaupt
Back living in Kitimat..northern BC.
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TUCQUALA wrote:Thanks for all the responses!! To clarify for some, the ship stops in Pt Alberni and we are considering going west (southbound, I guess) to the Pacific Rim area, not to Victoria nor coming from Victoria!!
well hell....you should have said that. Go rent the car.
Gary Haupt
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ausie607
white lake
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garyhaupt wrote:TUCQUALA wrote:Thanks for all the responses!! To clarify for some, the ship stops in Pt Alberni and we are considering going west (southbound, I guess) to the Pacific Rim area, not to Victoria nor coming from Victoria!!
well hell....you should have said that. Go rent the car.
Gary Haupt
Well, Mr. Haupt has never travelled that route with that advice. You will not have enough time. By the time you get the car, get out of town on #4 highway which by the way is very winding 2way road that is barely wide enough for two fat goats. Pacific Rim N.P. is very beatiful place, unfortunatly you just don't have enough time and you'll set yourself up for a disappoinment. There are some interesting things to do in Port Alberni. Have some of the local smoked salmon, fantastic.
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