Welcome Aboard

We recently took a trip into the Cariboo and of course that means leaving the island via BC Ferries. On a sunny afternoon it's quite nice to go out onto the deck and for the younger crowd, run around. - Fern

Yellow Point Lodge

This weekend we escaped Victoria and headed up island for a getaway at Yellow Point Lodge which is located just north of Ladysmith on the inside coast of Vancouver Island. A local favorite, they have a loyal following of folks who come back year after year to enjoy the magnificent view, amazing food and cozy accommodations. There several large common areas with comfy places to sit and enjoy the view, games, puzzles, reading and there is no TVs or internet - truly a retreat from modern life! - Fern

Esquimalt Lagoon

Sunday morning walks on Esquimalt Lagoon are one of my most favorite things in the world. - Fern

Dallas Road 2

When you first look at a series of photos you can so easily pass things by that on a second look, really stand out. This simple composition captures the wide open feeling of this sun drenched ocean vista. - Fern

St. Paul's Church, Saltspring Island

Victoria is located on Vancouver Island, a very large island (460 kilometres [290 mi] in length and 80 kilometres [50 mi] in width at its widest point). However, Vancouver Island is not the only island in what is now known as the Salish Sea. There are hundreds of other much smaller islands that form the archipelago called the Gulf Islands. These islands are in Victoria's back yard, scattered over the waters between Vancouver Island and the mainland. The largest and most densely populated of these islands is Saltspring Island (pop. about 10,000). Saltspring is a fascinating place and an interesting bit of its history is that many of the early settlers were immigrants from Hawaii who intermarried with First Nations families already in residence on the island. You can find out more about these islanders in a very interesting article HERE. Many of the original Hawaiian settlers are buried in the churchyard of the the church they helped to build in the 1880s, St. Paul's, pictured above. Saltspring is a very idiosyncratic island for many other reasons and we'll have a closer look at it over the next few days.

Going Home

I've been a few places in the world but wherever I go, I am always happy to come home. And each time I marvel anew at the beauty of the west coast. This stretch of ocean is now called the Salish Sea, just off of Tsawwassen as you leave the ferry terminal on your way towards the Gulf Islands. - Fern