The Apple Festival

Our day started with breakfast at the Inne. It isn't spectacular, but it is not bad.  We had bagels and coffee, which certainly filled the gap.  Then back to our room to get organized before we headed off to the Festival.

The Apple Festival is held in a large hall at the south end of the island.  There is another ferry terminal at that end of the island which has service from Sidney.  Entry into the hall was $10 each, and that also got us a brochure and map of various locations around the island where there were more exhibits and sales.  The hall was packed with people, and there was a series of tables set up in the middle of the floor in a large rectangle. These tables were set up with the different varieties of apples that are grown on the island. We had no idea that there were so many different types of apples. This is a link to a time lapse video of the hall - setting up, people viewing and taking down - Apple Festival Setup.

Here are a couple websites that have information on the Apple Festival.

• The 16th Annual Salt Spring Island Apple Festival
• Salt Spring Island Apple Festival

After that, we went down to the ferry terminal at Fulford and walked around there. At this terminal, you don't have to pay to get on the ferry. I don't know if they come around and charge you while on the ferry, or if they charge when you get off, but getting on here is free. Maybe they figure if you got on the island, you paid enough to get off. We watched a ferry come in, and saw a huge number of walk-on people get off, along with a herd of bicycle riders. These guys were in our way for the next hour or so, as we drove around to various places.

We went east on the island and took a different road back to Ganges. Then we continued north, on the east side of the island, up to Vesuvius. This is where the other ferry terminal is, which is the small one from Crofton. We had a drive around, and then headed back to Ganges.

Lunch at El Loco Taco, a food truck on the side of the road that is supposed to be very good.  I had chips and salsa (got guacamole instead, but it was good), and Dawn had a shrimp taco. It wasn't great, but we ate on the wharf, and fed the seagulls and the Salt Spring alligator.

Then back to the hotel for a rest before looking for a place for supper later on in the evening. Things are pretty quiet in Ganges on Sunday evening. Most places were closed so we went to the pub for a bite. Service was not great (I think the waitress forgot us), and after eating, it was back to the hotel for the night.

Tomorrow, on the ferry and return to Abbotsford.