British
Columbia July 2019
July 6, 2019 -
28 hours in Vancouver did not give me a lot of time
for enjoying the city, but my first stop was to the well-known Museum of
Anthropology, on the campus of the University of British Columbia. Perhaps the
most famous piece is “The Raven and the First Men“, a large carving by native
artist Bill Reid .The museum is famous for its collection of totems and other
depiction of native art from Alaska, British Columbia, and other parts of
Canada and also art from Papua New Guinea (Some similar cultural themes therein).
Some artists use their craft as protest against oil pipelines and other
types of injustice against their peoples. In addition to the collection inside
the museum, there is a replica of a Haida house, and several totems in a grassy
area in back of the museum.
Being spontaneous when I travel has always served me
well. On one of those rare sunny afternoons in Vancouver, I happened upon
the 4th Street fair. Lots of interesting vendors – – including a book shop on
wheels – – loads of various food trucks, several beer gardens, and at every
intersection of the 10 block fair, music stages were set up to host local
bands. I particularly enjoyed the kids band, with a marvelous young vocalist,
and a patch of bouncy little kids enjoying the day and the music.
The view from my hotel in Vancouver: Fairmont Pacific Rim
July 7 - My flight today... from Vancouver seaplane terminal
just 2 blocks away from where our cruise ship came in, to Salt Spring Island
across the Strait of Georgia... to help my longtime friend Michelle celebrate
her birthday.
Salt Spring Island is
one of the Gulf Islands in the body of water called the Strait of Georgia which
is located to the west of the City of Vancouver which is located on mainland
British Columbia, Canada. Settled by pioneers in 1859, it was originally called
Admiral Island. Salt Spring Island is the largest, most populous,
and the most frequently visited of the Southern Gulf Islands
Flying into Salt Spring!
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| See those houses on the shore behind the middle sailboat? That's where Michelle has her home. |
Salt Spring is an Island... therefore there are
many beautiful marinas and harbors almost everywhere you look!
July 9 - The Duthie “Gallery” not far from
where the boats dock and where the sea plane lands, near the village of Ganges,
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, is an open air gallery. The artistic
experience begins with fiber art that surrounds the tall trees in the rustic
driveway.
As you wander on the sawdust paths in the forest, you come across
various sculptures of metal and/or wood.
If you have $10,000 in your art
acquisition budget, you can commission this woven tree for your own yard!
I also enjoyed the wooden sculptures, and impishly edited this photo so it
appears as though a woman is standing in line to use the ladies room – – also
known as an outhouse. Actually, It is a gender neutral bathroom sitting right
there on the forest path, just in case you need to use it.. Canadians are
so very considerate!
July 11 - To get between the Gulf Islands by
sea, unless you have a boat of your own, you take one of the B.C. Ferries. In
this instance, Michele McFaull and I drove to Fulford Harbor on Salt Spring
Island. Cars and foot passengers too line up an hour before the
8-times-daily service, and lots of cute shops exist to keep ferry goers occupied.
Here comes the ferry! Load 'em up!
A mere 40 minutes later, the ferry docks at the harbor at Victoria.
What a beautiful city - Victoria, British
Columbia! Along with other tourists, we headed to Fisherman‘s Wharf,
which is a series of houses, shops, and restaurants – – all built on houseboats
in one part of Victoria’s downtown harbor. There is even a water taxi that you
can take for a view of the many houseboats, and also a look at other parts of
Victoria’s harbor. (This part of the island of Victoria is 20 miles away from
the point where the ferry from Salt Springs docks.)
Victoria is the
capital of British Columbia, which seems kind of odd since it is relatively
difficult to get to from the mainland. But it has an imposing Parliament
building which leaves no doubt in your mind that we are truly in a part of
Canada which has the word “British“ in its name.
Michele points out the Gulf Islands area on a
map, and then as we return to the ferry at Schwartz Bay on the top of Greater
Victoria, we stopped at Sidney on the island’s east shore… across from which we
can see the state of Washington quite clearly.
We had a lovely birthday dinner at the Hastings House, an idyllic country resort located on 22 acres of verdant, ocean-front property amid the natural beauty of Salt Spring Island. Hastings House features extensive flower and vegetable gardens that supply their renowned restaurant with the freshest produce
July 13 - Remember Raffi, he of the “Baby Beluga” song?
He is alive and well and living on Salt Spring Island, where on Saturdays he
sells his music, books, and a new board game at the famous Salt Spring Island
Saturday market. The market is worth at least a 90 minute amble, as there are
buskers (street musicians), concerned citizens protesting fracking and oil
tankers, artisan stalls of various kinds including crafters of fanciful bird
houses and some edgy items too, CBD salves, Native groups explaining symbolism
of various plants and animals, food vendors, flower and vegetable vendors, and
as a bonus - the town fathers have carved out a middle section where young
entrepreneurs can set up their wares for sale!
The last night in Salt spring, a glorious sunset over the harbor as a remembrance of this beautiful place!
July 14, going home day...
Ever wondered about the border in the water
between British Columbia and Seattle, Washington? Here's what it looks
like from the plane. And here's the history: Haro Strait, along
with Boundary Pass, connects the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Strait of
Georgia along the international boundary between the USA and Canada. Haro
Strait's status as the location of the international boundary was not
established until the resolution of the San Juan Islands dispute in 1870, when
it was selected by an arbitrator (German Kaiser Wilhelm I) over Rosario Strait,
on the eastern side of the San Juans. The Rosario Strait boundary was of
course preferred by the British and would have made the San Juans part of
British Columbia; the San Juans were originally viewed to be British
following the Oregon Treaty of 1846. Why is this important? Mostly,
it’s a matter of commerce… Haro Strait is an important location for the
regional commercial fishery, as the bulk of the Fraser River salmon run uses
the Haro Strait to enter the Fraser River. The traditional owners of the
Haro Strait and other waters flanking the Gulf Islands and San Juans were the
Straits Salish peoples including the Lummi, Saanich and Klallam. The
route's natural importance as a regional waterway made it also an important
sea-route for raiding and also for regular trade for all marine peoples of the
Northwest Coast. (source: Wikipedia)
As educational, interesting and exciting that travel is, there is no place like home! Makes my heart happy to see the Golden Gate
bridge!
