www.suncruiser.ca I 2012 SunCruiser WEST COAST
Continued from page 89
giſt shops, restaurants, ice cream and Galiano Island Books, with over 15,000 titles. Famous for Canadian fiction and regional books, this independent bookstore is into their second decade of business, and the staff love talking about their Island and sharing favourite books or finding that hard-to-find giſt. Visitors easily spend an entire aſternoon browsing through the shelves of books. There are many bed and
breakfast places scattered around the island as well as a good choice of dining spots. The island has a significant
population of artists
and artisans who are inspired by the natural beauty rimmed, as it is, with a dramatic coastline of sheer cliffs; sand, pebble and white-shell beaches; sheltered bays and unusual sandstone formations. Douglas fir, arbutus and rare native Garry oak thrive in the dense, inland forests. Be sure to visit Bellhouse
Provincial Park with wildly-shaped limestone
formations on the
shoreline of Active Pass where the ferry boats squeeze through the waterway that separates Galiano and Mayne Islands. This is a dream location for photographers. Hiking up Mount Galiano is a must-do for visitors. My favourite route is the Alistair Ross Trail (posted) off Georgeson Bay Road. The hike along the well-maintained path
takes
about 50 minutes up and less time down all through a forest of moss- covered trees. Once on top, the view of the southern Gulf Islands and the San Juan Islands in Washington is truly unforgettable. Galiano Island’s beautiful Montague Harbour is located at the edge of the Provincial Marine Park. White shell beaches, lush forests, rocky shorelines, campground and hiking trails are features of this park. It’s a great setting-off point for kayakers paddling the wave-carved sandstone coast. Montague Harbour
Captain Glenn at the helm Continued from page 86
view of Stuart Channel and sunsets. South is Arbutus Beach with sand and gravel beaches. Erskine Point is south of Arbutus Beach.
13. Mount Maxwell – A 65 hectare ecological preserve, established in 1972, which contains the largest protected stand of Gary oak in BC.
14. Burgoyne Bay – A rusted vessel on the north side and a booming ground and public wharf to the east. A sandy beach on the south side. The bay offers some good anchorage. Exposure to west winds.
15. Bold Bluff Point – Exposes a rock just off the north side of the point. A private float in the bay to the south. This is the narrowest part of Sansum Narrows so watch for whirlpools and tide rips. Good fishing off this point.
16. Salt spring Island – 77 miles of shoreline. The residents prefer to call it Salt Spring, although the first Indian settlers called it “Klatheem.” Other names for it include Admiral Island and Chuan. In 1895 the population was 455 and today, it is more than 7,000.
17. Fernwood Point – A public wharf with room for two or three boats and a boat launch. A general store is a short walk away.
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Marina provides dockside moorage for visiting pleasure boats along with a giſt shop, restaurant, boat rentals, fuel and groceries. Boaters may anchor out to one of the buoys or are welcome to launch their own boat from the nearby campground. From the marina boaters can catch the free bus to the neighbouring Hummingbird Pub Inn, which is well known for their hospitality and great food. They have live music on summer weekends drawing a fun crowd of locals and visitors alike. The temperate climate of the Gulf Islands makes this the perfect destination almost any time of the year. It is drier than Vancouver and the islands are more protected than Victoria. Enjoy spring as early as February; warm, sunny, dry summers; and the vibrancy of fall, complete with the mildest temperatures in Canada. Winters are still mild enough (and frost free!) to enjoy a hike, cycle, or kayak. Book your escape to Galiano Island NOW.
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