GUEST INFORMATION

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1, INVITATIONS

2. GETTING THERE

3. FERRIES

4. ACCOMMODATION & ROOM ALLOCATION

6. VIRTUAL CEREMONY

7. WILDLIFE

8. TIDES, WEATHER, WHAT TO WEAR

9. COSTS

10. THINGS TO DO

As has been identified elsewhere on this website, Invitations were sent to close friends and immediate family ONLY, due to COVID-19 restrictions, due to the venue having limited accommodation (max 50 guests) AND due to our need to contain costs. 

Tofino is on the west coast of Vancouver Island, 

FLYING INTO VANCOUVER. For international travelers, this is your most likely scenario. 

• VANCOUVER AIRPORT (YVR)

From Vancouver Airport, you have two options:

1. DRIVE. Rent a car, then drive to the BC Ferry terminal at either Tsawassen or Horseshoe Bay. Travel on the ferry to Vancouver Island (from Tsawassen terminal, this will be to Duke Point and from Horseshoe Bay terminal this will be to Departure Bay). It matters little which route you take. Then drive to Long Beach Lodge Resort on the west coast. 

How? From whichever Vancouver Island ferry terminal you arrive at, take Highway 19 north until you reach Highway 4A or Highway 4 (it makes little difference whether you take 4 or 4A). Head west along Highway 4/4A to Port Alberni, then continue on Highway 4 to Tofino. Long Beach Lodge Resort is a couple of minutes after you leave the Pacific Rim National Park and about 15 minutes before you get to Tofino. This option takes about 5.5 hours, including the ferry, after you get out of the airport. This is the most flexible option and depending on your length of stay, potentially the cheapest too. And there is some gorgeous scenery en route to Tofino - watch out for the Goats on the Roof, the Wally Creek waterfall, and the pristine Kennedy Lake.  And the Tsunami warnings...

2. FLY. Get the shuttle to the Vancouver Airport south terminal and then fly via Pacific Coastal Airlines to Tofino Airport on a small propeller-engine plane. From Tofino airport, you can either take the hotel bus shuttle to Long Beach Lodge Resort or call us (Dave) and we will pick you up. Please arrive ON July 5 if you would like a pickup. This option will take about 3 hours, flight schedules depending. This is the noisy option as the propeller engines are very loud and its also probably expensive for large parties, but it is fast, schedules depending. It can be bumpy in high winds too - I have landed in a similar plane in high winds almost sideways. I kid you not. Most exciting. Allows one to get in touch with one's clenched colon in new and exciting ways... 

• PACIFIC COASTAL AIRLINES
• TOFINO AIRPORT (YAZ)

FLYING INTO VICTORIA

This may be an option for Canadian travelers, or those with connecting flights. You also have two options - fly or drive. Both options are the same as for flying into Vancouver, except you don't have to worry about a ferry. After landing, if you would like to fly, you will use Pacific Coastal Airlines to reach Tofino Airport, and for driving you will take Highway 19 north until you get to highway 4 or 4A, as per above.  

• VICTORIA AIRPORT (YYI)

FLYING INTO COMOX (YQQ)

This may be an option for our guests in the military (please discard your ordnance and other destructive payloads prior to entering Vancouver Island airspace. America may be an option. It's quite close.) or for those coming from eastern Canada via Toronto and/or Calgary. Or you can also fly into Comox from Vancouver Airport, as a way to avoid the ferry from Vancouver. Once in Comox, we would suggest you rent a car at Comox airport and drive to Tofino (take highway 19 south, then highway 4 or 4A west - see above for more details); it is approximately a 3 hour drive. For car rentals, there are the usual suspects: Budget, Enterprise and National, all available via the Comox aiport website:

• COMOX AIRPORT - CAR RENTALS

Driving into Vancouver: you should head for the Horsehoe Bay ferry terminal and take a ferry from there to Nanaimo (Departure Bay). Then follow highway directions as per above (hwy 19 then hwy 4/4A etc.) 

FERRY RESERVATIONS - Please make a reservation and do so well in advance. It costs an extra 18 dollars but is money well spent. In the summer the ferries are often full and you can be made to wait 1, 2 or even 3 sailings before you can get on if you do not have a reservation - a delay of up to 6 or 7 hours.

Even with a reservation, you should arrive at the ferry terminal no later than 45 mins ahead of your sailing, as all reservations are cancelled at 30 minutes prior to sailing. 

• BC FERRIES - Schedule and Reservations  

Duration -  Ferry rides from Horseshoe bay to Nanaimo take about 1.5 to 2 hours, a little longer from Tsawassen. Onboard, you have time to get something to eat at the restaurant and a stroll around the deck. Sometimes there are whales or porpoises...

ROOM ALLOCATION

We will be providing the following paid cabin and room accommodation as per below:

• Cabin 1 - Mike Noble, Chris Noble and Cameron Burrows
• Cabin 2 - Grahame Joy and Evy Joy
• Cabin 3 - James Funk, Katy Furness, Eric Funk
• Cabin 4 - Andrea & Paul Mills (plus 2 German Shepherd dogs)
• Cabin 5 - Nancy Boyle & Martin Tremblay (plus two teenagers)
• Ocean Front Resort Room - Deana & Craig Tonini
• Ocean Front Resort Room - Jane Oliver & brother Jim
• Ocean Front Resort Room (adjoining patio immediately behind wedding area) - Ruth Burrill (Noble) & Dave Noble

OTHER ACCOMMODATION NEARBY

Distances are from Long Beach Lodge Resort and assume a car. 

• WICKANINNISH INN - $$$, 5 star, spa, restaurant, pool, 5 mins. 
• PACIFIC SANDS LODGE - $$, nice rooms, NO restaurant, bike rentals, next door to Long Beach Lodge. 
• MIDDLE BEACH LODGE - $$ - restaurant, surf/kayak/paddle-board shop, 5 mins.
• BEST WESTERN  (Tin Wis) - $$$, 3 star accommodation, 10 mins. Note: while we would like to support a First-Nations-run business, this Best Western we feel is over-priced with minimal amenities; however, as accommodation in Tofino is at a premium in the summer, this may still be an option. 
• OCEAN VILLAGE RESORT - $$, nice log cabins,  hot tub/pool, no restaurant, 10 mins. 
• CRYSTAL COVE BEACH RESORT - $$, cabins, no restaurant,10 mins.
• WILD POD GLAMPING - $, in Tofino on the water, 15 mins.

IMPORTANT. We would strongly recommend that you book your rooms asap.  

COTTAGES

The cottages are equipped with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a shared living space and kitchenette, and a hot tub. They are detached cabins and situated in the forest behind the lodge. The beach is a two minute walk away, under the lodge archway.  The are private and quite secluded.  See LONG BEACH LODGE - COTTAGES for more details. 

ROOMS

The rooms  in the lodge are spacious and well appointed. Some  will have an ocean view but not all - we are booking everything we can.  See LONG BEACH LODGE - STANDARD ROOMS for more details. 

ASSIGNMENT

We have assigned guests to rooms and cabins randomly and then have adjusted so it makes sense and is as fair as it can be. For example, guests from the same family will be asked to share a cabin, so Chris and Mike (David's son's) and their partners will be asked to share a cottage.  Fortunately, Chris and Mike no longer start WWIII every time they enter the same room and actually share  some similar interests now, like how best to readjust Dad's brain. 

IMPORTANT: Moving guests to different rooms or cottages will NOT be possible unless there is something physically wrong or unsanitary about the unit. Please do not ask. We will say no. And then everyone gets upset. 

Long Beach Lodge Resort provides a webcam which helps surfers view the wave conditions on Cox Bay beach. For our wedding, they have graciously allowed us to point it down from the roof onto the patio, so our friends and relatives far away can see the event live. 

Link:  LONG BEACH LODGE - WEBCAM 

We will also have a microphone for audio and will live-stream the ceremony. Stay tuned for more details!

The Pacific Rim National Park and surrounding areas have some real and large wildlife. Raccoons, skunks, wolves, cougars (the four-footed type), and bears (black especially, but also, rarely, a grizzly) are common. The usual precautions should be taken - do NOT leave food outside, ensure you are making noise on trails, and do NOT run when you see a bear or wolf (make yourself as big and loud as possible, and gently back away). With cougars, and mother bears with cubs, you are just screwed. Start praying and kiss your ass goodbye. Sorry. We will send out a rescue party for the closed-casket coffin bits. 

There is also a wide range of "non-problematic" wildlife, such as chipmunks, pine martens, squirrels (ground squirrels, regular black and grey tree squirrels, and also, we heard recently, flying squirrels) as well as an abundance of birds - bald and fishing eagles, owls of numerous kinds, all manner of seabirds (though sadly no puffins). 

Bring a camera, a good one. 

TIDES

Tides on July 8th will be as follows. They vary by 10-20 minutes each day.  

Tides at Tofino, British Columbia, on July 8 2021                    49.1500° N, 125.9167° W

• 2021-07-08 Thu 4:00 AM PDT Moonrise
• 2021-07-08 Thu 5:28 AM PDT Sunrise
• 2021-07-08 Thu 6:46 AM PDT 2.5 feet Low Tide
• 2021-07-08 Thu 1:20 PM PDT 10.0 feet High Tide
• 2021-07-08 Thu 6:28 PM PDT 6.5 feet Low Tide
• 2021-07-08 Thu 8:59 PM PDT Moonset
• 2021-07-08 Thu 9:28 PM PDT Sunset

This means it will be just after High Tide when the ceremony takes place so the ceremony will be on the Long Beach Lodge patio (weather permitting) and in the reception room if the weather is not cooperating.  

WEATHER

Weather in Tofino is quite variable. Mists and drizzle are very common (temperate rain-forest climate) and on misty/foggy/drookit days, the temperature is typically between 10 and 15 degrees centigrade. On sunny days, the temperature can rise to 25-30 degrees. It is always humid but the air is also always clean and fresh. Long Beach typically experiences a near constant wind either off the sea or from the land of 10-15 kph, and when the mists rise or roll in from the sea, you can get some unique and dramatic photography opportunities. Watch out when the wind dies though as the mosquitoes are nasssssty. 

WHAT TO WEAR

We would suggest ye bring a combination of clothing. Dave typically wears a tee-shirt/golf-shirt, shorts and sandals all year round at Long Beach, as the winter temperatures do not vary too much from the summer ones. And also he's a wee bitty thick. 

Ruth, being somewhat mare susceptible tae the cold, typically wears the  jeans, sweater, tee-shirt and runners in the winter, and the tee-shirt, shorts and sand-shoes in the summer. 

For the wedding, guests should consider business casual as quite sufficient, though as we mentioned, there will be kilts too, ken. We would suggest ye dinny wear anything ye care about a lot as the chance of folks throwing ye in the ocean is - ahem - a distinct possibility. Ye bin warned. Dinny get upset. It be a rite o' passage.  

Specific tips on clothing bits:

• Umbrellas - The Lodge will provide if ye need 'em.
• Wellies? Furrget it. You winny need them. Though the Lodge, again, will give ye some if ye really need 'em.
• Hats? Aye. Recommended, especially as protection from the sun. Ye want the kind that doesnae blow off your wee heid. A toque if it is cold might be good but ye can get 'em locally. So nay worries, ken. 
• Swimsuit? Definitely bring yer wee bikini. Thing. 
• Speedos? Yeah...no. God no. 
• Wet-suit? Nah. Rent it. There's a surf shack at the Lodge wi' all manner o' wet-suity bits for rent. 
• Long-sleeved shirt for the evenings as anti-mozzy/anti-no-see-um gear? Aye. Wise choice, lads and lassies. Wise choice. 

Note: Long Beach Lodge Resort will provide wet-weather anoraks, wellies and umbrellas if you need 'em. But ah would just furrget that too. We'll just throw ye in the ocean and then it winny matter much. 

Typical exchange rate =  $1.66 Canadian to UK £1.

We will be providing the following meals:

• July 7 - Flatbread lunch
• July 7 - An-Roari (Night Before) Evening Meal - Sandbar Crab Cookout (with steak "bavettes")
• July 8 - Breakfast - Tofino breakfast
• July 8 - 12 noon - Light Lunch - sandwiches
• July 8 - 3pm - Gateau de Mariage and a couple of platters (smoked salmon, 
• July 8 - 6:30pm Reception Dinner - Casual Comfort menu
• July 9 - Breakfast

• We have also instructed the Lodge that all other meals you take at the Lodge (dinner on the 6th, breakfasts on the 7th and 9th, room service, etc.) we will cover. 
• Alcoholic drinks will not be covered. Neither Ruth nor Dave imbibe. Apologies. 

1. BICYCLES - Bicycles are available for rent at the Pacific Sands Hotel next door to the Long Beach lodge Resort. Extensive cycle trails are being built in 2020 that will run the entire length of the Long Beach peninsula from Tofino to Ucluelet - some 60 or 70 km - and it looks like they will be excellent tarred paths both alongside the road and inside the forest.  
2. SURFING - The Long Beach Lodge resort provides excellent surfing facilities on the premises at the Surf Shack. You can rent wet suits, surf boards, sea-kayaks, helmets, and lessons there. Not sure about kite-surfing but we have seen many out there going at absolutely crazy speeds on the bay. 
3. SEA-KAYAKING/PADDLE-BOARDING - See Surfing above for equipment. Plenty of quiet and whitewater kayaking/paddle-boarding available, in and out of wee coves and bays. 
4. BUSES - Buses provide service to Victoria and Ucluelet from Tofino. Here's the link to the schedule: Vancouver Island Connector
5. CAMPING - We highly recommend Green Point Camping Site in the Pacific Rim National Park. However, demand is extremely high and when the reservation system becomes available sometime in the first week of January, this camp site will be sold out within an hour of the site going live. Check BC Provincial Parks for more details. 
6. TRAILS - Pacific Rim National Park has many trails, including a Bog walk, and the Rain Forest Walk. The latter we strongly recommend - most to the trail is provided on boardwalks through the forest. 
7. WIFI AND VIDEO GAMES - While there is Wifi in the lodge (and I think in the cabins also), this is an outdoors playground, and LBLR and ourselves would like to discourage electronics while you are here. On rainy days, sure, but we would suggest perhaps that you come play board-games or something with us instead. 
8. FIRST NATIONS SITES, ARTISTS AND CARVINGS - The entire area is technically First Nations land (NUU-CHA-NULTH) and there are several bands in the area. Tofino has some good art galleries showcasing First Nations work, and there are totem poles in various locations. Watch out, this artwork is highly sought after and very expensive. 
9. HOT SPRINGS COVE - for the adventurous, there is a small hot spring situated about a hour's boat ride north of Tofino. The hot spring bubbles from the bottom of a cleft in the rock, and there are pools to bathe in. One or two at a time. Do not go in the middle of summer unless you go really early morning as it gets chaotic with queues of tourists by mid-day. 
10. BEACHES - several excellent sandy beaches are available, including the 70-mile Long Beach. Here are some, in no particular order: 

• Cox Bay - This is where Long Beach Lodge resort is situated. 2 minutes walk from almost all cabins. Halfway down the beach, the Pacific Rim National Park begins, so it is usually less crowded than Mackenzie and Chesterman. 
• Chesterman - 10 minutes walk from Long Beach Lodge resort at low tide
• Mackenzie - about 10 mins drive. Lots of hotels/resorts/cabins and after dusk, there are usually 10-15 campfires on the beach. 
• Wickaninnish - Dave's favourite, especially in the winter when there are fewer surfers and people. There is a dilapidated visitor's centre here, but the waves and surf are what you come for.  About 30 mins drive from LBLR. 
• Combers - Another of Dave's faves (when quiet), this is easily accessible from the road but as a result gets real busy real quick. Lots of surfers. 20 mins from LBLR. Dude. 
• Tonquin - Close to Tofino, accessible via path through the woods. Small but nice beach, especially in early morning before people in Tofino have made it to breakfast (i.e. before 2:30pm)