Month: March 2017

They noticed Paul’s truck approaching and watched as he slowed down then pulled in behind the van.  He stopped to examine the damage before joining them.

“A few dents in the bumper but it’s fixable and won’t cause any problems with driving.  As soon as we get to Uclulet, we’ll stop at the Station and fill out a report, insurance will cover any repairs.”

“Is everyone alright?”

“Yeah, just a bit shaken.”

“Are you able to drive, Brandon?”

“Yeah, sure, I’m fine, it shook me but I’m good.”

Paul glanced at each of the teens in turn, then back at Brandon,”Good, then let’s get started, alright?”

They returned to the truck and their journey resumed. After a few minutes, Paul exclaimed,  “That was close.  Brandon has a good head on his shoulders.  He handled the situation very well, didn’t over-correct or panic.”

“Do you think it was him?”

“I don’t know, Andrew.  It’s possible, although highly unlikely, the odds would be a million to one!  Unless it was just pure dumb luck, I don’t see how he could have found you.”

“You’d think he’d be looking for my car.  We left on a Friday and he couldn’t leave until after work . . . unless of course, he left as soon as he found out we were gone.”  Eilea cringed at the idea.  “Going after the kids doesn’t make sense.  His beef is with me.”

“Unless he reacted and he’s completely unhinged and vengeance is the name of the game.”

“Oh lord, perhaps we should turn around and go home.  At least that way, the kids aren’t walking targets.”

“That’s a choice, you’d be throwing your holiday away on the off-chance it was him and not some crazed driver.”

“And, if it isn’t, if it’s him, what kind of a risk am I taking then?” she asked.

As soon as they arrived at Uclulet, they headed for the Police Station.  The officer’s eyebrows lifted when he saw the crew entering the front door.

“Hi, anything I can do for you folks?”

Paul swiftly identified himself to the officer, explained where he was stationed and that he was currently on vacation before continuing.  “One of our vehicles was involved in a hit and run.”

“Anyone hurt?”

“Fortunately, no.  Do you have an office where the family can sit and wait?”

The Officer asked them to follow him and he settled the group in a nearby room containing several seats and said, “I’ll be back to take your statements in a few minutes.  He took Paul along to fill out forms.  They glanced at each other, trying to keep it light, but it was obvious to Eilea at least, they felt a little jittery.  She certainly did.

Paul brought the officer up to date on what Eilea was dealing with then added, “The front license plate was deliberately obscured and he didn’t have one on the back of the vehicle.  It’s a red 1984 GMC truck with a red box on the back. He’ll have to get rid of the truck, or abandon it, which will only draw speculation, especially a lone man walking along the highway out here without camping gear or food.”

“Finding the vehicle, whether he’s abandoned it or not is huge.  It will be registered in his name.  I doubt he’s savvy enough to have stolen one. I’m not shure he had time.”

Both men returned and the officer in charge said, “Officer Montgomery has filled me in and I’ve put out an APB which should assist in the capture of the delinquent driver.  Until we know what’s going on, it’s a good idea to set up some precautions.”

“I’m sure Montgomery has explained it’s essential you stay together as much as possible and don’t go wandering off by yourself until we can determine more about this character.  Have any of you taken self-defense courses?”

“I have,” Christina replied.

“That’s good.  How about the rest of you?”

“Me too,” Brandon and Cliff added.

“Better yet.  Don’t let that make you cocky though; there’s only so much you can do against a whacko alright?”

“Listen to what your instincts tell you.  I know that might sound funny coming from a cop but nine times out of ten, it will save your life.  If you feel uncomfortable about someone you’ve just met or any individual hanging around or any situation gives you an odd feeling, leave, get away.   I don’t care if it’s a crowded grocery store or the back stairs of a department store or an elevator in a hotel, or your own home.  Just get out!”

“We did a report on the West Coast Trail in school a couple years ago.  It was carved out of the rainforest, somewhere in the 1900’s, designed as a life-saving route for shipwrecked mariners, right?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“You into hiking, Eilea?” Paul asked curiously.

“Yes, although I’d have to work up to that one.  It is a 77 kilometer hike accessible via log bridges, ladders, and cable cars.  It is exceedingly popular although it’s by no means amateur.  A colleague named Mason goes regularly told me it’s not unusual to find expensive cameras, hiking gear, tents and clothes dropped by hikers unprepared for the ruggedness of the terrain.”

“Wow, that sounds harsh, mom.  I’ll stick to the Cape Scott Trail, it’s hiking experience enough for me for now anyway.”

“I hope I have the opportunity of experiencing hiking up your way.  Perhaps I can rely on you to show me around, Andrew.  I would appreciate an accomplished guide.”

“Sure.  Just give me plenty of warning so I can get ready.”

“It’s a deal.”

“Long Beach has been a favourite spot from the moment I set eyes on it, so I can’t wait to walk the beach, sit in front of a roaring fire and visit the art gallery in Uclulet.”

“I’m looking forward to the hot springs.  I know they do whale watching cruises, but we’ve already been to Telegraph Cove and it was pretty spectacular.  We listened to whale song when they dropped a mike overboard and whales circled our boat,” Andrew remarked.

“Brandon mentioned trying his hand at hang-gliding suggesting he’d like to take Christina along if she’s interested.”

“That sounds cool,” Andrew was excited, “I wouldn’t mind trying it too.  What do you think, mom?”

“We’ll see.”

Turning to Paul he asked, “Do you mind if I play some music?”

“Go ahead,” Paul answered.

“Don’t worry, I  like a mixture of music, you won’t get stuck with just rap.  I bought the CD to Batman thinking it was going to be cool, but it was pretty lame.  Mom and I sat and laughed when we heard it.  It was kind of disappointing.”

Paul’s attention was suddenly riveted on the rear-view mirror.  “Jesus.”

“What is it?”  Eilea asked alarmed.

“That ass back there nearly ran the kids off the road.”

“What?  Stop the truck, stop the truck!” she beseeched.

Paul waited until it was safe, then slowed the truck, turned around on a dime and went in pursuit, stopping long enough to let Eilea and Andrew out when he drew abreast of the van then sped after the other vehicle.

With a tremble in her voice, Eilea asked, “Is everyone ok?  What happened?”

“This dude came racing up behind us and started bumping the van.  I slowed down as soon as he tagged us, but he just kept it up, nudging us again and again.  I tried pulling off the road but when I did, he hit us again and the van started swerving.  I managed to keep it under control and as soon as he saw Paul slow down, he slammed on the breaks and took off.”

“Did you see what he looked like?”

“No.  He was wearing a red cap, pulled real low and it hid most of his face and he kept his head down.”

“What about the rest of you, did you notice anything about him or the vehicle?”

“I tried to get the license plate number, but it was so muddy I couldn’t read it!”  Theresa offered.

“What kind of vehicle was it, what color?”

“It was an old red GMC truck.”

“When Paul gets backs, he might be able to tell us more.”

“You’re all ok?”

“Thank god for seat belts, “Cliff noted, “otherwise we’d have been thrown all over the place.”

“I preferred it to Ace Ventura.”

Twenty minutes later they reached Cathedral Grove parking lot.  Eilea sauntered beside Paul and Andrew.  “I love this walk.  In fact, I love walking through any forest but this is one of my favourites.”

“Here!  Let’s try a bubble blowing contest.  Watch this.”  He blew a big bubble with a second inside it. Andrew was immediately intrigued and wanted to know how to do it.

“Actually, it’s not all that hard.”  After explaining the mechanics of it, he invited the others to give it a go after offering everyone a couple of pieces of gum.

Soon, everyone was giving it a try.   Amazing how something as simple as blowing a few bubbles could be so much fun.  Andrew was by far the most successful managing double bubbles on his very first attempt.

As they walked through the immense trees, she listened to the teen’s remarks but before long, the race was on and they were chasing each other headlong down the path and out of sight.  After a comparatively short walk, they’d come full circle standing alongside the vehicles.  Everyone seemed to be having fun, and that’s what mattered.

“Shall we get going?”  Paul suggested.

“I guess so.”  Eilea agreed.  “We should make Uclulet in time for a late lunch.”  As they drove along the highway, they marveled at the forests, thick with old-growth cedars, fir and hemlock.

“I can’t for the life of me remember who came up with the idea for the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.”  Paul inquired.  “I guess it doesn’t really matter because it will protect a nationally significant coastal environment.”

“It’s certainly a testimony to surf-swept beaches and marine life,” Eilea marveled.

“Aren’t Long Beach, the Broken Group Islands and the West Coast Trail all part of the Park?”  Paul asked.

“They are. Each is accessible through particular routes to protect the environment but still offer activities to participate in and thousands come every year.  Listen to me, I sound like a tour guide.”  Eilea laughed at herself.

“How long is Long Beach?”

“Twenty kilometers, I know, I’ve walked it several times, and more often than not, seen anemones and small crabs brought in by the tide along the shoreline,” Eilea’s smile was reminiscent.  “Someone came up with a description of the winds as “natural theatrics of a shrieking Pacific Wind” and it stuck.  I didn’t understand at first.  Not until one particular trip when a storm blew in that I’ll always remember as incredible because it was both exhilarating and terrifying.”

“Have you been to the Broken Group Islands?”  Paul asked curiously.

“No, I haven’t, not yet.”

“I went a couple of years ago.  You probably already know it’s an archipelago made up of over 100 rocky islands and islets accessible only by boat, kayak or canoe.  Talk about your craggy shores.”