I can see Japan from here. Nope. No, I really can't. There is absolutely nothing but the vast Pacific Ocean from here on Long Beach near Tofino, British Columbia, to the next land mass heading west, which is the island of Japan. That is 4,596 miles (3,994 nautical miles) of nothing but water from here to there. Alaska is far to the north, Hawaii way to the south. If I were a seabird, I'd make very sure I was prepared for such a trek; do the wildlife here venture across the world? It's not a crazy question, because the west coast of Vancouver Island-part of the Pacific Rim-teams with creatures. From the massive 1,000-pound Mola Mola sunfish to the rafts of sea otters, the Minke whales, humpback whales, and orcas; the Steller sea lions, porpoise, and grizzly bears, to the tufted puffins, and salmon, halibut, and steelhead trout, this rugged coastline has a lot of wild characters. And a guy who sees them all from above is pilot Jason Bertin, owner and manager of Atleo River Service; an air tour and seaplane operation based in Tofino harbor.
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