Friday (4/5), we picked up our rented car in Victoria and started our drive towards Ucluelet and the southwestern coast of Vancouver Island. We somehow ended up with a brownish Dodge, and I know nothing about cars, but both Karin and Frida got all excited about it. Frida wouldn’t be allowed to drive it, though, because I had coaxed myself into the position of second driver. I felt I really needed the practice, but god, was I nervous. With the car full of friends! In an automatic! In a foreign country!
Karin drove the first stretch, to Nanaimo where we picked up Kate. Then it was my turn. And to be honest, it was much easier than I had expected it to be. Driving an automatic is like driving a toy car, and even tough I think I prefer the manual (because it forces you to think on your driving), the automatic felt like a friendly way to start off in this new position of mine.
Proof! Photographic proof! Me behind the wheel, actually making Marit comfortable enough to steal my camera and taking a shot. That must be a good sign.
At first the highway continued to be straight and the surroundings to be more or less suburbs and smaller forests. But slowly, the landscape changed and suddenly, I was driving through a forest with huge trees, by a bright blue lake with high mountains on both sides. Or I’m pretty sure that’s what I was driving through – I was so busy keeping my eyes on the road that I mostly just heard the amazed murmurs from my passengers. I felt as if I was missing somethng magnificent. (And really, I was. Luckily, Whiskey Creek Farm, where I went after our Ucluelet weekend, lies just about fifteen minutes from that strip of highway and that lake and that forest. I’ve been there several times – but that’s another story. I’m getting ahead of myself.)
In Port Alberni, we stopped for some grocery shopping and switched drivers again. From there, the road became narrower and more winding, with twists and turns and a lot of going up and down. And the view was amazing. We drove past more glittering lakes and snow capped mountains.
We arrived in Ucluelet at about seven. My first day as a designated driver was coming to an end. And it felt good. I felt as if I’d behaved well behind the wheel. Ivan, my driving school teacher would have approved of me. I’m pretty sure.
Katja Malmborg 