Bears, Orcas and Waterfalls, oh my!

In April I was fortunate to partner with Campbell River Whale Watching and Adventure Tours. My first day out with them this year was on their Spring Bears and Waterfalls Tour. We departed their office on a beautiful spring day and immediately saw a pod of orcas. As our amazing guide Bex drove us up towards Toba Inlet, we were lucky enough to see two more orcas before spotting our first black bear. Working with the low tide, the bear was on the beach foraging for snacks by turning over rocks on the shoreline. He largely ignored us as we sat at respectful distance in silence and watched him go about gathering his lunch.

Not long after, we spotted another black bear doing the same, and after that, a brilliant surprise in seeing a Grizzly bear in one of the estuaries. We spent our lunch time watching him wander in the distance. How often is it you get to enjoy homemade cookies on a boat while watching a Grizzly bear?! Afterwards, we got up close and personal with one of the larger waterfalls flowing down the mountainside into the ocean before making our way back towards Campbell River. We had to stop one more time as we saw two more orcas making their way along the coast - it was a perfect day!