As beautiful and relaxing as Salt Spring Island is, three days of utopia was enough. It was time to return to the noise, violence and pollution of a major urban center. We left via Fulford Harbor, on a smaller ferry that passed through yet more glorious scenery.
The ferry approached Schwartz Bay, the terminal closest to the city of Victoria, well known for being more English than England. If you want to ride a red double-decker bus to the Empress Hotel for afternoon tea, Victoria is your town.
The ferry ride back to the mainland from Schwartz Bay is only an hour and a half, in comparison to the three-hour ride we had to take previously. As it goes through open waters, the only scenery for much of the journey are low flying seagulls and the occasional orca, seal or otter. As we weren't fortunate enough to see any of the sort, we contented ourselves with an onboard lunch. The food is hardly cruise ship fare, but is fairly decent considering BC Ferries is a public transportation service, especially if you're famished.
The 300M turned out to be the quintessential traveling car. With gobs of interior room, split-folding rear seats and a massive trunk, there is little that you might pick up in your travels that won't easily fit in. Its performance doesn't leave you wanting for more, and it is a relative miser when it comes to fuel.
Will we go back to Salt Spring Island anytime soon? No doubt. But we'll wait to have something as enjoyable as the 300M to take us there. Hmmm, maybe the next generation 300M will be available soon enough?
The ferry approached Schwartz Bay, the terminal closest to the city of Victoria, well known for being more English than England. If you want to ride a red double-decker bus to the Empress Hotel for afternoon tea, Victoria is your town.
The ferry ride back to the mainland from Schwartz Bay is only an hour and a half, in comparison to the three-hour ride we had to take previously. As it goes through open waters, the only scenery for much of the journey are low flying seagulls and the occasional orca, seal or otter. As we weren't fortunate enough to see any of the sort, we contented ourselves with an onboard lunch. The food is hardly cruise ship fare, but is fairly decent considering BC Ferries is a public transportation service, especially if you're famished.
The 300M turned out to be the quintessential traveling car. With gobs of interior room, split-folding rear seats and a massive trunk, there is little that you might pick up in your travels that won't easily fit in. Its performance doesn't leave you wanting for more, and it is a relative miser when it comes to fuel.
Will we go back to Salt Spring Island anytime soon? No doubt. But we'll wait to have something as enjoyable as the 300M to take us there. Hmmm, maybe the next generation 300M will be available soon enough?
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