The ferry journey to Saltspring Island was in very sheltered waters so the 35minute crossing was smooth (much to Pete’s delight). We were surrounded by low cloud so it was a little eerie.
We docked at Fulford Harbour in the South of the island, and decided that, as it was raining and visibility was poor, we may as well visit the brewery and cideries. First we stopped at Salt Spring Ales and sat under a picnic umbrella enjoying a tasting flight with a lovely couple and his dad that they were visiting.
Next we stopped at Ciderworks and tried their seven different traditional ciders and learned about grafting apple trees.
Then onto Salt Spring Wild Cider where they’ve started to mix with more fruits. They used the cutest small glasses that reminded me of having sherry at Christmas with my Man’s friend and next door neighbour, Sheila. Ahh happy memories.
A trip to the local supermarket and we were introduced by the baker lady to something called “Better than cake”. It was chocolate cake with some chocolate mousse, dulche de leche and chocolate sauce somehow all inside a chocolate coating – OMG! I’d found heaven.
We stayed in Ganges for the evening, a place that attracts the alternative crowd. We watched some stoned people swaying to an acordian playing and then had an evening walk around the harbour as it had finally stopped raining.
The next day we checked our ferry plans from Long Harbour to Vancouver and noted an advice to book. A phone call later and it was quite clear that we weren’t going to be able to book the route we’d wanted and as we had agreed to be back in Vancouver on Tuesday for a viewing for the van we had better leave a day earlier to go via Victoria to ensure that we got back.
We drove back to Fulford Harbour where it is first come first serve for the short crossing.
We made the 3.50pm ferry, drove out of the terminal and back and straight on the 5pm ferry to Vancouver. Happy days – and the bonus was that for the combined two ferries they only charge you what it would have cost for the direct ferry from the island!
We stood on deck looking for whales or dolphins but only saw lots of other ferries plying the waters.
As we weaved in between other little islands we passed other ship’s squeezing through the narrow channels.
We docked at 6.35pm, it was raining heavily and already going dark. Not nice condituons to drive in. The traffic was heavy and we saw many drivers who had forgotten to turn their lights on – so dangerous. We decided to head towards Mount Seymour to escape the rat race and ended up staying just at the bottom of the mountain. And relax ….
