More fun in a Canadian maritime paradise, Salt Spring Island

July 17, 2013

More fun in a Canadian maritime paradise, Salt Spring Island

After three beautiful days on Pender Island, it's back on the ferry, and a short ferry ride to Salt Spring Island. Salt Spring Island is the largest in both size and population of the Canadian Gulf Islands. Our B and B for the next three nights is Cedar Moon, a 1.5 acre property with a couple of ponies, chickens, and a large garden, so we know the eggs are fresh. Rachel and Peter rum Cedar Moon, and are a young couple with two young children. We have a two room suite, that has a distant view of Ganges Harbor.

Our first night we get on the bikes and ride three miles to the end of the our road and Beddis beach ( following a walk around the town of Ganges, and dinner at a "Wok Bar"). This is a small lovely pebble beach with distant views of Mt. Baker. We meet an English/Canadian woman who lives on the island, and we swap kid growing up stories, and why this is such a beautiful part of the world. Earlier while we were walking around Ganges, we of course ran into Amanda and Ky.

There is a very nice BC Provincial Park (Ruckle) in the SE portion of Salt Spring Island, and that's where we head the next day. We take a great hike around the coast and through a very nice coastal walk in campground, and then have a lovely snack lunch overlooking the ocean, before touring the historic farm (Oldest BC farm). We next stop at Sacred Sea Lavendar and a walk around the beautiful grounds. Next up a wine tasting at one of the wineries on the island, and amazingly we actually buy a bottle of a white wine we particularly liked. We are right next to Burgoyne Bay Park, so another sea side stroll is on the agenda, before heading into Ganges and dinner at the Tree House Cafe, with a tree growing right up thru the middle of the place.

A bit of knocking around town the next day before driving to the top of Mt. Maxwell, the highest point on the island, for some fabulous panoramic views. On the way back to our place we stop in at Artsey Fartsey Gallery. Donna just couldn't resist with a name like that. A very wealthy couple own the place, the gallery is a hobby I think for the lady/ artist, and Donna purchased some items that she liked. I had a nice visit with the husband, talked hockey ( his son played against Joe Sakic growing up), and he gave me a tour of the mini railroad they have there as well as his fantastic woodworking shop. We decide on a picnic dinner at Cedar Moon for a great finish to a great day.

The morning we leave, it's market day in Ganges, and this is a big market, and very well known in the area. Donna explored the market for hours, and actually bought a few items, and we got to meet Raffi in person. For those of you our age, you will remember Raffi as a children's troubadour. He is Canadian, and has lived on Salt Spring Island for the last five years.

We catch the 4 PM ferry for our next destination, Cowichan Bay, after another 3 great days in the Canadian Gulf Islands.