I ordered a burger at the Sea Shanty restaurant in Tofino, which has a great view of the ocean, and searched the waters for Colin.He appeared a half hour later, his red boat slowly materialized out of the grey mist and headed toward the pier we agreed to meet at.I grabbed Leif and ran outside, leaving my purse and diaper bag behind as collateral.
Colin looked weathered. His face was darkly tanned, blood covered the top of his right hand, and he limped out of his boat. “I’m so glad to be here,” he said. “I would have been here earlier but the current were against me most of the time.”
Colin had travelled a less exposed route, rowing on the inside of Flores and Vargas Islands. This was safer from big waves and winds, but more impacted by the currents.
After changing out of his dirty clothes, we went back to the restaurant and ate a celebratory meal. There’s lots to celebrate; Colin is nearly two thirds of the way around the Island. But there’s lots that’s not going swimmingly, and that brings us to our next stop.
The medical clinic is two blocks up the street, and although it’s not a walk in clinic, the reception said she’d squeeze Colin in. Two hours later, Colin had his diagnosis. He has severe tendonitis in his arm and leg. Colin had hoped cortisone shots might provide relief, but the doctor said that would make it worse before it got better, and it could give him increased pain for the next three days. Instead, he recommended rest, ice, ibuprofen and a brace. The first two Colin can’t do, but the second two he can.
After checking into our hotel room at the Weigh West and rowing the boat to the marina below, the real work got started. Colin cleaned out his boat, throwing out trash and giving me all the extra things he decided he didn’t need. He’s only worn one outfit since leaving Comox. And yes, that outfit stinks.
By the time he had all his chores done, it was 10:30 at night and two and a half hours past his bedtime. Leif woke up and cried a couple times throughout the night and then the alarm went at 3 am. I’m afraid Colin’s restful day in Tofino wasn’t to be. He had a quick breakfast, loaded the boat and then before the sun was up he was gone into the rainy night.
I went back to bed, exhausted.When I woke up and checked his position, he had travelled some 20 km already.I don’t know how he does it.
