Picture: One of the many wood carvings adorning the town of Ganges.

Van and Cida wanted to have more time on Salt Spring Island so we stayed another day. The next day we bought a one-way bus ticket from Ganges to Long Harbour. Since we did not get off, it is considered a one-trip fare (retirees like us think about savings like that). We talked with a local man who was just taking a bus to tour the island like a joy ride. He told us that local people live a normal life with non-tourism related jobs, despite the booming tourism industry in the summertime. He praised the convenience of the British Columbia transportation system, especially the ferry system. He said that he could travel anywhere on the East Coast by taking a ferry to Vancouver and from there he could travel anywhere. At Long Harbour, many automobiles and foot travelers got on and off the ferry. As matter fact, since we first entered British Columbia, we frequently encounter BC ferries while at sea.

The bus tour inspired Van to want to see Fulford Harbour on the other side of the island. At the same time the wind was increasing so Ted went back to "Shuang Yu" to make sure she is secured while Van, Cida and I hopped on the bus. Ted also had some other jobs he needed to do while the rest of us were ashore. There is a 17-hectare reserve near Fulford Harbour that dates back to 1877. It belongs to the Coast Salish people, indigenous to this part of the Pacific Northwest Coast.

Settlers arrived in 1859. Many were African-Americans fleeing racism in California, but there were also Hawaiians who had worked in the whaling industry and fur trade, along with some Japanese laborers. In the 1930s, the island became a tourist haven. And in the 1960s, a wave of artists and American draft dodgers arrived. Many never left. In conclusion, many of the local people can be traced back to the wonderful mixture of indigenous natives, descendents of immigrants, hippies, artists, musicians, and newcomers, living harmoniously on this island full of tall conifer trees, vineyards, farms and beaches. It was a worthwhile stay.