Salt Spring Island

It was a relaxing three hour ferry ride from Tsawwassen to Long Harbour on Salt Spring Island.  We stopped at Galiano, Mayne and Pender islands before disembarking on Salt Spring.  The day started out with rain but the clouds parted and the sun shone and it was nice to be on the outside decks with the ocean's gentle breeze and the warm sun, marvelling at some of the majestic homes along the way. 

We checked into the Salt Spring Inn, which is on the list of historic buildings, having been built in the early part of the 20th century.  The Inn has only seven rooms and we had one of only two rooms with a private bath. On our first night we were awakened at midnight by a fire alarm and proceeded outside to escape a possible inferno. It turned out to be some smoke in the kitchen that was easily explained away, but I cannot recall the details of the explanation. 

The major reason for my visit here was to visit Gwen and she accompanied us as we explored the island and was an excellent tour guide. The island has many artists and artisans and eclectic shops with names like 'Stuff and Nonsense'.  We ate seafood at Vesuvius Bay and clam chowder at Fulford Harbour. We visited the Saltspring Island Cheese Company where the tasting room provided one with enough samples to call it a lunch.  We watched the boats come and go in Ganges Harbour and made sure we didn't hit any of the many deer that roam the island. 

Yesterday we walked along an enchanted trail in search of a faerie village. We wandered through a tropical paradise with trees too tall to let the sun in, where moss covered everything and it was so quiet that not even a bird was heard. We walked past doorways, garden doors and interesting mossy creatures and finally came upon the faerie village. 

We continued to walk until we ended up at a little pebbly beach at the edge of Ruckle Park. It is secluded as it is only accessed by hiking or boating. 

My favorite photo from Salt Spring is the one with the fog over Ganges Harbour.

Next stop Vancouver.