Salt Spring Island Part One

So we survived Salt Spring Island. With our thighs a burnin' and our gears a squealin' we departed yesterday morning for San Juan Island after 5 days of lovely, but hilly, Salt Spring immersion. Right now it is 11:20pm and I am sitting on the patio of the lovely Lakedale Resort where we are camping. Im sitting on the patio, not because of the lovely scenery or comfortable patio sets, but because us campers aren't allowed in to the luxurious resort after hours....ahem...

Friday, after our reunion aboard the Queen of WhoKnowsWhat we booted it into Ganges to regroup. After weighing our options we decided biking up to Channel Ridge where Lauren's dad owned some property. We figured this would be a good idea. And that leaving at 7pm that evening would be an even better idea. So as the sun was setting, and with the birds first day back together, we biked up a mountain. Man what a test of endurance, perseverance, descriptive frustrated vocabulary. But we made it, to a gorgeous plot of land, with an incredible view,  nestled in between two mansions.

Saturday we flew back down the mountain, and back into town, and resettled at Garden Faire campground, just a walk away from the town of Ganges. We spent the day poking around town, caught the tail end of the Farmer's Market and watched the game, which we have become avid followers since we left the Vancouver....

Sunday we were privileged to spend the afternoon with artist, writer, educator, and founder of Creative by Nature,  Lisa Lipsett. She was kind enough to have us over, and share with us her art and practice and process. See pictures below. Lisa led us through an exercise of seeing and connecting with our surroundings. It was an inspiring afternoon.
After our visit we rode down the rode to Blackburn Lake, home of the island's nudie dock....**

And Monday we packed up and rode across the island to the Gulf Island Brewery, where Brewmaster Murray Hunter kindly gave us a tour of the Salt Spring Ale operation. After, hot, hungry and thirsty, he pointed us down the rode to Fulford, where we could sit in the sun and enjoy a Gulf Island Brew...

That evening, destined for Foxglove Farm, on Mt.Maxwell, and having flashbacks to the last time we climbed a mountain, we stewed up ways we could avoid the trek......with the kindness of some locals and our legs o steel....we made it up there....somehow....

Stay tuned for Salt Spring Island part deux. where we farm, cross the border and eat a lot of doughnuts...

Oh and the pictures are coming too...

xo
Hunter

Finally-the photos!

A meditative watercolour/drawing workshop orientated by Lisa Lipsett. Our fold out results. 

The entrance to Lisa Lipsett's lovely studio. Packed with canvas, self-published books and German non-toxic watercolour paint. A beauty!

Our little nook on Salt Spring Island. A few minutes walk from Ganges, a little neck in the woods.

Burrrito's with a side of campfire.

The.food.panier(s). Courtesy of Josie.

Our daily morning espresso to keep us on the move. Stumps to rest our things.  

A rest in meadow following our visit at Gulf Island Brewery. A roasty afternoon.Lauren's chases a racoon with the camera.

Inspired by Murray, we a test a little bit of heaven down by the harbour. Love this beer!

All together now...