Date: Mon, 3 May 2004 13:06:49 -0700
Reply-To: Galleons Lap Photo <glphoto@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Galleons Lap Photo <glphoto@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Island hopping in BC
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
On Sun, 2 May 2004 14:39:46 -0400, Automatic digest processor
wrote:
>Date: Sun, 2 May 2004 08:31:40 -0700
>From: gary hradek <hradek@YAHOO.COM>
>Subject: island hopping in BC
>
>The travel section had a nice article about island
>hopping in British Columbia. Has anyone on the list
>done this with their vanagon. What are the costs and
>travel time on the ferrys? What places work well for
>camping? Is getting gas a problem? Any and all
>information welcome. thanks gary
[Then Kirk added]
>From: Kirk Hockin <dochockin@TELUS.NET>
>Subject: Re: island hopping in BC
>Hey Gary,
>Since I happen to live on the big island of the bunch I figured I'd
>point you in the right direction. The Big Island is Vancouver Island
>and is much bigger than the rest (500 km long).
>The gulf islands are the small islands and really beautiful. Some are
>more developed than others. Some have gas stations, some don't. In any
>case most aren't very big; I would recommend taking bikes if you can.
>You could park the van and cruise around at a leisurely cycling pace.
>Enjoy!
>http://www.bcferries.bc.ca/
>http://wlapwww.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/
>http://www.islands.bc.ca/
>http://www.gulfislandsguide.com/index.htm
>http://www.bctravel.com/gulfislands/
Gary
We live part time on the biggest of the small islands, that is
we have a place on Saltspring Island, which is the biggest of
the gulf islands that nestle up to the south east corner of the
Big Island (Vancouver Island). My Westy has no problems getting
onto the BC Ferries. If you have a westy get an accurate height
measurement, but mine is NOT considered overheight. Kirk
(above) mentions the BC Ferries website. They allow you to make
reservations on many (if not all) routes. June starts to get
busy here, consider making reservations on routes that you
really don't want to miss. Reservations cost extra on the main
routes, so many people don't bother. Being caught in ferry
lineups is considered part of the vacation experience here. The
main terminals have facilities like cafes and gift shops etc.
Saltspring has all the conveniences (gas, food, camping,
supermarkets, etc) and lots of westies. Also known for the
saturday market of farmers and artisans. Other islands, as Kirk
mentioned, can be quite abit smaller, but very very pretty.
Also very laid back. Consider a trip to the Sunshine Coast (the
bit of mainland north of Vancouver and east of Vancouver
Island). It is an honourary gulf island, as it is only
accesable by ferry. One route is from city of Vancouver
(Horseshoe Bay terminal) and the other from, if memory serves,
from Courtney on Vancouver Island. Plus one more ferry in the
middle that connects the north and south halves. Lots of
artists and what not. Also great
scuba diving (one of the top 5 spots in the world, if you don't
mind it chilly). Would be happy to answer any other questions,
as I think I may have been a tour guide in a past life.
The village parking lot (of about 150 spots) can have as many as
6 Westies during a summer weekend.
Seth
'80 Westy
Galleons Lap Photography
glphoto@attglobal.net
Tel: (604) 298-0186
