The Inner Harbour

When we say we are going to 'town' we mean we are heading to Nanaimo (as opposed to 'The Village' which would be Gabriola). On foot, as you leave the ferry terminal in Nanaimo you find yourself passing the Cameron Island wharf and the Port Place shopping center and quite quickly you will be on the walkway in the Nanaimo inner harbour. So many destinations are right there or close by, the Protection Island foot ferry, Penny's Palapa (a great floating Mexican restaurant), Java Wocky Coffee, boutique shops, Fisherman's Wharf, the Bastion Fort historical site and downtown historical walk, a weekend craft fair, the Convention Center, Port Theatre, Nanaimo Art Gallery, Library, Nanaimo Museum and more.

Yoga and Wine

While at a cross conditioning class this evening I came upon a brochure for what looks to be a well paired evening. This began last Friday but runs for four weeks so this Friday is as good as any...

Friday, May 22nd - 5:00 PM
Yoga and Wine Tasting
Progressively Enlightening Evenings

How it works ...

The evenings begin at Island of Peace Yoga (535 North Road) with a yoga experience of relaxation and breathing techniques to prepare us for a very complete experience of wine; 5 to 6:00 PM. To participate, you must be able to sit, stand, and breathe. Limit of 20 people per week. Reservations: 250-325-7221. $15 per person or $25 per couple.

Based on your tasting experience, then progress to the Village Liquor Store where you can purchase a bottle or two of your preferred selection.

The evenings conclude with a specially prepared three-course meal at The Surf, created to enhance the wine and continue your experience of mindful pleasure. Bring your newly purchased wine and enjoy no corkage fees for your evening meal with the island’s best sunsets. Price fixed meals $21.95. Reservations: 250-247-9231

The menu is listed on the Island of Peace website and it looks fabulous. So if you feel like a relaxing evening ending with great food and wine then try this out, I am sure your body and mind will thank-you.

Home and Away

It was the end of a sunny week when the idea of a camp-out struck me. Along with my husband, our kids and many friends both grown and growing we packed all our earthly belongings for one exciting night. We got in the car and drove...5 minutes to the local campground here on Gabriola! What a treat, the campground at Descanso Bay Regional Park is a beautiful and family friendly location. After hours of fun we strolled the short distance to the beach and sat to watch the sun as it set. A fantastic event to cap off a fantastic day!

A Dip in the Lake

A weather forecast of warm sunny days sent us off to Cowichan Lake to enjoy the mid week camping experience. We were not disappointed, a 1&1/2 hour drive and we were there, blue skies and clear water welcomed us. We tried out our new zero gravity lounge chairs and I took a dip in the lake, cold but very refreshing. Two days later we headed home, with a stop at Russell Farms Market for fresh local vegetables on our way back. We arrived home in time to garden on this very fine weekend!

A Shiny New Fire Truck

The Gabriola Fire Department has a shiny new red fire truck which came to us on the Quinsam (our ferry). Our old 1978 pumper truck was bought by the Mudge Island Citizens Society and is shown being barged over to Mudge Island.

Saturday Market

Gabriola's Saturday market opened this weekend for the season and will continue into the fall. There was a good selection of produce from the Good Earth Market Garden including lettuces, asian greens, spinach, radishes and leeks. The Slow Rise Bakery table offered delicious breads including apricot ginger, roasted garlic, and medjool date cinnamon, plus their very poplar scones. The licorice lady was there, and there were pies and home made donuts. There were stalls offering natural skin care products and cottage craft soaps, pottery, jewelry, cards, tie dye clothing, garden ornaments, outdoor furniture, and face painting for the kids. It was a great turnout for this first of the season public market.

Dogwood

The Pacific Dogwood is in bloom all over Gabriola right now, but the best show is at the south end. On our way to the Community Hall to vote we passed an area dense with Dogwood and one tree stood out to me, the flowers were luminous!

History in Art

This mural, depicting the 18th century Spanish explorer Captain Alexandro Malaspina sketching the Gabriola Island sandstone formation known as Malaspina Galleries, was discovered behind a wall in 1996 during the demolition of the Malaspina Hotel in Nanaimo. The photo shows Cheryle Harrison expertly restoring the mural, which was a crumbling mess, to its former glory. The mural will be unveiled next weekend in its new home at Nanaimo's Vancouver Island Conference Centre. (info from Victoria Times Colonist, photo by Jeremiah Armstrong)

and then came the Orcas

Not uncommon but always exciting, Orca Whales swimming through Dodds Narrows, viewed from Mudge Island.

Dodds Narrows

Mudge Island is a stone's throw across False Narrows from Gabriola and Dodds Narrows separates Mudge from Vancouver Island. Dodds Narrows is very narrow as the name suggests and 90 feet deep. It offers safe passage for almost any pleasure boat and a swift tide. We have watched long lines of boats pop through this marine pass when the tide is right. On the day we visited the water was very clear, with sea weeds, little white jelly fish, star fish, sea anenomes and sea mushrooms (or maybe they were cauliflowers) all quite visible. Along the water's edge are fantastic sandstone shapes and arbutus, stonecrop and indian paint brush hug the rocks.

Escape to Mudge Island

It was a beautiful spring day, warm and balmy - we had business to do on Mudge Island and what a day to do it! We launched the boat from Gabriola and 10 minutes later we reached Mudge. We hopped out onto the co-op dock and walked up the road to a very pretty property on the south side overlooking Dodds Narrows. It was a lovely afternoon spent with some very nice island people and we got home just in time for dinner.