Ibike USA/Canada Program
Rolling the Islands of the Salish Sea
   
 

 

Photo essay: Rolling the Islands of the Salish Sea: Chimainus
   

Sidney to CHIMAINUS  (50km, 30mi) (plus ferry ride)
Points of interest: Sidney, Swartz Bay, Salt Spring Island, Japanese, Sikh and Hawaiian heritage, St Anne’s Church, Chimainus
  Sailing through the Canadian Gulf Islands on BC Ferries. Sailing through the Canadian Gulf Islands on BC Ferries. Sailing through the Canadian Gulf Islands on BC Ferries. Sailing through the Canadian Gulf Islands on BC Ferries. Sailing through the Canadian Gulf Islands on BC Ferries.
  St Anne Church, Folford, Salt Spring Island.  The adjacent cemetery has Hawaiians, African-Americans, and Japanese, reflecting the early multi-racial composition of the citizenry of the island.  It is a rich history that seems to have been largely lost in Salt Spring Island's rush to commercialism.
  Picking blackberries in the morning, but these ladies didn't restrict themselves to morning hours for plucking the succulent morsels.  The cry "BLACKBERRIES" was heard at all times of the day, at which time all other activities (namely bicycling) ceased and they were back arching into, or hopefully, slightly over, the foliage.
  Farmland on Salt Spring IslandSalt Spring Island has over 60 bed & breakfasts, another 60 self-catering cottages, uncounted campgrounds, resorts, hotels and inns, more than 40 residential art studios and various specialty farms (organic, cheese, lavender, llama (lower right), vineyard, aquafarm, etc).  Lone llama in a pasture
In some sections it seems like every other house had a shingle out front promoting some kind of good or service.  The one to the left stood out because it was creative, utilized a bicycle and was non-commercial.
  Skidding bicycle caution sign Bicycles parked under a big tree in Ganges, Salt Spring IslandStaying with the bicycle theme for just a moment:  The sign on the left, with the skidding bicycle is new to me and a bit of a hoot.   To the right, the groups bicycles are parked under a tree in Ganges, Salt Spring Island, while we picnicked out on the lawn.
 
Crofton, BC		 Leaving Salt Spring Island for Vancouver Island you see the two sides to Crofton, BC: the quiet village (left) and the controversial paper mill (right).
"Each day approximately 25 million cubic meters of exhaust gases leave the Crofton paper mill, carrying with them roughly 1500 kg of fine particulate matter, 4500 kg of sulphur dioxide, 2500 kg of volatile organic compounds, 2500 kg of methanol, 1000 kg of hydrochloric acid, etc. The plume also contains some of the most dangerous substances known to life: dioxins and furans, chlorine dioxide, formaldehyde, lead, and hexavalent chromium." (Source: Environment Canada's National Pollution Release Inventory (NPRI) 2003; data supplied by NorskeCanada.)
  Chimainus mural
Chimainus mural		 Chimainus muralChimainus muralChimainus is known for its historical murals. The project was started in 1982.  There are now more than 35 murals and 13 sculptures depicting the towns history, people and future.
  If you take a side trip to Mayne Island you can do a loop that, at a comfortable speed, with assorted stops, takes about three hours.  One of the oldest buildings you will pass is St Mary Magdalene Church, founded 1897.
 
Georgina Point Lighthouse		 Georgina Point Lighthouse, at the entrance to Active Pass, the straight between Mayne Island and Galiano Island.  Mr. Georgeson built and maintained the lighthouse from 1885-1923.  Active Pass is so named because the first steamship to pass through was USS Active, a 107 feet long, 296-ton tug, launched in 1888, sunk in 1926, raised and sold in 1929 to interest in Puget Sound, and continued in service until 1963.
 
Seal at Georgina Point		 Seal at Georgina Point.  In 1967, BC Ferry passengers saw what they claimed to be a mermaid sitting on rocks at the entrance to Active Pass. Reports indicated that the mermaid had long blonde hair, the lower body of a porpoise and was sitting on the rocks eating a salmon. Photos taken by a man in an aircraft support the ferry passengers' description
 
Mayne Island Japanese Garden

 

 The Mayne Japanese Garden was developed to commemorate the Japanese families who settled on Mayne Is. From 1900 to 1942. The Japanese community eventually comprising a third of the island's population. They provided more than half of its economy. With the
outbreak of hostilities with Japan they were forced to leave in 1942. The school closed for lack of students. With their properties expropriated and their possessions sold very few returned to the island, yet close friendships were maintained and still endures. These friendship led
to the creation of the garden which was created by
volunteer and donations. The garden includes a pond, lanterns, bridges, paths and dozens of varieties of plants.
  There must be a very health deer population on Mayne Island because you can't seem to take an early morning or late afternoon ride without seeing at least one and more likely a half dozen of the animals.
  Another good day, with more beautiful weather, and engaging traveling, warrants another hearty dinner, al fresco.  It is clear that there is no dissent at  this table.
  Sunset and sunrise on Active Pass from Mayne Is.
   
 

Travelogue Main PageTour InformationTour mapRegister for this tour
 

Please write if you would like to be added to Ibike's mailing list or have questions, comments, criticism, praise or additional information for us. (Also, please let us know how you learned about us and found this site.) Privacy policy.

  IBF's Homepage           Ibike Programs            Search

"Hosted by ThinkHost - earth friendly web hosting"
Created by David Mozer
Copyright 1993-2008 Ibike Tours. All rights reserved.