Gulf Islands photos

[Klazu]

Many overlook visiting Gulf Islands although they are only an one-hour sailing away from the Lower Mainland. In this first posting we visited Galiano Island few years ago.

Departing from Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal on Friday evening.





Gulf Islands are located halfway to Victoria and they also have a lot of inter-island ferry traffic.



Salish Raven is a new BC Ferries ferry that took over this connection in 2016.



Sturdies Bay is the terminal on Galiano Island.







Only 1044 people live on Galiano Island making it one of the least populated of the Gulf Islands.







Our lunch restaurant had some magazines from 80s and one of them had this legendary ad on it. Those were the times.



Every Saturday afternoon there is a popular Farmer's Market in town.





It is really bizarre to be on an island and still be able to see Metro Vancouver high-rises in the distance across Strait of Georgia.





There are not many places to stay on Galiano Island and Montague Bay Marine Provincial Park is a really nice campground.









There are some nice sunset to be had on a nearby beach.



Galiano Island has a real hidden gem, a restaurant called Pilgrimme. The chef has previously worked at the famous Noma restaurant in Copenhagen and their farm-to-table food is both excellent and inexpensive!







It's a small restaurant in an ordinary residential building in middle of forest. Perfect!





Food needs no words.















There is some great hiking on Galiano Island, like the trail up Bodega Ridge.





Another great trail is up the tallest point on the island, the 314-meters high Mount Galiano.







It's a beautiful view from the top.







Active Pass is the name of the fast-moving body of water separating Galiano from Mayne Island. Many ferry routes go through there, making it a ferry spotters' paradise.













Galiano Island was a nice and slow-paced locale to visit and we look forward to visiting other Gulf Islands in the future!

[Denscity]

Thanks Klazu always wanted to go there.

[CivicBlues]

Originally Posted by Denscity

Thanks Klazu always wanted to go there.

Galiano is a gem, went over 14 years ago and often wonder why we haven't returned.

Tried booking a ferry over the Thanksgiving Day long weekend and it was completely booked up a week in advance. Guess they're not so hidden now that international travel is off limits.

[Klazu]

Originally Posted by CivicBlues

Galiano is a gem, went over 14 years ago and often wonder why we haven't returned.

I agree with Galiano and Gulf Islands overall being a hidden gem that few visit. We will be checking out Salt Spring Island after Christmas, so more photos to come later on.

[Klazu]

Our second Gulf Island visit wasto Salt Spring Island, which is the largest of all the island and by far the most populous with 10,557 full-time residents.

Direct ferry connection from Tsawwassen terminal takes 1.5 hours to reach the island. It was a beautiful day to make the journey across the windy Strait of Georgia.





Beautiful evening in Ganges harbour.





Next day set on foot to explore Ganges which is the main village on the island. It's a sleepy little village in the morning, but gets busier as the day goes on.













You can find all necessary services in Ganges and there are several restaurants and cafes to enjoy.













One of the main sights on Salt Spring Island is the famous Saturday Market which can have over 200 stalls during the busiest summer months. It was way less busy now in October but still a good place to spend a lazy morning.







Almost everything being sold is locally produced and people actually do buy their groceries from there.





The village has gotten its name from HMS Ganges, a British frigate that sailed these seas in the late 1800s.









Float plane traffic between the island and Vancouver is very busy and no wonder, as it is a short 20-minute flight between the two. There are even seasonal flights to Seattle from here.





Most people live outside of the village and around the island. There is a surprisingly extensive road network to explore with some amazing vistas.





Community farm stands like this are a very common sight and there are dozens of them, selling anything from items to vegetables, to baked goods. They all work based on a trust system, with the money box just sitting there.



There are altogether three ferry terminals on the island and Fulford Harbour is the one connecting the island with the City of Victoria.



Ruckle Provincial Park has some nice trails and is worth checking out.





While there, the park is next to Henry Ruckle's old farm which is one of the oldest same family-run farms in British Columbia, since 1872. The old main building is now a museum about life back in those days.











It being Thanksgiving Eve that we were there, it was funny to see the dinner take one last stroll around the farm.





Hastings House is a luxurious boutique hotel and fine dining restaurant worth a visit.







On our voyage back home the weather was again terrific.









This time we had a stopover on Mayne Island, which is another island for us to explore another day! Several other ferries connect at this terminal.





At the end of the day Salt Spring Island may not have that much to see, but one can spend a nice long weekend there enjoying a slow and relaxed pace and some good food. Definitely another highly recommended destination so near to Metro Vancouver!

[giallo]

Great pictures. I have fond memories of summers on Saltspring Island. We used to camp on my uncle and aunt's property.

[connect2source]

Great pics, life looks pretty much normal in Ganges! Love Saltspring and the Treehouse Restaurant, in your pics, is my absolute fav place to eat in Ganges.

[svlt]

Always appreciate scrolling through these great shots of life in and around BC. Give a chance to check out Mayne, Saturna or the Penders too - even sleepier but with their own charm.

[Klazu]

Thanks, guys! Always happy to hear that you find my various photos from around BC interesting. There are many more to post whenever I just find the time to touch up and upload them.

Originally Posted by svlt

Give a chance to check out Mayne, Saturna or the Penders too - even sleepier but with their own charm.

Definitely in the plan! Most Gulf Islands seems to be in a blind spot for many Lower Mainlanders, even though they are so close by and very interesting. Granted that they seem to be also less tourism focused vs. Tofino as an example.

Hoping to perhaps visit another island next year.

[bolkong]

Wow, you've got a great eye for framing these pictures. They're beautiful. What kind of camera/gear do you use?

[Overground]

Wow, super! I thoroughly enjoyed going through all your photos that I had to log in, which I rarely do, and post a comment

[Klazu]

Thank you for the comments guys. I do highly recommend checking out Gulf Islands as something little different still so close to the mainland.

[Klazu]

Mayne Island is one of the smallest Gulf Islands and people living there enjoy a very relaxed pace to life.



Georgina Point lighthouse is a very familiar structure to all ferry passangers.





Ferry traffic through Active Pass is a very frequent sight.













Mayne Island inhabitants.





Mayne Island Resort is one of the few accommodations on the island and it is really nice place to stay.







High tides make all piers on the island really long.







There are some short hiking trails to be found on the island.







Only 1,200 people live year-round on Mayne Island, so the main street of Miners Bay is never very busy.







There are two grocery stores, one gas station and only few restaurants on the entire island.















Galiano Island across Active Pass.







Springwater Lodge is the oldest continuously operating accommodation in the entire British Columbia, having operated since 1895.







Low tide is noticeable.







There is a very nice Japanese garden near Village Bay ferry terminal. While it wasn't blooming yet, it provided for a nice and quiet place to pause for a moment.





















Nothing much happens on Mayne Island and the locals do embrace it.



Mayne Island is not really a tourist destination, as there is nothing much to see or do on it. But if you are looking for slow-pace relaxation, it might be one of the best places not too far from Vancouver.