STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT

 

CLIMBING MOUNT PARKE, MAYNE ISLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA

 

  In my quest to reach the peak of every highest point in the Canadian Gulf Islands, I recenty went to Mayne Island.  Mount Parke, around 300 meters abov sea level

To go to Mayne, one takes the BC Ferry from Twassasen.  The boat stops first at Galiano (see my climb up to Mt Galiano), and then Mayne at Village Bay.  There is no village at Village Bay and like most islands, there is no public transit.  Howveer  there are Car Stop poles dotted across the isle.  These car spots are places where locals can stop nad offer you a free ride – in short it’s legalized hitching.  I did get a ride from the ferry terminal from a gentleman and another later.  Not all would stop especially the women.  Perhaps if I had a female companion.

From the ferry, my friendly local dropped me off at the real village Miner’s Bay – so called because it was the in-between point for miners in the 1800s on their way up to the Caribou Country’s gold mines.  There is a bakery selling popular sanddollars at almost $2 (nothing to talk about), and next to it a grocery stoire Tru value where I encountered a horrendous experience later bthat evening.

There is another supermarket, a centurt0old lodging place which has a restaurant, a pub and an iopen deck facing Miner’s Bay. The hotle, Spring water lodeg offers bedroons upstairs at $40 a night refgardless of the season.  Shared bathroom zand keyless doors but a few with water views.  Allison the hotel lady who gave me the tour did remind me once sleeps on top of a pub – so don’t expect a lullaby to the sounds of water carshing on the shore.

There’s another supermarkey, a bookstore, a gasoline station (which rents out mopeds at $0 a day and bikes at pricey $55 a day) a small museum which used to be the island’s jail and across te c=street te century old grcultutal hall.

But my goal is Mount Parke, a mile and a half further away.  At the foot of the trail is a fancy grocery called Farm’s gate, very alcoholc Chciolate bourbon very good but $3,50 for a two by 1 x 1 oiece.

There is also a tree fRog wghich had some leather ggods, belts, cuifffs  made by a local artist at reasinabkle prices.

Mt. Parke’s is not that high.  Mire like a hill so not surprisingly the hike “up” was a piece of cake.  Once you reach the top there will be signs saying ride (going both left and right) and Hallifdau7 Pt (going right).  Take Halliday point.  The ridege on the lefet sidf view is mostly covered by trees.  And not surprisingly the view at the top riode was not spectacular.  I ate my sandwich took pictures and left.

Now going back to Tru value – I needed to use the loo

 

STILL UNDER DEVELOPMENT

Climbing Mount Galiano, British Columbia

Going up Mount Galiano takes an hour not so  much of the height, it is only 300 meters above sea level – about half of Mount Gardner, nor the grade the trail can be flat at times and hardly reaches the need to hang on to soething level, but it is roundabout and winding – preceisely the reason why it I nwould grade the trail good for any age.  I evne saw a dad carrying his very young baby strapped in front of his chest.

To get to Mount Galiano from Vancouver, take the Canada Line train to River Rock Casino in Richmondy transfer tpo Bus No  and then board the ferry bound for Galiano and the other South Gulf Islands.  The earliest on a Sunday morning leaves at 10:50 am.  On board the ferry, you can have a hot breakfast (around $10.00) and pick up maps of Galiano and other islands.

and an hour later, I was disembarking and walking the pier area with a few shops, grocery store with an ATM machine and gasoline station.   There is bakery (always a line) and an ice cream store.   Further up left on the third corbner, was the bike rental shop.  Lovely lady Pam.  A mountain bike at $30 plus HST the whole day and the beauty of the service is you can return the bike late close to the last retrun ferry at 9:25 pm (This ferry will arrive at Tswassen at 10:30 pm giving you enough time to catch the last bus, 11 pm to Canada Line station at Richmond.  If your ferry is late, pray the other boat from Victoria is also late because the bus will normally wait for the last return from the capital.

There are several ways to Mount Galiano but the most scnic and shortest though hiller is through Bluff Paark, thorugh Burrill Rd (where the bike rental shop is).  There is onkly one way to go from Burrill Rd.  The other way is through the main rod which I estimate to be double the distance thogh flatter that of the way bthrough Bluff Park.  In fact you don’t need to rent a bike if going through Bluff.  It would take you a lovely one hopiur walk to the base of the trail to Mount Galiano.  That is if you are not stopping, but there is a good view point in Bluff park where you can see the ferry boats winding their way in and out of the channels and the islands.  You will be impressed with the view but this is just the Opening Act.  Bluff OPark is actually a forest and the gravel road is wide enough for cars.

Then you will reach below an asphalted road, turn left and 100 yards later turn right to another gravel road which will lead you within 10 minutes to the base of Mount Galiano.  But I suiggest go past the parking lot, and head down to the century –old cemetery which has a quiet mediataive viewpoint with beches to look upon the Active Pass.

Now head back to the parking lot where the trail up to Mount Galiano starts. 

You really don’t hit the peak but close.  Instead you are at the edge of the mountain (really more like a big hill), with one of the most faboulus vistas in British Columbia.  The blue water with the islands, just at the right height was delicious.  You have to see the picture to get an idea.  There are millions of great water views around the world and this one is one of the good ones.  The combo was just great.  There are enough grassy ground to sit on, munch and listen to your Ipod.  Heavenly!

On the way back, take nthe other fallet route if you have the time, around 2 hours to walk back with stops at roadside vendor (which reminds me of NZ) and farms and island homes.

The best things In BC are free and this is one of them.