Other Island Activities…

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Photosynthesis 2007

The photographers of Salt Spring Island will again be organizing one of the best group shows in the West from June 10 - 30 2007. This annual event is again taking up the entire gallery space at ArtSpring, the island's Art and Theatre complex. If you have been to past shows, then you know the calibre of art that will be on display, and once again all images are new. If you have not been to the show before, I recommend you come and visit. The reception is June 10 2007 from 6 pm to 9 pm. www.saltspringphotographers.ca.

 If you have an questions, please do not hesitate to contact Seth Berkowitz.

Salt Spring Island Natural Fibre Festival

The Salt Spring Island Natural Fibre Festival celebrates the uses of natural fibres -- wools, silks, alpaca, mohair, Soy Silk, Bamboo and a lot more! -- in the hand-creation of fabrics and fashion garments. Please see our website (www.fibrefestival.com) for more information, or write info@fibrefestival.com. This year:

• Our excellent workshops will run from July 18-24 2007. Please visit our website for details & to register.
• Friday night, July 20 - Keynote Dinner and Presentation at Stowell Lake Farm's beautiful gardens. The keynote presentation will be by Charlotte Kwon, of Maiwa Handprints. Charlotte will talk about her work in restoring the viability of indigenous fibre crafts in India – and she’ll bring samples of her textile collection, too!
• on Saturday night, July 21, the Designers’ Showcase will stage fabulous work from name designers, as well as from design students and the many talented non-professional fibre artists in Canada.
• and on the weekend, come visit the Festival events: demos (some hands-on), displays, contests, a quilt show, top vendors, and more.

Whimsical Productions Creativity Retreat

Whimsical Productions' Creativity Retreat offers a week of artistic exploration on the inspirational Salt Spring Island, BC from August 13-17 2007. Theatre and documentary director Sheena D. Robertson with dancer, choreographer Nicole Fougere lead you through the creation process to the completion of a theatrical presentation on the last day of the course.

Drama strategies such as collaborative games, scripting, and in-role drama fuse with dance skills such as improvisation and composition to give you valuable tools to re-connect with your own creativity.

The week is balanced with optional classes including Tai Foot Massage, Reiki, Whole Body Massage and Yoga taught by wellness experts Gilles Thuriaux and Jeannie Vasilakos. Treatments may also be booked in advance with either of these talented practitioners.

Visit our web site for more information: www.whimsicalproductions.com
Email: whimsicalsdr@gmail.com

Music & Munch

This musical program has been a great success. Music and Munch provides an eclectic selection of musical forms to please all tastes. Held at All Saints Church by the Sea at 110 Park Drive in Ganges, the performance is free to all. The free performances, sometimes full to capacity, take place on Wednesdays throughout the summer at 12:10 pm with a light (& delicious!) lunch provided by the Anglican Caterers following for $5.50.

Fall Fair

Gulf Islands Nature Tour - Gulf Islands, BC

October 18-23 2007: Run by Salt Spring Island native Capt. Kevin Smith, this 5-night tour of the Gulf Islands aboard the classic schooner Maple Leaf gives visitors a view of the wild side of the Islands, including Salt Spring Island and many more remote islets popular with wildlife. Trip includes an expert naturalist and gourmet chef.
For more information, call 1-888-599-5323 or visit www.mapleleafadventures.com

Tall Sails & Ales Tour, Gulf Islands, BC

October 25-30 2007: Run by Salt Spring Island native Capt. Kevin Smith and by Greg Evans, executive director of the Maritime Museum of BC, this 5-night educational tasting tour takes in the best microbrews of BC including that of Gulf Islands Brewery on Salt Spring Island. Board the classic BC schooner Maple Leaf to tour Gulf Island / South Vancouver Island breweries, learn local brewing history, techniques, food pairing and more, as well as exploring the natural world of the Gulf Islands with forest walks, wildlife viewing, and beach walks.
For info call 1-888-599-5323 or visit www.mapleleafadventures.com

Foxglove Farm & Garden Supplies

Summer is here and it's definitely time to include gardening in your "other activities. Head to to Foxglove Farm & Garden Supplies at 104 Atkins Road in Ganges for all your farm & garden supplies. Email  foxglove@saltspring.com or call 250-537-5531.

SPCA

Internet Cafe

IMF - Island Monetary Foundaton

The Salt Spring $$ are available in currencies of $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Each features work by local artists of local scenes and historical figures. To date, artwork by Warren Langley, David Halliwell, Carol Haigh, Jill Louise Campbell, Carol Evans and Robert Bateman has been used.

Hiking & Mountain Biking

There are a number of hiking trails on Salt Spring Island. The most popular trails are in Mount Maxwell Park, on Bruce Peak, nearby Mount Tuam, the trail from Bruce Peak to Mt. Sullivan, on Mount Erskine, in Peter Arnell Park which takes in an area on both sides of Stewart Road, and the trail that starts by the entrance to the park and leads to 80 Acre Park, also known as Bryant Hills Park. It can also be accessed from the end of Sarah Way. What looks like a gravel driveway to the right of the cul-de-sac on the end of Sarah Way leads down to a parking lot. If you go through the yellow gate below the parking lot, you are heading towards 80 Acre Park. If you go left at the yellow gate, there is a nature preserve. A fairly new trail stretches out to the south of that point. There is also a network of hiking trails at Ruckle Park down in the southeast corner of Salt Spring Island. Except in the northern end of the park, there is very little elevation change. A sign indicates that bikes are not permitted on the trails at Ruckle Park. However, except for when the trails are wet and muddy immediately after a rainfall, it would be perfect for multi-user access. Except for the end closest to the parking lot, the trail out to Yeo Point is very lightly used, but would be ideal for riding on. Generally speaking, there are not too many safety concerns with wildlife on Salt Spring Island other than watching for deer on the road, but the occasional bear and cougar have been known to swim over from Vancouver Island. There are many blacktail deer on Salt Spring Island.

Mt. Maxwell, officially named Baynes Peak, is the second highest point on Salt Spring Island. It rises about 595 metres or 1950 feet above sea level. With a sheer drop on one side, the view can be quite spectacular. There is a network of trails within the park. While you can drive to the top of Mt. Maxwell and enjoy the view, it's a nice change to park at the bottom of the hill or part way up and hike or mountain bike to the top. The approach is from either Blackburn Road or Cranberry Road. It is about 5 km from the start of the gravel road to the top. Once you start up Maxwell, it's uphill all the way on a good dirt road. The view opens up to the southwest as you get to the top. There is a sheer drop (fenced) at the top that gives a spectacular view down to Burgoyne Bay below, across to Vancouver Island, to Bruce Peak which is slightly higher, and stretching out to the south, the Fulford Valley. There is a good view back up to the steep side of Maxwell from the Fulford Valley.

The trail to 80 Acre Park (Bryant Hills Park) is well marked and has stairs in the steeper parts. There are spectacular views at a high spot about 2 km from the start on the Peter Arnell Park end. From there, the route goes level for a while and then descends a steep hillside on a good trail with a number of switchbacks. It then climbs to a plateau in the middle of 80 Acre Park. There are views of Mount Maxwell and Burgoyne Bay from here. Old logging roads can even be followed from there to Mereside Road, but may cross private land towards the end. Mereside Road joins the Fulford-Ganges Road just south of Ford Lake.

The view from the top of Bruce Peak is spectacular if you don't mind the many communications towers. Mt. Baker (about 3,050 metres or 10,000 feet) can be seen to the east, and on a very clear day, you can even see Mt. Rainier (4392 metres or 14,410 feet) off to the southeast. Two wheel drive vehicles can negotiate the road to a point that gets most of the vertical climb behind you, but there is one very steep section near the top that used to be  very rough. Even though the ruts have been filled with gravel and it has been graded, this section should be left for four wheel drive vehicles or even better, continue to the top on foot or mountain bike to prevent chewing the road up again. After enjoying the view from the top, the traverse to Mt. Sullivan off to the northwest is very pleasant. There is a good trail most of the way. It's a mix of replanted forest and some old growth. There are some "ups and downs" but there isn't a lot of vertical involved in the traverse. The road to Mount Tuam branches off from the Bruce Peak road at about the 280 metre elevation just above Little Lake. Mt. Tuam is lower but gives some nice views off to towards Victoria and the Saanich Peninsular.

There are trails to and from Manzanita Ridge and Mt. Erskine from both ends. From the south end, go up Cranberry Road and turn right on Toinbee Road. Turn right at the "tree farm" gate. Note: there isn't really room to park at this point. About 100 metres from the gate, turn left and proceed to the fork in the road. The fork to the right goes to a new sub-division that is under development. Road access to the sub-division will be from Juniper Place, but the road is currently gated just above where it joins Rainbow Road. The left fork takes you to Manzanita Ridge. The trail crosses under two power lines. After the second power line (nice views in spite of the power line) carry on along the ridge about another 20 minutes or so and you will arrive at Mt. Erskine. There are spectacular views down to the water below, Vancouver Island in the background, the northern end of Salt Spring Island to the north including St. Mary Lake, some of the other gulf Islands, and the mountains to the north of Vancouver. From this beautiful spot trails descend down to Collins Road. Watch out for the fairy doors and watch that you don't step on any fairies or elves! Most people probably access Mt. Erskine from the Collins Road end, but the Manzanita Ridge trail is an interesting alternative.

The trails along the rocky shore at Ruckle Park down at Beaver Point on the southeast end of the island are very scenic. Growing in popularity is the incredibly spectacular trail that goes about 4.4 km to the shore at Yeo Point. Deer can often be seen on this trail and of course harbour seals and lots of bird life on the water. You can do a loop trail that will total 8.6 km. Don't forget to ask "how are ewe doing" when you go by the sheep! The land for Ruckle Park was donated to the province by the Ruckle family, who still lives on and farms part of the property. There is a provincial campground at Ruckle Park, but book early for summer.

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