Canada Day on Saltspring Island

I've been busy busy busy writing a thesis lately. Many late nights in front of the computer, and full beautiful days spent tucked inside windowless buildings. It's been great, but I've been craving an escape from my bubble in the city. So I jumped on the ferry on Canada Day and spent a lovely evening with some fun-loving people.

I took the milk run from Tsawwassen to Long Harbour, stopping at Mayne, Pender, and Galiano Islands before reaching Saltspring. It tool nearly 3 hours. The boat was packed with cars filled to the brim with kids, dogs, and camping gear. Their cargo overfilled onto roof tops and trailers. There must have been 100 bicycles piled along the edges, similarly loaded down with overstuffed paniers and odds and ends tied down to any available surface.

Along the way, the ship passed a pod of orcas. The chief steward made an announcement and anyone who wasn't asleep clamored out to the decks. With cell phones and cameras in hand, we all collectively oowed and awed as their backs surfaced and dove back down. One even breached! Amazing. I didn't get very good photos... but I got a couple OK ones:

  The fin is that pathetically small black dot just below and right of the white boat. The black boat is a whale watching boat. We got the tour for free!

This is one of the splash the breaching orca created.


I'm still getting used to my new camera...


From the ferry, I biked into Ganges for lunch before making my way to my friend's place. The town was bustling with tourists and locals, and small Canadian flags were tacked up along the filled patios. It was rainy and cold, but still felt warm and welcoming. Had a delicious lentil dahl and ginger green tee at the Saltspring Coffee cafe. My new bike served me well, but tying my bag on the pack was a little cumbersome. It shifted so much at one point I actually fell over! I'm very happy with the new ride!

We had planned on canoeing in the afternoon, then watch Gange's fire works from the water, but the weather was cold and rainy. Instead we stayed in for an amazing and simple bbq dinner, a few beers, and enjoyed the company of dogs, kids, friends and good music.

July 2nd was a lazy one, with a late start. We managed to get a round of disc golf in and an amazing lunch at the Rock Salt Cafe in Fulford before catching a ferry at 2:00.

The ferry ride back to town was quiet. I was pretty thankful I had my bike though - the line up of cars was at least 2 ferry waits long. I made it back to Vancouver in the early evening July 2nd, refreshed and ready for more writing!