What to see Vancouver Island / Vancouver

[maple_leaf_eh]

Not much on the attractions side, but this may appeal to your rusty old equipment appetite. (You are warned, these things have a tendancy to follow people home. Just ask Rob about some Cadillac engines ... )

In the 50s, 60s and 70s, the Madill company in Nanaimo had a thriving business converting M4 tank and M32 ARV hulls into logging tower platforms. Their company colours were an orangey-red. The logging companies are retooling - again - and there might be random Madill machines sitting in random machinery or auction yards. A second repurposing of Shermans was by Finning which now owns Caterpillar. Shorten the chassis by one suspension station, plonk a dirty powerful hydraulic rock drill on a corner and start making holes in solid rock for dynamite.

[Jes Andersen]

Shhh! Now the secret is out....

Many of these machines are still in service and parts have been available, but the trend now is for excavator type undercarriages on harvesters and the other machines seen in west coast logging operations. There is a yard not too far from my home that salvages all sorts or larger logging equipment. They have a few M4 finals and undercarriage parts waiting for someone that needs them. If you have deep pockets, it would make a great base for a resto-sherman with modern engine. Places like the old Madill, and now T-Mar build up this stuff locally and may have the remnants in the yard. Unfortunately, an American company, Schnitzer has bought up all the scrap yards on the coast and will not resell anything they get in. It all goes to the torch and loaded out to smelters somewhere. Many a nice small crawler that could have been restored for hobby use has died on the cutting floor.

Unfortunately for Robin, none of this stuff found around will fit in his carry-on luggage...

[Robin Craig]

Jes,

who said I was leaving?

[Robin Craig]

This was not on anyone's list

http://www.tofinohiking.com/hikes/ca...ne-crash-site/

Do some searching on the web reveals quite a bit about it.

Honestly while Tofino is nice the town of Ucluelet is the hidden gem if you are recommending people to visit and stay, there are great cabins and you are well situated for the beaches etc.

One of the local landmarks will be leaving, so they say.

The local resort group has a ship moored as a floating lodge and base for fishing charters.

Although currently called the Canadian Princess she has a military past

http://www.canadianprincess.com/dock...m-the-past.htm

The drive to Tofino up and over the mountain and down to the sea was very fun and enjoyable, the old growth forest was educational also.

[Robin Craig]

Another maritime sight to see but not visit is the former minesweeper at Sooke

http://sooke.pocketnews.ca/abandoned...p-kristiansen/

this record doesnt quite jive but gives info

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay-class_minesweeper

[Robin Craig]

You almost like to remember 1964 when a Tsunami hit Port Alberni

http://globalnews.ca/news/1227757/wa...berni-tsunami/

[Jes Andersen]

Originally Posted by Robin Craig

Jes,

who said I was leaving?

Ha, Ha, That's what happens to easterners who come for a visit and never leave. Half of my neighbours are from Alberta and Saskatchewan and the rest are refugees from big cities like Vancouver and Toronto. The lack of lots of snow and real winter are definitely an attraction.

Hope you got into some better weather and can enjoy some of the stuff that this area has to offer. A week of heavy rain would be a disappointment any time of the year. But on a sunny day, a walk along Victoria's Dallas Road waterfront will make up for most of it.

Enjoy the rest of your stay....