Three Days and Three Nights With Hye Jung & Mike: Salt Spring Island Vineyards & Salt Spring Island Cheese Company

After peacing out in the lavender for a while, we jumped back in the car and drove down the country island roads to Salt Spring Vineyards. Here we sampled 4 of their wines paired with local appetizers from the island. The 2007 Millotage (which we tried on Alissa's Birthday last time we were on the island), Blanc de Noir, 2009 Aromata, 2008 Blackberry "Port" were the wines we sampled. We decided on a bottle of the 2007 Millotage to drink in the garden by the pond down in the vineyards. It was a great way to take in the summer day!

After drinking all that wine, we hunted down the Salt Spring Island Cheese Company a few kilometres away. We were greeted by a goat that shat & peed right in front of us as he stared at us blankly. We put that bizarre event behind us and went on to look at the cheese factory. There we gored on cheese and a variety of olives until we couldn't stomach it anymore!

Great day on Salt Spring Island!

Three Days and Three Nights With Mike & Hye Jung: Salt Spring Island Lavender Fields

With the relaxing, constant hum of feasting honey bees and heavely scents which insect and human could both appreciate, we took our time strolling through the vibrant purple fields. If the ferry ride over and the market didn't chill us out, time in this purple paradise certainly did.

Three Days and Three Nights With Mike & Hye Jung: Saltspring Island Saturday Market

Last weekend Mike, Hye Jung, Alissa and Matt took a morning ferry to Saltspring Island. While on the way, a friendly local shared some Saltspring Island produce with us. After that everything was good.

We picked up a local hitchhiker who gave as a guided tour into town. We headed straight to the famous Saltspring Island Saturday Market. It definitely gives the Moss Street Market in our hood a run for its money!

Simply taking in the mid-twenties weather and people watching more than kept us entertained. All the cool, creative, and fresh stuff was just a bonus.

Exploring Ruckle Farm- British Columbia's Oldest Working Farm

Initially we though were were on the 10KM hiking loop around Yeo Point, but soon realized that we were circling back to Ruckle Farm at the parks entrance. No Prob.

Walking around the farmyard was pretty cool. You almost felt as if you were in a movie about some old farm a long time ago. In many ways this place felt like the Anne of Green Gables Farm that we had visited in the summer. Because it is still a working farm a few farm hands were out doing some maintenance. The apple orchard, sheep pasture, and turkey coop on the wood-fenced, green gassed, cleared land of the farm made for an picture perfect sight.

It seemed as though it was meant that we had not taken the trail to Yeo Point because the fluffy clouds ahead had gotten offaly dark. Just as we got back to our car it started to rain.

Hiking Ruckle Provincial Park On Saltspring Island

The skies were filled with fluffy clouds, the grass was vibrant green, and the ocean waters were still- this hike along the coast at Ruckle Provincial Park couldn't be better on a day like today. We took our time walking though the empty campsites on our way to the historic Ruckle family farmhouse.

Hiking In Burgoyne Bay Park On Saltspring Island

The next morning we awoke a tinny bit hung-over and headed to Burgoyne Bay to do a hike. We could see the beautiful cleared green patches of farmland leading to the beach and dark turquoise waters of Burgoyne Bay from high atop Mt. Maxwell the day before. Today it was interesting to look back at the cliff face of Mount Maxwell from the bottom.

Alissa's B-Day On Salt Spring Island: Osyters, Harbours, Birthday Shots, and Live Reggae Music

Alissa had a Birthday to remember. Rhea, Ryan, Matthew, and Alissa started the night off in Ganges at Oystercatcher Seafood & Oyster Bar that overlooked the cities small harbour. The food and wine was delightful- the local muscles in cream sause and local 2007 Salt Spring Island Winery Millotage made for an excellent starter in front of an open gas flame.

After some nachos, and dry ribs and a few more glasses. We headed to Moby's Oyster Bar to catch some live music. Tonight was a reggae band from T.O. We did some shots, drank some Salt Spring Island Brewery Whale Ales and danced the night away until Alissa's real B-Day after midnight.

What a night!

Mount Maxwell At Salt Spring Island

After arriving on Salt Spring Island we went into the largest town on the island, Ganges. There we ate breakfast in a cosy restaurant built into a tree called The Treehouse Cafe. They had little heaters under each table and blankets to keep us warm.

After warming and filling up, we headed out of town to hike Mount Maxwell. It turns out that the road to the park wasn't meant for the little Toyota Echo- it soon turned into a bit of an off-road adventure. The views from the top and hike along the cliffs edge rewarded us when we managed to get to the top.

Ferrying To Salt Spring Island

A day after Rhea and Ryan returned from a two day trip to Tofino, we were off on an early morning ferry to the biggest gulf island, Salt Spring Island.