My first time to Galiano Island was on a work trip with Postmark Brewing and a few of the guys from Monument Creatives. We were on the island for 24 hours on a beer drinking escapade, a whirlwind of short hikes, beach fires, great food and company, but that left us with only a hint of what the island had to offer. When I returned home to Vancouver, I couldn't stop talking about how great Galiano Island was, although I couldn't exactly pin point why. So I decided to return with my friend Andrew and his dog Momo for a weekend.
With no schedule, and some last minute hustling to the ferry terminal at Tsawwassen, we were on our way, loaded up in a 1980s Volkswagen Westfalia, which seemed to be fitting for a trip to this laid-back island. We arrived to the terminal in the pitch black, where the winds were high, the waves fierce and the rain relentless. We kept shelter in the van listening to some tunes and enjoying cheap gas station snacks, before we were able to board and set sail into the stormy night.
Once on board, we were greeted to a couple travelling in a big, old blue van with a hand-painted sign that read, 'The Blue Crystal.' Ferry friends. Or maybe Gulf Island locals. The ship was wobbling side-to-side as we made our way across the Juan De Fuca Strait; the rough seas only made the ride more fun. Before long, we hit solid land, making our way in the pitch dark to our cozy cabin at Bodega Ridge.
We awoke the next morning to sun shining through the windows of our wood cabin. The storm had passed through the night; excited to greet the day, we started with a fresh pot of coffee outside on the picnic table. When you spend too long in the city it's easy to forget what it feels like to be on ‘Island Time,’ an expression I’ve come to know after growing up on Vancouver Island. It’s something that can’t be described, but only experienced. Time slows down. There’s no rush. Easing into ‘Island Time,’ we slowly packed for the day ahead, fired up the van, waited for Momo to pee, then set off to explore the island.
