Planning a trip to Vancouver Island this summer. Got Waggoner's, but it is
aimed at live aboard cruising vessels. Thing if Ganges on Salt Spring and
Gabriola Island B&B's for a few nights, before heading to Tolfino and
Campbell River and Tahsis. Any suggestions for resonable B&B's? The
$120-150 / night range. And close enough to mooring sites. 21' boat.

On Jun 13, 8:19 pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:
Planning a trip to Vancouver Island this summer. Got Waggoner's, but it is
aimed at live aboard cruising vessels. Thing if Ganges on Salt Spring and
Gabriola Island B&B's for a few nights, before heading to Tolfino and
Campbell River and Tahsis. Any suggestions for resonable B&B's? The
$120-150 / night range. And close enough to mooring sites. 21' boat.

If you want to absolutely spoil yourself, spend a night he

http://www.hastingshouse.com/

Rooms are a bit more than double your budget..........but wowzers.
The restaurant at this hotel is also *outta sight* (and I'm not merely
referring to price..) :-)

The hotel overlooks the harbor, and one of the rooms is built up from
the oldest building on Saltspring, the Hudson Bay Trading Post.

We go to Ganges every summer, but always stay on the boat so I can't
help you with B&B.........

But do try to hit Ganges on a Saturday. Do the market.

Follows is a bit that I wrote last winter about Ganges. Something in
this text may be of interest when planning a visit there. (Can't
remember if I posted this here before......if so, sorry for the
repeat)

*************************

Ganges


My wife's favorite destination in the Gulf Islands is Ganges, on
Saltspring Island. We plan our summer cruises to include a night or
two in Ganges Harbour. If I aspire to
"most favored husband" status I will assure that our scheduled visit
to Ganges allows Jan to spend a few hours, (and at least a few
dollars), at the Ganges Saturday Market. Ganges is a free-spirited and
eclectic community, with a unique history that continues to exert an
obvious influence on the character of the town.

Among the earliest settlers on Saltspring Island were ex-slaves
fleeing the California gold fields. During the 1850's, it was a common
practice for American planters living in southern states to dispatch
slave labor to work gold claims in California. Perhaps to help ensure
that the slaves wouldn't simply run for the hills upon arrival in
California, slave holders would often agree that once a slave had
recovered many thousands of dollars worth of gold on behalf of his
absentee owner the slave would summarily be granted his official
freedom. Some of the slave owners were known to renege on this
agreement, but it was honored frequently enough that a large community
of freed slaves began forming in California. Concerned white residents
of California began passing some racially discriminatory laws, (for
example, a black person was prohibited by law from testifying in court
against a white person), and many of the recently emancipated blacks
thought it might be prudent to move on before conditions became even
more oppressive.

Slavery had been outlawed in Britain, including all British
territories, colonies, and protectorates, in the early 1830's. As a
result, Canada was thereafter considered the "promised land" by many
freed and escaped American slaves. Governor James Douglas, (thought by
many historians to be of mixed-race heritage himself), felt that
encouraging ex-slaves to settle on Vancouver Island and other islands
nearby would establish a population willing to forcibly resist any
territorial incursions by Americans. Nine families of freed blacks in
California wrote a letter to Governor Douglas, and he invited them to
relocate to British Columbia's Saltspring Island.

Just a year after the abolition of slavery throughout the British
Empire, the Hudson Bay Company opened a "trading post" in the Sandwich
Island settlement of Honolulu. Hawaiians were allowed to buy trade
goods, liquor, and trinkets on credit- and many quickly found
themselves unable to clear their debts. The trading post became the
primary recruiting post for "Kanaka" laborers sent to Hudson Bay
Company forts, farms, and sawmills in North America. In exchange for
three years of labor, Kanakas would receive a small amount of cash,
assorted merchandise, and their debts at the trading post would be
expunged. Many of the displaced Hawaiians remained in the Pacific
Northwest when their terms of indenture were fulfilled, and within a
few generations most had intermarried with European or First Nations
populations. Probably the oldest building on Saltspring Island is the
Hudson Bay Company post at Ganges, (now incorporated into the Hastings
House hotel and restaurant), and Kanaka laborers and their descendents
have made notable contributions to the unique and diverse culture of
Saltspring Island.

Young men fleeing a somewhat different sort of "indenture" were
relatively recent arrivals on Saltspring. The island developed a
reputation for tolerance of a "hippie" lifestyle during the 1960's,
and became a popular destination for Americans dodging the grasp of
the Selective Service System. While it is certain that the majority of
immigrants to Saltspring were hardworking farmers, fishermen, and
loggers of European heritage, the prevailing influence of groups which
have not always been able to take personal freedom for granted have
created a culture on Saltspring that seems even more adamantly
independent than that on other free-spirited islands nearby. This
independence asserts itself in some unusual ways, and among recent
examples was the issuing of "Saltspring dollars", (only negotiable on
the island and on par with official Canadian currency).

Approaching and Arriving in Ganges:

The town of Ganges is at the head of Ganges Harbour, with public
marinas located near 48.61.45 N and 123.29.80 W. Additional moorage is
usually available to the west of the long dock at the edge of the
commercial district, but the fishing fleet has priority in this
location. There is excellent anchorage well out into the bay, and
during the peak summer months vessels arriving at Ganges will find it
necessary to keep an active watch while threading through large
numbers anchored boats. Considerate skippers will be mindful not to
leave disruptive wakes. The preferred course through the harbour will
be to the south of the Chain Islands. It is possible to pick carefully
through the rocks separating the individual islands in the "chain,"
but a completely unnecessary risk. Ganges Shoal (marked with a buoy
about ¼ nm SW of Second Sister Island) and a pervasive mudbank close
to the southern shoreline represent the main risks for grounding, and
there is more than sufficient room to give these hazards a wide berth.
Boaters with an appropriate chart should find the approach to Ganges
easy as well as uneventful.

Public Marinas at Ganges include the Ganges Marina, (viewed directly
ahead when approaching up the harbour) and the Saltspring Marina,
(viewed off the starboard quarter when approaching the head of the
harbour.

Saltspring Marina requires a longer walk to town, but has a pub
onsite. Beware a notoriously hungry rock (it eats boats) off the
Saltspring Marina breakwater. It is clearly marked with a large yellow
buoy and easily avoided, but still manages to refer a steady clientele
of careless or uninformed mariners to local boatyards.

Ganges Marina is a few hundred footsteps closer to the majority of
shops and restaurants in Ganges. During the busiest summer cruising
months it may necessary to contact the staff of either marina by VHF
radio and stand by until a slip is assigned. We have waited for as
long as 20-30 minutes some years, but have always been accommodated.

Once asho

Expect to encounter a collage of cultures where Woodstock meets
Country Grocers meets Greenwich Village Coffeehouse meets Little House
on the Prairie. In addition to being the center of tourism on
Saltspring Island, Ganges is the primary commercial area for island
residents. This is the sort of town where a new-age shop peddling
essential oils and therapeutic aromatics shares a storefront with a
filling station featuring entirely different oils and aromas- and it
isn't unusual in the local context. One can purchase anything from the
most fundamental necessities to exquisitely fashioned handicrafts or
world caliber works of original art. The laidback but culturally
sophisticated lifestyle on Saltspring attracts a variety of
exceptionally talented people. On any given day, one might even rub an
accidental elbow with Randy Bachman of "The Guess Who" and "Bachman-
Turner Overdrive", one of the more internationally recognized
residents of Saltspring Island. Scores of sculptors, writers,
photographers, musicians, painters, and potters enrich and diversify
the creative community on Saltspring.

Our perennially favorite haunts include the Tree House Cafe, Mouat's
General Store, the gelato shop across the street from Centennial Park,
the fish market at the head of the Ganges Marina gangway and the craft
store in the old church directly across the street.
Book lovers will find several well-stocked shops. Baked goods, teas
and coffee, and snacks of all varieties seem to be within a 30-second
walk regardless of where one is standing at any given moment.
Galleries and stores with arts and crafts ranging from some that can
be purchased for pocket change up to awesome offerings that would
require most of us to seek a second mortgage line nearly every street
in the compact town. A well-stocked full service grocery as well as a
licensed beverage store makes Ganges an ideal stopover when ready to
reprovision.

The Saturday Market:

If you have only one day to spend in Ganges, Saturday might be the
best choice.
Beginning each year on Easter weekend, (or April 1, whichever is
earlier), and ending the last Saturday in October, the Ganges Saturday
Market convenes at Centennial Park. Official hours are from "about
8:30 to about 3:30", with the caveat that snow, thunderstorms, gale
force winds, or an extreme deluge may result in some vendors leaving
early. Most sellers are prepared to endure a typical Gulf Island rain
squall or steady drizzle.

The general rule governing the Saltspring Saturday Market is vendors
must personally grow, bake, or locally make anything offered for
sale. Saltspring abounds with organic farmsteads, and from midsummer
on there are tables heaped with amazing herbs, fruits, and vegetables
of all descriptions. (Something to bear in mind if reprovisioning at
the grocer's on a Friday). Wool and mutton are popular farm
commodities on Saltspring, and several artisans offer knitted hats,
scarves, and other items created from locally spun yarns. Musicians of
all descriptions take apparently orderly turns entertaining at various
locations within the market, with hats and instrument cases left open
to catch any stray coins or bills that appreciative listeners might
care to drop. Pastries, cookies, locally produced cheeses, candies and
specialty snacks cooked up hot on the spot assure that nobody will
walk away hungry.

Jan stores her quilts in a handmade oak chest we bought a few years
ago at the Ganges Saturday Market, and in 2006 we added a splendid
hand-knitted "runner" that now protects the galley sole aboard
"Indulgence". We have artwork hanging in various rooms of our home
created by Saltspring painters, dishes in the cupboard thrown by
Saltspring potters, and we've hauled home chutneys, cheeses, and bits
of handcrafted jewelry from nearly every visit. We'll undoubtedly do
the Ganges Saturday Market again in 2007. There's no telling just
exactly what we'll decide we can't live without, but neither is there
any doubt that we will have an absolutely incredible time.

*******
Sidebar:

Saltspring or Salt Spring?

Hudson Bay Company records indicate that the original name of the
island was "Salt Spring," spelled as two separate words. In the early
1900's, the Canadian Geographic Board officially declared that the
spelling would be "Saltspring", a single, compound word. Both
spellings are accepted by Canada Post, and the two-word version seems
to be more currently in vogue. The compound spelling, "Saltspring"
appears on the Canadian Hydrographic charts, and as we are a boating
publication it seems appropriate to use the spelling that agrees with
official charts.



Sidebar 2:

Isn't Ganges a River in India?

The town of Ganges was named after the vessel HMS Ganges, normally
considered the last surviving sailing ship of the British Navy. The
vessel destined to become the town's namesake was the second to be
named "Ganges". She was built in India of Malabar teak and launched in
1821. A proud three-master with 84 guns, she had seen service around
the globe before she became the flagship for the Royal Navy's Pacific
Squadron and patrolled the local waters between 1857 and 1861. Fulford
Harbour on Saltspring Island is named for the Captain of HMS Ganges,
one John Fulford.

By the turn of the 20th Century, HMS Ganges had been converted to a
training vessel for young men aspiring to a career in the British
Navy. (The author's maternal grandfather, who served as a British
naval officer in the First World War, learned to sail on HMS Ganges).
She later served as a hospital ship, and at the venerable age of 108
was broken up in 1929. The name transferred to the British Navy's
training school at Shotley, and is endeared to many a British sailor
who never set foot aboard the original ship.

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Jun 13, 8:19 pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:
Planning a trip to Vancouver Island this summer. Got Waggoner's, but it
is
aimed at live aboard cruising vessels. Thing if Ganges on Salt Spring and
Gabriola Island B&B's for a few nights, before heading to Tolfino and
Campbell River and Tahsis. Any suggestions for resonable B&B's? The
$120-150 / night range. And close enough to mooring sites. 21' boat.

If you want to absolutely spoil yourself, spend a night he

http://www.hastingshouse.com/

Rooms are a bit more than double your budget..........but wowzers.
The restaurant at this hotel is also *outta sight* (and I'm not merely
referring to price..) :-)

I saw that in an internet search. Along with not leasing cars, I mostly
avoid the $500 a night hotel, I have to pay for.

Once in a while you should splurge. We stayed here a couple nights while
wandering around italy a couple years ago. In the restaurant our desert was
prepared tableside which was pretty cool. We were a walk in and got the
room for about $400 a night since they weren't full. There is about 6
similarly or higher priced etablishments within walking distance of each
other and all seemed to be busy. Even the grand which wasn't coming off
their $1000 a night for a walk in even though they were not full either.

http://www.inghams.co.uk/lakes/ITA/S...5/gallery.html

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Jun 13, 8:19 pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:
Planning a trip to Vancouver Island this summer. Got Waggoner's, but it
is
aimed at live aboard cruising vessels. Thing if Ganges on Salt Spring
and
Gabriola Island B&B's for a few nights, before heading to Tolfino and
Campbell River and Tahsis. Any suggestions for resonable B&B's? The
$120-150 / night range. And close enough to mooring sites. 21' boat.

If you want to absolutely spoil yourself, spend a night he

http://www.hastingshouse.com/

Rooms are a bit more than double your budget..........but wowzers.
The restaurant at this hotel is also *outta sight* (and I'm not merely
referring to price..) :-)

I saw that in an internet search. Along with not leasing cars, I mostly
avoid the $500 a night hotel, I have to pay for.

On Jun 13, 10:56?pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message

oups.com...
On Jun 13, 8:19 pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:

Planning a trip to Vancouver Island this summer. Got Waggoner's, but it
is
aimed at live aboard cruising vessels. Thing if Ganges on Salt Spring and
Gabriola Island B&B's for a few nights, before heading to Tolfino and
Campbell River and Tahsis. Any suggestions for resonable B&B's? The
$120-150 / night range. And close enough to mooring sites. 21' boat.

If you want to absolutely spoil yourself, spend a night he

http://www.hastingshouse.com/

Rooms are a bit more than double your budget..........but wowzers.
The restaurant at this hotel is also *outta sight* (and I'm not merely
referring to price..) :-)

I saw that in an internet search. Along with not leasing cars, I mostly
avoid the $500 a night hotel, I have to pay for.

(Rates start at $360, but it's certainly possible to spend a $500) You
can knock off about another 5% for the exchange rate. :-)

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Jun 13, 10:56?pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message

oups.com...
On Jun 13, 8:19 pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:

Planning a trip to Vancouver Island this summer. Got Waggoner's, but
it
is
aimed at live aboard cruising vessels. Thing if Ganges on Salt Spring
and
Gabriola Island B&B's for a few nights, before heading to Tolfino and
Campbell River and Tahsis. Any suggestions for resonable B&B's? The
$120-150 / night range. And close enough to mooring sites. 21' boat.

If you want to absolutely spoil yourself, spend a night he

http://www.hastingshouse.com/

Rooms are a bit more than double your budget..........but wowzers.
The restaurant at this hotel is also *outta sight* (and I'm not merely
referring to price..) :-)

I saw that in an internet search. Along with not leasing cars, I mostly
avoid the $500 a night hotel, I have to pay for.

(Rates start at $360, but it's certainly possible to spend a $500) You
can knock off about another 5% for the exchange rate. :-)



Then there are the local taxes and the 17% VAT tax. And the tip for the
maid service.

"Calif Bill" wrote in
ink.net:


"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
oups.com...
On Jun 13, 10:56?pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:
"Chuck Gould" wrote in message

oups.com...
On Jun 13, 8:19 pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:

Planning a trip to Vancouver Island this summer. Got Waggoner's,
but it
is
aimed at live aboard cruising vessels. Thing if Ganges on Salt
Spring and
Gabriola Island B&B's for a few nights, before heading to Tolfino
and Campbell River and Tahsis. Any suggestions for resonable
B&B's? The $120-150 / night range. And close enough to mooring
sites. 21' boat.

If you want to absolutely spoil yourself, spend a night he

http://www.hastingshouse.com/

Rooms are a bit more than double your budget..........but wowzers.
The restaurant at this hotel is also *outta sight* (and I'm not
merely referring to price..) :-)

I saw that in an internet search. Along with not leasing cars, I
mostly avoid the $500 a night hotel, I have to pay for.

(Rates start at $360, but it's certainly possible to spend a $500)
You can knock off about another 5% for the exchange rate. :-)



Then there are the local taxes and the 17% VAT tax. And the tip for
the maid service.

PST (prov) is 7 %, GST (fed) is 6% for a total of 13%,
rooms may indeed have something else added but not any other product.
Hey an american that tips :-)))
just kidden,
Ron
If you find you want to stay and live here, call me to design your
waterfront home !! not kidden....

On Jun 13, 11:19 pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:
Planning a trip to Vancouver Island this summer. Got Waggoner's, but it is
aimed at live aboard cruising vessels. Thing if Ganges on Salt Spring and
Gabriola Island B&B's for a few nights, before heading to Tolfino and
Campbell River and Tahsis. Any suggestions for resonable B&B's? The
$120-150 / night range. And close enough to mooring sites. 21' boat.

Hehe!!!! Let's see. Bill claims to have plenty of money, yet in
retirement, he works as a handyman, cleaning gutters and such, and
needs lodging in the $120 range.........that's precious!

On Jun 14, 6:16?am, basskisser wrote:
On Jun 13, 11:19 pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:

Planning a trip to Vancouver Island this summer. Got Waggoner's, but it is
aimed at live aboard cruising vessels. Thing if Ganges on Salt Spring and
Gabriola Island B&B's for a few nights, before heading to Tolfino and
Campbell River and Tahsis. Any suggestions for resonable B&B's? The
$120-150 / night range. And close enough to mooring sites. 21' boat.

Hehe!!!! Let's see. Bill claims to have plenty of money, yet in
retirement, he works as a handyman, cleaning gutters and such, and
needs lodging in the $120 range.........that's precious!

Knock it off, Bass.
There's nothing in the content of this thread that calls for an
unprovoked personal attack.

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Jun 14, 6:16?am, basskisser wrote:
On Jun 13, 11:19 pm, "Calif Bill" wrote:

Planning a trip to Vancouver Island this summer. Got Waggoner's, but
it is
aimed at live aboard cruising vessels. Thing if Ganges on Salt Spring
and
Gabriola Island B&B's for a few nights, before heading to Tolfino and
Campbell River and Tahsis. Any suggestions for resonable B&B's? The
$120-150 / night range. And close enough to mooring sites. 21' boat.

Hehe!!!! Let's see. Bill claims to have plenty of money, yet in
retirement, he works as a handyman, cleaning gutters and such, and
needs lodging in the $120 range.........that's precious!

Knock it off, Bass.
There's nothing in the content of this thread that calls for an
unprovoked personal attack.


Bassy's jealous. I have paid more, but find that this range is decent.
Plus you get to add about 20% for VAT and other taxes in Canada. So a $150
a night room, is really a $180 a night room.