Comments Please on Vancouver Island Itinerary
 

1. Clipper to Victoria
2. Three days [two days?]in Victoria - Burchart and Butterly Gardens, BC Museum
2. Day three travel thru Sooke and Juan de Fuca Trail to Renfew and take 'gravel' road to Lake Cowichan and on to Salt Spring Island
3. Overnight on island
4. Day four travel to Tofino via Rtes 19 and 4[too far for a day?]
5. Two nights in Tofino [or Ucluelet?]
6. Return via Rtes 4 and 19 and overnight on Gabriola Island
7. On to Victoria and overnight
8. Catch Clipper to Seattle and home

I invite your astute comments as always. Thanks.

You've got your islands all mixed up, unfortunately.
Day 1 is fine.
2 days in Victoria is great
You can only get to Salt Spring through Swartz Bay which is near Victoria, not near Cowichan.
Salt Spring is wonderful.
You then have to go back through Victoria to get Tofino and, yes, it is a long drive - 7 hours or so.
A trip from Tofino to Gabriola is a long day with a connecting ferry and to continue to Victoria the next day is another ferry ride.
Lot of movement - slow down and enjoy!
Let me know if you want a suggestion.

I assume you mean to get to Saltspring from Crofton. I'd be inclined to go there on the way back from Tofino. Then you could take the Crofton-Vesuvius ferry over and leave the via Fulford-Swartz Bay ferry which would leave you closer to Victoria near the end of your trip. Personally, I wouldn't bother with Gabriola (and frankly, I don't find Saltspring that exciting either). You could break up the drive on day three with a stay in Parksville.

nimbus
If I cannot disuade you from that 'gravel' road, make sure your rental contract allows you to take your vehicle 'off road'. That road is classified as a logging road and not a public highway.

I assume you will have a rental, since the clipper is passenger only.

'<i>That road</i>' is 4 lanes wide in many places and with the dearth of logging in southern Vancouver island no one should worry about impending doom on 18 wheels.

A number of upgrades these past few years mean it's safer than ever.

The upgrades have also helped accelerate the rate of growth in once-isolated Port Renfrew.

I do not like to be a downer, but it is a gravel road.
The following is a copy paste from avis.ca site.
Avis vehicles may not be operated on non-paved roads.
IF and that is IF something happens, the renter has voided all insurance coverage.