Salt Spring Island

About three years ago our friends Jenn & Christian (and kids) moved to Salt Spring Island. We've seen them a very few times since and always on the mainland when they've come to visit family. We decided it was high time to visit them now that their new home was finished and they weren't living in a camping trailer anymore :)

Early Saturday morning we packed up the brood and set sail for SSI!

Nathan and Chad taking great care of Liam in the back seat. Keith and I never have to worry about Liam with his big brothers there entertaining him.

Liam practices his driving skills at the Tswwassen terminal as we await our ferry. It was very cold and windy but the older boys enjoy the playground there.

A lovely fellow saw us making Nathan take our picture and offered to get our entire family for us. We were lucky enough to sail on one of the newest ferries. It was really quite beautiful, new and clean. We enjoy the sun deck. We could watch the waves and stay sort of warm too. Nathan hadn't been on a ferry since he was two and Chad never. They really liked it!

This picture was taken on the next ferry to SSI. It was very small and most people just stayed in their vehicles. It took about 35 minutes.

This is their lovely new home. Isn't it a gorgeous setting? You can see it's construction photos at www.houseofstone.blogspot.com. I know there was a lot of blood, sweat and tears put into their house!

The boys immediately found the dress up box! They are all such good friends even though the visits are so few and far between.

Jenn made us some scrumptious meals. Here is Keith partaking in some fluffy pancakes topped with his fruit salad. Add a hot cup of coffee and that is one happy man.

Liam was a perfect travelling baby. He was happy, slept well, ate well and generally didn't cause us any undue stress. He appears to thrive with new environments and lots of stimulation. Look at that beautiful view out their window. The boys played in the forest back there all the time. There is a wee creek running through as well.

Good thing Liam likes his car seat. He had many good sleeps in there!

We drove up one of the local moutains to see the fabulous views. Wow....the picture just doesn't do it justice at all. It was quite breath taking.

On Sunday, they took us to Ruckle Beach. It was a stunningly beautiful park with so much to explore.

The kids loved touching the sea anenomes and starfish. Jenn thinks she's a marine biologist and gave us a little lesson on many of the creatures we saw.

This is Christian with his two wives. Actually, Jenn and I decided we each would like a wife!

We had fun doing all the kitchen work at double the speed things usually get done.

Ahhhhh...good times with good friends. It was so nice to see them and explore their beautiful surroundings. The air there was so fresh and actually delicious. I just kept breathing in great big lungfuls. Yum!

The kids.....finally we get them together for a group shot.

Isaiah just got a new camera so he was very busy snapping pictures...just like me!

Just playing with some saturation settings on this one.

The backpack was just perfect for our trip. There was no place to push a stroller at all!

The boys decided to set the driftwood back to sea. As we walked away it was already back at shore, beating against the rocks. You can't fight nature!

Have you ever seen purple starfish before? So cool!

Yes, it's a good thing Liam was strapped in tight. It's a wonder he didn't puke all over Keith's neck!

Back at Fulford Harbour where the ferry terminal is located. We stopped for a short time before we boarded to explore a few shops. This organic cafe was most unique. We saw a few hippies, not that my kids knew what hippies are!

This particular busker was banging a drum and playing a digery-do (sp?). Unique indeed.

Her side kick was a mediocre juggler. He saw us walk in and pounced on us right away hoping for some spare change. He said....'Hi! I've come all the way from Nova Scotia to show you my balls!'.

Hey thanks dude for saying that to the kids. Jeez. I added a small clip for your viewing pleasure.

The wee village of Fulford Harbour. A most interesting people watching location.

After riding the ferry back to Schwartz Bay we had hoped to make the 7 pm sailing. No such luck. We got there at 6:48 pm and the 7 pm sailing had been sold out since around 5 pm. We settled in for a long wait as the next one was at 9 pm. BUT.....the annoucements came on and we heard there was an unscheduled 8 pm sailing going to happen that night. Yippee! We were thrilled. The kids were hungry and I needed to use the ladies. Good news all around. So we thankfully had some yummy White Spot burgers and enjoyed the smooth sail home.

The boys right before sailing. They were so tired they fell asleep in the car on the ride back to town. Completely unheard of!

Wow...that was a long post. Thanks for sticking with me to the end....if you are reading this you know who you are :)

Thank you Christian, Jenn, Isaiah, Brennan & Abby for the wonderful time! Nathan says he's moving to SSI as soon as he's grown up. Maybe you'll still be there!