June 2004 - June 24, 2009: Bye-bye, Babs. Thanks for all of your love, support, commitment and reliability. We will miss you much, and already do.

The weather is brilliant, the tubing season has started, and Lily is waiting patiently by the front door - what more do you need to know?
The Fat Salmon swims again; the summer season has started off with a bang and all systems are GO GO GO. The Valley's very own steam train kicked off its season this afternoon with a super-duper run out to MacLean Mill and the Chase & Warren Winery. I took Angus on the train for the first time in his little life and, man, was it a hit. Choo-choos and chugga-chuggas, high trestle bridges and waving hikers. Kind of like Thomas the Tank Engine Does Alberni. Add to the already-fabulous flavour of the train's regular route an unexpected stop by the Beaufort Gang, who robbed the train on horseback, and the day was complete - chocolate loonies for the kiddies and superb photos for the olds. The train now runs Thursday through Monday, two journeys out to Canada's only steam-powered mill per day. Cheap as chips and worth so much more - a great way to spend a lazy afternoon in Port Alberni.
Also specific to the area is the plethora of flash vintage cars in mint condition (and we're not talking peppermint) out cruising in the sunny-top-down weather. Thunderbirds, Mustangs, Challengers, Comets - you name it, it probably drives past The Fat at least twice a day; once en route to the Harbour Quay (where they cruise, stopping only for the best homemade donuts on Vancouver Island) and another on the way back. There is nothing like seeing the shiny perfectly-waxed hood on an oldie but goodie in the heat of summer. Match that, maybe, with a trip to J&L Burger, where you can still order a burger, fries and an extra-thick milkshake from the comfort of your car window - just like Happy Days, but Alberni Days fits better.
Ahhhhhhh, Port. We just love you, Baby. Call to reserve your dorm bed now. 250.723.6924.

So, wow, a whole lot can happen in a month, eh?
There have been a few newbies to the Fat Salmon block, not least of which is the Tiki Tour Bus. The bus is a hop-on-hop-off dealie-o, that makes traveling around Vancouver Island easier and more pleasant than it ever has been before. Stops en route include hostels in Courtenay, Victoria, Tofino, Nanaimo and, of course, Port Alberni. The Fat Salmon is the proud stop for the Tiki Tour Bus in the Valley, so give them a try and stay with us as long as you want. Contact Tiki Tour Bus (another super-duper Kiwi-Canadian enterprise) at: 250.667.4003 or email them at: tikitourbus@hotmail.com. Getting there just got better!
Also new to the roster of fabulous things to do in our neck of the woods is the KJ Adventure jet boat. Hate to boast, but I will - this is yet one more Kiwi business, aiming to knock yer socks off. This boat tour offers the mind-blowing "Hamilton Spin" as it boots you through the Harbour Quay, while enjoying the natural beauty of the Alberni Inlet. At the right times of day, the boat will also toot you all the way up to Victoria Quay to catch a glimpse of our resident black bears dining on spawning salmon. Does it get any better than this? We argue NO. Please call KJ Adventures for more info on this at: 1.877.5253.JET. Rock it out and tell them that we sent you.
Not at all new to the Valley, but making its seasonal debut in only a few brief weeks is...(drum roll, please) Stamp River tubing. Tubing, this phenomenal West Coast Vancouver Island treat, cannot be missed. You can opt out of the fishing derby, maybe even the surfing on Long Beach, but to miss the river tubing would mean a sure way straight to a crap holiday in the Valley. Let us show you what we mean - come on over and expand your tube, your mind and your stay by riding the river all the way to Paper Mill Dam on the floatie of your choice. Many have tried and many have cried from the sheer relaxation and beauty of the tube. Coming soon to a hostel near you - call now to book your stay with us. 250.723.6924. There is only one FAT SALMON stay. Happy June!

SUMMER BREEZE MAKES ME FEEL FINE
The Fat Salmon Backpacker's Hostel is looking for a backpacker/traveler/wanderer, or simply an interesting & groovy dude to work for board during this spring/summer season (open from April through to September 30).
Want to spend a few months in a place where you can swim, surf, scuba dive, kayak, go river tubing, hike, mountain bike, or just kick back and tip pints on a sweet deck watching the rural Vancouver Island world go by? Perks include:
- room in the grooviest backpacker's hostel in the area
- hook-ups with the coolest local insider stuff (kayaking - sea and river; diving - deep sea, wreck and inlet; river tubing; biking; golf; bowling - oh yeah, you know you love it; BBQs)
- hook-ups with employment outside of hostel, if desired
- the charmed company of a loving black lab. Lily, whose love grows with each walk you take her on
- the ever-entertaining, not to mention ever-enlightening conversation of El Gordo, La Gorda & Los Ninos Locos
- potential of doing receptionist hours, too, if interested
Sound good? Know someone who might find this enticing? I can think of worse ways to spend the summer months. Get in touch or kindly pass this note onto someone who you think fits the bill. charmead@mac.com. We need you yesterday.

This just in: The Fat Salmons are proud as punch to announce the arrival of their new nephew - Charles Roger Dennis - who just popped his head into the brave new world in Ottawa this morning. Charlie is big, robust and healthy, according to bystanders, and we can't wait to get him over to the West Coast, to show him some proper hospitality, Fatty S style. Welcome, Chuck, and congratulations to the beaming parents, Chad and CC. Wheeee!

WE ARE OPEN FOR THE SEASON, YO!
Due to an unusually high demand for our stellar Fat Salmon services over the long and somewhat unforgiving winter, we are swinging open the big front door one month earlier than we regularly do when we kick the new season in the guts. April Fool's Day felt like an appropriate day to do it on, too - and, look out your back window, Fellow Vancouver Islanders - we just got SNOW! So, put the sea kayaking, the deep sea diving, the river tubing, the lake floating, the trail hiking and mountain biking on hold for just now, and think: snow boarding, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snow angel making, snowball fighting, snowman making, and, if none of that rings your bell, how about some mulled wine in the Fat Salmon lounge, listening to Chris wax philosophical about why snow is such a wrong part of winter? We thought that might grab you where it tickles. Lily is waiting to show you to your newly refurbished dorm, Angus is ready to regale you with his favourite gigis, and our newest staff member, Beck, is keen to woo you with his fabulous singing tenor. And, incase you are living under a rock somewhere and have not heard, Port Alberni squash guru, Jake van Hooten, just picked up the crown for having grown the biggest pumpkin in the world for 2008. Of course, he already holds the provincial and national records, but he adds this newest achievement to his notched stick with pumpkin pride. Already well-known as the world's salmon capital, the Alberni Valley can now chalk up World's Biggest Pumpkin to its ever-expanding portfolio. Want to see what all of the fuss is about? It is all just a phone call away - 250.723.6924. Call to book the budget holiday of your dreams on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada - NOW. Hurry, we book up fast at the Fat Salmon, the best budget accommodations in Port Alberni and Vancouver Island. You'll come for a day, you'll stay for a spell. Economic crisis - economic schmisis. We'll show you how to rock it without breaking it. See you soon. Tell us that Ben sent you.

CLOSED FOR THE SEASON.
Thanks to all this season who graced our doorstep with their presences for making this one another Fat Salmon success story. From Europe, to Africa, to the bowels of South America, to all points East in Asia - we have been blessed with new friends, old ones, and all else in between! We look forward to the hibernation period to regroup, recoup and recharge our batteries, which were lagging in the last weeks of September...what a crazy year we had! We welcome all groups of 12 people or more to call us in advance to book a stay over the closed period - group rates apply: only $21.00 CAD per person per night. Call to reserve now. 250.723.6924. Thanks again for a brilliant season - see you in May 2009.

The season limps to an end, with a crazy-busy bit ending the year we call "2008". It has been quite mad this past month and a while - sorry for the blog absence, indeed. We have seen so many peeps come and go through Fatty S's front door this summer, our heads are muddled and blurry. Guests have travelled from far and wide to reach the Alberni Valley and its shiny gems. From the Tall Ships' Festival to the Salmon Festival to the Thunder in the Valley, it has been altogether dizzy. We tubed, we swam, we hiked, we biked, some of us even motorcycled our way around the region - sucking up the hot and sunny weather for months on end. The Alberni Valley, as always, charmed people with its natural beauty and wooed with its fabulous sights. From the Martin Mars water bombers asleep on Sproat Lake to the spawning Coho at Stamp Falls Provincial Park to steam train ride winding through the lush Valley, backpackers found something for each mood and day of the week. In the evening, after soaking in the area, guests contentedly flopped back to the hostel where they were treated to BBQs, laughs and sunsets over the Beaufort Mountain Range. Does life get any better? Probably not too much, but you had better hurry if you want in on some because the Fat Salmon turns into a pumpkin on October 1, when it closes and shuts it front doors for the hibernation period. Not to worry too much if you miss out this year because we reopen again for another kick at the proverbial backpacking can May 1, 2009. See you then, Skaters!

Tubing season is upon us in earnest, and the Fat Salmon played host to its very first wedding yesterday. Rama and Ashton are officially hitched - we are convinced that the sweet clear mountain air, cool afternoon ocean breezes and rocking tunes pumped out by the best dj this side of the Hump (Maestro Fresh Marsh) encouraged them to tie the proverbial knot. Whatever the case, love is in the air, and those two lovebirds are not the only two to think so. Why, just ask any of the Swiss, German, Dutch, American, Canadian, French, Spanish, Australian, Kiwi, Czech, Polish, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, English, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, Slovakian, Slovenian, Austrian....whew! any of these who have graced the Fat Salmon Backpacker's front doorstep this past month, and you will see that a strong and amorous love for the beautiful West Coast of Canada is propelling people ever-onwards on their traveling quests. We even were lucky enough to meet Andy, from Seattle, on his flash BMW motorcycle, up for the weekend, sussing out roads to cruise on the Island. Apparently, he found plenty, and even a riding pal in Chris. Hope to see more of him in the future. The Tall Ships were fun and stayed in Port for two days, setting all the Valley hearts a flutter with their moorings and sails.
August is gearing up to be a kicking month for us all at the Fatty S, too - with, as usual, lots to do and lots to see. Thunder in the Valley, the steam train, the steam operated McLean Mill, tubing on the mighty Stamp River (honestly, need we even say more?), hiking Arrowsmith, biking the Log Train Trail, floating on Cameron Lake, swimming in Sproat Lake, checking out the Mars Bombers when they are resting from fighting forest fires, fishing in the Alberni Inlet, finding the Nuu-chah-nulth petroglyphs, dining on any of our outdoor patios and pubs, watching the sunset over the Beaufort Mountain Range - so much for you to choose from! Give us a call and we'll squeeze you for a boo 250.723.6924. Happy end-of-July week.

So, as our lovely country's birthday quickly approaches, we sit back, contemplatively, and reflect upon the pop culture, the community culture and the first cultures that make Canada what Canada is. Seeing as there are Canadians and non-nationals amongst us, we have interesting ideas about what makes this country a rocking one.
On Canada Day, you can bet your favourite Fluevogs (Lily Darlings) that the Fat Salmon will be belting out the sounds of at least five dozen of the following: Martha & Rufus Wainwright, Neil Young, Leonard Cohen (who is touring, by the way, so snap up concert tickets if he is gracious enough to play anywhere near where you currently are), Joni Mitchell, Diana Krall, Lorenna McKennitt, Bruce Cockburn, KIM MITCHELL!!, Glass Tiger (for Peterborough), Platinum Blonde (for super-duper fun), Burton Cummings & all things related to the rockin' Guess Who, Crashtest Dummies, Be Good Tanyas, Neko Case and all her groovy Girlfriends, Ashley McIsaac, Great Big Sea, RUSH!(for Lennie), Alanis "The Goddess" Morissette, Sarah McLachlan, Anjani Thomas, The Barenaked Ladies, Wide Mouth Mason, Northern Pikes, Chilliwack, Kevin Quain & The Mad Bastards, The Tragically Hip & anything Gordie Downie has ever touched, Big Sugar & Grady & anything Gordie Johnson has ever even looked at, and, of course, the timeless punk sound of the Dayglo Abortions. Chris says - OF COURSE, the Dayglos!
(Angus says not to forget Raffi. We won't, Shmoo - not to worry!)
And so.
We ready ourselves for the big Port Alberni Canada Day Parade, complete with floats, tractors (we can only guess), clowns, jugglers, candy and other exciting freakish things...maybe even the Martin Mars Water Bombers will be out, flitting around in the sky as well as 7500 gallons of water capacity can allow a plane to.
We reflect upon the Tseshaht and the Hupacasath First Nations, two Nuu-chah-nulth nations that founded the Alberni Valley long, long before any of us had any concept that it was the Alberni Valley. Two of the most beautiful coastal communities along the West Coast of Canada, the Tseshaht and the Hupacasath continue to live their lives according to the fishing blueprint of their ancestors. Want to check out that water culture intimately, for yourself? Then rock on into the Valley and book a First Nation's traditional canoe trip on the Somass River with Choo Kwa Ventures. If you want a longer jag, then think about a kayaking journey with Batstar Adventure Tours.
If neither of these is "Canadian" enough for you on this birthday celebratory weekend, then call up Rendezvous Dive Adventures in the Barkely Sound for an underwater visit with crabs, scallops, sea otters, humpback & Orca & grey whales. Kathy and Peter will sort you out with enough fun to last well into the next year (if you just want to chill, then ask Peter to whop your bottom at Settlements of Catan, but don't say that I said so).
Whatever the case, get thineself to the Alberni Valley for the Canada Day weekend because the Fat Salmon promises, as it does every July 1st, to rock you out. 250.723.6924. Dorm beds are still available at basement-bottom prices (starting at $18 flat for a dorm bed - like, can you do better than that in this pristine part of Vancouver Island?...the answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT). See you Tuesday - bring your own Pacific Pilsner.