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5/10/2004 6:41:24 AM
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Les
Posts 4243
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Pat W.
In another posting you’d asked, how to get to Salt Spring Island from the East Coast. I`ll play travel agent and try and personalize what Alice said , assuming you‘re starting in Baltimore.
Bottom line: for you, the least complicated way would be to fly to Victoria then take ferry to Salt Spring.
First of all, I’ll tell you about the island from a non-residents point of view. It is a beautiful, pastoral - very green - island with winding country roads. It was a place which became popular in the late sixties for the back-to-the-landers to settle. Living is low key and kind of “natural”. Lots of long skirts and Birkenstocks!! There’d be lots of cottage industries, many artists, little stands at the end of peoples lanes with produce, fresh bread, flowers all based on the honour system. ie. put your money in the mayonnaise jar and take what you’ve bought. There are a few towns with harbours, some inland lakes. Very refreshing for one to get away from the rat race.
Here’s what the ferry site says:
“Sunshine and scenery make Salt Spring, the largest and most populated of the Gulf Islands, an artist`s paradise. Salt Spring Island`s galleries and craft studios feature a variety of works from internationally renowned artists.
Shop in Ganges at Artcraft, the summer-long arts and crafts fair, the Saturday morning market, quaint retail shops, and galleries. The Island offers a full range of quality accommodations, excellent restaurants ranging from vegetarian, ethnic, and pub fare to fine dining and a gourmet coffee house, and activities such as golfing, kayaking, wind surfing, fishing, sailing, and more. “
So, if you’re flying, you’ve got to get to Victoria, BC or Vancouver, BC in Canada, or Seattle and take a ferry to Salt Spring. Flights are most often cheaper to Vancouver than Victoria and there would be more available flights to Vancouver which is a larger city and a hub I guess. That said, it would be quickest and less complicated for you to take a flight to Victoria (which is closer to Salt Spring), take a taxi to the Ferry Terminal at Swartz Bay and then a quick ferry to Salt Spring. Assuming you’ve probably spent about 6 hours on the plane from MD, you may want to get there the quickest way.
Baltimore ~ Victoria + taxi +short ferry ride = Salt Spring (8 ferries per day)
From Vancouver Airport one would take 1- 2 ferry’s to get to get to Salt Spring. So, from the airport one must take a taxi, limousine or bus to the Tsawwassen ferry terminal, which isn‘t too far away. Take the ferry to Swartz Bay on Vancouver Island (just outside of Victoria) (80 min fery ride) and then catch the ferry to Salt Spring. OR take the milk run ferry from Tsawwassen to Salt Spring for a longer, more scenic ride through the islands (3 hours, Alice said).
Baltimore ~ Vancouver + taxi to ferry + ferry to Swartz Bay (Victoria)lots of trips per day + short ferry ride(there are 8 trips per day) = Salt Spring
or
Baltimore ~Vancouver + taxi to ferry + milk run ferry to Salt Spring (I think it goes twice a day)
I won’t mention Seattle to Salt Spring, simply because it would probably take longer - the ride from the airport SEA-TAC to the ferry terminal would be longer ($$) as would the ferry ride for you. This is not to say that this wouldn’t be better or more convenient for others coming from other locales.
www.bcferries.com will give info and maps etc. Use links for “Southern Gulf Islands” and remember
Vancouver ferry terminal = Tsawwassen
Victoria ferry terminal = Swartz Bay
Les
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5/10/2004 8:16:35 AM
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Alice Trueman
Posts 1784
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Lesley
Right On!!!!
Alice
Salt Spring Island
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5/10/2004 12:12:07 PM
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patw
Posts 2826
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Les,
Thank you so much for this information. I am not sure if this group will pick that place or if the trip will be doable for me at that time of year, but I thought it was worth finding out the logistics of getting there and the cost. Because of the airline crisis after 911, some fares have been very resonable. If the group picks this place, I can then begin to look into flight costs.
I have always wanted to go to Vancover. My Dad was in the Navy and stationed at Woodby Island, WA in 1945-47. He and my mother took many trips to Vancover and he has lots of pictures of the area. I asked him if he knew about Salt Spring Island, and he said it was a very beautiful place.
Plus, Alice makes it sound like the perfect place for a retreat.
So, how are we going to get to a consensus and actually begin to plan this gathering?
patw
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5/10/2004 6:46:23 PM
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bets
Posts 18976
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Hi!
I need to check fares again-I found the fare to Seattle to be about 327.00, and 527.00 for me to get to Vancouver from here. (If it makes you feel ANY better, Les, it seems to reciprocate.)
Pat, were you looking at a particular time?
Bets
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5/10/2004 10:12:35 PM
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Alice Trueman
Posts 1784
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Hi Bets
I just did a quick check of on-line fares for mid-September - you would definitely be better-off to fly into Seattle-Tacoma International. NW is showing Houston-SeaTac at $405CDN which is about $300US and Delta at $433CDN. Then you could take the boat to Victoria, B.C. from Seattle or else meet up with people driving from Seattle area.
Alice
Salt Spring Island
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5/11/2004 12:03:22 PM
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Les
Posts 4243
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This is the 3rd time I’ve tried to respond with a post! my blessed computer is doing some weird stuff today and shuts down before I finish. I’m writing in word now and saving every paragraph!!
People seem to be checking if Salt Spring is doable. Of course, location is not going to work for everyone, nor will the dates work for everyone.
We`re all running pretty busy lives and Sept will be here before we know it. We need time to work out the logistics such as what’s it going to cost, getting time off work, getting work coverage, calling in favours for chauffeuring, child care, negotiations with family members, etc.
From what Alice said, I don’t think that we would find nicer or more economical food/accomodation for a group. Having a place where we can all congregate is important. Not having to go out for meals saves more time for fun! And what a beauty of a spot - we wouldn‘t want for activities! Alice, if you were cooking, would you be able to join in on the fun? Could we help you?
Checked the date of the Fall Fair - it is Sept 18-19. here is the website http://www.saltspringmarket.com/salt_spring_island/fallfair.htm
There is also a website for photo’s of the island
http://www.flatearthphoto.com/SSI.htm
We need to know:
* are you seriously considering this as an option
* How many days?
* Alice - Is the farm available? What price range (I know it depends on how many people attend) would we be looking at for accomodation. You have already mentioned food costs.
I’m seriously considering it and if it’s a go, probably would travel on the Thurs, and leave on the Monday.
Comments?
(if anyone is coming from afar and wants to do the trip in 2 legs, they could always come to Calgary and I`d pick them up and then the 2 of us could continue the next day)
Les
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