Lucky me. I headed off to cycle tour the southern Gulf Islands for 4 days and 3 nights, and ran into nothing but sunshine. The trip involved modest cyling distances, great campgrounds, picture postcard views and that special Island vibe. The southern Gulf Islands are north of the Saanich Peninsula, to the north of Victoria. I'd regularly visited Saltspring (check out Ruckle Park, a favourite campground). I settled on Galiano and Mayne Islands for this trip. I did a good amount of indulging myself on this leisurely tour. This pic is from the terrace of Springwater Lodge pub at Miners Bay on Mayne Island, where I had lunch & watched the world go by I was coming down Vancouver Island from Dunca
What's that, you say? Touring Nanaimo harbour!? Many have only seen Nanaimo as they pass through along the busy highway. But check out the waterfront and you'll find a vibrant, attractively developed, popular stretch, complete with views to die for, parks, restaurants and shops to entice you. Bustling marinas with boats, ferries and seaplanes coming and going. All a few blocks from the downtown core. That's former Nanaimo mayor Frank Ney (he of the famous bathtub race) immortalized in bronze above, in Maffeo-Sutton Park. In the lower right, you can see a group loading onto the small ferry for the 10 minute crossing ($5 return) to Newcastle Island in behind. Coming off the Departure Bay ferry
