On the road to Western Canada - Montreal to Tofino

55 hours of self-questioning

In February 2022, I made the decision to go to Tofino for the summer - yes, to vibe and surf - but also to complete my degree in tourism management. So the 6 months stay in Tofino was really to do an internship in my field of study. After doing some research, I found a job in a tourism business that combines kayaking/café/accommodation (not a surf shop, what a surprise). At the end of April, I packed my bags and left in my little car for the beautiful landscapes of Western Canada. It was a dream come true, to live on the other side of the country in indescribable landscapes. This dream quickly turned into an anxiety attack and tears on the road. Leaving my comfort zone and heading off into the unknown. For those of you who know me, you know how difficult it is for me to leave and adapt to a new environment. So why do it? Because each departure pushes the limit of my discomfort. It can be challenging, but it always brings beautiful encounters with oneself and with others. Each trip has made me grow and realize things. Let me tell you that a few days alone on the road give you plenty of time to think.

After several days of listening to podcasts about people with incredible lives, I questioned my choice of studies but on the other hand not totally because tourism and photography have always fascinated me and will always fascinate me. I just have to find my way through both. I think it's normal to be questioning myself and choices at my age and not really knowing where life is going. I feel like I'm at a turning point in my life and I have to make a decision about a lifestyle. The twenties can be two things ; the bums who are travelling and exploring new things and the adults who are settling down. Am I the only one who thinks this way? The difficulty in making decisions stems from my fear of feeling trapped in a choice and not being able to change afterwards, it's as if I'm afraid to commit to many areas of my life. As if every decision I made was decisive and eternal. As if I was going to get caught up in it.

It took me a total of 10 days to get to Tofino (about 55 hours of driving). On the way, I made a few stops in Banff and Revelstoke, among others, to enjoy the Rockies before heading to the cold water surfers' paradise.

My days in Banff were spent exploring the area, drinking coffee, taking photos and hiking. I visited Lake Louise and then hiked Johnston Canyon (5km) and Mt. Sulphur (10.8km).

As a poor student on the road, I decided to abstain from spending money on a gondola by taking the trail to the top (10.8km). Armed with my camera and my little hiking boots, I climbed for 1h30. The snowy path greatly hindered my climb. With 20 minutes to go before reaching the summit, I turned back. Yes, only 20 minutes. I learned to listen to myself and appreciate the path rather than the destination and that's when I realised that there is a very thin line between what is considered giving up and listening to yourself.

When I got to Revelstoke, I had breakfast in Centennial Park in front of the river and the mountains (the joy of living in your car) and then explored Moses Falls and Begbie Falls - a great swimming spot! I wanted to visit other places like the Meadows-in-the-Sky Parkway but it was closed at this time of year (early May). Even though many places were closed, I was pleasantly surprised by the unexpected.

The trip cost me about $1000 including gas, accommodations, food and activities! Obviously flying would have been cheaper, but how many times in my life will I drive across Canada? I would definitely do it again.

Find out what not to miss in Tofino in my next article!