A couple months ago The Skipper and I welcomed aboard two crew members on a passage to explore the Southern Gulf Islands. This was the first time we had invited anyone on an overnight trip. There was of course a lot of dialogue about living in such tight quarters and concerns over the state of our friendship after the trip. I’m happy to report that not only are we all still friends but we also managed to create one of the most memorable vacations The Skipper and I ever had.
We planned for 10 nights at sea starting off at Sucia Island in the San Juans and then checking into Canadian Customs at Poet’s Cove Marina, Bedwell Harbour. We then spent one night at anchor in Bedwell Harbour just south of Medicine Beach. After an evening of crabbing and a dinghy tour we took off for Ganges the next morning. We were lucky enough to do some actual sailing towards Salt Spring Island.
We ended up anchoring in Madrona Bay late afternoon and realized we were in the middle of Canada Day celebrations!
The approach into Madrona Bay was a little nerve-racking as it felt a little tight and the wind was kicking up. This was also the first time we’d be anchoring with crew friends aboard. We took our usual position with me on the helm and The Skipper getting the anchor ready at the bow. He had already brought to my attention the 15+ knots of wind that will make it challenging to keep her stern straight. Sure enough, I over compensated and within a few seconds I saw The Skipper’s face as we were swinging closer to the rocks. He took over on the helm and thankfully Chris jumped in to support. I wanted to disappear and cry (and maybe did a tad bit) but we ended up discussing how we could have managed the situation better. Did I tell you our new crew were also our friends of over 15 years? They were wonderful in giving us our privacy while we discussed. Finally, The Skipper knew I needed some land time and suggested we take the dingy to shore while he stayed on anchor watch. I do love that he knows me so well.
We eventually found the dingy dock and headed straight for some ice cream.
Once we did all the recon work for the next day’s exploration we headed back to Lutris for the best meal of the trip; a dinner of flank steak with a crab, avocado and corn salad. It sounds so simple but was oh so delicious.
With a good nights rest, the four us headed to shore the next morning for some on-land excursions. First stop, Salt Spring Wild Cider. Wild Cider is only about a 1.5 mile walk from the dock, however it’s all up hill. We opted to take the public transit one way and let gravity help us on the way back downhill, especially knowing cider was involved. 
This was the perfect place for a light lunch and some cider tasting.
There’s plenty of indoor and outdoor seating with a charmingly cabin feel.
There’s also plenty of cider and swag for purchase.
Once our tummies were full and we felt the light buzz of the cider, it was time to head back towards the waterfront and check out the Saturday Farmer’s Market.
This was one of the best Farmer’s Markets I’ve been to. I’m not sure if I was still hungry or the vibrant colors were so captivating but I wanted to buy everything.
Unfortunately, we didn’t quite have the refrigeration space. Had I known prior to provisioning, I would have waited to purchase all the produce on Salt Spring Island.
Salt Spring Island is one of those places where you can spend an entire week relaxing and enjoying island life. The pace is indeed just that; present and patient. Because the island is about 74 square miles, you may want to consider renting either a car or bikes for further exploration, although the island is very hilly. We only stayed one night and in hindsight I would have planned for a couple nights stay to see more of the island. So 24 hours later we picked up the hook and headed towards Galiano Island.
EAT | Salt Spring Island Cheese | Salt Spring Island Wild Cider | Bean Drinkin Cafe | Tree House Cafe
DO | Salt Spring Farmers Market | Salt Spring Island Wild Cider | Salt Spring Shine | Salt Spring Ales
SHOP | Salt Spring Soapworks | SALT Shop | Mouats Home Hardware | Black Sheep Books | Ganges Stationery
Fair Winds,
City Girl
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